Inter Governmental Committee

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Inter-Governmental Committee met on March 10, 2009, at 1:00 p.m., with CM James presiding. The committee considered three agenda items during the meeting: the Construction Apprenticeship Program, Oath for Commissions/Boards, and Grievance Procedures. All three items were deferred and did not reach a final decision. The committee heard five public comments during the meeting and took no votes on any matters.

Attendance

Present: James, Crosbie, Beard, Henson, Feigel, Martin, Blues

Absent: Myers, Gray, Lawless

Late: None

Public Comment

The meeting included public comment on two primary topics: a construction apprenticeship program and concerns about grievance procedures.

Construction Apprenticeship Program

Four speakers addressed the construction apprenticeship program initiative:

Robert Akins 4:23 explained that apprenticeship programs are nationally recognized and provide on-the-job training that allows workers to earn while learning. He emphasized the program's role in workforce development and economic growth.

Todd Pancake 10:42 described the Indiana-Kentucky Carpenters program as a four-year, earn-while-you-learn initiative offering benefits and pensions with nationwide recognition. He highlighted the program's success in training minority and veteran workers.

Larry Hujo 16:41 advocated for the ordinance as a tool to encourage local workforce investment and economic development. He cited Louisville's successful implementation and noted the program's ability to retain skilled workers locally.

Anthony Wright 23:39 supported the program as a workforce development initiative aligned with economic stimulus goals, noting its potential to support green infrastructure and skilled labor needs.

Grievance Procedure Concerns

Joan Begg 1:57:07 expressed concern that the grievance and discipline processes are misused, creating a destructive cycle that wastes taxpayer resources and undermines trust in the system.

Contested Items

Construction Apprenticeship Program

A heated discussion arose regarding the apprenticeship requirement in Fayette County, which mandated that 25–33% of workers on construction projects be apprentices. The central debate focused on whether this requirement was enforceable and what impact it might have on local contractors. Committee members raised concerns that the requirement could create a competitive imbalance, potentially disadvantaging local contractors compared to outside firms. An additional concern was raised about the lack of guarantees that apprentices trained under the program would remain in the county, calling into question the long-term local benefit of the requirement.

Grievance Procedure

A procedural dispute emerged regarding the grievance process itself. Multiple committee members expressed frustration over significant delays in addressing grievances, noting that the issue had been pending for over a year. The committee identified administrative bottlenecks as a primary obstacle preventing timely resolution of the grievance process. This prolonged delay was a source of frustration among committee members, who viewed the extended timeline as problematic for the effective functioning of the grievance system.

Construction Apprenticeship Program

3:14

The committee discussed a proposed ordinance to provide a 3% bid preference to qualified bidders who participate in registered apprenticeship programs.

Key Points Presented

Speakers emphasized the program's potential benefits for workforce development and economic growth. The discussion highlighted that the apprenticeship program has nationwide recognition and could strengthen the local construction industry by supporting workers in registered training programs.

Speakers

The following individuals contributed to the discussion: Robert Akins, Todd Pancake, Larry Hujo, and Anthony Wright.

Concerns Raised

Committee members raised several concerns about the proposal:

• Enforceability of the bid preference requirement
• Whether the preference would maintain fair competitiveness among bidders
• Uncertainty about whether apprentices would remain working in Fayette County after completing their training

Outcome

The committee deferred action on the proposed ordinance, indicating the matter was postponed for further consideration at a future meeting.

Oath for Commissions/Boards

Councilmember Beard proposed requiring oaths for board and commission members as a means to emphasize their responsibility and accountability 1:19:12. The discussion involved multiple council members including Feigel, Blues, Martin, and Askew.

The council explored several aspects of the proposal, including its feasibility and how enforcement might work in practice. Questions arose about whether the process should be formalized and what specific language would be appropriate for such an oath.

The committee determined that further development was needed before implementation. To advance the proposal, the council agreed to form a working group tasked with drafting appropriate language for the oath that would reflect the responsibilities expected of board and commission members.

The item was deferred, allowing time for the working group to develop a more detailed proposal for future consideration.

Grievance Procedures

The committee discussed concerns about delays in the grievance process during this agenda item 1:38:39.

Issues Raised

Chair James raised concerns about the stalled grievance process, noting resident complaints and delays attributed to HR system implementation.

Committee Response

The committee agreed to form a task force to assess the current grievance procedures and recommend improvements. A timeline for this work is to be established.

Participants

Key speakers on this item included James, Martin, Blues, Beard, Askew, and Begg.

Outcome

The matter was deferred pending the task force's assessment and recommendations.