State Workforce Board

May 20, 2016: 9:30 AM
Frances Perkins Room, CMCC


STATE WORKFORCE BOARD MEETING MAY 20, 2016 Present: Fred Webber, Jeanne Paquette, Senator Amy Volk, Liz Rensenbrink, Nicole Morin-Scribner, Jennifer McKenna, Jon Mason, Jim Howard, Michael Hersey, Kevin Healey, Susan Hammond, Scott Good, Rhonda Fletcher, Mel Clarrage, Tracey Cooley (Phone), Ryan Bushey (Proxy), in behalf of Tom Davis(Proxy)-Joanna Russell, Joanne Harris (Proxy), Ed McKersie (Proxy), Terry Young (Proxy)

Staff: Garret Oswald, Cheryl Moran

• Fred Webber opened the meeting with welcomes and introductions and asked for approval of the 04/01/2016 minutes. Mel Clarrage motioned. Nicole Morin-Scribner seconded. Minutes approved as written after correction (adding Tracey Cooley?s name).

Legislative Update • Julie Rabinowitz ? reported an update on the Federal Overtime Rules ? she stated the USDOL issued the final changes to the overtime rules. The Rules go into effect 12/01/2016. There have been no changes to duties or tasks. There have been changes to the salary threshold (salaries that are more than $47,000), which is the most critical element. The question is what will this mean to Maine employers. Approximately, 16,000 employers will be affected. The employers will need to look at the duties of each individual employee. In order for an employee to be classified as exempt, it is the employer?s choice not the employee and this is appropriate under the Law. Julie stated that the Maine Department of Labor is urging both Public/Private/Non-profit employers to reach out to us so we will be able to advise them appropriate guidance and analysis. Whether an employer chooses to make their employees exempt or have a salary cap, the shift of culture will be a challenge. For example, not being able to email from home etc. The flexibility no longer will be. We want employers to educate their employees. Senator Susan Collins is proposing a Bill to roll this back.
• Jon Mason ? stated that he is concerned with small businesses and the impact. • Fred Webber ? stated there definitely will be a disruption. • Julie Rabinowitz ? stated the baseline salary will be adjusted/reviewed every 3 years. Currently, the baseline salary is full-time salaried workers in the lowest-wage Census region in the South.

Degree & Credential Attainment Goal Discussion • Glenn Mills ? from the Center for Workforce Research and Information (CWRI) provided a PowerPoint handout on Maine Job Outlook by Education Requirement 2014 to 2024. Glenn stated that CWRI provides every 2 years, a 10 year outlook of the workforce. These projections are about occupations not attainment. He stated in 2014, most jobs were in occupations that do not require more than a high school education. Though most net job growth will be in occupations with no formal education requirement followed by those that require a bachelor?s degree. Jobs requiring a high school diploma or some college (with no certification or award) are expected to decline. 88% of job openings are for replacement needs, not growth. 65% of openings are expected in occupations that do not require post-secondary education. The fastest job growth is expected in occupations with the highest education requirements. Specific degrees will be critical for the future. They are the jobs that are presently hard to fill. For example, Nurses. Jobs are requiring credentials due to becoming more technical. Drop-out rates have been going down surprisingly.
• Garret Oswald ? stated there has been a big push to increase degree and credential attainment. • Ed Cervone , Maine Development Foundation - stated workforce development is a priority issue. We need employers buy-in to be able to implement. Also, we need to agree on baseline data. We do not do a very good job documenting certifications. Ed pointed out how there has been a shift in education ? degrees vs industry credentials. Employers state soft skills are very important across the board because they will do the training on technical expertise.

National Task Force on Workforce Development for People with Disabilities Report • Senator Amy Volk ? stated we need to identify barriers to employment. Accommodations are not really expensive its attitude. She believes employers are scared of making adjustments. She is hoping to see education and some legislative changes. In late May, they had a conference call over the previous 2 meetings discussing ideas. June through September, they will be developing National Policy framework. Plans need to be looked at the middle school age. Presently, the age is 16. • Garret Oswald ? stated the PWD piece is included in the Maine State Unified Plan. • Jennifer Kimble, Chair, Committee on Disability & Employment ? stated the Commission will be glad to coordinate and share information. • Jeanie Coltart ? provided a handout on Capitol Clubhouse Journey to Success. Capitol Clubhouse is a program that provides employment opportunities to local citizens that cope with mental illness. They match members with positions that allow them to utilize their strongest skills and abilities. Jeanie asked employers to consider hiring PWD and to include People with Mental Illness. • Richard Freund ? stated MDOL has hired members from Capitol Clubhouse and had success. He encouraged employers and will be happy to discuss.

Maine Bureau of Veterans Services Portal Demonstration • Auta Main, Veterans Program Manager ? announced Jonathan Farr as the new Chair of the Veterans Employment Committee. • Laura Allen, Veterans Outreach Specialist ? demonstrated the new Web Portal for Veterans. Laura stated Maine has an estimated 130,000 veterans. The main challenge is demographics being a large state with many rural areas. Since there are ?gaps? in reaching veterans, what can we do better to reach out? We decided to develop a web portal. We wanted to make is easily accessible and a valuable resource for not only veterans, service members and families but to anyone connected to veterans. We want to encourage veterans to access their benefits because it is a benefit they have earned. The address to the new site is www.maine.gov/veterans and will be launched on Tuesday, May 24, 2016. We will be working on marketing to attract a veteran to come to us.

Local Workforce Development Board Updates • Joanna Russell, Executive Director of the Northeastern Workforce Development Board (NWDB) provided a handout of their strategic planning. She stated the Board currently consists of 23 members from all 5 counties; however, they will be adding 2 more members. The Board approved the request for RFP to hire a consultant to facilitate the Strategic Planning process and to write the plan. The Board is coming together-breaking old habits, taking down silos. The Board will meet quarterly in-person and via ZOOM Teleconferencing the month following the in-person meeting. Upcoming Meeting Dates: ZOOM Meeting on June 16th. Next in-person meeting will be on September 21st at Northern Maine Community College. • Harry Simones, Director of Employer Services - Central/Western Maine Workforce Development Board (CWMWDB) provided a handout of their strategic planning. Under WIOA, they listed the key priorities and goals. Current stats on the Job Driven ? National Emergency Grant (expiring in September 2016) and the Sector Partnership ? National Emergency Grant (available through June 2017). • Sarah O?Connell, Program Manager - Coastal Counties Workforce Board (CCWB) provided a handout of the goals and strategies of the Local/Regional Plan. She stated that their Plan already is up for public comment.

Other • Garret Oswald ? stated at the next Board meeting, there will be a discussion on the WIOA Certification Policy. We will continue going forward with the meeting format (the agenda is split in half); Maine?s overall picture and the other WIOA Compliance. On June 30, 2016, we are due to receive the WIOA regulations.

Adjourn • Fred Webber ? asked for meeting adjourned. Mike Hersey motioned. Mel Clarrage seconded. Meeting adjourned.

Next meeting will be held on Friday, July 29th from 9:30 ? 12:00 in the Frances Perkins Room, MDOL Commerce Drive, Augusta.

Respectfully submitted by Cheryl Moran


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