Summary of October 12th Meeting

Post date: Oct 20, 2010 2:42:30 PM

Alliance for Regulatory Coordination

Summary of Member Meeting

Meeting Date: October 12, 2010

Location: Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin

The meeting was convened at approximately 9:30 a.m. by Bob DuPont, of Regulatory Guidance and Design, LLC. Attendees introduced themselves and identified the organization they were representing.

Mr. DuPont gave a brief recap of the ARC Program Team meetings held on September 23rd for the Commercial Buildings Program and on September 30th for the One- and Two- Family Dwellings Program. Regarding the financial aspects of the two programs in State Fiscal Year 2010, which ended on June 30, 2010; expenditures exceeded revenue in the Commercial Buildings Program, and the opposite was found in the One- and Two- Family Dwellings Program where revenue exceeded expenditures. Therefore, the Commercial Buildings Program was subsidized by the One- and Two- Family Dwelling Program during State Fiscal Year 2010. Also, according to the Commerce Budget Request for the next biennium, the Department expects to lapse $1,670,600 from the Safety and Buildings Appropriation to the Department of Administration during State Fiscal Year 2011.

DuPont also reported that both program teams reviewed the Draft Program Evaluation Form that he developed. Both teams decided to start their program evaluation at a higher level than what was reflected on the draft form. They would rather use the same four aspects that are shown as headings on the “Law Changes” document; those being, 1) public involvement, 2) transparency, 3) accountability and 4) certainty. It was agreed that such a high level format was more fitting for Alliance members, reflecting their desire to act as voluntary program trustees, not as program supervisors or managers.

Both teams recommended that DuPont develop a report that could potentially be issued by the Alliance. The report would describe the current operations of the Safety and Buildings Division, and more importantly, it would describe a new philosophy and vision for the future role and operation of the Safety and Buildings Division. The report would also recommend a set of coordinated improvements – related to roles, staffing, policies, and state / local relationships – that the Alliance feels are needed so the Division can better serve its customers throughout the state. Alliance program teams would then be able to evaluate S&B programs relative to achieving the vision and recommendations of the Alliance.

Alliance members in attendance agreed with the recommendations of the two program teams relative to the development of a report. There was consensus to keep the report focused primarily on the two regulatory Divisions of Commerce; the Safety and Buildings Division, and the Division of Environmental and Regulatory Services, with the emphasis on S&B. DuPont said he would work to have a draft report issued to members within the next 10 to 14 days.

Attendees were briefed by Brad Boycks, John Mielke and Ross Kinzler regarding their contacts with Bill McCoshen, Executive Director of Competitive Wisconsin, Amy Boyer, of the Wisconsin Economic Development Association, and Mark O’Connell, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Counties Association, respectively, about the positions of those organizations relative to the future location of the regulatory portions of Commerce. No contradictions to the concerns and goals of the Alliance were identified.

The next meeting of the Alliance for Regulatory Coordination was set for November 4, 2010, from 9:30 to 11:30 AM at the state headquarters of the ABC, Wisconsin; 5330 Wall Street, Madison.

During that meeting, the Alliance member representatives will critique the draft report about the location, leadership and operations of the regulatory Divisions now in Commerce, and will discuss next steps to be taken by the Alliance.

The meeting was adjourned at approximately Noon.

This summary was prepared by Bob DuPont, Regulatory Guidance and Design, LLC.

It was issued on October 20, 2010.