Holyoke Veterans Home Reconstruction Access, Inclusion and Diversity Committee Meeting, 05/17/2024

Meeting Minutes

A. Call to Order

• This meeting will now come to order. 
• Members were reminded that the meeting was being recorded.

Confirming Member Access:

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

B. Administrative Matters

• Reminder that this Saturday is also Armed Forces Day where we honor all those who are currently serving in the Armed Services.
• Welcome any new members to the Committee (None this month)

C. Vote to approve April 19th, 2024

• Postponed due to lack of quorum.

D. DCAMM project overview and schedule update

• Nathalie Assens provided the schedule updates. Project is on schedule. Steel erection is starting with foundation completed. First floor deck underway. Arial views depicting various stages of completion were presented. First tower crane is up. Two more to go. Loading dock with paved access road now completed.

E. Update from Comodore/Walsh on MWBE Goals and Workforce

• Karellis Rivera provided an update on enterprise and workforce participation. Enterprise update includes MBE, WBE and VBE information through the February audit period and workforce participation as of May 5, 2024. Workforc hours showed 15.8 minority, 9.8 women and 9% veteran hours. With overall workforce apprentice hours at 17%, 42% of those hours were minority apprentices, 32% women apprentices and 45%veteran participation. In total currently 78% of the apprentice workforce hours were performed by minority, women or vetarans. Full breakout provided as of May 5th 2024. Upcoming career fair at Dean Vocational Technical School on May 23rd from 4 – 7 p.m.
• Mary dith Tuit – Are any of the apprentices are minority women? Karellis responded that there are 3 minority women apprentices.
• Putnam Vocation Tech 12 grade class visited site on May 16th. Upcoming tours scheduled with Putnam and Dean Tech.

F. Outreach Update

• Charles Kelsey provided update on recent and upcoming outreach initiatives. Next is June 12th on-line Mass Construction Opportunities event. Asked members to pass along invites to these events. OSD has reopened the Tradespersons statewide constructs for construction services under $50,000. Trades under tradespersons contract 1 and 3 opened 5/15. First set closes end of June. [Note: After this meeting, the bid close date for TRD01 and TRD03 changed to July 17, 2024.] Tradespersons contracts 2 and 4 will be reopening in October. The flyers on this were provided to committee members and included in the PowerPoint slides for todays meeting.
• Susan Goldfisher elaborated on the importance of the OSD reopening of trades persons contracts.

G. Public Question/Comment Period

• Now open the floor to public comments or questions Seeing none.

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

• Discuss Summer Schedules and should we consider not holding a meeting in July or August as we did not have a meeting the last 2 years in August due to summer schedules. Cheryl Poppe asked for sense of vacation schedules for month of August. Will visit this again in June. Meetings are currently scheduled for June 21st, July 19th and August 16th.
• Request for a motion to adjourn. Motion moved and seconded. Adjourned at 10:38.
• Reminder: next meeting Friday, June 21st at 10AM (virtual)