November 12, 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 Baltimore JATC for the Electrical Industry, 2699 West Patapsco Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21230 and welcomed all Council members, staff and guests in attendance. He recognized Maryland Secretary of Labor, Tiffany Robinson, who was attending the Council meeting.

Secretary Robinson opened her remarks by thanking all veterans attending the Council meeting for their service. She expressed her excitement that the first Council meeting that she was attending was during National Apprenticeship Week. She thanked Neil Wilford and David Springham of the Baltimore JATC for the Electrical Industry for hosting the Council meeting. She also thanked the United States Department of Labor and announced that Maryland had been awarded an Apprenticeship Expansion Grant again.

By way of introducing herself to the Council she stated that she is a resident of Harford County and an attorney. She stated that she had started out in private practice before serving in County government. From there she moved on to State government first with the Department of Housing and Community Development and then for three years as a Deputy Chief of Staff in the Governor’s Office before being appointed as Maryland’s Secretary of Labor in July.

Assistant Secretary James Rzepkowski announced that Maryland had 25 events planned for National Apprenticeship Week November 11 through November 17, 2019 which were to promote and market registered apprenticeship.

PRESENT:

COUNCIL MEMBERS
Brian S. Cavey - Chairperson Employee Representative
Christine V. Banovic - Public Representative
Allen B. Clinedinst III - Employee Representative
Norbert R. Klusmann, Sr. – Employee Representative
Neil E. Wilford, Jr. – Employee Representative
Leon W. Bromley - Employer Representative
Michelle L. Butt - Employer Representative
Grant Shmelzer - Employer Representative

OTHERS:
Tiffany P. Robinson - Secretary, Maryland Department of Labor
James E. Rzepkowski - Assistant Secretary for Workforce Development and Adult Learning, Maryland Department of Labor
Christopher D. MacLarion – MATP
Ginamarie Best - MATP
Kevin L. Hunt - MATP
Jennifer D. Runkles - MATP
Patty Shreves - MATP
Jane Sinclair - MATP
John P. Taylor - MATP
John F. Vontran - MATP
Ashanie Abubakar - Access to Wholisic and Productive Living Institute
Michael L. Alexander - Balimore City Joint Apprenticeship Committee
Stephanie Anderson - Heating and Air Conditioning Contractors of Maryland
Frank Arvizu - OST Global Solutions, Inc.
Lisa Bilbrough - Bilbrough’s Electric, Inc.
Ronald Blaney - Harford County Electrical Contractors Association
Valerie Brennan - Baltimore County Public Schools
Raegan Brewer - Chimes
Christopher Bunn - Baltimore County Public Schools
Kevin M. Chambers - Willard Agri-Services, Inc.
Demetra Crawford - TranZed Apprenticeship Services, LLC
Lloyd Day - Maryland Department of Labor
Greg Dehass - Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., Chesapeake Shores Chapter
Alicia Dennis - Maryland Department of Labor
Robert T. Eaton - Mid-Atlantic Carpenters’ Training Centers
Dennis R. Felts - Harford County Electrical Contractors Association
Dr. Ricky C. Godbolt - US DOL ETA Office of Apprenticeship
Trish Gordon McCown - Maryland Higher Education Commission
Leza Griffith - DLLR/OAG
Yulia Gufranova - OST Global Solutions, Inc.
Ann Gunning - Maryland Department of Labor
David Huff - OST Global Solutions, Inc.
Kaitlin Marsden - Maryland Department of Labor, Office of the Secretary
Charles McGee - Operating Engineers Local 37 JATC
Dr. Bettye Muwwakkil - Access to Wholistic and Productive Living Instutute
Sandi Neal - Bilbrough’s Electric, Inc,
Judi Olinger - Humanim, Inc.
Olayta Rigsby - Maryland Higher Education Commission
Erin Roth - Maryland Department of Labor
Delana Shifflett - Baltimore County Public Schools
Olessia Smotrova - OST Global Solutions, Inc.
David Springham - Baltimore JATC for the Electrical Industry
Tom Speakman - Willard Agri-Services, Inc.
Kevin M. Tracy - McNamee, Hosea, Jernigan, Kim Greenan & Walker, PA
Georgeta L. Wainwright - Delaware Elevator, Inc.
Cheyenne Wheeler - Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., Chesapeake Shores Chapter
Gregory Wilkinson - Maryland Environmenal Service

I. The first order of business was the approval of the minutes of the September 10, 2019 Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Council meeting. The minutes of the September 10, 2019 Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Council meeting were approved as submitted.

II. DIRECTOR’S REPORT:

A. Mr. MacLarion announced that National Apprenticeship Week began on Monday, November 11, 2019, Veterans Day. He stated that in Maryland, National Apprenticeship Week events were scheduled starting on November 12, 2019 and going through November 15, 2019 with 25 events scheduled and added that if anyone else had events they could contact him and be added to the list. All events nationally and in Maryland could be found on the U.S. Department of Labor’s National Apprenticeship Week webpage.

He stated that numerous sponors had responded to requests for success stories that the Maryland Department of Labor could post on the Department’s webpage and on social media. All 14 success stories that have been received have been used.

B. As Secretary Robinson had announced, Maryland had surpassed its previous record number of apprentices and thanked everyone for all of their work in helping to grow registered apprenticeship over the years.

C. Council members were provided with an update of the status of the Apprenticeship and Training Fund. Mr. MacLarion reported that the balance as of October 31, 2019 after all obligations was $820,330.15. Contributions coming into the fund were $26,220.34 for the month of September 2019 and $23,920.23 for the month of Otober 2019.

D. Mr. MacLarion informed the Council that a U.S. Department of Labor workgroup was continuing to make the changes to RAPIDS that would allow apprentices to be registered in more than one state.

E. The Council was informed that Youth Apprenticeship has become the Apprenticeship Maryland Program (AMP) and has expanded to 13 local school jurisdictions with 2 additional counties in the process of being approved. He also stated that an increasing number of registered apprenticeship program sponsors were requesting to add School-to-Apprenticeship language to their Standards.

III. NEW BUSINESS:

1. OST Global Solutions, Inc. (Ginamarie Best) – Occupation of Marketing Manager (Government Business Development Specialist). 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 Apporenticeship to the Council and introduced the personnel from OST Global Solutions, Inc. who were in attendance representing the request for registration of Standards of Apprenticeship. She also provided Council members with an overview of the proposed new apprenticeship program.

Mr. Klusmann questioned the requirement of applicants for apprenticeship to have a Bachelors degree. Ms. Smotorva responded that they would need to have one or be in the process of obtraining one due to the technical complexity of the occupation. Mr. Shmelzer than asked how that requirement would be consistent with the minimum age for applying. Ms. Smotrova answered that someone could apply to enter the program while pursuing their degree but would not be able to find employment in the occupation without having one. Mr. MacLarion summarized the Council’s discussion by stating that this was the first of several discussions with employers that require a Bachelors degree.

Mr. Wilford inquired as to whether the curriculum presented to the Council was a national one or whether it had been created by the company. Ms. Smotrova responded that there was no national curriculum for this occupation and it had been developed by the company.

A motion to approve this request for registration of Standards of Apprenticeship was made by Mr. Bromley, seconded by Ms. Butt and approved with four (4) Council members in favor of the motion and three (3) Council members 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) Council member opposed.

2. Willard Agri-Sevices, Inc. (Jennifer D. Runkles) – Occupation of Agricultural Service Applicator. Related instruction to be provided through Hagerstown Community College, Chesapeake College and in-house.

Ms Runkles presented this request for registration of Standards of Apprenticeship and introduced Kevin Chambers and Tom Speakman who were in attendance representing Willard Agri-Services, Inc.

Mr. Klusmann asked who would be paying for the fees related to this occpation. Mr. Chambers responded that those would be paid for the company. Ms. Runkles added that the company would be paying for the related instrucion as well.

Mr. Shmelzer asked whether the company had a backup plan in the event that the community colleges would not be able to deliver any of the required related instruction. Mr. Chambers replied that the community colleges would only be providing the CDL driver training. All of the other related instruction would be provided in-house by the company using training materials provided by the industry.

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

3. Access to Wholistic and Productive Living Instutute, Inc. (John F. Vontran) – Occupation of Community Health Worker. Related instruction to be provided by Prince George’s 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 and an Affirmative Action Plan to the Council and introduced Dr. Bettye Muwwakkil who was attending the Council meeting representing Access to Wholistic and Productive Living Institute, Inc.

A motion to approve this request for registration of Standards of Apprenticehip was made by Mr. Klusmann, seconded by Mr. Wilford 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. Bromley, seconded by Mr. Shmelzer and unanimously approved.

B. PROGRAM REVSIONS:

1. Bilbrough’s Electric, Inc. (Jane Sinclair) – Request for registration of an Affirmative Action Plan with apprentice selection procedures and goals and timetables for minority and female apprentces. A motion to approve this revision was made by Mr. Shmelzer, seconded by Mr. Wilford and unanimously approved.

2. Pacific Architects and Engineers Inc. (PAE) (Jane Sinclair) - Revision to add the occupations of Network Communications Technician and Systems Administration Technician. Related instruction to be provided by the College of Southern Maryland.

This request was withdrawn from the agenda per the request of the sponsor.

3. Humanim, Inc. (Jeffrey W. Smith) – Revision to the qualifications for apprenticeship for the occupation of Direct Support Professional to provide a pathway for school-to- apprenticeship.

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

4. Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., Chesapeake Shores Chapter (John F. Vontran) – Revision to provide an additional method of delivery to the currently approved related instruction curriculum for the occupation of Electrician by integrating the Mike Holt curriculum into the current curriculum.

Council members had questions about how and to what extent the Mike Holt curriculum would be integrated into the current one.

A motion to table this request for further consideration at a later date after the changes have been made to the current curriculum was made by Mr. Shmelzer, seconded by Mr. Klusmann and approved with six (6) Council members in favor of the motion and one (1) Council member opposed.

5. Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., Cheasapeake Shores Chapter (John F. Vontran) – Revision to add new related instruction locations at the TRI-M Group, LLC, 2 Gale Lane, Kennett Square, PA 18348 and Myco Mechanical, Inc., 1 North Washington Street, Telford, PA 18969.

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

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

1. Hudak’s Insulation, Inc. (Kelton Addison).

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

2. Lywood Electric, Inc. (Kelton Addison).

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

3. Strickland Fire Protection, Inc. (Ginamarie Best).

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

4. Electrical Apprenticeship Program of Carroll County, Maryland (Teresa Mena).

This item was removed from the agenda prior to the Council meeting.

5. Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., Chesapeake Shores Chapter (Jane Sinclair).

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

6. Heating and Air Conditioning Contractors of Maryland, Inc. (Jane Sinclair).

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

7. Maryland Natural Resources Police (Jane Sinclair).

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

8. J.F. Sobieski Mechanical Contractors, Inc. (John F. Vontran).

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

9. Quality Heating and Air Conditioning Company, Inc. (John F. Vontran).

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

10. Ralph G. Degli Obizzi & Sons, Inc. (John F. Vontran).

A review of this program performed in 2018 found that there were numerous deficiencies at that time. The 2018 review was tabled by the Council with a follow-up review to be performed in one year.

Mr. Vontran noted to the Council that the current review found that there was still a lot of information missing. He stated that the sponsor had not completed any apprentices in the State of Maryland, that none of the sponsor’s apprentices had ever applied for an apprentice plumbing license issued by the State of Maryland and the sponsor had stated that they had no desire to have their apprentices take the examination for the journeyman plumbing license. They do complete their apprentices in the State of Delaware. Mr. MacLarion added that he had learned from Delaware that the sponsor has completed 20 apprentices there since 2010.

Ms. Griffith informed the Council that to start the deregistration process, the sponsor needed to be given notice of the deficiencies found and given 30 days from the date of the notice to remedy the deficiencies.

A motion to send notification to the sponsor of the deficiencies found along with 30 days from the date of the letter to remedy those deficiencies was made by Mr. Wilford, seconded by Ms. Butt 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. D.M. Bowman, Inc. (Jennifer D. Runkles) – Occupation of Truck Driver, Heavy.

b. Plumbing Apprenticeship Program of Carroll County, Maryland (Teresa Mena) – Occupation of Plumber.

c. Tieder Electric, Inc. (Jane Sinclair) – Occupation of Electrician.

E. VOLUNTARY REQUESTS FOR CANCELLATION OF STANDARDS OF APPRENTICESHIP:

1. All American Electric, LLC effective September 1, 2019.

A motion to approve the request for voluntary cancellation of Standards of Apprenticeship for All American Electric, LLC effective September 1 2019was made by Mr. Shmelzer, seconded by Mr. Bromley and unanimously approved.

2. Tieder Electric, Inc. effective October 18, 2019.

A motion to approve the request for voluntary cancellation of Standards of Apprenticeship for Tieder Electric, Inc. effective October 18, 2019 was made by Mr. Bromley, seconded by Mr. Shmelzer and unanimously approved.

F. OTHER BUSINESS:

1. Maryland Environmental Service (Jane Sinclair) – Request to register five (5) apprentice Environmental Systems Operators 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. Shmelzer, seconded by Mr. Bromley and unanimously approved.

2. Baltimore City Joint Apprenticeship Program (John F. Vontran) - Request for registration of an apprentice Maintenance Technician 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. Wilford, seconded by Mr. Shmelzer and unanimously approved.

3. Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local No. 24 JAC (John F. Vontran) – Request for after-the-fact registration and completion of an apprentice Asbestos Worker.

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

4. Recommendation for deregistration of Apprenticeship Standards for the defunct apprenticeship program of Concordia Lutheran Church and Child Care Center, Inc. (MATC No. 2126) (Christopher D. MacLarion).

A motion to proceed with the deregistration of Apprenticeship Standards for the defunct apprenticeship program of the Concordia Lutheran Church and Child Care Center, Inc. was made by Mr. Shmelzer, seconded by Mr. Wilford and unanimously approved.

5. Recommendation for deregistration of Apprenticeship Standards for the defunct apprenticeship program of James Busick Master Electrician, Inc. (MATC No. 2214) (Christoper D. MacLarion).

A motion to proceed with the deregistraion of Apprenticeship Standards for the defunct apprenticeship program of James Busick Master Electician, Inc. was made by Mr. Shmelzer, seconded by Mr. Bromley and unanimously approved.

6. Reqeust for the approval of Contour Construction Corporation, LLC 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. Shmelzer and unanimously approved.

7. Request for the approval of First Peoples Community Federal Credit Union to be an eligible employer for Apprenticeship Maryland (Youth) (Jennifer D. Runkles).

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

8. Request for the approval of Gruber-Latimer Restoration to be an eligible employer for Apprenticeship Maryland (Youth) (Jennifer D. Runkles).

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

9. Request for the approval of E & B Automotive, 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 Mr. Wilford and unanimously approved.

10. Request for the approval of Queenstown Collision Center, 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 Mr. Klusmann and unanimously approved.

11. Request for the approval of Spring & Associates, Inc. to be an eligible employer for Apprenticeship Maryland (Youth) (Patty Shreves).

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

12. Request for the approval of The Inn at Perry Cabin 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 C & R Electric to be an eligible employer for Apprenticeship Maryland (Youth) (Patty Shreves).

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

14. Request for the approval of Shepherd Electric, 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.

15. Request for the approval of Shapiro and Duncan, Inc. to be an eligible employer for Apprenticeship Maryland (Youth) (Jeffrey W. Smith).

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

16. Request for the approval of Tulkoff Food Products to be an eligible employer for Apprenticeship Maryland (Youth) (John F. Vontran).

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

17. Proposed schedule of Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Council meetings for calendar year 2020.

A motion to approve the proposed schedule of Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Council meetings for calendar year 2020 was made by Ms. Butt, seconded by Mr. Shmelzer and unanimously approved.

Tuesday, January 14, 2020 at 9:00 A.M.

Independent Electrical Contractors, Inc. (I.E.C.)
Chesapeake Chapter
8751 Freestate Drive, Suite 250
Laurel, Maryland 20723

Tuesday, March 10, 2020 at 9:00 A.M.

Washington, D.C. Electricians JATC
I.B.E.W. Local No. 26
4371 Parliament Place, Suite A
Lanham, Maryland 20706

Tuesday, May 12, 2020 at 9:00 A.M.

Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc.
Cumberland Valley Chapter
530 North Locust Street
Hagerstown, Maryland 21740

Tuesday, July 14. 2020 at 9:00 A.M.

Delaware Elevator, Inc.
2207 Allen Drive
Salisbury, Maryland 21801

Tuesday, September 8, 2020 at 9:00 A.M.

Heating and Air Conditioning Contractors of
Maryland, Inc.
9635 Liberty Road, Suites K and L
Randallstown, Maryland 21133

Tuesday, November 10, 2020 at 9:00 A.M.

Baltimore JATC for the Electrical Industry
2699 West Patapsco Avenue
Baltimore, Maryland 21230

There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting of the Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Council was adjourned at 11:50 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Christopher D. MacLarion
Secretary