September 12, 2017 - Minutes of Public Meetings - Apprenticeship and Training Council

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Mr. William C. Taylor called the Council meeting to order at 9:09 a.m. at Frederick Memorial Hospital, 504 East Ridgeville Boulevard, Suite 120, Mount Airy, Maryland 21771 and welcomed all Council members, staff and guests in attendance. He thanked Ms. Runkles and Frederick Memorial Hospital for Hosting the Council meeting.

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
Leon W. Bromley - Employer Representative
Michelle L. Butt - Employer Representative
Edwin Cluster - Employer Representative
Grant B. Shmelzer - Employer Representative
David Smarte - Employer Representative

OTHERS:
Kelly M. Schulz - Secretary, DLLR
James Rzepkowski - Assistant Secretary for Workforce Development and Adult Learning, DLLR
Christopher D. MacLarion – MATP
Kelton Addison - MATP
Gina Best - MATP
Kevin Hunt - MATP
André Keyser - MATP
Mark Millen - MATP
Jane Sinclair - MATP
John P. Taylor - MATP
John F. Vontran - MATP
James Balderson, Jr. – Steamfitters Local No. 602 JATC
Robert Benham - McGlothlin & Benham Electric Inc.
William Birmingham - Insulators and Allied Workers Local No. 2 JATC
George Boecker - International Union of Elevator Constructors, Local No. 7
Jose A. Bueso – Dynamic Automotive
Christopher M. Cash - Washington, D.C. Electricians JATC, I.B.E.W. Local No. 26
Brian Courtian - Finishing Trades Institute of Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and Vicinities
Oden H. Cowan - International Union of Elevator Constructors, Local No. 7
Lloyd Day - DLLR/DWDAL
David A. Eppelheimer - J.F. Sobieski Mechanical Contractors, Inc.
Amanda Franks - American Hotel and Lodging Association
Trish Gordon-McCown - Maryland Higher Education Commission
Robert Greenblatt - CMH, Inc. dba Cropp Metcalfe
Kathy Gress - Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., Cumberland Valley Chapter
Leza Griffith - DLLR/OAG
Erin Harris - Tate Engineering Systems, Inc.
Richard E. Hubbe - B & R Grinding Company
Dr. Kenneth Kerr - Frederick Community College
Jonathan Lane - Bozzuto Management Company
Noah Lyden - Lywood Electric, Inc.
Dwayne Myers - Dynamic Automotive
David Myrick - CMH Inc. dba Cropp Metcalfe
Kristen Reese - Bozzuto Management Company
Jeffrey W. Smith - DLLR/DWDAL
Jack Verner - Bozzuto Management Company
Charles Wallace - Maryland State Department of Education

I. Remarks to the Council by Kelly M. Schulz, Secretary of the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.

Mr. William Taylor introduced Secretary Schulz and welcomed her to the Council meeting.

Secretary Schulz noted that she had come from a meeting with the Frederick County Builders Association. She spoke to the Council on some of the challenges and opportunities facing apprenticeship in Maryland. There is a need at the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation to face realities and those realities are what is happening in Washington, D.C. What they are looking at from the President to Congress is the reduction in funding of specific programs. The Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning is in the forefront of the conversation of reductions when it comes to workforce training. A 41% reduction in funding for workforce training has been proposed at the U.S. Department of Labor which has a direct impact on state-funded programs. Since Congress has passed a Continuing Resolution, that will not be an issue this year but that is a path that they will be moving forward with down the road. It is imperative to be able to look at our programs in new and innovative ways moving forward.

Secretary Schulz noted that she had had the opportunity to meet with U.S. Secretary of Labor Acosta to talk about his vision moving forward. Apprenticeship is at the very top of his list. They talked about apprenticeship and what can be done to pave a new pathway for workforce training for every industry across the spectrum. Maryland needs to continue the good work that it is doing because without that good work, new employers and new employees would be left behind that would benefit from what we have to offer. She stated that the bad news is that inevitably DLLR will be receiving less funding, however, the great news is that apprenticeship is relatively inexpensive in order to create connections between employers and employees because there are people all across the state who are looking for brand new opportunities.

Secretary Schulz expressed her delight in seeing Dwayne Myers of Dynamic Automotive on the agenda and noted that they have been involved in and will continue to be involved in youth apprenticeship in Frederick County and now to be able to enroll them in registered apprenticeship after completing youth apprenticeship. She also gave credit to Brandon Butler for taking on the opportunity to work with the American Hotel and Lodging Association to bring about a new program that Secretary Acosta had specifically talked with her about to work on new ways to bring people into apprenticeship.

Secretary Schulz concluded her remarks by thanking the Council for what they have been able to do and the opportunities that have been created in the past and what will continue to be created in the future.

Assistant Secretary James Rzepkowski also gave welcoming remarks and observed that the agenda spoke for itself and the Director’s report spoke for itself as to what the Department can do when do when it has the staff and the resources to improve the program. He thanked the apprenticeship staff for the work that they are doing in finding opportunities to expand apprenticeship and to increase the number of apprentices.

II. The first order of business was the approval of the minutes of the July 11, 2017 Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Council meeting. The minutes of the July 11, 2017 Council meeting were approved as submitted.

III. DIRECTOR’S REPORT:

A. Mr. MacLarion informed the Council that the net balance in the Apprenticeship Training Fund after obligations was $571,814.29.

B. After not having met over the summer, Mr. MacLarion announced that the subcommittee studying ratios of apprentices to journeyworkers would resume meeting in October.

C. Mr. MacLarion provided Council members with an update on the Apprenticeship U.S.A. grant and a combined workforce update.

Twelve Apprenticeship U.S.A. grants have been made to date and two of those have been completed. Combined, they trained 18 pre- apprentices; 16 of which completed an entered into apprenticeship opportunities. There were three additional grant requests that were in the review stage.

To date, all of the live apprenticeship programs have been entered into RAPIDS. Any sponsors not having a RAPIDS account were requested to meet with the Director following the Council meeting.

At this time, the apprenticeship office also now has an e-mail address for every registered apprenticeship program in the state making it easier to communicate with apprenticeship program sponsors.

The staff is continuing to reach out to all of the inactive apprenticeship programs and every one has been reached out to or contacted. Future Council meeting agendas should have more requests for reactivation of inactive apprenticeship programs. The staff has also dramatically increased the pace of program reviews as shown on the agenda in order to meet a goal of 50 program reviews per year.

The Office of Apprenticeship now has funds to place apprenticeship job boards in all of the American Job Centers. Apprenticeship program sponsors can place their literature there where it will be available to jobseekers. Additionally the pace of training for staff in the local workforce development areas and other apprenticeship partners has increased.

It was noted that in August there had been a job fair exclusively for registered apprenticeship held in Prince George’s County that had been sponsored by the Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation. Although not exclusively for registered apprenticeship, there would also be an upcoming job fair in Salisbury, Maryland on October 12, 2017 from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. Sponsors working in that area were encouraged to attend.

This year National Apprenticeship Week will be November 13 through 19, 2017.

IV. NEW BUSINESS:

A. NEW PROGRAMS:

1. CMH, Inc. dba Cropp Metcalfe (John H. Vontran) – Occupations of Plumber and HVACR Technician. Related instruction to be in- house. 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 proposed new apprenticeship program to the Council and introduced David Myrick and Robert Greenblatt who were in attendance representing CMH, Inc. dba Cropp Metcalfe.

Mr. Klusmann inquired about whether there would be any cost to apprentices for their related instruction classes. Mr. Myrick replied that there would be a cost of $1800.00 per year to cover tuition, materials, lab fees, etc.

Mr. Shmelzer wanted to know how they would maintain class sizes over the course of four years. Mr. Greenblatt responded that there would be a class size of 12 apprentices per year with separate classes for each occupation. Mr. William Taylor asked about their recruitment process. Mr. Greenblatt explained the recruitment actions that they intended to take.

A motion to approve this request for registration of Standards of Apprenticeship was made by Mr. Smarte, seconded by Ms. Runkles an unanimously approved.

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

2. Dynamic Automotive (John F. Vontran) – Occupation of Automotive Technician Specialist. Related instruction to be provided by the Community College of Baltimore County – Catonsville and Montgomery College. [Printed Standards Forms].

Mr. Vontran presented this proposed new apprenticeship program to the Council and introduced Mr. Dwayne Myers who was in attendance representing Dynamic Automotive.

Mr. Klusmann inquired about whether there would be any cost to apprentices for their related instruction classes. Mr. Myers responded that apprentices would start in the colleges’ certificate programs and that the company would pay for one half of the cost with the remainder to be paid for by a grant from Maryland Business Works.

A motion to approve this request for registration of Standards of Apprenticeship was made by Mr. Shmelzer, seconded by Mr. Smarte and unanimously approved.

3. Insulators and Allied Workers Local No. 2 JATC (John F. Vontran) - Occupation of Insulator and Asbestos Worker. Related instruction to be provided by the Insulators and Allied Workers Local No. 2 JATC. 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 proposed new apprenticeship program to the Council and introduced Mr. William Birmingham who was in attendance representing the Insulators and Allied Workers Local No. 2 JATC.

Mr. William Taylor inquired about the actions that they would be taking to recruit Maryland residents for the apprenticeship program. Mr. Birmingham responded that they have a list of organizations in Allegany and Garrett Counties that they notify for recruitment.

A motion to approve this request for registration of Standards of Apprenticeship was made by Mr. Shmelzer, seconded by Mr. Cavey and unanimously approved.

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

4. McGlothlin & Benham Electric Company, Inc. (John F. Vontran) - Occupation of Electrician. Related instruction to be provided by New Castle Vo-Tech Adult Division Delcastle site. [Printed Standards Forms].

Mr. Vontran presented this proposed new apprenticeship program to the Council and introduced Robert Benham who as in attendance representing McGlothlin & Benham Electric Company, Inc.

A motion to approve this request for registration of Standards of Apprenticeship was made by Mr. Shmelzer, seconded by Ms. Butt and unanimously approved.

5. Tate Engineering Systems, Inc. (John F. Vontran) – Occupation of HVACR Technician. Related instruction to be provided by New Castle County Vo-Tech Adult Division, Delcastle site and Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., Baltimore Metropolitan Chapter. [Printed Standards Forms].

Mr. Vontran presented this proposed new apprenticeship program to the Council and introduced Erin Harris who was in attendance representing Tate Engineering Systems, Inc.

A motion to approve this request for registration of Standards of Apprenticeship was made by Mr. Smarte, seconded by Mr. Bromley and unanimously approved.

6. American Hotel and Lodging Association (John F. Vontran) - Occupation of Lodging Manager. Related instruction to be provided in-house by the American Hotel and Lodging Association. 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 proposed new apprenticeship program to the Council and introduced Amanda Franks who was in attendance representing the American Hotel and Lodging Association in the place of Shelly Weir, Senior Vice President of Career Development, who was unable to return to Maryland to attend the Council meeting.

Mr. Shmelzer observed that their proposed Standards of Apprenticeship made reference to an apprenticeship committee, however, that term was not defined in the definitions section nor was the composition of that apprenticeship committee stated in the body of the standards. Ms. Franks discussed the composition of their national committee. Mr. Shmelzer responded that as they were registering an apprenticeship program in Maryland, there would need to be an apprenticeship committee for that Maryland-registered apprenticeship program.

A motion to conditionally approve this request for registration of Standards of Apprenticeship pending the development of a definition of the apprenticeship committee in the definitions section and to include the composition of the local apprenticeship committee in their Standards was made by Mr. Shmelzer, seconded by Mr. Smarte and unanimously approved.

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

B. PROGRAM REVSIONS:

1. B & R Grinding Company (Kelton Addison) Request for reactivation of Standards of Apprenticeship for the occupation of Machinist.

Mr. Addison presented this request for reactivation of Standards to the Council and introduced Mr. Richard Hubbe who was in attendance representing B & R Grinding Company.

A motion to approve the request for reactivation of Standards of Apprenticeship for B & R Grinding Company was made by Mr. Cavey, seconded by Mr. Klusmann and unanimously approved.

2. Finishing Trades Institute of Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C and Vicinities (John F. Vontran) – Revision to add the occupation of Pavement Striper. Related instruction to be provided by the Finishing Trades Institute. [PLEASE NOTE: This occupation had not been previously reviewed and approved by the Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Council].

Mr. Vontran presented this proposed revision to the Council and introduced Brian Courtian who was in attendance representing the Finishing Trades Institute.

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

3. Finishing Trades Institute of Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and Vicinities (John F. Vontran) – Revisions the extend the term of apprenticeship for the occupation of Drywall Finisher from three years to four years and to update the journeyworker hourly wage rates for the occupations of Drywall Finisher, Glazier, Bridge and Industrial Painter and Commercial Painter.

Mr. Vontran presented this proposed revision to the Council and introduced Brian Courtian who was in attendance representing the Finishing Trades Institute.

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

4. Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local No. 24 Joint Apprenticeship Committee (John F. Vontran) – Request to revise the apprentice wage progression schedule for the occupation of Asbestos Worker and the journeyworker hourly wage rate for the occupation of Firestop/Containment Worker.

Mr. Vontran presented this proposed revision to the Council and introduced Brian Cavey who was in attendance representing the Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local No. 24 Joint Apprenticeship Committee.

Employee Representative Brian Cavey recused himself from this item of Council Business.

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

5. J.F. Sobieski Mechanical Contractors, Inc. (John F. Vontran) - Request for reactivation of Standards of Apprenticeship for the occupations of Plumber, HVACR Technician, Sprinkler Fitter and Sheet Metal Worker. Request to add the Heating and Air Conditioning Contractors of Maryland, Inc. as a related instruction provider for the occupation of HVACR Technician.

Mr. Vontran presented this request for reactivation of Standards of Apprenticeship and a proposed revision to the Council and introduced David Eppelheimer who was in attendance representing J.F. Sobieski Mechanical Contractors, Inc.

Mr. William Taylor inquired about where in Maryland the company performed its greatest amount of work. Mr. Eppelheimer replied that most of their work in Maryland was done in Cecil and Harford Counties.

A motion to approve the request for reactivation of Standards of Apprenticeship with the addition of the Heating and Air Conditioning Contractor of Maryland, Inc. as a related instruction provider for J.F. Sobieski Mechanical Contractors, Inc. was made by Mr. Shmelzer, seconded by Ms. Runkles and unanimously approved.

6. Lywood Electric, Inc. (John F. Vontran) – Revision to add an Affirmative Action Plan with apprentice selection procedures and goals and timetables for minority and female apprentices for the occupation of Electrician.

Mr. Vontran presented this proposed revision to the Council and introduced Noah Lyden who was in attendance representing Lywood Electric, Inc.

A motion to approve this request to add an Affirmative Action Plan with apprentice selection procedures and goals and timetables for minority and female apprentices was made by Mr. Smarte, seconded by Mr. Bromley and unanimously approved.

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

Mr. Vontran informed Council members that he had been contacted by Fireguard, LLC stating that a representative from the sponsor would not be able to attend the Council meeting due to issues that had developed at the business. They would be contacted regarding placing this item on the agenda for the November 14, 2017 Council meeting.

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

1. The following program review was performed and the program was found to be conducted in a satisfactory manner. [No Council Action Required]:

a. B & G Quality Machine and Tool Company, Inc. (André Keyser) - Occupation of Machinist

D. VOLUNTARY REQUESTS FOR CANCELLATION OF STANDARDS OF APPRENTICESHIP.

1. Connelly Funeral Home of Essex
effective July 10, 2017.
Duda-Ruck Funeral Home of Dundalk, Inc.
effective July 10, 2017.
Glass Service of Cumberland, Inc.
effective August 16, 2017.
HCR Manor Care of Largo
effective June 14, 2017.
Lifetime Masonry & General Construction Company, Inc.
effective May 12 2017.

A motion to approve the voluntary requests for cancellation of Standards of Apprenticeship for each of the above apprenticeship programs as per the dates requested was made by Mr. Cavey, seconded by Mr. Smarte and unanimously approved.

E. OTHER BUSINESS:

1. Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., Cumberland Valley Chapter (John P. Taylor) – Request for registration of an apprentice Electrician with credit for related instruction only beyond the fifty percent (50%) level.

Mr. John Taylor presented this request to the Council and introduced Kathy Gress who was in attendance representing the Cumberland Valley Chapter of Associated Builders an Contractors, Inc.

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

Mr. John Taylor stated that the request for credit beyond the fifty percent (50%) level was for related instruction only. This individual had completed the first two years of the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) electrical curriculum while a student at the Washington County Technical High School and had completed the third year through Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. but did not obtain employment in that trade until the end of his third year.

Mr. Shmelzer inquired as to how the 655 hours of credit for previous work experience shown on the individual’s apprenticeship agreement correlated with the three years of related instruction credit being requested. Ms. Gress responded that he would be a first year apprentice. Mr. Cluster observed that it did not seem fair to this individual to require him to repeat classes that he had already successfully completed. There was considerable Council discussion of the difference between the individual’s levels of on-the-job training and related instruction. Mr. William Taylor inquired as to whether their could be a legal opinion on the question before the Council.

A motion to approve this request was made by Mr. Cluster, seconded by Ms. Butt and approved with six Council members in favor of the motion, two Council members opposed and one abstention.

Ms. Gress stated that she would explain to both the employer and the apprentice the situation regarding the apprentice’s on-the- job training hours.

2. J.F. Sobieski Mechanical Contractors, Inc. (John F. Vontran) - Request to register an apprentice HVACR Technician with credit for on-the-job training and related instruction beyond the fifty percent (50%) level due to delayed registration.

Mr. Vontran explained to Council members that this individual was hired by J.F. Sobieski Mechanical Contractors, Inc. after graduating from Harford County Vocational-Technical High School and began attending related instruction classes through the Heating and Air Conditioning Contractors of Maryland, Inc. at Harford Community College in 2014. However, since J.F. Sobieski Mechanical Contractors, Inc. was not a participating employer with that association nor were those classes a part of their own Standards of Apprenticeship, he was not registered as an apprentice by either one.

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

3. Request for the approval of Twin Ridge Auto and Light Truck Service, Inc. 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 Mr. Klusmann and unanimously approved.

4. Informational items:

a. Sequence of related instruction courses for Nestle Dreyer’s Ice Cream Company.

The Standards of Apprenticeship for Nestle Dreyer’s Ice Cream Company were approved at the July 11, 2017 Council meeting pending the restructuring of the related instruction curriculum to better show the order in which the courses would be presented. A copy of the restructured related instruction curriculum was provided to the Council members.

b. Proposed schedule of Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Council meetings for calendar year 2018. This was an informational item only. Approval of the Council meeting schedule for calendar year 2018 would take place at the November 14 2017 Council meeting.

Mr. Wallace informed Council members that the annual statewide developmental cluster for all of the teachers in the trades and construction management would be held on October 20, 2017 at Towson University.

There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting of the Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Council was adjourned at 11:15 a.m.

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