LEADERSHIP TEAM MEETING NOTES – July 25, 2011
In Attendance: Lewis Boren, Sue Bailey, Kimberly Patterson, Gerry Fluharty, Terry Gearhart, Roy Highsmith,
Linda Angel, Susan Kamas, Vivian Naramore, Debbie Gommert, Vickie Gideon, Jerry Haisler.
Last Meeting Review:
RIO Redesign: Team to meet; MOU needs to be updated (Ben got a copy from Linda).
On page 6, Jerry noted that the obligated amounts in the fall being included for spring is “no”, not
“yes”. E-mail sent to LT earlier this month on this.
Workforce Update:
TWC monitoring Report: This is still in discussion with TWC. Our rebuttals were submitted and TWC
responded to them. TWC does not agree with all so our concurrence with or response to their
rebuttals is still pending. ACTION: Horace will send a copy to LT. As always procurement is an audit
"lightning rod". New procurement forms were sent out by Horace. Rapid Response admin time being
charged off to chamber and Rotary activities was questioned. TANF: We have repeatedly asked about
the methodologies they use to extrapolate the error percentages. Latest response is that we can ask
for it at "audit resolution". That is a ridiculous response. Document security: emphasis is on putting
documents away and putting locks on doors. Staff alerted to close office doors and put up
confidential info to avoid compromise
Adam Leonard is reviewing all performance standards. Debbie and Kim are CT representatives on a
small workgroup.
At the national level, the deficit/debt is the big issue. What we now have or are planning to have may
change come September or later this year.
Executive Director’s Retreat (see agenda handout): Susan is responsible for arrangements. It will be at
Lake Texoma WF area this year. TAWB will be in Dallas so the retreat was cut to a day and a half to
accommodate. TWC is invited to the retreat but will not present. NAWB Director, Ron Painter, is
presenting. Larry Jones will present at the TAWB meeting in Dallas. The agenda is in the handouts.
New Central Texas Board Members: We have a new chair and other 6 new directors. Cameron Bell is
the new TWC board representative.
WIA white paper was sent out. Kudos to Linda for a job well done!
According to TWC we might get back 1 or 2 ES positions to be funded through August 2012. NOTE:
this was confirmed after the LT mtg -- 1 each in Temple and Killeen --yeah! TWC will not allow one
time merits and this may be true throughout the next year. We do budget for these merits but TWC
has to approve them.
Budget: Susan and Jerry met with David and Mitzi concerning 2012 projections. LT discussed that training
costs at schools are rising dramatically.
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BRAC: We have the first installment (1.2 mil) of 5 mil. We and the state have to meet certain
spending thresholds before we can get the next installment. Demand for the program is high and the
cost of training is rising every year. Funds could increase with de-obligation funds from other areas.
WIA: enroll less due to training costs. We need to figure out a way to add training dollars. We don’t
know what the carry-over is however. WIA allocation is about $75k for Louis and Vickie, and $15-20k
for Kim. This is for spring and summer.
Overall for budget, we’re in fairly good position so far but that could change over the next few
months. There is a raise and incentive built into next year’s budget. We will continue to closely
evaluate each vacancy and determine if we can fill the position. Things are better than we thought
they would be but it is all a moving target. We will get through this year and see what happens
afterward. We have grants ending which will affect us. Travel is being closely monitored. Attendance
at the TWC annual conference in Houston is cut in half, from 30 to 15 (5 Board, 5 Board staff, 5
Contractor).
LT discussed how best to get this info to all staff. Do we do large meetings or smaller, regional office
meetings? Office meetings would cut down on travel costs. LT agreed to office meetings as follows:
Temple the morning of August 23 and afternoon of August 25 and Killeen August 24.
Travel: Jerry stated that vouchers must be submitted in a timely manner once the travel is completed.
Don’t be late. Make sure meal costs are reasonable and justifiable. All claims must pass public
scrutiny.
Awards: See pages 19-33. There will be steep competition this year. We didn’t do industry sector this year.
We look competitive in the areas selected. The award dollars may not be as large this year.
Employer: Scott and White business your way customized service process.
Service to Workers: UI to Hire, career center reorganization. Focus on hiring.
Service to Community: Rev Up Council.
DOL national workgroup to integrate WF and UI. Jerry is part of this group. Central Texas will be interviewed
for best practices for integration of UI services -no date set.
Performance, pages 34-47:
Performance Improvement Team meeting minutes are at page 17-18 in book.
Adam Leonard’s Measurement Review (Measure Matters), pages 7-16: What strikes us about the
proposals? Give comments to Debbie and Kim asap. Adam realizes that Market Share doesn’t mean
much if anything - we did it right, other areas provided one or minimal service and got credit. It is due
to be replaced and that makes us happy.
Discussion: we are vesting much time and energy on claimant contacts. Claimant 10 week data needs
to be captured and used. TWC needs to let us know who they have found so that we don’t waste our
time trying to find them again.
Staff Created: discussed employment with the same employer versus getting a better job, or another
job, with a different employer. We have no control over this and this should not be the measure.
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Discussion followed on who our customer really is. Gerry stated that TWC is really our customer since
we must meet their standards and we spend our time working to meet them. That is correct but it is
how we get funded!
Current Performance:
CHOICES still number 2 for incentive award. We are next highest to Panhandle.
TBTW: we went from last to first. We are now un-Piped and have asked for more funds for 5060 more people.
WIA: looking good (page 46). We are down to the last quarter on incentives and we are still
number one.
Market Share: going great!
Workforce Luncheon:
Theme is being brainstormed by Lewis and Camp WF. Comments from the last luncheon are being
used. Keep it simple, entertaining with appropriate humor, short presentations, theme woven into
the awards, and as much staff involvement as possible. They are looking at possible “Hollywood
Canteen” a retro theme during WWII, to recognize veterans and award winners. Also possibly
“workforce idol”, a melodrama (villains, boo’s, etc), some fad going on in the news, reality TV,
Hollywood Squares, or Family Reunion II. The team will meet again Wednesday in Belton to continue
consideration.
The meal could be buffet or server depending on what the bid is. The provider must be in-region.
Invitations will be designed in house. We need to send out the “save the date” cards soon.
Next Leadership Team Meeting: 8:30 AM, August 18 CTCOG.
Meeting Evaluation:
What was Good:
Great discussions on agenda items.
Great meeting.
Thanks to everyone who brought food. Thanks for the food. Good vittles!!
Great info and updates.
Usual good updates from Jerry and Susan.
Glad to hear the future budget is not as bleak as we thought it could be.
Good info. Thanks for the update!
Always enjoy the discussions. Good information.
What could we improve?
Nothing. It’s all good.
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