Holyoke Veterans Home Reconstruction Access, Inclusion and Diversity Committee Meeting, 1/17/25

Meeting Minutes

A. Call to Order

• The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m.
• Members were reminded that the meeting will be recorded. Members were also reminded 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.

Confirming Member Access:

Confirm that all members and people anticipated on the agenda are present and can fully participate.

• Members present
  • Rubens Boursiquot
  • Karen Courtney
  • John Cruz
  • Andrea Gayle Bennett
  • Bonnie Borch-Rote Megan Costa for
  • Debora Olson
  • Michael Rybicki
  • Mary-dith Tuitt
  • Liseth Velez (Mikila)
• Members absent:
  • Marcony Almeida-Barros
  • Colton Andrews
  • Jose Bou
  • Maxime Charles
  • Micheal Euvrard
  • Colleen Fonseca
  • Aisha Miller
  • Nicole Obi
  • Jorge Santiago

B. Administrative Matters

• Charles Kelsey, Director of Access & Opportunity introduced himself and will be taking over Chairing the monthly AIDC meetings now the Cheryl Poppe has retired. Bonne Borch-Rote, the newly appointed Execute Director for the Massachusetts Supplier Diversity Office, will be taking over for Bill McAvoy after his retirement.

C. Vote to approve October 18th and November 15th Meeting Minutes, no meeting held in December 2024. Minutes approved.

D. DCAMM project overview and schedule update

• Nathalie Assens provided the updates.
• Project schedule – Phase I Milestone schedule.
• Work in Progress – Ariel photos of the site. Scaffolding erected. Fireproofing substantially complete. Adjusting relieving angles. South side staging setup. Installation of windows on 4th floor. Exterior framing 4th floor. Some MEP installation.
• MWBE Participation – Plan shows goals will be met and possibly exceeded. MBE participation through November audit. Also WBE. VBE participation.
• Acknowledgement and appreciation was provided to the construction manager for their achievement to date, and plan to exceed the participation goals.
• MWBE Payments reported.
• Workforce – 229K hours to date. Shown by subcontractor as of 12/29/24. Apprentice participation by subcontractor. All workforce goals exceeded with the exception of Apprentices which were reported at 19% of total hours versus a goal of 20%. It was acknowledged that natural variation in the level of apprentice participation was trade-dependent and not unexpected – participation levels are expected to rise as additional trades start their work.
• Ongoing Outreach – Past career exploration tours. Every week there are career tours. Putnam Junior electrical class. Franklin Tech Junior carpentry class.
• The schedule for additional tours in January was shown.

E. Outreach Update

• Outreach events by Charles Kelsey. Upcoming DCAMM contractor certification events shown every month through May.
• MA Construction Opportunities events.
• Question: Rubins B. ? about classes/events. Anyone can attend? Are there opportunities for groups like mine to attend? DCAMM will prepare/distribute flyer to answer questions about this.

F. Public Question/Comment Period

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

G. Conclusion, Adjournment and Set Next Meeting Date/ Time

• Meeting ended at 10:26 a.m.