January 9, 2018 - Minutes of Public Meetings - Apprenticeship and Training Council

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Mr. William C. Taylor called the Council meeting to order at 9:05 a.m. at the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, Lower Level Training Room, 1100 North Eutaw Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21201 and welcomed all Council members, staff and guests in attendance.

PRESENT:

COUNCIL MEMBERS:
William C. Taylor - Chairperson, Public Representative
Jennifer D. Runkles - Public Representative
Brian S. Cavey – Employee Representative
Norbert R. Klusmann, Sr. - Employee Representative
Leon W. Bromley - Employer Representative
Michelle L. Butt - Employer Representative
Edwin Cluster - Employer Representative
Grant B. Shmelzer - Employer Representative
David Smarte - Employer Representative

OTHERS:
James Rzepkowski - Assistant Secretary for Workforce Development and Adult Learning, DLLR
Christopher D. MacLarion – MATP
Kelton Addison - MATP
Kevin Hunt - MATP
André Keyser - MATP
Mark Millen - MATP
Jane Sinclair - MATP
John P. Taylor - MATP
John F. Vontran - MATP
Steve Carter - Frederick Community College, Mid-Atlantic Center for Emergency Management
Peter Constantinou - Association of Air Conditioning Professionals
Mike Crist - Crist Instrument Company, Inc.
Kathy Francis - Frederick Community College, Mid-Atlantic Center for Emergency Management
Lloyd Day - DLLR/DWDAL
Kathy Gress - Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., Cumberland Valley Chapter
Leza Griffith - DLLR/OAG
Chris Jadra - Raloid Corporation
Micahel Kelleher - Maryland Manufacturing Extension Partnership
Becky Kemp - Maryland Manufacturing Extension Partnership
Alyssa Konstantino - Association of Air Conditioning Professionals
Jon Marrs - TranZed Apprenticeship Services, LLC
Jason C. Roberts - Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., Metropolitan Washington Chapter
Jeffrey W. Smith - DLLR/DWDAL
Charles Wallace - Maryland State Department of Education
Henry Williams - H.E.W. Contractors

I. The first order of business was the approval of the minutes of the November 14, 2017 Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Council meeting. The minutes of the November 14, 2017 Council meeting were approved as submitted.

III. DIRECTOR’S REPORT:

A. It was reported to Council members that the balance in the Apprenticeship Training Fund was $628,865.44. During November 2017 contributions of $46,065.56 came into the fund and during the month of December 2017 $25,342.20 came into the fund.

B. Mr. MacLarion distributed a flyer for a registered apprenticeship job fair for veterans that would be held on May 3, 2018 in Baltimore. The job fair will run from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. with the first hour open only to veterans and then open to the general public at 11:00 a.m. A copy of the flyer will be provided to every registered apprenticeship program sponsor.

C. Council members were informed that 50 program reviews had been performed in 2017 which surpassed the total number performed during the past several years. Seventy-nine program reviews are to be done in the current calendar year which would mean that every registered apprenticeship program will have been reviewed within a two-year period.

D. There were 29 registered apprenticeship program sponsors on the Eligible Training Provider List as of the November 2017 Council meeting and was currently up to 35 sponsors on the list.

E. Mr. MacLarion informed the Council that he and Ms. Dicks had provided comprehensive training for the Baltimore County Workforce staff. Comprehensive training is to be provided to the staff in the remaining 11 Workforce areas.

F. Mr. MacLarion announced that another round of informational updates for the tax credit had been sent out. A total of 119 applications were in process that had been received from 16 apprenticeship program sponsors and 37 employers under those sponsors with 381 tax credits remaining. Mr. MacLarion stated that applications for the tax credit are on the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation website. The same provisions for the tax credit will also be available for 2018 and 2019.

G. Council members were informed that Maryland Business Works has served 229 total apprentices with five new ones for the quarter. Mr. MacLarion stated that Maryland Business Works is a great opportunity for sponsors to offset some of their related instruction costs.

IV. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION FROM THE RATIO SUBCOMMITTEE:

Mr. MacLarion presented the report and recommendation from the ratio subcommittee to the Council and thanked Brian Cavey, David Smarte, Grant Shmelzer, Jennifer Runkles and Norbert Klusmann for serving on the subcommittee. He also thanked James Rzepkowski, Brandon Butler and Jessica Carter for their contributions to the subcommittee. Subcommittee members had received a copy of the report prior to the Council meeting for their review and copies of it were distributed at the Council meeting.

Mr. MacLarion stated that the subcommittee had met three times during the previous year to discuss the issues surrounding the ratio and what the process would be to deliver a package for the Council to review for sponsors that wanted to submit requests for a change of ratio.

Assistant Secretary Rzepkowski thanked subcommittee members on behalf of Secretary Schulz for taking a year to thoughtfully address the ratio question. He added that further review would be necessary to determine whether the recommendation could be implemented as the policy of the Council or whether it would need to be put into the regulations.

A motion to accept the recommendation of the subcommittee was made by Mr. Cavey, seconded by Mr. Smarte and unanimously approved.

V. OLD BUSINESS:

A. PROGRAM REVISIONS:

1. Fireguard, LLC (Jane Sinclair/John F. Vontran) – Revision to add the Chesapeake Shores Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. as a related instruction provider for the occupation of Sprinkler Fitter.

This item was carried over from the September 12 2017 Council meeting due to a representative of the sponsor not being able to attend that Council meeting.

Ms. Sinclair presented this proposed revision to the Council and introduced Mr. James Drenning who was in attendance representing Fireguard, LLC.

Mr. Shmelzer inquired as to who had been the related instruction provider and Mr. Drenning replied that previously they had provided their own related instruction.

A motion to approve this revision was made by Mr. Shmelzer, seconded by Ms. Butt and unanimously approved.

B. PROGRAM REVIEWS (Five (5) or More Apprentices):

1. Association of Air Conditioning Professionals (Ginamarie Best). This item was tabled at the November 14, 2017 Council meeting in order for a representative of the sponsor to be in attendance at January 9, 2018 Council meeting to address the Council’s questions regarding what outreach efforts are being made by the sponsor.

In the absence of Ms. Best who was unable to be in attendance for the Council meeting, Mr. Vontran presented this review to the Council. He introduced Mr. Peter Constantinou and Ms. Alyssa Konstantino who were representing the Association of Air Conditioning Professionals. He distributed a handout to Council members showing the sponsor’s outreach activities and Ms. Konstantino presented an overview of those activities to the Council. Several Council members made suggestions as to schools and other organizations that they could also reach out to.

Mr. MacLarion stated that he had invited the Association of Air Conditioning Professionals to three job fairs and that they had accepted the invitations to attend each one of them.

A motion to accept this review, with staff findings and recommendations, was made by Mr. Shmelzer, seconded by Ms. Butt and unanimously approved.

VI. NEW BUSINESS:

A. NEW PROGRAMS:

1. Frederick Community College, Mid-Atlantic Center for Emergency Management (John F. Vontran) – Occupation of Emergency Management Specialist. Related instruction to be provided through Frederick Community College. Request for registration of an Affirmative Action Plan with apprentice selection procedures and goals and timetables for minority and female apprentices.

Mr. Vontran presented this request for registration of Standards of Apprenticeship to the Council and introduced Ms. Kathy Francis and Mr. Steve Carter who were attending the Council meeting representing Frederick Community College, Mid-Atlantic Center for Emergency Management.

Mr. Cavey inquired about whether the occupation of Emergency Management Specialist was already recognized by the Council as being an apprenticeable occupation. Mr. John Taylor stated that occupations that have not been previously recognized by the Council were reviewed for whether they were apprenticable as part of the Council’s review of the proposed Standards of Apprenticeship for the first request for registration of Standards of Apprenticeship for that occupation. It has never been the practice of the Council to review whether an occupation would be recognized as apprenticeable until there was a sponsor or a prospective sponsor requesting to register it.

Ms. Butt asked whether the apprentices would become employees of Frederick Community College. Ms. Francis responded that there could be some apprentices who would be but that there would also be apprentices employed by other employers in the emergency management field both public and private. Thus the college would be the sponsor of the apprenticeship program and could also be a participating employer in the program as well.

Mr. Klusmann asked about who would pay for the apprentices’ related instruction classes at the college. Mr. Carter replied that they were asking the participating employers to take the responsibility for paying for the related instruction. Ms. Francis added that these courses had been designated as a statewide program which would allow all Maryland residents to pay the in-county tuition rate.

A motion to approve this request for registration of Standards of Apprenticeship was made by Ms. Runkles, seconded by Mr. Bromley and approved with seven (7) Council members in favor of the motion and one (1) member not voting.

A motion to approve the Affirmative Action Plan with apprentice selection procedures and goals and timetables for minority and female apprentices was made by Ms. Runkles, seconded by Mr. Bromley and unanimously approved.

Mr. MacLarion announced that Frederick Community College had received an Apprenticeship Innovation Fund grant for this program.

2. National Association of Insurance Professionals, Inc. (John F. Vontran) – Occupation of General Insurance Associate. Related instruction to be provided through the National Association of Insurance Professionals, Inc. Request for registration of an Affirmative Action Plan with apprentice selection procedures and goals and timetables for minority and female apprentices.

Per the request of the National Association of Insurance Professionals, Inc., this request was postponed to the March 13, 2018 Council meeting.

B. PROGRAM REVISIONS:

1. Maryland Manufacturing Extension Partnership, Inc. (John F. Vontran) – Revision to add the occupation Maintenance Technician. Related instruction to be provided through Tooling U SME Manufacturing Institute.

Mr. Vontran presented this request to the Council and introduced Mr. Michael Kelleher and Ms. Becky Kemp who were present at the Council meeting to represent the Maryland Manufacturing Extension Partnership, Inc.

A motion to approve this revision was made by Ms. Runkles, seconded by Ms. Butt and unanimously approved.

Assistant Secretary Rzepkowski informed Council members that this was another instance where an Apprenticeship Innovation Fund grant had been awarded for the purpose of expanding registered apprenticeship in Maryland.

2. Monacacy Valley Electric, Inc. (John F Vontran) – Revision to add Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., Virginia Chapter as a provider of related instruction for the occupation of Electrician.

Per the request of Monacacy Valley Electric Inc., this request was postponed to the March 13, 2018 Council meeting.

3. TranZed Apprenticeship Services, LLC (John F. Vontran) –Revision to add the occupation of Cyber Security Level 2. Related instruction to be provided by TranZed Apprenticeship Services, LLC.

Mr. Vontran presented this proposed revision to the Council and introduced Mr. John Marrs who was present at the meeting representing TranZed Apprenticeship Services, LLC.

Mr. Smarte had a question about the time for the related instruction classes. Mr. Marrs responded that the classes would be for three hours and could be done any time between 8:00 a.m. through 8:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

In response to an inquiry from Mr. Cluster, Mr. Marrs stated that Cyber Security would not be a prerequisite for Cyber Security Level 2.

A motion to approve this revision was made by Mr. Bromley, seconded by Mr. Smarte and unanimously approved.

Assistant Secretary Rzepkowski commented that this was yet another instance of where an Apprenticeship Innovation Fund grant had been awarded for the expansion of registered apprenticeship in Maryland.

4. Crist Instrument Co. Inc. (Jeffrey W. Smith) – Request for reactivation of Standards of Apprenticeship for the occupation of Machinist, to revise the term of apprenticeship from four years to three years and to add the Maryland Manufacturing Extension Partnership, Inc. as a related instruction provider.

Mr. Vontran presented this request for reactivation of Standards of Apprenticeship to the Council and introduced Mr. Mike Crist was representing the sponsor at the Council meeting. Mr. Vontran informed Council members that this sponsor had been inactive since September of 2007 but now has a new apprentice to be registered upon reactivation of their apprenticeship program. He added the Mr. Jeffrey Smith had been instrumental in convincing Crist Instrument Co. Inc. to reactivate their apprenticeship program. Mr. Smith informed Council members that one of the tools that had been utilized to do that was the Apprenticeship Expansion Fund. He explained that the Apprenticeship Expansion Fund is available to new sponsors and to sponsors that have been inactive for five or more years That fund can provide up to $3,000 per apprentice to help to cover the cost of related instruction.

A motion to approve the request for reactivation of Standards of Apprenticeship for Crist Instrument Co., Inc. was made by Ms. Runkles, seconded by Ms. Butt and unanimously approved.

C. PROGRAM REVIEWS (Five (5) or More Apprentices):

1. Livingston Fire Protection, Inc. (Ginamarie Best).

Mr. Vontran presented this review to the Council on behalf of Ms. Best who was unable to be at the Council meeting.

Mr. Smarte observed that there were no apprentice completions shown on the Statistical Summary Report. Mr. Vontran responded that the report only showed those apprentices who were registered between 2012 and 2016. Mr. John Taylor added that the sponsor had completed an apprentice in 2017, however, since he had been registered prior to 2012, he would not have been shown on the Statistical Summary Report.

A motion to accept this review, with staff findings and recommendations, was made by Mr. Bromley, seconded by Ms. Runkles and unanimously approved

2. Minnick’s, Inc. (Ginamarie Best).

Mr. Smarte inquired as to whether it would be possible to show somewhere in the review reports the total number of apprentices that had ever completed or who had completed within the past ten years. Mr. Vontran responded that that information was in the database so it could be included in the program review reports.

A motion to accept this review, with staff findings and recommendations, was made by Mr. Bromley, seconded by Ms. Runkles and unanimously approved.

3. The Bechdon Company, Inc. (Ginamarie Best). A motion to accept this review, with staff findings and recommendations, was made by Mr. Smarte, seconded by Ms. Runkles and unanimously approved.

4. John W. Tieder, Inc. (Lorella Dicks).

A motion to accept this review, with staff findings and recommendations, was made by Ms. Butt, seconded by Mr. Smarte

5. Ironworkers Local No.16 Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (Mark Millen).

A motion to accept this review, with staff findings and recommendations, was made by Mr. Bromley, seconded by Ms. Runkles and unanimously approved.

6. Fireguard, LLC (Jane Sinclair).

A motion to accept this review, with staff findings and recommendations, was made by Ms. Runkles, seconded by Mr. Bromley and unanimously approved.

7. Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., Baltimore Metropolitan Chapter (John F. Vontran).

Employer Representative Michelle L. Butt recused herself from this item of Council business.

Mr. Shmelzer observed that the sponsor had 14 occupations in which there were no apprentices and wanted to know if they would need to come before the Council for reactivation. That would, in fact, be the case for any of those occupations that have gone without any apprentice activity for beyond two years.

A motion to accept this review, with staff findings and recommendations, was made by Ms. Runkles, seconded by Mr. Bromley and unanimously approved.

8. Baltimore Operating Engineers Local No. 37 Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (John F. Vontran).

A motion to accept this review, with staff findings and recommendations, was made by Mr. Bromley, seconded by Ms. Runkles and unanimously approved.

9. Finishing Trades Institute of Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and Vicinities (Kelton Addison).

A motion to accept this review, with staff findings and recommendations, was made by Mr. Smarte, seconded by Ms. Runkles and unanimously approved.

10. Mid-Atlantic Carpenters’ Training Centers – Baltimore. (John F. Vontran).

A motion to accept this review, with staff findings and recommendations, was made by Mr. Bromley, seconded by Ms. Runkles and unanimously approved.

D. PROGRAM REVIEWS (Fewer Than Five (5) Apprentices):

1. The following program reviews had been performed and the programs were found to be conducted in a satisfactory manner. [No Council Action Required]:

a. British American Auto Care, Inc. (Kelton Addison) - Occupation of Automobile Mechanic.

b. Colt Insulation, Inc. (Jane Sinclair) – Occupation of Insulation Worker.

c. Concordia Lutheran Church School & Child Care Center (Ginamarie Best) – Occupation of Child Care Development Specialist.

d. Frazier Machine Company (Mark Millen) – Occupation of Machinist.

e. J.F. Sobieski Mechanical Contractors, Inc. (Kelton Addison) - Occupations of HVACR Technician, Plumber, Sprinkler Fitter and Sheet Metal Worker.

f. Montgomery County Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (Ginamarie Best) – Occupation of Corrections Officer.

g. Parker Fuel Company (Mark Millen) – Occupation of HVACR Technician.

h. Specialty Construction Management, Inc. (Ginamarie Best) - Occupations of HVACR Technician and Plumber.

i. The Crossing at Casey Jones (Jane Sinclair) – Occupation of Cook.

j. Velocity HVAC, LLC (Jane Sinclair) Occupation of HVACR Technician.

E. VOLUNTARY REQUESTS FOR CANCELLATION OF STANDARDS OF APPRENTICESHIP.

1. Al-Huda Pre-School
effective August 29, 2017.
2. Executive Child Development Center, Inc.
effective May 3, 2017.
3. Hubbard Funeral Home, Inc.
effective April 6, 2017.
4. Kiddie Academy of Laurel
effective April 17, 2017.
5. The Crossing at Casey Jones
effective November 11, 2017.
6. YMCA Silver Spring Child Development Center effective August 22 2017.

A motion to approve the voluntary requests for cancellation of Standards of Apprenticeship for the Al-Huda Pre-School, Executive Child Development Center, Inc., Hubbard Funeral Home, Inc., Kiddie Academy of Laurel, The Crossing at Casey Jones and the YMCA Silver Spring Child Development Center as per the dates requested was made by Mr. Smarte, seconded by Ms. Runkles and unanimously approved.

F. OTHER BUSINESS:

1. Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., Cumberland Valley Chapter (John P. Taylor) – Request for approval to grant an additional 3,839 hours of work experience credit for an apprentice Electrician that would bring his total number of hours of work experience credit up to 6,580 hours.

Mr. John Taylor presented this request to the Council and introduced Ms. Kathy Gress who was present at the Council meeting representing the Cumberland Valley Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. Mr. John Taylor explained that this apprentice was already registered. However, when his Apprenticeship Agreement was received for registration, the work experience credit shown was for less than fifty percent (50%) of the term of apprenticeship. Shortly after receiving his copy of his registered Apprenticeship Agreement, the apprentice called and stated that he believed that he should have received more hours of work experience credit than was shown. Mr. John Taylor relayed that concern to Ms. Gress and requested that she look into whether this apprentice should should have received additional hours of credit. After communicating with the apprentice’s current employer as well as two former employers, Ms. Gress made a request to grant the apprentice an additional 3,839 hours of work experience credit that brought the apprentice’s total work experience credit to over fifty percent (50%) of the term of the apprenticeship.

A motion to approve granting the additional 3,839 hours of work experience credit was made by Mr. Shmelzer, seconded by Mr. Smarte and unanimously approved.

2. Request for the approval of Alban CAT to be an eligible employer for Apprenticeship Maryland (Youth) (Jeffrey W. Smith).

A motion to approve this request was made by Mr. Bromley, seconded by Ms. Runkles and unanimously approved.

3. Request for the approval of the Bryant Group, Inc. to be an eligible employer for Apprenticeship Maryland (Youth) (Jeffrey W. Smith).

A motion to approve this request was made by Ms. Runkles, seconded by Mr. Cluster and unanimously approved.

4. Request for the approval of Jay Reese Mobile Repair to be an eligible employer for Apprenticeship Maryland (Youth) (Jeffrey W. Smith).

A motion to approve this request was made by Mr. Smarte, seconded by Ms. Runkles and unanimously approved.

Mr. MacLarion noted that for the first time, the agenda for the Council meeting had been sent out electronically and requested feedback from Council members. Mr. Bromley noted that the file was too large to download onto his tablet. Mr. MacLarion then stated that going forward, Council meeting packets would be sent electronically. He added that if any members needed paper copies they could contact him and that would be arranged. He stated that it was a goal to put the agenda on the website where the public would be able to access it.

Mr. MacLarion stated that it would be an objective to get all employers in a sector in a group program under one sponsor to help programs from going inactive year after year.

Mr. MacLarion stated that when voting on a motion, an abstention means that there is a conflict of interest. Otherwise, members should vote as being in favor of the motion, opposed to the motion or decline to vote on it.

Mr. Smarte informed Council members that the May 8, 2018 Council meeting would be held in their new training center located at 2207 Allen Drive in Salisbury, Maryland rather than at their headquarters building located across the street at 2210 Allen Drive as previously stated.

Assistant Secretary Rzepkowski stated that on behalf of Secretary Schulz he thanked those who had participated in the National Apprenticeship Week that had been held back in November.

Council members were advised that their Ethics Commission filings were due by April 30, 2018 and that they could begin to submit them after January 15, 2018.

Assistant Secretary Rzepkowski reminded Council members that the 2018 Maryland General Assembly session would begin on January 10, 2018. He made note of the responsibilities of board members who choose to participate in the legislative process and what could and could not be done when presenting testimony.

Council members were made aware by the Assistant Secretary that the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration monitors the Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Program on a quarterly basis on how well the program is performing and noted the positive attention that is being received by our federal partners.

Assistant Secretary Rzepkowski informed the Council that two out of three strategic planning sessions had been held as a reward to develop the team with a facilitated discussion to find ways to advance the team to the next level. After the third session, a strategic vision would be developed and sent to the Secretary for her review and approval. It would also be presented to the Council to receive the Council’s feedback as well.

Council members were informed that Deputy Assistant Secretary Brandon Butler would be resigning from the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation effective February 28, 2018. On March 1, 2018 he would assume the responsibility of being the County Administrator for Allegany County.

Mr. Wallace informed Council members that February is Career and Technology Education Month and brought the Council members up-to-date on Skills USA Maryland announcing that regional competitions for Skills USA Maryland would be taking place in early February and the 45th annual state competition would take place on April 13 and April 14, 2018.

Ms. Runkles informed fellow Council members that she would be stepping down from the Council to become the Apprenticeship Navigator for Washington County. Mr. William Taylor stated that she would be greatly missed on the Council.

There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting of the Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Council was adjourned at 11:20 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Christopher D. MacLarion
Secretary
Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Council