Holyoke Veterans Home Reconstruction Access, Inclusion and Diversity Committee Meeting, 06/21/2024

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:
  • Maxime Charles
  • Karen Courtney
  • John Cruz
  • Andrea Gayle Bennett
  • Bill McAvoy
  • Michael Rybicki
  • Mary-dith Tuitt
  • Liseth Velez Micaila Britto for
• Members absent:
  • Luz Ortiz-Rivera
  • Marcony Almeida-Barros
  • Colton Andrews
  • Jose Bou
  • Rubens Boursiquot
  • Colleen Fonseca
  • Aisha Miller
  • Nicole Obi

B. Administrative Matters

• We have two resignations from the Committee. Both Coleman Nee and Jesse Flynn have stepped down due to other commitments. We are working with the DAV for recommendations on 2 new representatives for those vacancies.

C. Vote to approve April 19th, 2024 and May 17th, 2024, Meeting Minutes.

• Meeting minutes prepared by DCAMM team shared with Committee members for review.
• Postponed due to lack of quorum.

D. DCAMM project overview and schedule update

• Joe Fazio provided the updates and turn to next presenters on agenda
• Project/Schedule Udpate – One year anniversary. Concrete finished, structural steel underway. Schedule on-target.
• Work in Progress – Joe Fazio shared ariel views of ongoing work.
• Project MWBE Business Participation Plan
• Workforce Hours Report
• Ongoing Outreach
• Questions

E. Update from Comodore/Walsh

• Turn it over to Commodore/Walsh team to provide an update on enterprise and workforce participation. Karellis Rivera presented the following:
• Project MWBE Business Participation Plan – still expect to meet all goals.
• MBE payments by contractor cumlative through the April audit.
• WBE payments by contractor cumlative through the April audit.
• VBE payments by contractor cumlative through the April audit.
• Workforce Hours Report – Cumulative reporting 16.1% minority, 10.0% women and 9.0% Veteran. 18% of the workforce is composed of apprentices.
• Workforce reported by subcontractor as well. Tremendous effort to transition women into other roles on the site.
• Apprentice Participation detail presented by subcontractor.
• Ongoing Outreach – School visits continuing throughout the area. Putnam vocational tech. electrical class photos shared. Also Holyoke mayor visited along with Dean Tech 12th grade class. Hosted last tour of the school year on June 6th. Career fair also held for the first time at Dean Tech May 23rd. Lower than expected attendance by job seekers, yet good representation from primes, subs and trades as well as interaction and feedback.
• Questions

F. Outreach Update

• Turn it over to Charles Kelsey will provide update on recent and upcoming outreach initiatives. Charles Kelsey presented the Ma. Public Construction Opportunities event in June 12th. About 40 attended. Future events scheduled.
• OSD trades persons contracts highlighted. Bill McAvoy explained the rolling enrollment process which allows applicants to submit bid now and not have to wait for the deadline.

G. Public Question/Comment Period

• 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. Next meeting dates to consider are July 19th and August 16th
• Does anyone have vacation for the July meeting or August meetings. No vacations so we will proceed with July and August meetings at this time.
• Also propose a hybrid meeting for the September meeting so people can tour the site.
  Some interest shown in hybrid meeting for September. Arrangements will be made for the 20th.
• Motion to adjourn meeting moved and seconded.
• Reminder: next meeting Friday, July 19th at 10AM (virtual)
  Meeting adjourned at 10:36.