Executive Committee Meeting Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Transcription

1 Executive Committee Meeting Wednesday, August 22, 2012 Members Staff James Thomas Cameron County Eric Bridges William Bogart Cameron County Susan Snelick Mark McCracken Clearfield County Cheryl DePanfilis John Shimko Clearfield County Julie Kasmierski Daniel Freeburg Elk County Larry Horning June Sorg Elk County James Swanson Sam McDonald Elk County Amy Kessler Jeffrey Pisarcik Jefferson County Christine Perneski Larry Conrad Jefferson County Mary Lou Jessop Joseph DeMott McKean County Robert Esch McKean County Douglas Morley Potter County Guests Thomas G.G. Coppolo Joseph Bell JoAnn Seltzer Solicitor Ridgway Record/Kane Republican Courier Express Chairman Morley called the meeting to order at 9:30 AM with the pledge to the flag. QUORUM/INTRODUCTIONS Chairman Morley requested that introductions be done. As well, he noted there was a quorum for the meeting. MINUTES With no corrections, additions or amendments to the July 25 Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, Bob Esch moved to approve the minutes as presented, seconded by John Shimko. Motion unanimously passed. OLD BUSINESS There was no Old Business to be discussed.

2 NEW BUSINESS Financial Reports The Financial Reports for the month of July were presented. With no other questions, Jeff Pisarcik moved to accept the Financial Reports as presented, seconded by John Shimko. Motion unanimously passed. Purchases There were no Purchases for the month. Resolutions There were no Resolutions for the month. A95s A95s were reviewed. Jeff Pisarcik acknowledged receipt of the A95s as presented, seconded by Mark McCracken. Recommendation to complete review process was unanimously passed. Correspondence There was no Correspondence for the month. LOANS Rumor s Tavern, Inc., Punxsutawney, Jefferson County, has requested a loan in the amount of $172,500 from the First Industries Fund Tourism for 15 years at the rate of 2.75%. This money is for building construction and purchase of equipment. North Central s collateral will be shared first mortgage on land and the building to be constructed and a second lien on all business assets, subject to the first mortgage and first lien of S&T Bank, and the personal guarantees of the owners. Eight jobs will be retained and two new jobs will be created. The projected annual average hourly rate will be $7.50/hour plus 20% benefits. Jeff Pisarcik moved to approve the loans to Rumor s Tavern, Inc., seconded by Larry Conrad. Motion unanimously passed. P/M National, Inc., St. Marys, Elk County, has requested loans in the amount of $100,000 from the Intermediary Relending Program 4 for 7 years at the rate of 3% and $50,000 from the Economic Development Administration Revolving Loan Fund for 7 years at the rate of 4%. This money is for the purchase of a 60 Ton Compaction Press and a 30 Ton Press. North Central s collateral will be specific first lien on equipment to be the 30 Ton Press and a second lien on the 60 Ton Press to be acquired, 2

3 subject to the first lien on the bank and shared with the St. Marys EDC and the personal guarantees of the owners. Sixteen jobs will be retained and ten new jobs will be created. The projected annual average hourly rate will be $12.00/hour plus 32% benefits. Dan Freeburg moved to approve the loans to P/M National, Inc., seconded by June Sorg. Motion unanimously passed. Matson Lumber Company, Brookville, Jefferson County, has requested a loan in the amount of $200,000 from the Intermediary Relending Program 4 for 7 years at the rate of 3%. This money is for the purchase of equipment. North Central s collateral will be first lien position on specific equipment to be acquired with a value of $250,000, corporate guarantee of Matson Industries, Inc., and the personal guarantee of the two majority owners. One hundred ten jobs will be retained. The projected annual average hourly rate will be $18.00/hour plus 32% benefits. Jeff Pisarcik moved to approve the loans to Matson Lumber Company, seconded by Bob Esch. Motion unanimously passed. Pat also reported that the Loan Review Committee held the election of officers at their August meeting and voted to retain the current slate of officers: Mark Breakey as Chairman and Kevin Oknefski as Vice Chairman. Each year the Loan Program is required to get approval from the Executive Committee on its administrative budget in the amount of $183, Therefore, the Loan Program s Administrative Budget for FY is presented to the Executive Committee for their approval. The funding sources, which include the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Economic Development Administration, and the USDA, require approval by the Board of Directors prior to submission of the budget report and subsequent implementation. John Shimko moved to approve the Loan Program s Administrative Budget in the amount of $183, as presented, seconded by Larry Conrad. Motion unanimously passed. Eric requested permission to post, recruit and hire an individual for the position of Loan Officer within the Enterprise Development Department. Funds, which were originally budgeted under the recently vacated Enterprise Development Director position, for this position are available as well as funds in the Loan Administration budget. This position is a Level 11 with a starting salary of $39,387. Mark McCracken moved to grant permission to post, recruit and hire for the Loan Officer position, seconded by Jeff Pisarcik. Motion unanimously passed. DISCUSSION Executive Director s Remarks With recent changes to the Executive Committee, Eric requested that the following individuals be appointed to the Audit/Finance Committee: 3

4 June Sorg, NCP Secretary/Treasurer (replacing Carole Harshbarger) Jim Thomas, Cameron County Commissioner (replacing JoAnn Smith) Jeff Pisarcik, Jefferson County Commissioner (replacing Paul Corbin) Other Committee members include: Doug Morley, Potter County Commissioner Joe DeMott, McKean County Commissioner Mark McCracken, Clearfield County Commissioner Dan Freeburg, Elk County Commissioner Mickey Catalano, representing the NCP Loan Review Committee Bob Cardamone, representing the NC WIB Joe DeMott moved to appoint June Sorg, Jim Thomas and Jeff Pisarcik to the Audit/Finance Committee, seconded by Mark McCracken. Motion unanimously passed. Eric reported that after last month s Executive Committee meeting, the Audit/Finance Committee met with representatives from ParenteBeard walking the Committee and staff through the expectations regarding the upcoming audit process. Eric also noted that this is the third and last year of the contract with ParenteBeard. So within the next several months we will have to begin the RFP process for auditors. Partnerships for Regional Economic Performance (PREP) Eric reported that the guidelines for the FY 2013 PREP program, as well as funding allocations have been released by the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). North Central PREP has been invited to apply for the same amount as received last year and the consensus of the partners was to keep all individual allocations as they were last year. The deadline to submit the PREP application for FY 2013 is August 31 and Eric sees no problems in meeting that date. Bill Bogart asked why Clarion University received $137,104 and stated he would like to see how this money was used. Instead of Clarion getting such a large allocation he would like to see this allocation divided between the counties. Eric stated after tomorrow s meeting at Clarion he would have a better idea of how they used this money. And he did state that North Central does not approve the allocations for each partner. Workforce Operations Workforce Operations, specifically Title I and EARN components of the CareerLink system which North Central administers, have been part of a long, ongoing conversation with respect to the workforce development system and the CareerLink system. At the end of the last fiscal year we were looking at an 4

5 approximate $300,000 operating deficit. Therefore, Workforce Operations has been directed, by the WIB, to develop a budget for Title I/EARN to be submitted to the WIB at their meeting on August 24. Larry Horning reviewed a handout which showed, through actual Carryover funds, additional TANF Youth funds, additional Rapid Response/Dislocated Worker funds, a Highmark Grant and an estimated WEDnet Performance Award, how the deficit has been reduced from $304,608 to $48,879. These are activities that have been implemented and funds that have been identified internally. This has not changed initial projections as far as services to the Adult Dislocated Worker and Youth activities and hasn t changed our staff capacity within the CareerLinks. We have an individual who has taken another job and if we were not to replace that position, then there is going to be discussions with the other CareerLink partners as far as how does this impact the activities within the CareerLink and if this position will have an impact on our ability to provide services within the six counties. This will be presented to the WIB at their meeting on Friday. WIC Eric asked Julie Kasmierski to talk briefly on the celebration of World Breastfeeding Week. Julie stated that August 1 7 is World Breastfeeding Week and a luncheon was held at the Lumberjack s Steakhouse. Following the luncheon WIC staff visited 14 businesses throughout Elk, Cameron, Clearfield, Jefferson and Potter counties who were chosen by their employees or customers because they provide a quiet, private area for mothers to breastfeed or pump breast milk. Each of these businesses was presented a framed certificate thanking them for the support they provide for breastfeeding mothers. Export Eric asked Christine Perneski to talk briefly on the upcoming Export event in September. Chris stated that the 14 th Annual Bringing the World to You will be held on Wednesday, September 19, at The Red Fern in Kersey. This year 20 of the 21 Pennsylvania Overseas Offices will be represented holding one-to-one meetings with industries in our area. As of now there are 13 companies registered to attend this event. If you are interested in attending this event and come for lunch, to please either contact Chris at ncexport@ncentral.com or Mary Lou at mljessop@ncentral.com. Also if you would like a list of the companies that will be attending, Chris will be pleased to provide that to you. Eric stated that the interview process has taken place for the position of Export Trade Specialist and he expects to announce his decision within the next several days. 5

6 Also handed out at the meeting was a copy of the Governor s Manufacturing Advisory Council s Recommendations to encourage growth in Pennsylvania s manufacturing sector. This was provided for informational purposes only. Transportation Amy stated that as a follow-up to questions she has had this week for the Elk County Commissioners, the Grant Bridge project should be going out very soon. There are two questions they are waiting for the Township to answer based on kiosks that they need to put in there. The Department of Transportation is working directly with the Township on this. For McKean County Amy received word that regarding Port Allegany Project, we expect to hear from Washington by the end of August on what they plan to do with this project. We have reached out to Dick Kallenborn on several questions and as soon as he gets back we hope to get that answer. And lastly for all the Commissioners, the Long Range Transportation Plan is going out. Amy thanked the Commissioners for attending the Public Meetings. This will be going out in September and hopefully we will be putting this in each of your offices. If you get comments, please refer them back to Amy. The plan is available online right now and she is finalizing the Executive Summary. Executive Session Eric requested an Executive Session. Therefore, Mark McCracken moved to go into Executive Session at 10:20 AM on legal issues, seconded by Bill Bogart. Motion unanimously passed. The regular meeting reconvened at 10:38 AM. The Executive Session was regarding pending litigation and no action was required. ADJOURN The next meeting of the Executive Committee will be held on Wednesday, September 26, at 9:30 AM, in the Conference Room. With no additional items to be discussed, Mark McCracken moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Jim Thomas. Motion passed. The meeting adjourned at 10:39 AM. Respectfully submitted, June H. Sorg Secretary/Treasurer 6