Holyoke Veterans Home Reconstruction Access, Inclusion and Diversity Committee Meeting, 07/19/2024

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

B. Administrative Matters

• Cheryl Poppe announced that the use of AI for note taking or recording at DCAMM meetings is prohibited except in limited cases as approved by the General Counsel.

C. Vote to approve April 19th, May 17th and June 21st Meeting Minutes.

• All minutes from the April May and June meetings were approved by the committee.

D. DCAMM project overview and schedule update

• Natalie Assens presented the project and schedule update. Geothermal about to be wrapped up.
• Work in Progress – shared overhead views of site work ongoing. Mostly structural steel and decking.
• Karellis Rivera presented updates on enterprise and workforce participation.
• Payments to date were summarized through the May audit to MWVBE firms.
• Workforce is currently 16.5% minority, 10.4% women and 10% veterans.
• Tours of the Holyoke site by local trade school classes were highlighted.
• Megan Costa presented OSD outreach events. Trades state contract opportunities. OSD did have a good showing on TRD 1 and 3. 2 and 4 will be re-opened in October.
• Bill McAvoy shared results for the TRD 01 and 03 tradepersons reopenings.

E. Outreach Update

• Charles Kelsey talked about next DCAMM outreach initiatives. The next Massachusetts Construction Opportunities Event Online will be September 10th. Asked committee members to share this information with their groups.

F. Public Question/Comment Period

• Seeing no committee member questions.
• Bill McAvoy announced that he will be retiring from SDO sometime in the fall.

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

• Cheryl Poppe polled the members about their attendance for the August meeting. Next meeting date to consider is August 16th.
• We also proposed a hybrid meeting for September meeting so people can tour the site. Hybrid meeting for September
• If there is no objection, Request for a motion to adjourn. Motion to adjourn was approved.
• Reminder: next meeting Friday, August 16th at 10AM (virtual)
• Meeting ended at 10:30 AM