Transcript for Secretary of Labor & Industry, Jerry Oleksiak
>> SPEAKER: Good morning, thank you for the opportunity to be here, thank you to chairman Oliver and — Matt who extended the invitation.
I — just want to start by thanking for all you do for your advocacy in particular for — um, making the kind of noises you need to make for the people that you represent.
>> SECRETARY OLEKSIAK: I mean that, to tell you a little bit about my background some of you may know I’ve been the Secretary of Labor and industry for a little more than a year, a year in September.
And, probably the last thing on my bucket list was to be the Secretary of Labor and industry for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
[laughter]But — the Governor asked.
And when the Governor asks it’s hard to say no, I spent most of my life as a classroom teacher I spent over 30 years in the classroom.
As a special Ed teacher worked with kids, primarily who had legal, behavioral emotional issues every day was a, challenge every day was an adventure.
I did that for over 30 years and then I, I’ve been involved through that time with PSA, Pennsylvania state education association the largest professional organization in Pennsylvania. That’s the teacher’s union PSEA. Representing most of the state except for Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
So they’re a federation that’s a little different. But I got involved in PSEA I spent ten years working in Harrisburg full-time as an officer with PSEA, ten years, four years as treasurer, four years as vice president two years as president. And had just been reelected for a second term as president when I got the call asking if I was interested in this position.
At first I was like well you know I wasn’t sure but my wife said stop it you know what you’re going to do.
[laughter]So I did and it was — it was tough to leave where I was but I loved every minute of working there.
I particularly loved working with folks with OVR because of the background because of my personal interest in issues related to students and people with disabilities.
It matters to me that we are responsive, that we are committed to what we, to the mission that we have as a organization and in particular with OVR. One of the first things that I said to all my Deputy Secretaries and managers was that you know it’s important to me that we follow our budget. That we follow policies, enforce the legislation we need to enforce and do all those good things, what is really important we remember these are real people at the end of the process. Particularly given the nature of the work we do, people have been hurt on the job.
People that are out of work.
People that are being cheated by their employers. People that are working you know, navigating through life with disabilities all the challenges that presents. So I say that everywhere I go.
That’s my — operating philosophy I’m fortunate to work with a Governor who, feels the same way.
So I want to — again, thank you for your advocacy that’s what I did in my life I advocated for my students and my colleagues.
I appreciate that I know sometimes — I’ve been in some meetings it’s gotten a little intense as Ryn said, sometimes advocates you know, they’re committed to their cause, that never bothers me doesn’t bother me.
That passion, that commitment, because I had that I still do.
For the work I do.
I appreciate that.
I certainly appreciate the staff at LI particularly OVR, Ryan and everyone that works for him, some who are here Melissa is here with us today.
Melissa Hawkins they bring the same level of compliment and energy and passion to their work.
Every day.
And that’s not always easy to navigate the other side of that policies and procedures and the budget, so on, our hands are often tied.
I was shocked to learn when I first got to LI that only about 7 or 8 percent of our budget comes from the State.
The rest of it comes from the feds.
And as difficult as it can be sometimes, jumping through the hoops that the State has you know double triple that, quadruple that, times ten that, when you’re dealing with the feds.
So I appreciate particularly Ryan and previous director, has done a lot to help us navigate those particularly choppy waters.
I mentioned the Governor and as you know the Governor is one of the questions I get asked most often as I’m talking to people family, friends, what is the Governor really like?
You know, I say what do you think he is like? Their response is he seems like a nice guy. He is a flies guy.
He seems relevant I smart he is the smartest guy in the room he doesn’t packet like that.
You know. He is really, is all about being a public servant all that means. Providing the citizens of the Commonwealth with the services they need and require and entitled to.
That’s one of the many reasons I enjoy working for him.
His commitment to our citizens with disabilities is obvious in the very beginning with his employment first executive order that started OVR continued in OVR but the emphasis, is really placed on OVR to do all they could to create that competitive integrated employment meaningful employment.
That makes a difference for our fellow citizens. And as you well know you want to live independently you need a job you can’t have one without the other. The Governor’s commitment with the executive order and the employment first act signed in June of this year I think, that has really put an emphasize, bipartisan emphasis not just the executive branch but the legislative branch as well is committed to that. It’s something I’m personally committed to as well.
One of the things that traveling around the State as a cabinet member of the Governor, Governor has us doing things cabinet your community, few select four or five cabinet members will go to different communities all around the State. And talk about our agency but mostly it was listening.
We did with the middle class task force. We did it with the different work force investment boards we visited. We did it, done with business round tables. And everywhere we go we hear the same thing from businesses.
Well, we don’t have enough folks.
I heard someone say this yesterday we don’t have enough, we don’t have enough enough people to fill the positions we have.
I would always say well, I could point to an untapped resource of those folks.
That are ready, willing and able to work.
And that’s one of the good things I like about OVR we’re working with our fellow citizens to help them find those jobs. Reaching out to those businesses and industries service organizations that need help.
Yesterday at the PADES conference I mentioned some of the stats they are not good. You probably know them already. But right now only 37.5 percent of the people in Pennsylvania — in 2017, 37.5 percent of the people in Pennsylvania, with disabilities, between the ages of 18-64 are employed.
5.3 percent, are unemployed doesn’t sound too bad.
Until you add the last stat that, almost 57 percent are not even in the labor force.
So that is a huge untapped resource, that the Commonwealth cannot afford to — ignore.
Business and industry — cannot afford to ignore. It is important that we continue the work that we’re.
I know more stats I have to throw at you.
In 2017, OVR helped over 9300 Pennsylvanians with disabilities get a job. Connected to about 6,000 employees.
Last year we had over 23,000 new applicants for VR services.
And 80 percent of those applicants were found eligible for VR services.
So we’re busy.
Ryan and his crew is busy.
As they should be.
And we’ve, we realize that, there’s more we need to do.
We will do.
We can do.
And we need to do it better.
So — I’m here just to give that — little pep talk I help it isn’t as depressing as the numbers sound. I’m also fighting a cold my granddaughter gave me but I’ll get ever that.
I would be happy to answer any questions. I have the people who really know that they’re doing, one of them right here next to me. And — I would be happy to answer fully questions I can, about any concerns might have.
Yes.
>> THEO BRADDY: Two comments not questions, one is I’m glad to hear you say about real people it’s very important. People with disabilities certainly real people.
But I would like to also congratulate Ryan, and the secretary for recognizing that people who are deaf-blind are real people to continue to fund that particular program that Ryan approved this year.
People with disabilities, people with disabilities including people who are deaf-blind are under served.
And — to acknowledge that program is really important I want to publically say thank you Ryan for continuing that program.
Now the other thing I wanted to really quickly talk about, Ryan already knows this — the other thing I want to talk about is — you talked about earlier about the prior organization.
I already communicated that to you Ryan, I’m concerned about that. Particularly in the area of home mods and vehicle mods.
I agreed that in time we will only know whether it’s going to be delays that will effect the lives of people so I guess my question would be, who at RSA at this time, I’m sure we should start seeing that is really going to effect the day-to-day of people with disabilities needing home mods and vehicle mods.
Who can be you know, who can we speak to, who can we try to make that information to RSA so if the — evidence proffers there’s some delays significant delays, can we change that? How can we change that?
>> RYAN HYDE: Yes.
So unfortunately it’s not RSA’s rule they didn’t come up with it. The office of management and budget are bigger than them, so to speak. They dictated these rules in the Federal agencies have adopted them so the Department of Education RSA sits in, has adopted them so then RSA has to follow them, we have to follow them, because they grant us our you know, Federal funding.
If we determine over time, that this is becoming a barrier we could, um, advocate to the RSA commissioner right now they’re acting Carol Novak, the acting commissioner. So that will be one avenue.
We could then advocate to the Secretary of Labor or not labor of education, Federally she shall remain nameless Betsy Devos I don’t know if they have the control, it’s really the office of management and budget I don’t know personally who that would be there we can find that out, if it becomes a problem, yes. It’s unfortunately, not RSA they’re just the — the middleman.
>> THEO BRADDY: Okay.
And then —
>> SECRETARY OLEKSIAK: I have a very good working relationship with second Riveria the Pennsylvania Secretary of Education. If we need to go that way instead of — to who she will not be flamed.
[laughter]I’m more than willing to do that, if I need to talk to secretary DeVos she doesn’t care me. So I’ll — be happy to —
>> THEO BRADDY: Just keep it on the — in around, so we make sure it doesn’t cause significant problems.
>> RYAN HYDE: We’ve been concerned about it ever since we started learning about prior approval we didn’t know exactly how, it was really worse initially the way it came out, it was in kind of refined a little bit. The instructions so the ability to do an aggregate once a year approval for most things is good.
It is still in administrative burden for us, we need to do more with what we have. But specialized services you don’t pleat the general broad definition of equipment and supplies like home mods, vehicle mods and small vehicle stuff, it doesn’t have to go down, it’s a small amount of documentation but it’s still a process and delay.
>> THEO BRADDY: Thank you.
>> KATHLEEN KLEINMANN: I have two questions.
So I hate to be a problem — the first one is, I — the Social Security system has all kind of incentives and disincentives for people with disabilities who are on their system and most of the folks who are not employed are in fact on the — on one of those two programs SSI or SSDI.
Historically the OVR counselor has not been a good source of the information for information on how to work that system, for employees employees I know here at the center from time to time, when we try to hire people with disabilities who have been on those programs we inadvertently paid them too much they incur penalties.
And we had to do a lot of backpedaling to help fix it. I’m wondering I mean is the OVR counselor given extra information, tools — a lot of changes have taken place over the last five years in this program? And I’m wondering how much the OVR counselor system is absorbing that knowledge.
>> RYAN HYDE: Yeah.
>> ROBERT OLIVER: Jessie is volunteering to answer that question.
>> RYAN HYDE: You can climb in I can answer and Jessie can fill in any gaps I will have. We have trainings for staff and in fact we have contracted with Mike Walling, maybe some of you have gone to his presentations he is a national SSA expert.
So we’ve contracted with him the last year and, he is either gone to or in the process of going to all of the district offices to train our staff it is very — speaking as a former counselor I was a counselor in Lancaster years ago it is very hard to stay on top of the changes to the Social Security stuff and, we really encourage our staff to speak generally, about Social Security and how work and earnings impacts. In the end it really comes down to almost everybody’s individual situation.
So we, encourage them to go to — I’m going I think I forgotten the new acronym for the SSA benefits counselors we encourage them to go to that — throws locations and we know that there’s not enough of them.
So both ODP, and OVR are now paying for benefits counseling. So ODP can pay for it, through their waiver system.
And OVR has been I talked about a provider agreement for preemployment transition services. We now have a provider for benefits counseling, if you have credentials necessary to be a certified benefits counselor you can apply through OVR to be — to get reimbursed through the provider agreement as we have customers who need those services we can refer them because you really have to go through and do the paperwork and do the plan and figure out you know this is what benefits you are receiving this is what, impact work will have on those.
We recognize it really goes down to counselors are being asked to a lot of different things and staying an expert on the Social Security changes and the benefits planning is, is — it is like too much, beyond everything else they have to do.
Because they change each individual person’s situation is slightly different. We realize that’s something we you know service provider, we need a service provider to do. That’s why we started that service within the last year.
Jessie please feel free to add anything.
>> JESSIE CRUM-LASKO: Um, that was really good.
I just wanted to add that I can share from my prior experience.
It can be very difficult to get the information through Social Security or as far as to know what it is for I believe that sometimes there’s a difficulty on their end. The customers really need more than even like the VR provides it is very important that they are connected. We as Ryan mentioned with the provider agreement. So if the ear thing is, we have Social Security coordinators in all the district offices and they may have a little bit of better understanding and would be able to — for maybe give more resources for that customers are getting all those correct information so — that’s another thing to keep in mind is that, if you have a specific customer you can also use the district office of the Social Security as a resource.
>> RYAN HYDE: That’s a great point. Those coordinators one of their main roles is to help our statewide coordinator that works for me in central office to get reimbursement and Pennsylvania is usually, um, one of the top five states in Social Security reimbursement Nationally, annually we had a setback in 2017 because the Social Security changed the rules without a lot of warning. They told us the rules would be changing but they didn’t tell us what would be changing.
Then they kind of, dumped it on us and we had to update our computer system and, get all that stuff in order, we have actually, are starting to catch back up now and have gotten some pretty — significant reimbursement in the past year that was part of our backlog. So we’re one of the better states as far as reimbursements we are serving people who are on Social Security and you know helping them obtain or maintain employment just by evidence of the reimbursement that we’re getting.
>> SUSAN TOMASIC: Kay you have a question.
>> KAY TYBERG: I wanted to thank both of you for the dedication and the work that you’re doing for OVR and if you didn’t flow it, I have been one of those OVR recipients all my life.
And so to show how effective it does and can work for an individual it certainly does.
On the other side of the fence I would like to point out that I was speaking before a group of IU staff members.
And we were talking about the fact that transitioning our youth into the mainstream of the work force and that seemed to be something that is hung up there in terms of you know, preparing them for employment.
And let me just go another step further by saying that even through once you — once you question whether you get employed, and I am going to use the deaf and hard of hearing for an example because they sometimes would have to have an interpreter they may have to have special devices et cetera, that seems to be a lot defer the average employer from hiring individuals. That goes for other disabilities as well. And this should not be happening in the age we are in the 21st century. And there is really really critical in terms of even in employment, once you get the job at least ten occasions I have not not been given the promotion that another person got, yesterday I had the same qualifications. How are we approaching employers to he had indicate them that we’re a person first before disability we’re just as capable, how is OVR putting that into play — because that’s where the hang up is.
>> SECRETARY OLEKSIAK: I could not agree more with what you’re saying.
It is — fortunately people with disabilities are not the only folks who have suffered setbacks as far as the civil rights. Judicial rights and economic rights of the work place it is — an ongoing battle it will never end I know one example I can I’ve seen where things have started to change is it’s not it doesn’t really relate here but students — or students citizens with are re-entering the work force after incarceration there’s been a few businesses around the State have started to make this a priority.
It is a priority it is — they have become almost like spread the word about how valuable that is.
How valuable it is to bring these citizens back how they this the skills they have the temperament.
Businesses don’t want to hire folks re-entering because well you know, liability and all that.
And all the research slows they are no more likely to have an encounter with one of the people they may want to cross in their workday. Then fully other employee.
And I think the same is true of folks with disabilities you know the more we can get businesses we are working on that Ryan had some specifics but the more we can get businesses, to hire folks that have the skills, particularly now, when we’re — know, I go to — some of these places immersed in round tables whatnot I’ve had businesses a couple of used the phrase if they have the will we’ll teach them the skills I know this is citizens with disability have that.
They can learn those skills there are more businesses starting to — you know address that. And do the things they need to do.
Not enough that’s why we’re continuing to make it a priority.
Making it a priority in OVR I don’t know if you want to add anything.
>> RYAN HYDE: Sure I can talk about it a couple of things you know you mentioned your collaboration with the IUs and the discussion with IUs we have really good relationships with the IU system.
The PETS stuff is build toward that, building up the comfort levels with interacting the employers and going to work.
2014 WIOA changed how we approach VR nationally.
And added all these services as a new service I can’t say that we weren’t already doing some of them.
But they defined them and said you must do these things.
Now we — focused on getting the law implemented initially we’re now refining what we’ve done and are trying to focus more efforts on work based learning experiences we believe that’s where the kids will find the most benefit.
If they can get out there and get a paid work experience before they graduate they’re much more likely to become employed after graduation.
That’s going back to where the CIL system can help us. One of those services under pre-employment transition is self advocacy how to disclose about your disability and talk about reasonable accommodations. Talk about what your needs are and that you know, I just need an opportunity we’ll get it to work otherwise so we’re doing lots of that. There was over 25,000 students that interfaced last year. As far as the employers students will help us, they’re good ambassadors like the reentry folks that the secretary was talking about you put a student who does well, in a employment situation during a job shadow or work based learning experience they just become you’re ambassador for people with disabilities. We had that one student last summer, we will take another one you know. Maybe we’ll hire one permanently.
We also go to chambers of commerce, meetings regularly and present.
We do free evaluations for ADA accommodations at public or employment locations. We have someone in every district office trained on ADA evaluation. They can go out for free and offer suggestions we have business services teams, in every district office that are going out and doing those evaluations doing going to the chamber of commerce meetings interfacing with the HR management, HR manager groups, I think it’s called ASHIRM, society of HR managers they go out and do presentations there.
They have local connections with businesses where they do job fairs we can’t get everywhere. We are, I like to say, regularly that we’re kind of small but mighty you know. We have a lot of counselors we only have 450 or so counselors for the whole state you know. Spread across the 67 counties that’s not a lot.
And — we have nearly a thousand employees total, including Hiram G. Andrews, central office and clerical all that. But you know, we’re relatively small entity our budget roughly $200 million when you Staurt talking about our peers, ODP you’re talking about billions it’s a much different structure that we, we work in.
>> SECRETARY OLEKSIAK: One other thing I will add I don’t want to speak for the Department of Education but I will.
They thing have changed in PDE as far as their school report cards accountability they have for schools. Fortunately they changed it’s not all about filling in bubble sheets standardized tests anymore. One of the thing that is lapping I hope I have the number right I think it’s the 339, 339 plan, 339 plan is something that, each student has. And part of what they they will have to show in this plan is that they, they have been exposed to different job opportunities.
They visit the CTCs the career and technical centers that they — there is all students student withs disabilities and others you know, they’re being exposed to it I think between things like that and employment first act, the emphasis that we will continue to have in LI, hopefully we can start to reach more. One of the things the story I used to tell my classroom, I was thinking of while we were talking is that everybody knows who Jackie Robinson is.
Everybody — anyone know who Larry Dobey is — you know who Larry Doby is second African-American ply player and the first in the American league without Jack I Robinson, there may not have been a Larry Doby, I was thinking of — Ryan was talking about being ambassadors you know it is a pressure we put pressure on the — the intern class we had for the summer we had a group of interns from disabilities from different university as cross the State that worked in different government agencies. It was the first time we did it one of the things they heard regularly was that’s what I told you — I told this story somewhere, you’re the first group.
You’re it. If you screw this up.
We may not see a second group for awhile.
You have to get did right we have to do all we can, but it’s on you fortunately they responded.
They did a great job as we all knew they would. And we will be doing it again. So you know, it is — it really does take all of the folks working doing to make a difference.
>> SUSAN TOMASIC: We had a question.
>> SPEAKER: Thank you everyone I know this is not a traditional thing to have the public ask a question.
I know this is not traditional have the public ask a question.
But I did have a question regarding at the time 20 percent that do not qualify for the service services you said you had 80 percent applicants approved for services, 20 percent that don’t qualify are you referring them to another organization such as the Centers for Independent Living? Is it part of the template whether I’m sorry you don’t qualify for the service but here is another organization.
>> RYAN HYDE: Yeah. So — there’s a lot of factors a lot of qualifying some of it is people don’t follow through, some of it they thought it was you know, vocational rela billation it meant something else, it wasn’t disability specific, they don’t say disability at all they don’t qualify. Part of our requirements to refer to other entities we refer to work force CareerLink systems.
I believe there’s a standard letter that goes out as well.
That people will receive it, I think they have all the CILs listed on it, it’s been awhile since I’ve fallen up on that process. They get a standard letter with other resources and referring to them partners in the work force.
>> AUDIENCE MEMBER: I only ask that question because I know there are other CILs sitting around this table and others that are not here that do help the employment and there are other parts of someone’s life that may need to be addressed before they focus on employment and certainly, CILs are are able to do it, there’s role models and I’m I know I’m preaching to the Choir to say this, to circle back to the comment about working with those transitioning from school aged to adult.
How do you address the employers in Berks County, OVR the work force development board really acknowledged that, had he held our first employer symposium as we were apart of that too. To address 60 employers in our county, that are talking about these T about bringing people with disabilities on board, the myth, debunking them what do we have too do work at the local level asides at the state level there’s a lot of great stuff going on with OVR and, just going to put out the little clip about this benefits counseling I think it would be important to get more providers because, WIPAs have their certain benchmark those do it has to be the priority of the person actually looking to go to work or already at work versus those who are investigating the idea of work.
So CILs and other service provider those get the certifications it’s important we have to get that full picture of the story to that person to make that educated decision.
>> RYAN HYDE: I encourage any entity especially the CILs I think it’s a great service to add to your models VCU is the only entity can certified someone as a benefits counselor.
>> AUDIENCE MEMBER: One more it’s in Cornell but not as high quality.
>> RYAN HYDE: You have to get that certification it’s so complicated individualized but — you know it’s just another, opportunity for you to generate funds it is say service that people with disabilties need and we recognize that.
>> SECRETARY OLEKSIAK: I heard good things I hoped to get to that event in Berks County was unable to I heard good things about how that went and — results impact it had on the businesses.
>> AUDIENCE MEMBER: It was really good.
>> SUSAN TOMASIC: Kathleen do you have another question.
>> KATHLEEN KLEINMANN: Yes, I do.
One of the thing that had been talked about at the elders council on long term living — months ago we talked with one of the Deputy Secretaries about the severe shortage of the direct care workers that our people need to help them live in the community and to help them become employed and take advantage of the employment pursuits. And I mean, it is a severe shortage we had talked about using the Work Force Board that are local as a venue to get out the word that there were job opportunities and that there was a severe need for those types of workers that we recruited into the work force.
I was wondering is there any progress on some of those conversations, are the work forces being tapped into for helping our personal care workers and direct care worker he’s.
>> SECRETARY OLEKSIAK: There are a couple of thing that I know are happening right now and Ryan can jump in as well.
At the state level the State Work Force Board there’s a new chair Jeff Brawn one of the things that he — did right way is create a health care subcommittee. And — the chair of that health care subcommittee is Matt Yarnell who is a health care worker advocate for SEIU he is a member of the state Work Force Board he is looking at the issue you’re talking about what they can do to — make that a more attractive work whether it’s salary or — all the other things that, that are apart of why people take jobs. So that is one piece I know that is lapping at the state Work Force Board.
And a lot of folks from the local Work Force Board that come to those meetings get those reports we’ll hear about that. That’s relatively new they have only met I think twice since it’s been formed. The other thing that we’re addressing, we’re starting to address it, this is brand new again.
There is the — through the PA smart initiative that the Governor finally got into his budget.
He got into the budget this past year, there’s money in there, you know I mentioned how, most of our budget comes from the Federal government all of our apprenticeship dollars were coming from the Federal government well now we have apprenticeship dollars at the state level not a lot but it’s a start $7 million and one of the things that we want to do with that PA smart money we’re going to be providing grants, to apprenticeships not just traditional but nontraditional but one ever them is health care workers so we are looking to work we’re looking for 1199C in Philadelphia and a few other folk that’s are interested in applying for those grants we’ll see where that leads. So it does not address the situation immediately.
I flow there is an immediate situation it’s something we’re starting to do at the state level.
>> RYAN HYDE: Two things I can think of.
There’s an OVR district administrator assistant district administrator on the little WIBs encourage you know for others that are particularly impacted, you know you know you can get with your peers in OVR and do a presentation to the WIB get it on the agenda and talk about that locally you could ask —
>> ROBERT OLIVER: What is that?
>> RYAN HYDE: Work force investment boards.
>> SECRETARY OLEKSIAK: Work force development boards. It’s a new — same when you hear WIB the work force development board it’s the same thing.
>> RYAN HYDE: The other thing would be again, if you guys know, entities that are short staffed you can talk to your local district office they have a business service rep or a service counselor or a business service team in their office their local single point of contact for businesses, maybe we have clients that are looking for jobs in those areas we can, we can connect to those entities so — you know, if you know of shortages that are in your area, that would be another avenue I can’t say it will solve all the problems it will be, a possibility. And we can use the, OJTs that’s an opportunity for OJT on the job training contract, to help them get in the door if they — the employer would be interested in that.
>> MATT SEELEY: I’ll try to talk loud I know people on the phone are having a hard time hearing.
I don’t want to put you don’t know the spot secretary.
>> SECRETARY OLEKSIAK: Sure you do.
[laughter]>> MATT SEELEY: Um, I have bad memory but a long memory.
Your predecessors I won’t name who it was, it was asked several meetings ago, actually, probably over two years ago, CILs had trouble with their budgets it’s a constant problem the issue is addressed to one of your predecessors and their response was they should consider merging.
I like Dana’s response.
>> DANA THOMPSON: I remember that through you’re saying it.
>> MATT SEELEY: But we won’t say it I like that person very much. It is not a personal thing.
I home that Labor and Industry under your Stewartship, would not have the same philosophy. That counteracts everything that a CIL stands for.
>> SECRETARY OLEKSIAK: There is the first I heard of word of merger related to CILs in my year and a few months.
>> SUSAN TOMASIC: Let’s keep it that way.
>> SECRETARY OLEKSIAK: I’m happy to not address the issue. I have not heard anything about that.
And I — I’m sure, I could think of several ideas just right — I mean these are community centers you know.
Independent living in the community.
So, if your community is going to be different from so — it just doesn’t seem like it would work just for that reason alone.
But it has not been come across my desk, I did not have fully discussion like that.
I had no discussion with the Deputy Secretary of OVR the previous one or this one.
At all.
>> MATT SEELEY: Thank you so much.
>> SECRETARY OLEKSIAK: You’re welcome.
>> RYAN HYDE: Can I provide you information of the history of the funding.
>> SECRETARY OLEKSIAK: Okay.
>> SUSAN TOMASIC: Any other questions?
Okay.
>> MATT SEELEY: Anyone on the phone have a question?
>> SECRETARY OLEKSIAK: Well okay.
All right.