Holyoke Veterans Home Reconstruction Access, Inclusion and Diversity Committee Meeting, 9/20/24

Meeting Minutes

A. Call to Order

• The meeting was called to order at 10:04
• 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:
  • Jose Bou
  • Rubens Boursiquot
  • Karen Courtney
  • Micheal Euvrard
  • Bill McAvoy
  • Nicole Obi (Alyssa Benalfew-Ramos from BECMA)
  • Michael Rybicki
  • Jorge Santiago
• Members absent:
  • Marcony Almeida-Barros
  • Colton Andrews
  • Maxime Charles
  • John Cruz
  • Colleen Fonseca
  • Andrea Gayle Bennett
  • Aisha Miller
  • Debora Olson
  • Mary-dith Tuitt
  • Liseth Velez

B. Administrative Matters

• Introduced new members Jorge Santiago and Micheal Euvrard
  • Micheal Euvrard is an Army Veteran. His background was logistics, many years with the Army National Guard. Mike belongs to several veterans organizations, however most prominently with DAV where he is currently Commander, Chapter 30 Fitchburg, MA (2022-Present)
  • Jorge Santiago is also an Army Veteran. Jorge is the new Veterans Services Officer for the City of Holyoke. He also served recently at the Springfield Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) so he is familiar with the military community in the area around the Veterans Home.

C. Vote to approve July 19th and August 16th 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 on schedule and work in progress Project schedule update
• Project is on target. Highlighted what will be next. Shared aerial images of the site. Steel erection images. Inteiror steel detail (RA and Canopy). Preparation of the slab. Placement of concrete. Wall layout.

E. Update from Commodore/Walsh

• Turned over to Commodore/Walsh team to provide an update on enterprise and workforce participation . MWBE participation plan presented.
• MBE participation through the July audit. WBE participation. Commodore/Walsh is on track to exeed their enterprise goals, with current awards exceeding WBE goals by 0.5% and VBE goals by 0.8%. MBE goals are on target with 4.4% of the 4.7% MBE goal awarded, with expected future opportunities identified.Workforce participation percentages through 9/1/24. Workforce goals are all being met except for apprentices which is at 18%. August workforce participation numbers shared compared to previous two months. Overall minority, women participation from all subcontractors. Apprentice workforce participation shared.
• No additional outreach to report on from Commodore/Walsh Team

F. Outreach Update

• Turned over to Charles Kelsey will provide update on recent and upcoming outreach initiatives.
• Charles Kelsey spoke about the upcomming Mass Public Construction Opportunities (MCPO) online event October 20th.
• Rubens Boursiquot asked whether MPCO events were recorded. Have the sessions been recorded? DCAMM will share the slides from those presenatons as the sessions are not recorded. OSD outreach events summarized by Bill McAvoy: Trades persons contacts TRD-1 and TRD-03 results presented. Next round will be TRD02 and TRD04 to be released in October.

G. Public Question/Comment Period

• Karen Courtney: Are you planning topping off ceremony? Joe Fazio shared that a date in November is under consideration.. The Committee should be on the lookout for invitations.
• No members of the public joined the meeting.

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

• Request for a motion to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 10:33.
• Reminder: next meeting Friday, October th at 10AM (virtual)