MEETING MINUTES OF THE

Location: Clark County Jail Work Center Vancouver, Washington

Board Members Attending: Andrea Bynum, Jane Johnson, Anton Jones, Andre Loh, Randy Loomans, Runette Mitchell, Jim Powers, Ted Rutt, Bruce Thompson, Julie Wilson, and Marvin Wolff

Proxies Presented: Ken Bensimon for Jeralita Costa, Howard Patshkowski for Doug Jacques, and Larry McKinstry for Howard Yarbrough

  Advisory Committee Members Attending: Eric Haga, Debra Latimer, Dick Winn, and Kurt Bledsoe, Cowlitz County Corrections Lieutenant (for Ilona Kirby)

Guests: Jackie Batties, Clark County Jail Work Center Custody Lieutenant; Randy Finsen, Snohomish County Corrections Programs Manager; and Sandy Hyppa, Pierce County Superior Court

A.  Call to Order

Chair Bruce Thompson welcomed and thanked those attending then officially called the meeting to order at 9:32 a.m.

B.  Welcome by Undersheriff Jane Johnson and Custody Lieutenant      Jackie Batties

Members were welcomed by Undersheriff Jane Johnson and introduced to Custody Lieutenant Jackie Batties.

C.  Tour of Clark County Jail Work Center

Jackie Batties facilitated an open discussion of questions and answers as we toured the facility. Bruce Thompson thanked Jane and Jackie for the tour and hosting of the meeting.

D.  Introduction and Welcome of New Board Members

Chair Bruce Thompson again thanked those attending, welcomed our new Board members, and asked all attendees to introduce themselves. Members, guests, and staff gave brief introductions.

The new members are:

• Andre Loh, Associate Dean, Basic Studies Division, Seattle Central Community College, for the education seat;
• Randy Loomans, Education and Safety Director, Washington State Labor Council, for the labor seat;
• Julie Wilson, WorkFirst Community Jobs Manager, Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED), for the CTED seat;
• Marvin M. Wolff, Business Representative, Whatcom Maritime Historical Society, for the business seat;
• Kurt Bledsoe, Lieutenant, Cowlitz County Corrections, for the advisory committee

E.  Approval of the Minutes: February 16, 2000 Board Meeting

Chair Bruce Thompson noted a quorum was present and asked for approval of the last meetings minutes. A motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes. The motioned carried.

F.   Report of Ad Hoc Committee on FY 2002 - 2003 Budget Planning       and Full Board Budget Discussion

At the last Board meeting an Ad Hoc Budget Funding Committee was formed. The committee held a meeting on May 12, 2000 to discuss budget concerns and options.

For the new Board members’ benefit Jill Will gave a brief report of the Board’s history and budget process. She then reported the findings/recommendations of the committee meeting for the FY 2002/2003-budget proposal. After discussion and review of the committee recommendations, the Board agreed with the committee's recommendation to keep the Board's funding request in the Department of Corrections (DOC) budget. A motion was made and seconded to work with the DOC budget office for a request for funding not to exceed $300,000 for funds for the fiscal years 2002 and 2003. This amount still represents a bare bones budget but would allow for a budget increase for rent, potential fulltime secretarial support, web site expenses, and printing expenses for the annual work report. The motion carried.

Action Item: Jill Will finalize budget request with the Department of Corrections.

Jill Will then opened discussion regarding a potential budget enhancement request to establish a Board Labor Liaison position to help offenders enter the apprenticeship system. She noted that funneling offenders into apprenticeships was very much within the Board's mission. She also stated that Governor Locke's directive on using more apprentices on state construction projects may be an opportunity to form a more positive relationship with unions who have traditionally been concerned about inmate labor. The Governor’s directive states that apprentices should perform 10% of all labor on state construction projects. A statewide initiative including the Employment Security Department and Community Trade and Economic Development is working with the Washington State Labor Council and others to increase apprenticeship recruitment and address training issues.

Jill requested Randy Loomans, newly appointed labor representative to the Board, to address the Board about apprenticeship programs and discuss her concept of a labor liaison position. There are over 500 apprenticeable trades throughout the state of Washington. Most apprenticeship programs are under joint union-management committees. Some are plant programs that are "in-house" apprenticeships at a particular workplace. The apprenticeship process is formal, with apprentices signing an agreement with a sponsor. There are criteria to enter and complete apprenticeships. Most programs are 3-5 years long and require approximately 144 hours per year of education in addition to on the job learning. Apprentices generally work 40 hours a week with additional training 1-2 nights per week, but this can vary according to the criteria of the apprenticeship or trade. The concept is “earn while you learn." When an apprentice finishes his or her program, he or she will have viable skills and will be able to make a livable income nation-wide, as the skills are recognized nation-wide.

Ms. Loomans suggested that offenders are not going to know about all the opportunities available to them unless we get out there and tell them. Similar education and recruitment programs are working very well with school to work programs and with community and technical colleges. A full time position could be started to go to the jails and give explanations of what kind of apprenticeship programs are available. Career possibilities are endless for this program.

Following discussion on the merits of Ms. Looman's idea, it was the decision of the Board to establish a Labor Liaison Committee to pursue grant funding for an apprenticeship program position. The committee members are as follows: Anton Jones, Randy Loomans, Julie Wilson, Bruce Thompson, and Jill Will.

Action Item: Jill Will convene the Labor Liaison committee.

G.   Report of Web Site Committee

Howard Patshkowski, Information Technology Manager for Corrections Clearinghouse, and member of the Board's web site committee gave a presentation of the Access Washington Resource Directory (AWRD) web site produced by Corrections Clearinghouse (CCH) staff and inmates at Airway Heights Corrections Center. Staff and inmates received recognition and an award from Governor Locke for their work on the project. The committee determined that the web site could be a model for establishing the Jail Industries Board's web site. Much of the web site could be built using inmate labor. Project supervision and on-line maintenance and uploads would be handled by CCH staff. The Board could use the Department of Information Service host server.

Discussion of the Board about the findings ended with the Board's motion of approval for an expenditure authority for a web site. One-time start up expenditures should be approximately $1500.00. Ongoing expense will be $35.00 per month for storage fees from DIS. Ongoing maintenance will be provided by CCH at a price to be determined. Bruce requested further email contact for input to usage and links to other sites.

Action Item: Jill Will schedule the project and solicit input on web site content from Board members and potential users.

H.  Executive Director’s Report on Action Items and Activities

Jill Will submitted her written report. There was discussion on some items.

Jill reported that the Board received inquiries but no commitments for the Board’s Business Representative. The Line Law Officer seat also remains vacant. She requested additional recruitment referrals for these vacant seats on the board.

Marvin Wolff discussed Whatcom County's efforts at long range criminal justice/jail planning, which includes examining all sorts of alternatives to incarceration.

Jane Johnson discussed industry development efforts at the Clark County Jail Work Center.

Jill Will reported on the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs work on jail standards and its ongoing capacity study. She also provided additional information about the Ad Hoc Working Group on Correctional Industries. Allegations of unfair competition exist. The Department of Corrections was in a difficult position because they are involved in litigation and unable to defend themselves in a public legislative committee setting. If Corrections looses the lawsuit, Washington's PIE certification is on the line. The Ad Hoc Working Group will continue its work with an examination of the costs of doing business within a correctional facility, and a review of the public benefits of having inmates work for private sector companies.

I.  Other Business

Chair Bruce Thompson explained that the Employment Security Department (ESD) is reviewing all exempt positions. Salary "bands" which offer wider discretion for compensation decisions based upon performance, experience, and market factors are replacing set salary levels. Because the Executive Director's position is administered by ESD, the Board can participate in this review process. He requested a Salary/Position Review Committee be established to discuss the State Banding Salary Structure, revise the Executive Director’s job description to meet the requirements of the project, and review options for using ESD administration or small agency accounting and personnel services. Committee members are as follows: Ken Bensimon, Jane Johnson, and Bruce Thompson.

Action Item: Bruce Thompson convene the Salary/Position Review Committee

Bruce mentioned that Corrections Clearinghouse has new state of the art sewing equipment in storage available to industries for a small investment. This equipment was received through the surplus property program from Northern State Hospital.

J.  Adjournment

Meeting Adjourned at 1:30PM.