Committee reappoints one workforce-board representative; another appointment deferred while county seeks local candidate

The Agriculture, Planning and Tourism Committee reappointed a current Washington County representative to the Saratoga–Warren–Washington Workforce Development Board on May 20 and deferred a second proposed reappointment while county supervisors discussed whether the seat should be filled by a Washington County resident.

"The WIOA grant comes to the, from the federal level to the state Department of Labor," a LEAP representative said, describing how Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act funding flows to local workforce boards and noting that a proposed federal "skinny budget" could reduce or consolidate existing workforce and adult-education funding.

The committee approved a resolution to reappoint Scott Bracey (term June 1, 2025–June 30, 2028) as Washington County's representative who fills a vocational rehabilitation sector seat on the board. Supervisors moved and seconded the motion and carried it by voice vote.

A second proposed reappointment — for Mark Stratton, whose new term would begin July 1, 2025 — drew extended discussion because, as staff noted, Stratton is not a Washington County resident. Supervisors debated whether to accept a nonresident who has been an active and effective member versus delaying to recruit a Washington County candidate. After discussion about representation and outreach, the committee voted to forward the appointment decision to the county finance committee to allow more time to identify qualified Washington County candidates before the July 1 start date.

LEAP staff told the committee it is monitoring multiple federal funding streams that support local workforce and anti-poverty programs — WIOA, Head Start, and Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) — because the federal discretionary budget proposals under consideration could alter or reduce funding levels and program structure. The LEAP representative said proposals discussed in the "skinny budget" would consolidate some programs, propose changes to adult-education grants and require states to direct more funds into apprenticeships; the representative noted that CSBG was proposed for elimination in the draft budget but that the final federal appropriations had not been decided.

Committee members also discussed board composition and workload. Members reported the full workforce board contains roughly 32–33 seats, with Washington County typically holding about five seats, and noted that board members are expected to participate in subcommittees in addition to the main board schedule.

The committee directed county staff to assemble a list of current Washington County representatives and term dates and to seek local candidates for upcoming vacancies. No changes to county funding or program administration were made at the meeting beyond the reappointment and the referral to finance for the second seat.