(for Public Notices, RFPs, Public Hearings, etc.)
Workforce Solutions Middle Rio Grande
Board of Directors Meeting
MINUTES
Quality Inn, Sage Room Uvalde, Texas
Thursday, 1:00 p.m. October 9, 2008
OFFICERS PRESENT:
Mr. Skip Baker, Chair, Private Sector, Del Rio
Ms. Judy Canales, Secretary, Economic Dev., Eagle Pass
Mr. Juan Martinez, Past Chair, Private Sector, Uvalde
Ms. Ana Ramos, Treasurer, Private Sector, Maverick
Ms. Dianne Trevino, Parliamentarian, Private Sector, Maverick
OFFICERS ABSENT:
Ms. Tere Kypuros, Vice Chair, Private Sector, Maverick
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Ms. Esmeralda Alcazar, Private Sector, Carrizo Springs
Ms. Imelda Allen, Education Agency, Crystal City
Ms. Sonia Bell, Private Sector, Uvalde
Dr. Blaine Bennett, Adult Basic/Cont. Ed, Uvalde
Mr. Billy Joe Brice, Private Sector, Leakey
Mr. Richard Diaz, CBO, Crystal City
Mr. Manuel Estrada, CBO, Carrizo Springs
Mr. Ernest Flores, Private Sector, Carrizo Springs
Mr. George Garza, Education Agency, Uvalde
Ms. Monica Gonzalez, Rehabilitation Agency, Del Rio
Mr. Fermin Gonzalez, TWC, Eagle Pass
Mr. Pablo Gonzalez, Private Sector, Cotulla
Ms. Shirley Hadsell, Private Sector, Brackettville
Ms. Laura Macias, Private Sector, Crystal City
Ms. Mary Martin, CBO, Brackettville
Ms. Maria Martinez, Private Sector, Del Rio
Mr. Jimmy Patterson, CBO, Cotulla
Ms. Alicia Rendon, Education Agency, Uvalde
Ms. Nora Tellez, CBO, Cotulla
MEMBERS ABSENT:
Dr. Frank Abbott, Education Agency, Uvalde
Mr. Pablo Aguillon, CBO, Crystal City
Mr. Pete Castillo, Literacy, Eagle Pass
Mr. Clayton Crider, Private Sector, Leakey
Ms. Rosa De La Garza, Private Sector, Eagle Pass
Mr. Ray Espinosa, Education Agency, Crystal City
Mr. Jose Garcia, Organized Labor, Carrizo Springs
Mr. Larry Garza, Private Sector, Del Rio
Mr. Michael Grooms, Private Sector, Rocksprings
Ms. Rachel Hanson, Private Sector, Uvalde
Mr. Rene Lopez, Private Sector, Eagle Pass
Mr. Arturo Mancha, Private Sector, Eagle Pass
Mr. David Ojeda, CBO, Carrizo Springs
Mr. Evaristo Rendon, Private Sector, Rocksprings
Mr. Matthew Stavely, Private Sector, Del Rio
Ms. Patricia Taylor, Private Sector, Brackettville
OTHERS PRESENT:
MRGDC Staff
WFSMRG Staff
I. Call to Order: The Workforce Solutions Middle Rio Grande Board met for their regularly scheduled Board meeting on Thursday, October 9, 2008 at the Quality Inn Uvalde, Sage Room in Uvalde, Texas. Mr. Skip Baker, Chair, called the meeting to order at approximately 1:20 p.m.
I. Invocation: The invocation was given by Mr. Ricky McNiel, Executive Director.
II. Roll Call: Ms. Tolie Maldonado called roll and the twenty three (23) members listed above were determined to be present. Having established a quorum, the following business was transacted.
III. Introduction of Guest(s): There were no guests at this time.
IV. Public Comments (3 minutes per comment): There were no public comments.
V. Approval of August 14, 2008 Minutes: Mr. Skip Baker entertained a motion for the approval of the August 14, 2008 minutes. Mr. Billy Joe Brice made the motion to
approve the August 14, 2008 minutes…..motion was seconded by Ms. Alicia Rendon…….motion passed. Mr. Manuel Estrada abstained from the vote, he was absent from the meeting.
VI. New Business
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
A. Executive Committee……………………................................……Mr. Skip Baker
Information Item(s):
1. Recognition of Workforce Board Appointment(s) and/or Reappointment(s): Mr. Skip Baker congratulated all the board members that had been reappointed and thanked them for agreeing to serve and stated that their service was greatly appreciated. Mr. Ricky McNiel went on to say that this board was the only board that had all the reappointments approved.
Mr. Ricky McNiel went on to say that TWC monitors would be in the region in January and those board members that had not taken the Open meetings training needed to do so before January.
Action Item(s):
1. Acceptance of LWFB resignation(s)/declaration of vacancy(s): There were no resignation(s)/declaration of vacancy at this time.
Mr. Skip Baker stated that the Finance Committee would be reported on prior to the Planning Committee due to the fact that Mr. Billy Brice had a commitment that he needed to get to.
D. Finance Committee….……………………………...…….…Mr. Billy Joe Brice
Information Item(s): Mr. Billy Brice stated that both of the reports below had been submitted in the board packets for their review and if anyone had any questions Mr. Ricky McNiel or Mr. Joe Cruz would be happy to answer them. Mr. Ricky McNiel went on to say that some of the new grants had already been loaded but all of them would be loaded by the December meeting. There were no questions.
1. Summary of Fund Balances on Workforce Programs:
2. WFSMRG Expenditure report:
B. Planning Committee……………………………………..…….Mr. Pete Castillo
Information Item(s): Ms. Alicia Rendon reported on this committee in the absence of Mr. Castillo.
1. Update on Choices Performance Improvement Plan: Ms. Alicia Rendon reported that the state had changed the rules on the way the Choices program is to be served. Mr. Ricky McNiel went on to say that 26 out of 28 Boards had been on a PIP for the Choices program. On October 1st everyone has been removed and will be given an opportunity to start off at zero. It was obvious that there was something wrong with the system since so many Boards were failing in their performance.
2. Report on proposed Project RIO Performance Improvement Plan:
Mr. Ricky McNiel reported that the State had missed their Project RIO target of 47 thousand by seven thousand. The state decided that for those boards that had not met their unofficial target from last year then they would be put on a PIP to help those boards meet their target. The Workforce Solutions Middle Rio Grande Board’s goal was 200 and the board’s YTD is 195. Mr. McNiel stated that he would be calling the state and arguing the point that the WFSMRG is at performance level and if they agree that we should not be put on a PIP.
Action Item(s):
1. Authorization to extend and amend Niavez Consulting contract from November 1, 2008 to October 31, 2009 for a total not to exceed $ 15,000.00. This is the 1st amendment of a potential four year contract. Ms. Alicia Rendon reported that it was the recommendation of the Planning Committee to approve this action item. Dean Blaine Bennett stated the fact that he was expressing a concern that it appears the staff have to spend a great deal of their time responding to monitoring and programs issues that the state mandates. Mr. McNiel stated that the staff does in fact spend a great deal of time in responding to the state. Ms. Dianne Trevino made the motion to approve this item………..motion was seconded by Mr. Manuel Estrada……motion passed.
2. Authorization to initiate procurement for consultant for planning services under a Request for Quotes:
3. Authorization for Workforce Board staff to negotiate contract with selected planning service consultant: Action items 2 & 3 were acted on it together. Dean Blaine Bennett made the motion to approve both items……..the motion was seconded by Ms. Shirley Hadsell……motion passed.
C. Monitoring Committee…………………………………..Ms. Patricia Taylor
Information Item(s): Ms. Dianne Trevino chaired this committee in the absence of Ms. Patricia Taylor.
1. AMAC monitoring report for August 4-8, 2008: Ms. Dianne Trevino reported that the AMAC report had been included in the board packet with the Operator’s response incorporated within the report. Mr. Ricky McNiel stated that overall this had been a good monitoring with no major findings and the operator will utilize the observations and the management areas that were addressed. AMAC has accepted the response and closed the monitoring.
2. MRGDC response to AMAC monitoring report:
3. MSFW monitoring report:
Mr. McNiel reported that Workforce Solutions Middle Rio Grande Board would be partnering with the South Texas Workforce Board and would be sponsoring a Wintergarden Productions growers MSFW Forum to be held in Eagle Pass in the month of January. The state would be securing all National and local speakers.
4. MRGDC response to MSFW monitoring report: The MRGDC response to this report was passed out to the Board members. Mr. Ricky McNiel stated that this response would be accepted at the state and there would probably be no outstanding issues.
5. Update on TWC Monitoring report Nov. 2007: Mr. Ricky McNiel reported that the TWC monitoring report from November 2007 was still not closed. The Child Care OAG issue had been resolved but the state was waiting on the Board staff to finish the local monitoring and provide them with their findings.
6. TWC monitoring review scheduled for January 20 – 23, 2009: Ms. Dianne Trevino reported that TWC would be in the region the week of January 20th.
VII. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS:
A. Workforce Solutions Middle Rio Grande:
Executive Director…………………………….………………....Mr. Ricky McNiel: Mr. Ricky McNiel stated that the Board’s reports had been included in the packet and if anyone had any questions he would be glad to answer them.
Workforce Administrator………..………………............…………Mr. John Flores
Child Care Administrator…………………………………………..…. Sharon Diaz
B. One Stop Operator- Middle Rio Grande Development Council:
Executive Director…………………….……….………….Mr. Leodoro Martinez:
Mr. Leodoro Martinez stated that the Operator’s reports had been included in the board packet and if anyone had any questions he would be happy to answer them.
Director of Workforce Programs……………...………….....…Ms. Betty Sifuentes
Center & Program Supervisor of Maverick & Val Verde Co…..Mr. Armando Herrera
Center & Program Supervisor of Uvalde, Real & Edwards Co.............Mr. Phil Rigney
Center & Program Supervisor of Dimmit, Zavala & La Salle Co.....Mr. Ronnie Rivera
Child Care Program Supervisor…...............................................Ms. Marisa Cervantes
Data & Systems Supervisor…..…..............................................…Ms. Almita Miranda
VIII. ADJOURNMENT:
Mr. Skip Baker entertained a motion for adjournment. Dr. Frank Abbott made the motion to adjourn the Workforce Solutions Board meeting……motion was seconded by Mr. Ernest Flores…….meeting adjourned.