Holyoke Veterans Home Reconstruction Access, Inclusion and Diversity Committee Meeting, 5/30/25

Meeting Minutes

A. Call to Order

• Meeting called to order at 10:05 a.m.
• Participants were 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.

Members in Attendance:

• Members present
  • Colton Andrews
  • Karen Courtney
  • John Cruz
  • Andrea Gayle Bennett
  • Bonnie Borch-Rote
  • Nicole Obi
  • Mary-dith Tuitt
• Members absent:
  • Marcony Almeida-Barros
  • Jose Bou
  • Rubens Boursiquot
  • Maxime Charles
  • Micheal Euvrard
  • Colleen Fonseca
  • Aisha Miller
  • Debora Olson
  • Michael Rybicki
  • Jorge Santiago
  • Liseth Velez (Mikila Britto)
• Confirmed that all participants had audio and visual access to the meeting and had no barriers to participation.

B. Administrative Matters

• Charles Kelsey invited discussion about whether to reschedule the Friday, June 20th meeting due to concerns around the availability of Committee members as it is sandwiched between the Juneteenth holiday and weekend. Committee members present agreed to keep the meeting since the July and August meeting attendance will be more problematic.
• Vote on the approval of prior meeting minutes postponed due to lack of quorum.

C. DCAMM project overview and schedule update

• Nathalie Assens presented project schedule and work in progress.
• The Project schedule and progress pictures were reviewed. Trades on site include roofing , masonry, and MEP work ongoing.
• Diverse participation plan shows no changes from last month. Current awards are MBE 4.5% and WBE 8.0% of contract value.
• Awards to veteran firms are 3.8% of contract value.
• MBE and WBE payment status through March 2025 audit shows payments to MBE firms are 1.2% of contract value. Payments to WBE firms are 1.9% of contract value. Payments to VBE firms are 1.7% of contract value. All making steady progress as anticipated for this stage of the Project.
• Workforce percentages presented. Minority workers represent 24.7%, women workers represent 10.3% and veteran workers represent 9.26% of the total hours recorded to date. Nearly a fifth of the hours worked thus far have been by apprentices, logging 19.8% of the hours worked. More than 40% of the apprentices identify as minority, women and/or veterans.
• Workforce participation for the month of April 2025 by CSI division is presented.
• Cumulative workforce hours worked by contractor is presented 5/4/25 shown.

D. Outreach Update

• Suzzette Waters from DCAMM mentioned hour-long zoom meetings for certification as well as upcoming construction opportunities events in June and October. Bonnie Borch-Rote, the SDO Executive Director, presented SDO’s participation in the Chelsea Diverse and Small Business Opportunity Fair on June 17th. Additional information about the fair can be found on the SDO website.

E. Public Question/Comment Period

• Charles Kelsey invited any questions from the public. Seeing none.

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

• Meeting adjourned at 10:27am