Workforce Development Committee Minutes
February 25, 2000

Members Present:

Chair, Wayne DeBruin; Vice-Chair, David MacKenzie; Wendy Brower; Don Gerdesmeier

Committee Staff:
Howard Glad, Minnesota Department of Economic Security

Other Agency Staff:
Bruce Steurnagel, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities and Woody Cox, Children, Families & Learning, Dick Strong & Mary Ellen Novotny, Minnesota Department of Economic Security

The Meeting was called to order by Chairman Wayne DeBruin at 10:10 am.

Wayne DeBruin made a motion to approve the 1/28/00 Committee Minutes. David MacKenzie seconded and motion was approved.

Motion by Wendy Brower to approve the agenda. Seconded by David MacKenzie. Approved.

Mary Ellen Novotny, Minnesota’s WIA Coordinator, gave a Workforce Investment Act (WIA) presentation to the committee. The presentation outlined WIA’s purpose, principles, current updates background, structure, its relationship with Titles I – IV. In addition, highlights were given to portray the responsibilities of other government entities in regards to the WIA. To review the entire comprehensive presentation, please visit http://www.mnworkforcecenter.org/wia/. Discussion was held regarding the current activities involved in WIA implementation. Wayne DeBruin thanked Mary Ellen for the explanatory presentation.

Dick Strong, Rehabilitation Program Manager for State Services for the Blind, outlined two Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs) for the committee. The first, a state level MOU, dealt with the partners within the Minnesota WorkForce Center System to accomplish certain tasks that will assist the System to operate effective and efficient employment and training programs. After a short review, the committee moved to approve the MOU and recommend that the GWDC also approve the intentions and language within the MOU.

Don Gerdesmeier moved to support the implementation of the MOU and to recommend the MOU to the GWDC for approval. David MacKenzie seconded the motion. Approved.

The second MOU was a sample for use between the partners of the local WorkForce Council. The purpose of this MOU is to establish an agreement among these partners concerning their respective roles and responsibilities for implementation of provisions found within WIA.

The agreement is to coordinate resources to prevent duplication and ensure the effective and efficient delivery of workforce services in WorkForce Service Areas. In addition, this agreement will establish joint processes and procedures that will enable partners to integrate the current service delivery system resulting in a seamless and comprehensive array of education, human service, job training, and other workforce development services in WorkForce Service Areas.

The Committee reviewed and discussed this MOU. The Committee approved all points within the MOU except for the language found within the forth area of the MOU entitled ‘Period of Performance.’ This language reads: "These amendments must be submitted to the partners prior to state submittal and cannot be submitted if the change is objected to by one of the affected partners." After much discussion, the Committee suggested that this sentence within the MOU be re-worked to reflect less confining language. Upon this revision, the Committee will re-visit the MOU for approval. It was suggested that the re-visit take place within a conference call. No logistical decisions for the conference call were made at this time.