PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
SPECIAL COMMITTEE MEETING
December 1, 2010
** NOT APPROVED **
Committee
Members Present
F.
Sinclair, D. Pullen, P. Curran, M. Healy, T. Hopkins, K. LaForge, C. Crandall
(Absent: A. McGraw, T. O’Grady)
Others
Present
M. Alger, G. Benson, D. Burdick, D. Cady, J. Hopkins, J.
Margeson, T. Miner, B. Riehle, E. Ruckle, N. Ungermann
Planning
& Economic Development Committee Chairman Frederick Sinclair called the
meeting to order at 9 a.m. Legislator
Sinclair stated that the special meeting was called to review the applications
for the position of Employment & Training Director, and to briefly discuss
a new direction for the Employment & Training Office. Legislator Sinclair stated that he has
interviewed all agencies associated with our employment & training efforts
and received some candid comments and recommendations. Legislator Sinclair distributed a summary of
those comments and suggested the committee discuss them before moving on to the
applications.
Setting the Course for Employment and
Training
Legislator Sinclair indicated that
he compiled the following comments, observations, and recommendations to
provide input toward setting future policy and direction for County Employment
and Training Programs:
EDUCATION,
LITERACY
·
Actively
participate in planning and strategy development.
·
Partners
should cross train in systems, developing better understanding of evaluation,
process scores and data.
·
Increase
efforts to help people move beyond poverty through more creative programs.
·
Develop
job fairs, career fairs, job shadowing and internships incorporating
educational institutions, business and E&T office.
·
Enlarge
scope of the program by pooling of expertise.
·
Position
programs for the capitalizing on opportunities.
·
Cultivate
willingness to collaborate with associated efforts.
·
Broader
application of E&T efforts beyond what just fits existing funding stream.
·
Better
incorporate needs assessment and individual needs into training and counseling
process.
·
Be
capable of working together with business in broader context and not limited to
one person’s job or situation.
·
See
people, ahead of attaining funding source goals.
·
More
development of system delivery and program matching.
IMPACTS
ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:
·
The
existing screening and testing produces positive outcomes and is important; however,
a reinventing of the process could have positive effects of broadening the
application and meeting of today’s needs in the workforce.
·
Many
retirees have skills and capabilities for the workforce including Veterans.
·
There
is a need to retain talent (high caliber young adults) to address who’s “in the
bull pen.”
·
Return
to job fairs and shadowing.
·
Identify
what we are trying to accomplish and focus.
·
Develop
Employment & Training as a functioning safety net for the financial
underpinning of the individual and the County.
·
Develop
a clear understanding of who the customer is and should be, identifying the
clientele we expect to be working with and developing targeted programming.
·
Focus
on job readiness and retention.
VETERANS
IN THE WORKFORCE:
·
Maximize
efforts to capitalize on Social Security and VA programs for hiring of
Veterans. Legislator Sinclair stated
that $21 million comes into this County every year in benefits to Veterans.
·
Enhance
assistance in assessment, readiness and placement.
·
Strengthen
connections with Employment and Training systems.
·
Do
more brainstorming of ways to innovate and build on strengths.
AGING
·
Careful
screening and proper placement of trainees could improve retention of positions
such as nurse aids which facilitate keeping the elderly at home improving
quality of life and containment of nursing home costs.
·
There
is currently more room and reasons for collaboration, communication and interdisciplinary
connections between the E&T Department and associated agencies.
·
Older
workers should be recognized as a resource and utilize their experience.
·
Emphasize
programs such as Title 5 for those over 55 and those which bring low income
people out of poverty and into jobs. There could be a more local presence of
the Pro-Action Program.
·
Don’t
forget the needs and wealth of experience in people over 50.
·
Provide
for enhanced ability to navigate enhanced and newly coordinated systems.
SOCIAL
PROGRAMMING:
·
A
more comprehensive and coordinated interdisciplinary assessment process would
improve performance.
·
We
need faster results.
·
Identify
areas of need and work together more on grants.
·
Employment
and training are essential tools in addressing the short and long-term economic
needs of individuals and our community.
WORKFORCE
INVESTMENT:
·
There
should be more procedural/organizational flexibility.
·
Expand
job readiness orientations and training.
·
Protect
existing performance numbers generated and excellence in accounting. Legislator Sinclair mentioned that the
current Employment & Training Program is a $1.1 million program, and the
total local County cost is only about $65,000.
·
Seek
to preserve the existing excellent quality control and accountability, taking
advantage of WIB for support during transition.
·
There
is more to be gained through enhanced partnering.
·
Do
more career counseling utilizing and cultivating partners to reflect more
service delivery.
Legislator Sinclair stated that the
comments are not intended as a criticism of our existing program. We have a very focused program, and we want
to hold that in place. We need a person
who will be able to provide leadership to continue that. Legislator Norman Ungermann asked if the
input gathered included any potential employers, noting that potential
employers should be a critical component of this process, and Legislator
Sinclair indicated that it did not, but he believes much of the information
covered addresses that. Legislator
Sinclair encouraged committee members to review the material with the thought
of expanding the program and looking at it in a broader sense.
Executive Session
A motion was made by Legislator
LaForge, seconded by Legislator Curran and carried to enter into executive
session to discuss the employment history of several individuals. Immediately following discussion, a motion
was made by Legislator LaForge, seconded by Legislator Healy and carried to end
the executive session and return to the regular meeting.
Interview for Employment & Training
Director
Committee members agreed to
interview three candidates for the position of Employment & Training
Director on December 14 from 9 a.m. to
Adjournment
There
being no further business to come before the committee, a motion was made by
Legislator Curran, seconded by Legislator LaForge and carried to adjourn the
meeting at approximately 10 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Brenda Rigby Riehle, Clerk of the Board
Allegany