July 12, 2016 - Minutes of Public Meetings - Apprenticeship and Training Council

Download this document (Word)

Mr. William C. Taylor called the Council meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. at the Metropolitan Washington Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., 6901 Muirkirk Meadows Drive, Suite F, Beltsville, Maryland 20705 and welcomed all Council members, staff and guests in attendance. He thanked Jason Roberts and the Metropolitan Washington Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. for hosting the Council meeting at their training facility.

PRESENT:

COUNCIL MEMBERS:
William C. Taylor - Chairperson, Public Representative
Jennifer D. Runkles - Public Representative
Brian S. Cavey - Employee Representative
Allen B. Clinedinst III – Employee Representative
Norbert R. Klusmann, Sr. - Employee Representative
Alexander E. Poling - Employee Representative
David J. Wilson, 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

Ronald Leonard - USDL/OA Ex Officio Consultant to the Council
Charles J. Most, Jr. – Consultant to the Council

OTHERS:
Thomas J. Meighen - Commissioner of Labor and Industry, DLLR
Steven Lakin - Deputy Commissioner of Labor and Industry, DLLR
Kathleen S. Sibbald - MATP
Kelton Addison - MATP
John P. Taylor - MATP
John Vontran - MATP
Michael L. Alexander - Baltimore City Joint Apprenticeship Committee
Steve Baldwin - Tranzed Apprenticeship Services
Kristin Batson - G.A. Smith Electric, Inc.
Ronald E. Blaney - Harford County Electrical Contractors Association, Inc.
Jessica Carter - DLLR/OAG
Paul Champion - Tranzed Apprenticeship Services
Brian Courtian - Finishing Trades Institute of Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and Vicinities
Oden H. Cowan - International Union of Elevator Constructors, Local No. 7 Joint Apprenticeship Committee
Lloyd Day - DLLR/DWDAL
Dennis R. Felts - Harford County Electrical Contractors Association, Inc.
James J. Gauvin - Ironworkers Local No. 16 Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee
Kathy Gress - Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., Cumberland Valley Chapter
Otto Girr - Miller and Long Company, Inc.
Chris Hadfield - Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., Baltimore Metropolitan Chapter
Lisa Johnson - Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., Metropolitan Washington Chapter
Sam Johnson - American Life Safety Fire Protection, LLC
Charles Jones - Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., Metropolitan Washington Chapter
David Kirk - KMP Mechanical, LLC
Colin Mercillott - Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., Chesapeake Shores Chapter
Patricia Mikos - MSDE
Timothy F. Miller - Mid-Atlantic Carpenters’ Training Centers
Kimberly Neal - Tranzed Apprenticeship Services
Diane Peters - DLLR/Office of the Secretary
Jason C. Roberts - Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., Metropolitan Washington Chapter
James Rzepkowski - DLLR/DWDAL
Nancy Tretick - Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., Chesapeake Shores Chapter
Neil E. Wilford, Jr. - Baltimore JATC for the Electrical Industry

Ms. Sibbald welcomed James Rzepkowski, Assistant Secretary for the Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning (DWDAL), and Lloyd Day, Director of the Office of Workforce Development, to the Council meeting and reminded Council members that the Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Program would be moving out of the Division of Labor and Industry and into the DWDAL effective October 1, 2016. Mr. Rzepkowski noted that the move was part of Maryland’s vision for a workforce development system and with the passage of the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act with its emphasis on apprenticeship, it was the perfect time to make the move. He added that the Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Program would be placed under the Office of Workforce Development and that moving apprenticeship to the DWDAL would bring more federal resources to apprenticeship.

Mr. William Taylor introduced new Council members Allen B. Clinedinst III, Training Director for the Plumbers and Steamfitters Local No. 486 JATC, and Alexander E. Poling, the President of Boilermakers Local S-50. Both had been appointed to serve as Employee Representatives. He also introduced Charles J. Most, Jr. who had been appointed to serve as a Consultant to the Council.

Mr. William Taylor also introduced the new Deputy Commissioner of Labor and Industry, Steven Lakin, and welcomed him to the Council meeting.

I. The first order of business was the approval of the minutes of the May 10, 2016 Council meeting and the May 26, 2016 special called meeting. The minutes of the May 10, 2016 Council meeting and the May 26, 2016 special called Council meeting were approved as submitted.

II. DIRECTOR’S REPORT:

A. Ms. Sibbald reported to the Council that the Apprenticeship and Training Fund had ended the fiscal year with about $191,100 in the fund that would be used for the promotion of apprenticeship at the discretion of the Secretary of the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. She also noted that reports were still needed from some sponsors on the contributions made to their funds. Sponsors in need of the instructions for preparing their reports could contact her for a copy.

B. Council members were informed that former staff member Alfred M. FitzSimons had retired after almost 26 years of State service after having previously served for nearly 25 years in the military. Ms. Sibbald added that he had been very dedicated to the Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Program. A card for Mr. FitzSimons would be circulated for Council members to sign.

III. NEW BUSINESS:

A. NEW PROGRAMS:

1. KMP Mechanical, LLC (Kelton Addison) – Occupation of Millwright. Related instruction to be through the Marshallton Education Center (New Castle County VO-Tech School District) in Wilmington, DE. [Printed Standards Forms]

Mr. Addison presented this request for registration of Standards of Apprenticeship to the Council and introduced David Kirk, Vice President of KMP Mechanical, LLC, who was in attendance representing the company’s request for registration.

Mr. Vinck inquired about the requirement for passing a drug test. Mr. Kirk responded that this was a company hiring policy and that drug testing is also required annually after hiring.

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

2. American Life Safety Fire Protection, LLC (Alfred M. FitzSimons) - Occupation of Sprinkler Fitter. Related instruction to be in-house using the National Center for Construction Education and Research curriculum. [Printed Standards Forms]

Mr. Vontran presented this request for registration of Standards of Apprenticeship to the Council and introduced Sam Johnson who was in attendance representing the company’s request for registration.

Mr. Shmelzer recommended that the company increase the number of hours of related instruction from 2 hours per evening to 3 hours in order to meet the requirement of a minimum of 144 hours per year of related instruction.

Council members made note of the fact that although this company is located in Pennsylvania, they should make a concerted effort to recruit Maryland residents for their apprenticeship program. Mr. Johnson responded that it was their intent to do that.

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

B. PROGRAM REVISIONS:

1. International Union of Elevator Constructors Local No. 7 Joint Apprenticeship Committee (Alfred M. FitzSimons) – Request for registration of revised and updated Standards of Apprenticeship and Affirmative Action Plan.

Mr. Vontran presented this request to the Council and noted that Mr. Oden Cowan was in attendance representing the sponsor.

A motion to approve the revised and updated Standards of Apprenticeship was made by Mr. Smarte, seconded by Mr. Cavey and unanimously approved.

2. Finishing Trades Institute of Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and Vicinities (John F. Vontran) – Revision to the educational qualifications for apprenticeship.

Mr. Vontran presented this request to the Council and noted that Mr. Brian Courtian was in attendance representing the sponsor.

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

3. G.A. Smith Electric, Inc. (John F. Vontran) – Request for the reactivation of Standards of Apprenticeship for the occupation of Electrician.

Mr. Vontran presented this request to the Council and noted that Ms. Kristen Batson was in attendance representing the sponsor. He informed Council members that he had made a field visit to G .A. Smith Electric, Inc. on May 13, 2016 to review the program and had found that their current related instruction and work processes continued to meet industry standards.

Mr. Smarte inquired as to whether they had had anyone complete the program since it was registered in 1990. Ms. Batson responded that two of their apprentices had completed.

Mr. Shmelzer observed that he was very familiar with the classes at the College of Southern Maryland and inquired as to how G.A. Smith Electric, Inc. would obtain attendance records for their apprentices from the college. Ms. Batson responded that the college provides them with a certificate at the end of each year showing that the apprentice had completed that year. Mr. Shemlzer went on to note that not providing attendance records was an issue with community colleges that provide related instruction. He added that there were other providers of related instruction in Southern Maryland that the sponsor might consider. There was considerable discussion by the Council of ways that this issue could be resolved. Mr. William Taylor suggested that a group be formed to develop a policy in regards to tracking and reporting attendance for apprentices receiving their related instruction through a community college.

A motion to approve the reactivation of the Standards of Apprenticeship for the occupation of Electrician for G.A. Smith Electric, Inc. was made by Mr. Smarte, seconded by Mr. Bromley and approved with nine (9) Council members in favor of the motion and two (2) abstentions.

4. I.E.C. Chesapeake Inc. (John F. Vontran) – Revision to add related instruction classes in Breinigsville, Pa. and Harleysville, Pa.

Mr. Vontran presented this request to the Council.

Employer Representative Grant Shmelzer recused himself from the consideration of this item of Council business.

Mr. Klusmann stated that he could not understand why we were training outside of Maryland. Mr. Shmelzer replied that there are Maryland-based employers that have apprentices who reside in Pennsylvania.

A motion to approve this revision was made by Mr. Smarte, seconded by Mr. Bromley and approved with nine (9) Council members in favor of the motion and one (1) Council member opposed.

5. I.E.C. Chesapeake, Inc. (John F. Vontran) – Request for waiver of ratio from one (1) apprentice to one (1) journeyworker to two (2) apprentices to one (1) journeyworker.

Mr. Vontran presented this request to the Council.

Employer Representative Grant Shmelzer recused himself from the consideration of this item of Council business.

Mr. Klusmann asked Mr. Shmelzer about the purpose of this request. Mr. Shmelzer responded that currently there is no state journeyworker license for Electricians in Maryland and there are five (5) jurisdictions within the state that issue and require journeyworker licenses and that two (2) of them, Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties, have ratios of three (3) apprentices to one (1) journeyworker and four (4) apprentices to one (1) journeyworker in those counties.

Mr. Klusmann stated that it would not be advantageous for any apprentices to receive less supervision. Mr. Shmelzer replied that their federal Standards of Apprenticeship were approved for two (2) apprentices to one (1) journeyworker.

Mr. Cavey informed the Council of a report made by the National Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship on ratios. In 2014, that body had begun a discussion of ratios and between July of 2015 and January of 2016 had held ten (10) teleconferences on that subject with the goal of making recommendations on ratios. The National Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship recommended against the expansion of ratios (having more than one (1) apprentice per journeyworker) in the construction industry and that the expansion of ratios in any industry only be approved if they provided little risk to the safety of all workers.

B. OTHER BUSINESS:

1. KMP Mechanical, LLC (Kelton Addison) - Request to register an apprentice Millwright with credit for on-the-job training and related instruction beyond the fifty percent (50%) level.

Mr. Shmelzer observed that there were grade reports for Brandon M. Keen for years two and three of related instruction but not for year one. Mr. Addison explained that there was an advanced placement certificate for Mr. Keen for year one based on classes that he had completed while still in high school. It was also noted that the hours of credit requested for prior experience did not align with the on-the-job skills required shown on the schedule of on-the-job training work processes.

A motion to approve this request was made by Mr. Cavey, seconded by Mr. Wilson and approved with six (6) Council members in favor of the motion, three (3) Council members opposed and two (2) abstentions.

2. Request for the approval of Pain and Spine Specialists of Maryland, Custom Concepts Construction, Inc., DVF Corporation and Frederick Regional Health System to be eligible employers for Apprenticeship Maryland (Youth). (John F. Vontran)

Ms. Carter recommended that each of these requests to be approved as eligible employers for Apprenticeship Maryland (Youth) be considered separately.

A motion to approve the request for Pain and Spine Specialists of Maryland to be an eligible employer for Apprenticeship Maryland (Youth) was made by Mr. Shmelzer, seconded by Mr. Smarte and unanimously approved.

A motion to approve the request for Custom Concepts Construction, Inc. to be an eligible employer for Apprenticeship Maryland (Youth) was made by Mr. Shmelzer, seconded by Mr. Smarte and unanimously approved.

A motion to approve the request for DVF Corporation to be an eligible employer for Apprenticeship Maryland (Youth) was made by Mr. Smarte, seconded by Mr. Bromley and unanimously approved.

  A motion to approve the request for the Frederick Regional Health System to be an eligible employer for Apprenticeship Maryland (Youth) was made by Mr. Shmelzer, seconded by Mr. Klusmann and unanimously approved.

3. Informational Items – The following item was in response to questions and/or requests for additional information made by Council members at the May 10, 2016 Council meeting:

a. International Union of Operating Engineers Local No. 99 (John Vontran) - Additional documentation of training hours in support of their request to register twenty-four apprentice Stationary Engineers with credit for on-the-job training and related instruction beyond the fifty percent (50%) level due to delayed registration that was approved at the May 10, 2016 Council meeting.

Mr. Vontran informed Council members that there were representatives from Tranzed Apprenticeship Services attending the Council meeting. Mr. Paul Champion of Tranzed Apprenticeship Services spoke about the work they were doing with nontraditional apprenticeships in the United Kingdom and that they were looking to start nontraditional apprenticeships in the United States as well starting with the occupation of Information Technology Professional.

There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting of the Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Council was adjourned at 10:37 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen S. Sibbald
Secretary
Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Council