06 - Boards & Commissions - Minutes

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PEDC Board Meeting Minutes January 20, 2020 Page 2 of 3 iscuss _ap�n �1oqss.ibl� a j pgraovvee November 2019 F�ina..nc�iamls mm Mr. Pankaj stated that the November 2019 financials had been in question. Mr. Hernandez said the November financials are still in question. Mr. Pankaj stated that they were presented before and he wanted to know what the options were. Mr. Hernandez commented that the Board will have a special meeting on the financials and the item should be tabled. Mr. Pankaj made a motion to table the November 2019 financials. Ms. Bills seconded the motion. Vote was 4 -ayes to 0 -nays. Discuss andossiibly sttrove December 2019µFinancals. Mr. Pankaj presented the December financials. The total expenses for December were $78,550.71. New Industry Projects took up a large portion of that amount. Mr. Hernandez asked about the Other Income of $5,044.58. Mr. Pankaj explained the money was at Liberty National Bank under an old account for the Paris Industrial Foundation. Mr. Anderson had communicated in an email that the bank wanted to close the account and decided to give the money to the PEDC for economic development. Dr. Hasbmi made a motion to approve the December financials. Ms. Bills seconded the motion. Vote was 5 -ayes to 0 -nays. Discuss andossibi _ajisrove commitment of $50 000 rniatchinwmmrant towards TWC'spfLhwwDemand Mr. Hamill recused himself from the discussion or the voting on this item stating conflict of interest because of his employment with the TWC. Mr. Paris told the Board that Texas Workforce Commission is soliciting applications from each of the workforce areas in Texas. We will be collaborating with Sulphur Springs EDC and Mount Pleasant EDC to maximize the impact of the application. The Paris EDC would pursue "coding" for students in our area with the goal of certification for these students as C++ Certified Associate Programmers. Mr. Paris recommended that the Board Consider using the $25,000.00 already budgeted for the High Demand Training along with $25,000.00 from our Marketing budget to match the $50,000.00 if the grant is awarded to us. Mr. Hernandez asked what type of jab could be obtained because of this certification. Mr. Paris explained that coding is used with robotics in manufacturing. Dr. Anglin stated that increasing the level of skills for the young people in our area is vital to their success. Mr. Hernandez asked if it would be an associate's degree. Dr. Anglin said it would be a certificate, but it could get them interested in other programs to help expand their learning. Mr. Paris said that the CNC machines, robotic arms, and other manufacturing processes use the "coding". Mayor Clifford asked why it was suggested to take $25,000.00 from Marketing to do this. W. Paris suggested using the Marketing budget so we would stay within the current budget. Mayor Clifford added that it would be appropriate if the money was redefined by a budget amendment. Mr. Pankaj made a motion to make an amendment to move $25,000.00 from the Marketing budget into the High Demand Job Training category. After a lengthy discussion on the issue, Mr. Pankaj amended his motion to include Mayor Clifford and Dr. Hashmi's recommendations to put conditions on the students who take the "coding" program. Dr. Hashmi seconded the motion. Vote was 3 -ayes to 1 -nays. Ms. Bills cast the nay vote. Mr. Hamill recused himself. Discuss boards expectations for Annual Resort and Plan of Work. Mr. Paris stated that the agenda packet has a sample Plan of Work that was completed several years ago. We will prepare a plan with a June 2020 deadline. He recommended that two Board Members be designated to oversee both the Annual Report and the Plan of Work. This would be for Board review in June at our monthly meeting. The documents will be submitted to City Council in September. Dr. Hashmi and Mr. Pankaj volunteered for the committee to draw up a Plan of Work to present to the Board.