Peoria Standard

City of Peoria Fair Employment Commission met Nov. 12.

Here is the minutes provided by the commission:

Call to order

Commission Chair Sherry Carter-Allen, called to order the regular meeting of the Fair Employment Commission at 4:43 pm on 11/12/2020, meeting held electronically.

Roll call

Debra Bush, Affirmative Employment Specialist, as City of Peoria Staff Liaison, conducted a roll call. The following persons were present: Debra Bush as City of Peoria staff liaison; Commissioners—Sherry Carter-Allen (Chair), David McGinty (Vice Chair), Carl Holloway, Laraine Bryson, Councilwoman Denise Moore; Arriving Late (After Roll Call) Rev Barry Robinson; Absent-Excused: Pastor Chuck Brown, Commissioner Melanie Andrews; Quorum Established.

Commission Chair Carter-Allen introduced and welcomed Debra Bush, Affirmative Employment Specialist, as the new City of Peoria Staff Liaison for the Commission.

Debra Bush stated that she was glad to have the opportunity to serve the Commission.

Approval of minutes from last meeting

Commission Chair Carter-Allen stated the minutes of the October 8, 2020 meeting were not available due to Dr. Farris Muhammad leaving his position with the City of Peoria.

Commission Chair Carter-Allen called for a motion to defer the approval of the meeting minutes from the October 8, 2020 meeting. Motion to approve the deferral was made by Commissioner Laraine Bryson and seconded by Commissioner Carl Holloway. Motion carries by unanimous vote.

Agenda Item I. Resignation of Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer

Commission Chair Carter-Allen congratulated Dr. Farris Muhammad on his new position in Kansas, Missouri. She stated that the Commission would miss him.

Commission Chair Carter-Allen stated that the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer position was very important and that it should be filled expeditiously. She stated that Councilwoman Denise Moore and Debra Bush would keep the Commission updated on the progress.

Commissioner Laraine Bryson asked if it was certain that the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer would be filled. Councilwoman Moore stated that this was a position that was needed, and it would be filled.

Commission Chair Carter-Allen stated that Commissioner Loraine Bryson would be retiring from the Peoria Tri-County Urban League after being the Executive Director for over 27 years. She has afforded many opportunities to the community and the young people she has contacted through TSTM (Tomorrow’s Scientists, Technicians and Managers) and various youth development programs.

Commissioner Bryson stated that she didn’t expect to be recognized, but that it had been a journey of 27 years. She stated that she would be around until the end of January and would be making a smooth transition until the replacement is in place. She stated that the top three candidates would be interviewed, and they would have to go through a certification process and then a final decision would be made. She stated that if she is unable to serve in the future, she would like someone from the Urban League to be represented on the Commission.

Agenda Item II. Discussion Regarding Proposed Employer Handbook

Commission Chair Carter-Allen stated that since there was a guest speaker on the agenda, she didn’t want to spend very much time with this agenda item. She stated that Vice Chair David McGinty had brought up the idea of creating an Employer Handbook that would assist employers on how to go about participating in different things with the City that they may not be aware of that would help them not have to appear before this Commission with problems. She stated that Mary Ann Stalcup, Human Resources Director, agreed that this handbook would be a project that the Commission could venture into completing. She asked Vice Chair McGinty to comment on the conversation regarding the handbook.

Vice Chair McGinty stated that the handbook could also list the grants available for small businesses. He stated that the handbook could outline free online and other training available that could be used to help their businesses. He stated that there could be links to various businesses and agencies that offer information on training.

Commission Chair Carter-Allen thought the vision was awesome and it was good to have Debra Bush on the Committee to help with the required language for the handbook.

Commission Chair Carter-Allen stated that she would like to keep the discussion regarding the Employer Handbook on the agenda for future meetings so it can be discussed and then provide a draft of the handbook at some point in time.

Councilwoman Moore stated that we should keep in mind that small pieces of information can be put out on the Communication vehicle on television, Channel 22, Comcast, along the way to make people aware of what is happening and about grants and other things that are available.

Agenda Item III. Presentation by Cassie Belter, City of Peoria Grants Coordinator

Councilwoman Moore stated that the reason she asked Cassie Belter to attend the meeting was that she is the Liaison to the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Public Services Advisory Commission. The City of Peoria receives CDBG funding each year from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Councilwoman Moore stated that for the last three years there have been categories for Employee Training. She has been trying to get minorities and women to apply for this grant.

Councilwoman Moore read some of the assessment which stated that the City of Peoria has a 22.7% poverty rate; African American poverty rate is 12.3% and 27.9% unemployment.

Councilwoman Moore wanted Cassie to go over the application process and give some examples of organizations that have used the funds. The main purpose is to make everyone aware that this is available and let the Commission be Ambassadors and let the community know that there are grants available.

Councilwoman Moore stated that the deadline to apply is Monday, November 23, 2020. Councilwoman Moore then asked Cassie Belter to discuss the grant in more detail.

Cassie Belter stated that it was great to attend the meeting and thanked everyone for the opportunity.

Cassie Belter stated she was the Grants Coordinator with the City of Peoria and she would be giving an overview of where the money comes from, how it is distributed to different non-profit organizations in the area and specifically how it related to employee training.

Ms. Belter stated that CDBG is a grant that is distributed every year from HUD, and they can use up to 15% of this program for public services. All the money must go to low income households in some way. They have home redevelopment programs, roof repair programs, non-profit programs and extra funding for COVID. Every program must be able to assist low income households. There are categories selected and the City Council votes on those categories. This year there were 10 different categories selected and one of them was Employment Training. Employment Training would involve anything that provides assistance to increase self-sufficiency; including literacy, independent learning skills and job training. Anything that falls into that category qualifies for employment training.

Ms. Belter stated that they have an application process and it will be open until Monday, November 23, 2020. The application link is on the City of Peoria’s website www.peoriagov.org > Government > Community Development > Grants Management > Applications & Forms > CDBG Public Services to find more information regarding the grant and the process to apply.

Ms. Belter stated that there is also a training session, which is about 45 minutes long, that was done virtually to learn about the application. There is a question and answer section also.

Ms. Belter stated that the grant is federally funded so there are various regulations that are attached to the grant. The grant is for one year so the organization will be evaluated. The eligible expenses are for staff, salary, benefits and taxes. The requests must be between $10,000 and $60,000 and at least 50% of their funding must be coming from another sources. The grant is reimbursement based, due to not receiving the funds from the Federal Government in a timely manner.

Ms. Belter stated that some basic requirements would be that the grant is serving low income residents of the City of Peoria; be a not-for-profit; 501C3 or a government agency; and have completed a full audit for the most fiscal year.

Ms. Belter stated that for example Goodwill and METEC, receive funds for public services. The Dream Center, which is a homeless shelter, they also receive funds for employment.

Ms. Belter then asked if there were any questions:

Commissioner Bryson asked if it was strictly for employment or any program serving low income. Ms. Belter stated that there were other programs they were funding, which includes childcare, mental health, youth services, health services, food banks, abused and neglected children services, victims of domestic violence services, substance abuse and fair housing activities.

Commissioner Bryson asked if the organization could submit more than one grant. Ms. Belter stated yes, absolutely and that there are several organizations that submit more than one application.

Commissioner Bryson asked if there was a specific time the applications needed to be submitted. Ms. Belter stated it is before or at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, November 23rd. Ms. Belter stated that it is an electronic application, and the application process will automatically shut off at that time.

Chair Carter-Allen asked for clarification if there had to be an employment component in every program. Ms. Belter stated that if they are applying under the employment category, there must be some kind of program attached for the funding.

Chair Carter-Allen stated that there were three categories listed under employment training, which was literacy and job training and asked what was the third; Ms. Belter stated it was independent skills.

Chair Carter-Allen asked in terms of matching dollars, can funding be generated from a private source or are there specific requirements? Ms. Belter stated it could be private, government funding and the money must be awarded and not just applied for to receive the funds. On the application there is a space that asked where the funds were coming from for the grant.

Councilwoman Moore asked if an organization has received funds for employment training purposes and it is already in their account; will they have to say where that money came from. Ms. Belter stated that they would have to tell where the funds came from which would be broken down by State, private, etc.

Chair Carter-Allen asked if the organization must be a not-for-profit, 5013C and what was the other requirement? Ms. Belter stated that is could be a government agency.

Councilwoman Moore encouraged the Commission to get the information out to organizations that would meet the requirements to give them the opportunity to take advantage of the funds available. She stated that anyone can go to the website and all the information would be posted there.

Chair Carter-Allen thanked Cassie Belter for her presentation and speaking to the Commission at their meeting.

Councilwoman Moore stated that Ms. Belter does a great job for the Commission and that she asks a lot of questions and she is always willing to help people even with the step by step process.

Agenda Item IV. Commission COVID-19 updates

Chair Carter Allen asked Debra Bush if she had an update from the City of Peoria.

Debra Bush stated things were still the same, but if things keep going upward, they may be working from home and other changes may need to be made. She will send email updates to the Commission if there are any changes.

Agenda Item V. Follow-up on business

None

Adjournment

Chair Carter-Allen called for a motion to adjourn; motion to adjourn by Commissioner Loraine Bryson and seconded by Commissioner Carl Holloway. Motion carries by unanimous vote.

Meeting Adjourned: 5:20 p.m.

http://www.peoriagov.org/content/uploads/2020/03/Fair-Employment-Minutes-November-12-2020_1607035985_add.pdf