Appleton Public Library
225 N. Oneida St.
Appleton, WI
Management: James Buchen, Earl Gustafson, Susan Haine, Ed Lump and Daniel Petersen
Labor: Dennis Penkalski, Red Platz and Patricia Yunk
Chair: Daniel LaRocque
Department staff present: Hal Bergan, Bob Whitaker, Andrea Reid, Lutfi Shahrani, Dick Tillema, Beverly Crosson, Terese Wojick, John Zwickey, Jean Foust, Carla Breber, Brian Bradley and Troy Sterr
Others present: John Metcalf, Bob Anderson and Bob Lyons
Bergan opens the meeting by giving recognition to Greg Frigo for all his past service as Chair of the Council. Former council member Bob Lyons honors Greg with comments, memories and gratitude to Greg, having worked together on the Council since 1984.
James Buchen also comments and commends Greg on his past leadership of the Council.
Earl Gustafson thanks Greg not only for his work as Chair but for all his help in educating and advising the Paper council on the intricacies of the UI program.
Bergan announces that Secretary Gassman has appointed two new members of the Council; Susan Haine, CEO of QTI Human Resources, Inc. as a management member and Patricia Yunk, Director of Public Policy, Council 48 ASFCME, AFL- CIO as a labor member.
Minutes of the March 20, 2006 meeting were approved.
Breber presents an explanation and a brief history the sections of Wisconsin’s UI law that either reduces benefits to certain members of family corporations, sole proprietors or partnerships or excludes them completely. Discussion of ‘corporate quit’ follows. Lump asks for a future presentation on the situation where the father of a business owner was denied benefits. Petersen also asks to revisit the situation posed in an earlier letter to the Council concerning the wife of a business owner.
Breber presents the final language of DWD 127, Work Search and DWD 129, Benefit Claiming Procedures, both of which had previously been before the Council, for final approval. Council approves both administrative rules by unanimous vote.
Bergan advises the Council that rule changes and updates are large part of what we need to accomplish this year and that soon the Council will be asked to consider significant, proposed changes to DWD 128, Able to Work and Available for Work.
Tillema proffers a PowerPoint presentation on the Reserve Fund Study. Declining reserves, costs exceeding revenues, consequences of borrowing, the likelihood of borrowing, the balancing account and solvency charges vs. revenues were main points of the presentation. A long discussion among Council members and Tillema ensues.
Gustafson asks that the UI program be put in context with Wisconsin’s economy with benchmarks to key years in the past, perhaps at five year intervals. Buchen asks for a line graph of the bar chart entitled “Costs Exceed Revenues” including the IUR as well as information on the wages that real people earn, separating personal income from wages.
Bergan promises an overview of the current state of Wisconsin’s economy. Terry Ludeman’s successor, Eric Grosso, should be able to do this at the next meeting. Bergan also offers a comparison with other states of the key data elements covered by Tillema to be presented to the Council at a later date.
LaRocque points out the informational items on the agenda (letters and financial statements) to the Council and asks if there any concerns regarding either of these items. Haine asks for certain detailed information on the financial statements, Bradley offers to explain the statements at end of meeting. Haine accepts his offer.
Meeting is adjourned.
Updated
March 25, 2013
Unemployment Insurance Division,
Bureau of Legal Affairs (BOLA)