PRESENT: Ed Barrett, Becky Hayes-Boober, Susan Wiggin, Willian Guindon
Staff present: Maryalice Crofton, Jamie McFaul
Public Meeting, no one from the public was present
The members convened at 9:15 a.m. using the virtual meeting technology.
The reviewers completed assessment of two applications to the AmeriCorps Standard Formula call for proposals. The recommendations for funding have been drafted for the Task Force consideration. They were shared with the group for discussion and decision.
FIRST RECOMMENDATION.
MOTION FOR COMMISSION: Reminder that this is a Fixed Amount proposal, so no match is required.
MOVE that the Penobscot Nation Housing Department AmeriCorps Energy Efficiency Program proposal for a 3-year fixed amount grant be awarded if corrections and conditions listed in the task force report can be negotiated before the federal submission deadline. The first-year funding request approved is $280,000 Federal Share supporting 10-member service years distributed over 10 slots. The proposed cost per member service year is $28,000.
Referenced Conditions/Corrections
The following proposal issues need to be clarified or, in the case of missing required elements, added.
· Clarify that the public funding referenced is in hand and approved for program support.
· Clarify that the tribal authorities who must support the grant have given their approval. The process was described but it is unclear whether the process occurred or was pending.
Will G. moved to present the motion to the full board; Seconded by Susan W.
All present recommended approval
SECOND RECOMMENDATION
The proposal from Alpha Legal Foundation did not rate well enough to fund by either the peer reviewers or tech reviewers. The reviewers acknowledge there is a need for a Maine Justice Corps. The person who is driving the program development is very impressive but the systems to implement the grant are not in place yet. There are no staff, no internal financial system, and funds to operate the program are to be fundraised. The proposal should come back when the organization is more defined or staffed or has a partner who would be the fiscal agent and provide some assurance of continuity and stability for finances and members while the Foundation develops further.
KEY POINTS FROM DISCUSSION --
- Are there ways for the commission to support and encourage Alpha Legal to be able to succeed in the future because the potential is there, and the need is so great. Yes.
- There are not enough staff to make the program operate successfully and establish the program, or to find a sponsor or a fiscal agent.
- Our concern is setting up organizations to be successful. We want to make sure that it will be, once it is ready to move forward, but without the supporting staff in place and a reliable fiscal agent to support them, it is not possible.
- It is not clear how sites would accept and support the members once on boarded – the organization does not have the staff capacity to connect with supervisors or members. There is another competition in the spring they can apply to if ready.
- It’s a great idea and much needed service but the infrastructure needs to be there first.
Will G. moved to approve this report to the full board; Seconded by Susan W.
All present recommended approval
No further discussion There being no other discussion items, the members dispersed at 9:36 a.m.
NEXT MEETING: TBD. November 10, the usual date, is Veterans Day.