b'SECTION II - SECTION II -KEY PRIORITIES AND RECOMMENDATIONS KEY PRIORITIES AND RECOMMENDATIONSThe Commission provided a free AdministrationRecommendations Public Health, Equity and day for all employees as recognition. On theEnvironmentally Just Capital other side, workers in RGH feel their work isTeam H O Community andInvestments and Operations: not appreciated by employees who operate2at a plant, depot or facility. This us vs. themStakeholder Engagement: sentiment is not a healthy culture that will169.Continue to staff and support the produce a set of goals underpinning this key158. Add diversity, equity, inclusionBi-County Infrastructure Workingpriority.and environmental justice as aGroup to identify challenges and core value with clear definitionsimprovement opportunities for Other feedback provided included concernsfor each term to build a commonthe unserved and underserved about inequitable policies and pay for certainlanguage around thinking, doinginitiative to develop strategies facilities. Employees expressed concerns thatand being in this area. and funding opportunities to operators at Potomac and Patuxent are not159. Increase education on how toprovide water and sewer servicepaid equally, and shift differential pay needs toembed diversity, equity, inclusionto disadvantaged, unserved and be increased. Growth opportunities are notand environmental justice withinunderserved communities. 170.Identify areas where current equal across all departments; for example, therethe culture.are 20 operators at one plant and one person160. Create an Executive AdvisoryWSSC Water operationssupervising all of them. This limits the opportunityCouncil and Diversity Advisorycontribute to unintended for promotion and leaves an unclear growth pathCouncil/Committee disadvantages in underserved for the operators.161. Develop a DEI&EJ strategy tocommunities. 171.Identify strategies to enhance our address employee recruitment, When working with suppliers, there are multipledevelopment and retention andmethodology for prioritization ways to improve equity and inclusivity, such asestablish goals to ensure moreof capital projects so that we increasing brand awareness about WSSC Waterequitable practices.can invest more dollars into services and opportunities to do business withdisadvantaged communities and us. WSSC Water completed its 2022 DisparitySupplier Diversity/MBE&SLBE improve our level of service. Study, which found statistical evidence of 172.Review organizational policies and business discrimination of minority- and women- practices with a DEI&EJ lens to 162.Continue to explore separating owned businesses in both the private and publicaddress gaps. MBE, WBE and Small Local173.Establish training program for sectors within WSSC Waters marketplace. The Commission approved updates to WSSCBusiness Enterprise (SLBE) Goals.systematic approach to DEI&EJ at 163.Recognize second-tier Waters Minority Business Enterprise Regulationsall levels of WSSC Water. subcontracting. 174.Set expectations for management in January 2023.Legislation was drafted and has passed for the Maryland General Assembly to164.Create Emerging Prime Program. to support DEI&EJ strategies. 165.Allow self-performance for MBE 175.Ensure customer service policies reauthorize WSSC Waters MBE Program for another five years, based on the results of thePrimes (50%).and procedures consider DEI&EJ 166.Continue to explore establishing 2022 Disparity Study. The currently authorizedconsiderations.a Veteran-Owned Small Business176.Prioritize internal and external program is scheduled to sunset on June 30, 2023.Program. focus on DEI&EJ through our 167.Develop a comprehensive Additional insights were shared regardingexpenditures.access to customer assistance programs andcommunity and stakeholder ensuring that the offerings meet the needsengagement strategy followingInvestigate and Resolve Equal of the most vulnerable in our service area.the passage of the MBE legislationEmployment IssuesAdditional recommendations include transitioningto discuss and receive feedback on proposed regulation updates.to monthly billing to aid in affordability and177.Review regulations, policies and 168.Present formal recommendations increasing outreach.to WSSC Water Commissionerstrainings.178.Implement EEO case tracking for consideration and adoption.system.36 WSSC Water 2023 Transition Report WSSC Water 2023 Transition Report 37'