Council Social Services and Community Development Committee

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Social Services & Community Development Committee met on March 19, 2013, at 11:00 AM, with Ford presiding. The committee addressed four agenda items during the session, approving the committee summary from its January 22, 2013 meeting. Two informational presentations were heard regarding the Bluegrass Workforce Investment Board's development and training initiatives in Fayette County and the FY 14 Partner Agency Review. The committee took two votes during the meeting and heard two public comments. One agenda item—Adult & Tenant Services—was postponed and did not proceed during this session.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on March 19, 2013:

• Ford
• Akers
• Ellinger
• Kay
• Lawless
• Stinnett
• Scutchfield
• Myers
• Beard
• Lane

No absences or late arrivals were recorded.

Votes and Decisions

Approval of Committee Summary for January 22, 2013 7:39

The committee approved the summary from the January 22, 2013 meeting. Ellinger moved for approval, and Beard seconded the motion. The motion passed by voice vote with no abstentions.

Extension of Presentation Time 22:52

Myers moved to extend Darrell Smith's presentation time by five minutes, and the motion was seconded by Myers. The motion passed by voice vote with no abstentions.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed fiscal year 2014 funding allocations for partner agencies through the following action:

Partner Agency Funding Appropriation

Resolution 0073-26 recommended an appropriation of $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2014 partner agency funding. This allocation was presented for consideration as part of the meeting's financial agenda.

Public Comment

Two speakers addressed the council during the public comment period.

Lindy Carnes 1:49:34, treasurer of the Salvation Army, spoke regarding the organization's funding application and the associated 20-point deduction for a late submission. Carnes emphasized the Salvation Army's critical role in providing shelter and meals to homeless women and children. She requested that the council reconsider the penalty, citing a technical file conversion issue as the reason for the late application.

Jack Birch 1:52:57, Executive Director of Community Action Council, addressed concerns about the funding process and fairness. Birch defended the integrity of the application and evaluation system, warning against making exceptions for individual applicants as this could undermine the overall process. He urged the council to consider increasing overall funding levels rather than adjusting outcomes for specific organizations.

Appointments

The following appointments were made during this meeting:

• Ford was appointed to serve as Chair
• Akers was appointed to serve as Vice Chair

Contested Items

Interlocal Agreement with Bluegrass Workforce Investment Board

The committee addressed a procedural dispute regarding the absence of a signed interlocal agreement between LFUCG and the Bluegrass Workforce Investment Board. Council members raised concerns about outdated language within the proposed agreement and the lack of performance-based accountability measures. The administration expressed reluctance to sign the agreement, citing perceived risks associated with its terms. In response to these concerns, council members called for a 30-day review period to clarify the legal and policy barriers preventing execution of the agreement.

Funding Allocation for Partner Agencies

A split vote emerged during discussion of funding allocation for partner agencies, centered on the application of a 20-point penalty for late submissions. The penalty's impact on the Salvation Army became a focal point of debate. Some committee members argued that an appeals process should be established to address cases where applications were submitted late, contending this would provide fairness to affected organizations. Other members defended the integrity of the established penalty system, maintaining that consistent enforcement of application deadlines was necessary to maintain the credibility of the funding process. The committee did not reach consensus on whether exceptions or appeals mechanisms should be implemented.

Approval of Committee Summary for January 22, 2013

7:39

The committee approved the summary of the January 22, 2013 meeting. Council Member Ellinger made a motion to approve the summary, which was seconded by Council Member Beard. The committee then conducted a voice vote, and the summary was approved.

Bluegrass Workforce Investment Board: Development & Training in Fayette County

8:10

Darrell Smith, Chair of the Bluegrass Workforce Investment Board, presented on workforce development initiatives in Fayette County. Smith outlined the Workforce Investment Act and emphasized the board's market-driven, performance-based model for training and development programs.

Key Topics Presented:

• The board's role in workforce development and its partnerships with local businesses
• The need for a new interlocal agreement between the Bluegrass Workforce Investment Board and Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG)

Concerns Raised:

Committee members, including Council Member Myers and Council Member Kay, expressed concerns about the lack of a signed agreement between the parties. Additionally, the committee raised questions regarding the impact of funding cuts on the board's ability to deliver workforce development services.

Jennifer Compton also participated in the discussion.

Outcome:

The presentation was informational in nature, with no formal action taken during this agenda item.

FY 14 Partner Agency Review

1:02:41

Commissioner Beth Mills and Craig Benz presented the FY 2014 partner agency funding process to the committee. The presentation outlined a competitive, needs-based review system that incorporates third-party scoring to evaluate funding requests from partner agencies.

Key Discussion Points

The committee raised several concerns about the proposed funding process:

• Late Application Penalty: Council members questioned the 20-point penalty imposed on applications submitted after the deadline. This penalty was identified as potentially problematic for agencies that might miss submission dates.

• Impact on Specific Agencies: The Salvation Army was cited as an example of an organization that could be negatively affected by the new review structure and associated penalties.

• Prioritization of Basic Human Needs: Committee members emphasized the importance of ensuring that funding decisions prioritize basic human needs services when allocating resources to partner agencies.

Speakers and Positions

Council Members Ellinger, Stinnett, and Kay participated in the discussion, raising concerns about the process. CAO Hamilton also contributed to the conversation. The mayor's office, represented in the discussion, indicated a willingness to reconsider aspects of the funding process in response to the committee's concerns.

Outcome

The agenda item was classified as informational, indicating that the presentation was delivered for committee awareness and discussion rather than for a formal vote or immediate decision. The expressed openness from the mayor's office to reconsider the process suggests that feedback from this meeting may inform revisions to the FY 2014 partner agency review procedures.

Adult & Tenant Services

The Adult & Tenant Services presentation, led by Godfrey, was scheduled as agenda item 4 1:58:48. However, due to time constraints during the meeting, the presentation was postponed to the next meeting.

Despite the postponement, the committee expressed interest in discussing this topic and indicated a desire to hear the presentation at a future date.