Meeting Date and Time: December 7th, 2021, 10:00am
Meeting Type: Special Meeting of the Social Equity Council
Meeting Location: Legislative Office Building (LOB), Hearing Room 1D 300 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106
Chair: Andrea Comer
CT-N streamed and recorded the meeting. To view, visit: http://ct-n.com/ctnplayer.asp?odID=19164
MEETING MATERIALS (drafts)
Income / Residency Requirements
Ownership and Control Requirements
Social Equity Plan Criteria
Workforce Development Plan Criteria
MINUTES will be posted here asap.
- Call to Order and Welcome
Meeting was called to order by Andréa Comer at 10:01 a.m.
- Attendance
Council members present:
- Marilyn Alverio (attended virtually)
- Corrie Betts
- Andréa Comer
- Avery Gaddis
- Subira Gordon (attended virtually)
- Michael Jefferson
- David Lehman
- Melissa McCaw
- Ojala Naeem (attended virtually)
- Christine Shaw, designee for Shawn Wooden (attended virtually)
- Edwin S. Shirley
- Dr. Kelli Vallieres
- Joseph Williams
Council members absent:
- Ramón Arroyo
- Fabian Delgado
Staff presenting: Ginne-Rae Clay, Interim Executive Director, SEC
- Approval of Meeting Minutes (11/2/2021)
Andréa Comer asked for a motion to approve the minutes from the November meeting on 11/2/21.
Motion -Michael Jefferson
2nd – Edwin Shirley
Discussion - four edits were requested. 1. Correct CT Sen. Gary Winfield’s name spelling 2. Corrie Betts was not present at the meeting 3. In the Policy report, change word finance to policy. 4. In the Finance report, note that for the bi-annual budget, the council need only recommend the budget.
All In Favor - All.
Nays - None
Abstentions - None
Motion passed
The minutes were approved, with those changes.
- Public Speaking
- Adam Lewis, New Britain
- Tyler Crespo, Biddeford, ME
- Erin Dolittle, Manchester
- Luis Vega, New Haven
- Lueliss Correa, Hartford and Joshua Frazier, New Haven
- Tom Antonez, New Haven
- Andrew Allen, Bridgeport
- Thanas Wilson, New Haven
- Olivia Rinkes, North Stonington
- Waterbury State Representative Geraldo Reyes, Chair of the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus
- Committee Reports and Call for Action
a. Finance Committee Christine Shaw, Chair
Christine Shaw spoke of her communications with OPM regarding funds and budgeting and spoke of the assumptions and expectations for when funds would be available from fees – license fees $8.4M and innovation fees $25M at the end of FY22, and through the two funds – the Social Equity Innovation Fund and the Prevention and Recovery Fund – both of which are expected to have no funds until after FY23.
A discussion ensued regarding the timeline for having technical assistance available for applicants and budgets for training and technical assistance. Melissa McCaw recommended that this council define what is needed to put the industry in place and specifically, define what technical assistance looks like. A meeting to discuss technical assistance in detail and defining the existing supports will be planned for the council. Ed Shirley spoke of the different types of learning/ technical assistance that entrepreneurs may need. 1. Assistance with the Application Process, 2. General Business Assistance, 3. Cannabis (specific) Business Assistance.
Andréa Comer stated that the 60-day deadline for the application period is adjustable. The SEC can recommend a longer deadline to the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) which handles the application.
SEC Executive Director, Ginne-Rae Clay spoke of her plan to have an inter-agency summit to discover resources and information about what applicants should know. Her plan is to have a series of events to deliver information in Disproportionately Impacted Areas (DIAs) and to hold virtual office hours in the coming weeks. She also spoke of plans for a business accelerator for those that get provisional licenses.
b. Governance Committee Ojala Naeem, Chair
Ojala Naeem reported that the Governance Committee spoke of the process for review of the interim Executive Director, which will start in late January and she mentioned that the SEC MOU with DECD is being worked on.
c. Outreach Committee Marilyn Alverio & Subira Gordon, Co-Chairs
Marilyn Alverio gave an update on the work of the committee. She spoke of the marketing strategy the group would like to work towards, and mentioned that the group is looking forward to working with SEC staff to execute on the committee’s recommendations.
Subira Gordon spoke of the Income and Residency Requirements work by the committee and presented the recommendations from the Outreach Committee.
i. Resolution – Approval of Income/Residency Requirements
Andréa Comer asked for a motion to accept the Income and Residency Requirements.
Motion -Subira Gordon
2nd – Ed Shirley
Discussion – Corrie Betts and other councilmembers spoke of concerns about the residency and income verification and requirements, concerns about plans for the technical assistance and outreach programs, and about the timeline for the application period. Andréa Comer noted that the SEC can request an extension of the deadline to Department of Consumer Protection (DCP).
A friendly amendment was offered by Andréa Comer and Christine Shaw, so the motion as amended is:
Motion - approval of the Income and Residency Requirements, contingent upon DCP’s extension of the application window from 60 to 90 days and contingent on the SEC approval of the business accelerator and technical assistance program plans.
All In Favor -
- Marilyn Alverio
- Andréa Comer
- Avery Gaddis
- Subira Gordon
- Michael Jefferson
- David Lehman
- Melissa McCaw
- Ojala Naeem
- Christine Shaw, designee for Shawn Wooden
- Edwin S. Shirley
- Dr. Kelli Vallieres
- Joseph Williams
Nays: - Corrie Betts
Abstentions - None
Motion passed
d. Policy Committee Edwin Shirley, Chair
Edwin Shirley reported on the work of the Policy Committee and reviewed the components of the Ownership and Control requirements for Social Equity Applicants and the Social Equity Plan Criteria.
i. Resolution – Approval of Ownership and Control Requirements
ii. Resolution – Approval of Social Equity Plan Criteria
Andréa Comer asked for a motion to accept the Social Equity Plan requirements.
Motion -Ed Shirley
2nd – Michael Jefferson
Discussion - A friendly amendment was offered by Joe Williams to include the Ownership and Control Requirements in the motion. Ed Shirley accepted the friendly amendment to the motion.
All In Favor -
- Marilyn Alverio
- Andréa Comer
- Avery Gaddis
- Subira Gordon
- Michael Jefferson
- David Lehman
- Melissa McCaw
- Ojala Naeem
- Christine Shaw, designee for Shawn Wooden
- Edwin S. Shirley
- Dr. Kelli Vallieres
- Joseph Williams
Nays: - None
Abstentions - Corrie Betts
Motion passed
e. Workforce Committee Kelli-Marie Vallieres, Chair
Kelli-Marie Vallieres spoke of the work of the committee to finalize their recommendations for the Workforce Development Plan. She reviewed the plan briefly and spoke of the criteria which, for example, will ensure that applicants are utilizing quality training programs in Connecticut, that there is a wide range of training programs that lead to jobs, and that there is a clear career ladder for workers.
i. Resolution – Approval of Workforce Development Plan Requirements
Andréa Comer asked for a motion to accept the Workforce Development Plan requirements.
Motion - Avery Gaddis
2nd – Michael Jefferson
All In Favor -
- Marilyn Alverio
- Andréa Comer
- Avery Gaddis
- Subira Gordon
- Michael Jefferson
- David Lehman
- Melissa McCaw
- Ojala Naeem
- Christine Shaw, designee for Shawn Wooden
- Edwin S. Shirley
- Dr. Kelli Vallieres
- Joseph Williams
Nays: - None
Abstentions - Corrie Betts
Motion passed
6. From the Executive Director Ginne-Rae Clay, Interim Executive Director
Ginne-Rae Clay spoke of her work to add staff to the Social Equity Council. She reported that SEC has entered into an agreement with UConn for work on the Cannabis Study. She spoke of recent outreach activities, and described several programs that she and others on the council have participated in.
7. For the Good of the Order – New Business, Updates and Information
Andréa Comer spoke of a new infographic poster that has been drafted and asked the council for their feedback and comments on it before it is printed and distributed. Michael Jefferson suggested reviewing the committee structure to handle the upcoming work, such as legislation and technical assistance as the council moves forward.
8. Adjourn
Andréa Comer asked for a motion to adjourn.
Motion -Avery Gaddis
2nd – Corrie Betts
All In Favor - All
Nays - None
Abstentions - None
Motion passed
Meeting was adjourned at 12:56 P.M.
Minutes are a draft until approved at a subsequent meeting