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September 10, 2019 - Minutes of Public Meetings - Apprenticeship and Training Council

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Mr. Brian Cavey called the Council meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. at the Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local No. 24 Joint Apprenticehip Committee, 901 Montgomery Street, Laurel, Maryland 20707. He welcomed all Council members, staff and guests in attendance to his apprenticehip program’s training facility and noted that their building was undergoing expansion and renovations that would add three new classrooms and 5,000 square feet of space for hands-on training.

PRESENT:

COUNCIL MEMBERS

Brian S. Cavey - Chairperson Employee Representative

Norbert R. Klusmann, Sr. – Employee Representaative
Neil E. Wilford, Jr. – Employee Representative
David J. Wilson, Sr. – Employee Representative
Leon W. Bromley - Employer Representative
Michelle L. Butt - Employer Representative
Grant Shmelzer - Employer Representative
David Smarte - Employer Representative

Ronald Leonard - USDL/OA Ex Officio Consultant to the Council

OTHERS:
Christopher D. MacLarion – MATP
Kelton Addison - MATP
Ginamarie Best - MATP
Kevin L. Hunt - MATP
Teresa Mena - MATP
Jennifer D. Runkles - MATP
Patty Shreves - MATP
Jane Sinclair - MATP
John P. Taylor - MATP
John F. Vontran - MATP
Paul Banks - Ironworkers Local No. 5S
Maurice Baskin - Littler Mendelson P.C.
Brian Courtien - Finishing Trades Institute of Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and Vicinities
Douglas Fink - Ironworkers Local No. 5S JATC
P.J. Goel - Goel Services, Inc.
Ann Gunning - Maryland Department of Labor
Erin Harris - Tate Engineering Systems, Inc.
Kaitlin Marsden - Maryland Department of Labor, Office of the Secretary
Mike Moneymaker - Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local No. 24
Alfred L. Monroe, Jr. – Goel DC, LLC
Dwayne Myers - Dynamic Automotive
Kristin Navarro - Howard Community College
Deborah A. Rohrbaugh - Kinsley Construction, Inc.
Erin Roth - Maryland Department of Labor
Adrienne Summers - Howard Community College
Jeffrey W. Smith - Maryland Department of Labor
David Springham - Baltimore JATC for the Electrical Industry
Joe Thacker, Jr. – GRD Electrical, LLC
Michael Toy - JMT Services, Inc.
Charles Wallace - Maryland State Department of Education
Cheyenne Wheeler - Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., Chesapeake Shores Chapter
Karla Whittaker - Howard Community College
Robert F. Yeatman, Jr. – International Union of Elevator Constructors Local No. 10 JAC

Erin Roth, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Workforce Development and Adult Learning, brought greetings on behalf of Maryland’s new Secretary of Labor, Tiffany Robinson, and Assistant Secretary for Workforce Development and Adult Learning, James Rzepkowski. She noted that Assistant Secretary Rzepkowski was in Boston attending the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) Conference. She thanked the Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Council for its work in promoting the expansion of apprenticeship in Maryland along with its diligence in its work of reviewing and approving new apprenticeship programs. She thanked Ronald Leonard of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship for attending the Council meeting and thanked Brian Cavey for hosting it.

Ronald Leonard of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship reminded everyone that this year’s National Apprenticeship Week would be from November 11 through November 17, 2019.

I. The first order of business was the approval of the minutes of the May 14, 2019 and the July 9, 2019 Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Council meetings. The minutes of the May 14, 2019 and the July 9, 2019 Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Council meetings were approved as submitted.

II. DIRECTOR’S REPORT:

A. Mr. MacLarion also observed that Secretary Robinson was not able to be present at the Council meeting as she was attending the NASWA Conference. It was anticipated that she would be attending the November Council meeting. He added that he would be leaving shortly after the Council meeting to also attend the NASWA Conference where he would be making a presentation on Maryland’s youth apprenticeship program.

B. Council members were provided with an update of the status of the Apprenticeship and Training Fund. Mr. MacLarion reported that the balance as of August 31, 2019 after all obligations was $794,840.27. Contributions coming into the fund were $22,533.60 for the month of July 2019 and $49,124.71 for the month of August 2019.

C. Mr. MacLarion referred back to the Director’s Report for the July 9, 2019 Council meeting where he had informed Council members that the U.S. Department of Labor had issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for a new type of Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs (IRAPs). He updated Council members that the period for public comments on that Notice of Proposed Rulemaking had closed with the U.S. Department of Labor having received in excess of 300,000 comments. Additional information from USDOL regarding IRAPs would come out once their evaluation of those public comments has been completed.

D. Maryland’s Observance of National Apprenticeship Week would run from November 12 through November 15, 2019 as there were no activities scheduled on November 11th, Veterans Day. Mr. MacLarion requested that those conducting an event for National Apprenticeship Week share the information regarding that event with him.

E. Mr. MacLarion stated that the first meeting of the policy subcommitee had been held with the subcommitee having discussed changes in the elevator mechanic language which would allow a second year apprentice with three years of industry experience to become a mechanic.

F. Council members along with sponsors and employers in attendance were reminded that tax credits were still available for this tax year for employers hiring and registering new apprentices.

G. Mr. MacLarion announced that Youth Apprenticeship had again expanded since the previous Council meeting with Baltimore City having become the thirteenth school system be become involved. He added that any sponsors or employers present who were interested in participating in youth apprenticeship should see one of the Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Program staff.

H. Council members were again reminded of the changes that the Maryland Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors had made to the application process for applying to take their licensing exams.

I. Mr. MacLarion recognized Dwayne Myers, Managing Partner for Dynamic Automotive, who was in attendance and announced that Rachet and Wrench had awarded him their 2019 All Star Executive Award. He congratulated Mr. Myers on his award and thanked him for all he has done for apprenticeship in Maryland.

J. In response to a question from Mr. Shmelzer, Mr. MacLarion briefed Council members on the status of fully implementing the RAPIDS system in Maryland.

III. OLD BUSINESS:

A. PROGRAM REVISIONS:

1. Tate Engineering Systems, Inc. (John F. Vontran) – Revision to add HACC of MD as a related instruction provider for all approved locations.

This item was postponed from the July 9, 2019 Council meeting as a representative of the sponsor was unable to be in attendance at that meeting.

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

IV. NEW BUSINESS:

A. NEW PROGRAMS:

1. GRD Electrical, LLC (John F. Vontran) – Occupation of Electrician. Related instruction to be provided by New Castle County Vo-Tech Adult Education, Delcastle site. [PRINTED STANDARDS FORMS].

Mr. Vontran presented this request for registration of Standards of Apprenticeship to the Council and introduced Mr. Joe Thacker, Jr. who was in attendance at the Council meeting representing GRD Electrical, LLC.

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

2. Goel DC, LLC (Ginamarie Best) – Occupation of Construction Worker II (Demolition and Environmental). Related instruction to be provided in-house. Request for registration of an Affirmative Action Plan with apprentice selection procedures and goals and timetables for minority and female apprentices.

Ms. Best presented this request for registration of Standards of Apprenticeship to the Council and introduced Mr. P.J. Goel who was in attendance at the Council meeting representing this request.

Mr. Klusmann inquired as to how the occupation that Goel DC, LLC was requesting to register differed from that of Construction Craft Laborer. Mr. Vontran noted that there were differences in both the schedule of work processes and the related instruction. Mr. Shmelzer followed-up on that question by asking whether Construction Worker II was a classification that is used for prevailing wage purposes. Mr. Vontran responded that he was not certain whether it was but that it did have a separate occupational code from Construction Craft Laborer. He added that he would seek clarifaction on this from the Division of Labor and Industry.

A motion to approve this request for registration of Standards of Apprenticeship was made by Mr. Smarte, seconded by Ms. Butt and approved with six (6) Council members in favor of the motion and one (1) opposed.

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. Bromley, seconded by Ms. Butt and approved with six (6) Council members in favor of the motion and one (1) opposed.

3. JMT Services, Inc. (John F. Vontran) – Occupation of Sheet Metal Worker. Related instruction to be provided by New Castle County Adult Education at the Delcastle Technical High School in Wilmington, DE. [PRINTED STANDARDS FORMS].

Mr. Vontran presented this request for registration of Standards of Apprenticeship to the Council and introduced Mr. Michael Toy who was in attendance at the Council meeting representing JMT Services, Inc.

Mr. Shmelzer questioned the number of hours for each related instruction class session. Mr. Vontran responed that he would requst confirmation of the hours from the school and if changes were needed to the Standards that he would make them and notify the Council accordingly.

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

B. PROGRAM REVSIONS:

1. Cooper Electrical Services, Inc. (Kelton Addison) - Revision to add Camden Community College using the Camden County Technical School located in Sicklerville, NJ as an addditional provider of related instruction.

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

2. Dynamic Automotive (John F. Vontran/Teresa Mena) – Revision to add an Afffirmative Action Plan with apprentice selection procedures and goals and timetables for minority and female apprentices.

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

3. Howard Community College (John F. Vontran) – Revision to add the occupations of IT Field Support Specialist Level I, IT Field Support Specialist Level II and Information Systems Security Engineer and to amend the minimum qualifications and apprentice selection procedures for these occupations. Related instruction to be provided by Howard Community College.

A motion to approve this revision, with changes to the apprentice selection procedures, was made by Mr. Smarte, seconded by Mr. Wilford and unanimously approved.

4. I.E.C. Chesapeake, Inc. (John F. Vontran) – Request for registration of updated Standards of Apprenticeship for the sole purpose of updating Standards of Apprenticeship approved in 2014. These Standards of Apprenticeship will update all sections and appendices and will supersede any approvals prior to this approval date.

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

A motion to approve the registration of updated Standards of Apprenticeship was made by Mr. Smarte, seconded by Mr. Bromley and approved with five (5) Council members in favor of the motion, one (1) Council member opposed and one (1) abstention.

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. Smarte, seconded by Mr. Bromley and approved with five (5) Council members in favor of the motion, one (1) Council member opposed and one (1) abstention.

5. NLP Enterprises, Inc. (Kelton Addison) – Revision to add an Affirmative Action Plan with apprentice selection procedures and goals and timetables for minority and female apprentices.

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

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

1. Baltimore JATC for the Electrical Industry (Teresa Mena/Kevin Hunt).

Employee Representative Neil Wilford, Jr. recused himself from the consideration of this item of Council business.

A motion to accept this review, with staff findings and recommendations was made by Mr. Smarte, seconded by Mr. Klusmann and approved with six (6) Council members in favor of the motion, none opposed and one (1) abstention.

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. Carter Enterprise Solutions, LLC (Ginamarie Best) - Occupations of Security Control Assessor, System Security Analyst and Technical Support Specialist.

b. Community College of Baltimore County (John F. Vontran) - Occupation of Machinist.

c. Middle River Aircraft Systems JAC (John F. Vontran) - Occupations of Pipefitter, Machine Repairer, Millwright, Maintenance Electrician and HVACR Technician.

d. NLP Enterprises, Inc. (Kelton Addison). – Occupation of Painter.

e. National Associaion of Insuance Professionals, Inc. (Ginamarie Best) – Occupation of General Insurance Associate.

E. VOLUNTARY REQUEST FOR CANCELLATION OF STANDARDS OF APPRENTICESHIP:

1. Children’s World Leaning Center effective August 15, 2019.

A motion to approve the request for voluntary cancellation of Standards of Apprenticeship for the Children’s World Learning Center effective August 15, 2019 was made by Mr. Smarte, seconded by Mr. Klusmann and unanimously approved.

F. OTHER BUSINESS:

1. International Union of Elevator Constructors Local No. 10 Joint Apprenticeship Committee (John F. Vontran) – Reqeust to award a posthumous Certificate of Completion of Apprenticeship.

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

2. Finishing Trades Institute of Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and Vicinities (John F. Vontran) – Request to register an apprentice Glazier with credit for on-the-job training and related instruction beyond the fifty percent (50%) level due to delayed registration.

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

3. Ironworkers Local No. 5S (John F. Vontran) – Request to register an apprentice Metal Fabricator with credit for on-the-job training and related instruction beyond the fifty percent (50%) level due to delayed registration.

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

4. Recommendation for deregistration of Standards of Apprenticeship for the defunct apprenticeship program of Blue Claw Electric, LLC (MATC No. 2237) (Christopher D. MacLarion).

A motion to proceed with the deregistraion of Apprenticeship Standards for the defunct apprenticeship program of Blue Claw Elecric, LLC was made by Mr. Shmelzer, seconded by Mr. Bromley and unanimously approved.

5. Recommendation for deregisration of Standards of Apprenticeship for the defunct apprenticeship program of Plumb Crazy Plumbing and Heating Company (MATC No. 1866) (Christopher D. MacLarion).

A. motion to proceed with the deregistration of Apprenticeship Standards for the defunct apprenticeship program of Plumb Crazy Plumbing and Heating Company was made by Mr. Shmelzer, seconded by Mr. Klusmann and unanimously approved.

6. Request for the approval of CAS Enterprises, Inc. dba CAS Engineering to be an eligible employer for Apprenticeship Maryland (Youth) (Teresa Mena).

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

7. Request for the approval of Fahrney-Keedy Memorial Home, Inc. to be an eligible employer for Apprenticeship Maryland (Youth) (Jennifer D. Runkles).

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

8. Request for the approval of Fountain Head Country Club to be an eligible employer for Apprenticeship Maryland (Youth) (Jennifer D. Runkles).

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

9. Request for the approval of Plamondon Hospitality Partners to be an eligible employer for Apprenticeship Maryland (Youth) (Jennifer D. Runkles).

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

10. Request for the approval of Greenscapes Land Care, LLC to be an eligible employer for Apprenticeship Maryland (Youth) (Patty Shreves).

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

11. Request for the approval of iFrog Digital Marketing to be an eligible employer for Apprenticeship Maryland (Youth) (Patty Shreves).

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

12. Request for the approval of RAUSCH, Inc. to be an eligible employer for Apprenticeship Maryland (Youth) (Patty Shreves).

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

13. Request for the approval of the Whalen Company to be an eligible employer for Apprenticeship Maryland (Youth) (Patty Shreves).

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

14. Informational Items.

a. Proposed schedule of Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Council meetings for calendar year 2020. [This was an informtion item only. Approval of the Council meeting schedule for calendar year 2020 will be done at the November 12 2019 Council meeting.]

15. Kinsley Construction (John F. Vontran) – Request to register an apprentice Carpenter with a delayed registration and completion.

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

Mr. Cavey noted that current Policy Subcommittee member Allen Clinedinst is responsible for three related instruction class sites. If he is not able to particpate on the subcommittee then it might be necessary to have another Employee Representative take his place on it. Employee Representative Norbert Klusmann agreed to replace Mr. Clinedinst on the subcommitee

Mr. Shmelzer updated the Council on the Youth Apprenticeship Advisory Committee. He stated that he has had some discussions with the Maryland State Department of Education regarding some concerns that he has had regarding it. He noted that one of his concerns has been with participation on the the Youth Apprenticeship Advisory Committee. He noted that the Governor will be appointing some new members to serve on that body. He also noted that he has become concerned that when the Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Council is approving entities to be eligible employers for Apprenticeship Maryland (Youth) that all that is being approved is the company and the county or counties where they will operate a youth apprenticeship program. He stated that what is not being approved is the course content of those programs. There was considerable Council discussion of how to proceed with the concerns raised by Mr. Shmelzer.

A motion was made by Mr. Shmelzer, seconded by Mr. Klusmann and unanimously approved to require that going forward, proposals for approval to be an eligible employer for Apprenticeship Maryland (Youth) include a copy of the course content for that program.

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

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