Public Meeting Notice  MCB Statutory Advisory Board (SAB) Meeting

Due to the absence of a quorum, the approval of the June minutes was deferred to the September meeting.

Commissioner Update - John Oliveira

• MCB’s FY25 budget passed and is awaiting the Governor’s signature. There have been no federal funding cuts to date, and the agency received expected state and federal allocations.
• Additional funding was allocated to support increased overhead and personnel needs.
• Budget requests from managers have been submitted and are being processed. Services will continue uninterrupted despite the budget's pending approval.
• MCB completed its move out of 600 Washington Street. All materials and furniture have been relocated to the new office at 40 Broad Street. Staff will begin a phased return during the week of July 14.
• Service delivery has continued without disruption, and staff remain active in the field.

Programs and Services Update - Justine Muir

• The transition to the new office has gone smoothly with no interruptions to programs or services.
• Staff trainings were conducted, including sessions focused on Microsoft Teams and other Microsoft applications
• MCB is in the midst of a busy summer season:
  • The Internship Program opening ceremony had over 70 participants. Most interns have begun placements.
  • The closing ceremony is scheduled to take place at the State House in August.
  • White Cane Awareness Day is planned for October, also at the State House. Planning is underway.
  • MCB will host an employment webinar in September that draws parallels between starting a new job and MCB’s transition to its new office. The webinar will include staff video clips discussing accessibility, orientation, and workplace integration.
  • The Reverse Job Fair will occur later in the year as a separate event.

Additional Updates

• A board member suggested offering semester-based internships during the academic year to accommodate employers who face scheduling conflicts in the summer. MCB staff acknowledged the value of the idea and committed to discussing it further with the team.
• Commissioner Oliveira noted that while the internship program primarily targets college students in the summer, off-cycle internships may be possible if managed appropriately. High school internships were discontinued due to overlap with other summer programming.
• Questions were raised about the potential impact of federal budget changes. Commissioner Oliveira confirmed that MCB has not experienced any cuts and that RSA communications remain positive.
• MCB met its FY25 job placement target of 190 placements. Further details (e.g., full- vs. part-time placements, job sectors, wages) will be compiled and shared at a future meeting.
• The board confirmed the cancellation of the August meeting. The next meeting will take place in September.

Public Questions

• No public questions or comments were raised during the meeting.

Meeting adjourned.

1. Opening requirements:   
   1. Notification and Confirmation: This meeting is being held via Zoom under a law signed by Governor Baker on July 16^th, 2022 granting authority for virtual meetings. It was extended by Governor Healey through June 30, 2027.
   2. Confirmation that MCB records SAB meetings, allows for local recordings and makes such recordings available to the public.
   3. Welcome to members of the public attending the meeting and instruction about Q&A period.
2. Vote to accept minutes of the SAB meeting: June 3, 2025
3. Commissioner Report :  John Oliveira
4. Deputy Commissioner Update: Justine Muir
5. Program Updates: Nathan Skrocki
   1. Review of Dashboard on Registrations, Process, and Outcomes.
6. SAB Members additional questions or comments.
7. Comments or Questions from the public
8. Public Meeting Adjournment