Holyoke Veterans Home Reconstruction Access, Inclusion and Diversity Committee Meeting, 01/19/2024

Meeting Minutes

A. Call to Order

• Meeting was called to order. 
• Members were reminded that the meeting was being recorded. Recording started.

Confirming Member Access:

• Confirm that all members and persons anticipated on the agenda are present and can hear
• Members present:
  • Rubens Boursiquot
  • Karen Courtney
  • Andrea Gayle-Bennett
  • Bill McAvoy
  • Aisha Miller
  • Luz Ortiz-Rivera
  • Michael Rybicki
  • Mary-dith Tuitt
  • Marcony Almeida-Barros
  • Colton Andrews
  • John Cruz
  • Nicole Obi (represented by Alyssa Benafew-Ramos BECMA GC)
  • Liseth Velez
• Members absent:
  • Jose Bou
  • Colleen Fonseca
  • Jesse Flynn
  • Coleman Nee
  • Maxime Charles

B. Administrative Matters

• Administrative matters and introduction of any new committee members. Chair Lussier Poppe welcomed everyone and expressed hope that everyone had a memorable observance in memory of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

C. Vote to approve November and December Meeting Minutes

• Motions carried for both months.

D. DCAMM project overview and schedule update

• Nathalie Assens provided update on project status and schedule. Project is going well despite the weather. Shared aerial photos of the site in the context of project activities. Karellis Rivera gave a status of the workforce compliance effort. Displayed minority, women, apprentice and veteran hours by subcontractor along with percentages of total.
• Reported separately on early chiller package workforce.
• Charles Kelsey gave an update on upcoming outreach events scheduled. Mostl recent to be held January 23rd in Lawrence. Charles asked committee members to share the notices of events widely with their professional colleagues.

G. Conclusion, Adjournment and set next Meeting Date/Time

• Last 15 minutes: Public question/comment period.
• Liseth Velez: When will we see report of subcontract sizes? Nathalie Assens: Buyout is not quite finalized and we will report subcontract values soon.
• Bill McAvoy: Mentioned recent announcements by Governor Healy about the Operational Services Division (OSD) and the Supplier Diversity Office having partnered to assess and reopen some statewide contracts to provide more opportunities for diverse and small businesses. Also, SDO has proposed the expansion of opportunities made available to diverse and small businesses by including supplier diversity terminology in Commonwealth grants as well as expanding the state-funded construction projects that fall under the Municipal Construction Affirmative Marketing Program. SDO also recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with National Veteran Owned Business Association (NaVOBA) where their certified businesses will now be accepted by SDO as third party certifications.
• Public comment: Seeing none
• Next virtual meeting February 16th at 10:00 a.m. Motion to adjourn moved and seconded. Meeting adjourned at 10:29 a.m.