Present:

Members: Barbara "Bobbi" Linn, Chair; Chris Rosa, Vice Chair; Marianna Brown, Interim Treasurer; Anne Pavlak, Secretary; Frances Pizzola, Member-at-Large; James Billy; Joe Bravo; Maria Dibble; Gisela Distel; Mary Ewing; A. Georg Fleischer; Michele Greene; Terra House; Sally Johnston; Robert Shepherd.

Ex Officio: Patricia Bruno, OMRDD; Sharon Flom, CBVH; Bob Gumson, VESID; Greg Jones, Advocate's Office.

Staff: Brad Williams, Executive Director; Stephanie Lawton, Office Manager.

Guests: Todd Eggert; Dawn Penders, VESID; Ralph Giordano, VESID; Ken Dibble; Laura Hagen, CDCI; Tim Weider, RCIL; Denise Figueroa, ILCHV; Doug Usiak, WNYILP.

Absent:

Cheryl Pivorunas; Michael Kennedy; Jack White.

Bobbi Linn called the meeting to order at 8:12 AM by welcoming everyone in attendance. Chris Rosa acknowledged the passing of Charles McGrady and called for a moment of silence. The meeting began with a quorum present.

The Chair requested a motion on the minutes of March 19,1999. One change-Ann Marie Todd should be Ann Marie Tulley. Moved by Gisela Distel, second Maria Dibble, to accept the minutes with the noted change. Motion carried unanimously.

Executive Director's Report/B. Williams:

• Monthly activity reports for March, April and May. Highlights include: March. A lot of NETWORKING. Reviewed the Grant Writing workshop and the NYSILC Visioning session. "IL Celebration '99"-NYSILC contacted the media and obtained coverage. Marie Carrubba notified Brad of Board of Directors/Fund Raising training held at remote sites throughout the State. Brad was asked to join RRCEP and TRAID boards. With David Burganowski of RRCEP, Brad will be conducting focus groups around the State.
• April became the political month. Brad had meetings with Senator Charles Schumer, Attorney General Eliot Spitzer. Brad served on panel at "The Right Start: Working Together with Schools" workshop. Points of View taping in Buffalo. NYSILC and Peter Maier of AIM were asked to be State coordinators for NCIL's Federal Campaign and WIIA. Brad was guest speaker at NRCIL's ADA Rally in Watertown.
• SMay. Advocate's office brokered a meeting with the Governor's office, Jeffrey Lovell. Maria Dibble, Chair of AILCNY, and Doug Hovey, Chair of COIL, joined Brad to discuss State funding for IL, $3 million increase. Had follow discussion up with Attorney General Spitzer on facilitating "communications." NYSILC/RRCEP focus group discussions were held in Albany and Rochester.

1. "Mission Possible" updates. This is the Federal campaign for 1999 which is the increase in funding for the Part C Program and WIIA. On WIIA, we have 100% coverage from the CILs to approach members and let them know who we are. Originally, only 3 sponsored WIIA (Lazio, Moynihan and Schumer), now up to 18 out of 31 (58%). Letters and calls have worked. The Federal increase, President has $5 million increase penciled in.
2. Annual Report. Mailed out in April. Reported on NYSILC activities and educated about the CIL network.
3. NYSILC/Council of Community Services Benefits Survey. Provide options for CILS to purchase insurance coverage. Eight CILs have filled out survey so far. Other benefits available from CCS including legal advice regarding hiring/firing.

Treasurer’s Report:Marianna Brown reported February, March and April financials. James Billy moved, seconded by Sally Johnston, that the reports be accepted. Motion carried unanimously.

Executive Committee Report: Chris Rosa reporting.
Two meetings --April and June. Membership and Recruitment issues have been a large topic of discussion. Identification of candidates to fill vacancies, as well as recruiting existing members to be part of the next Executive Committee. Candidates under consideration for the next Executive Committee include: Marianna Brown, Sally Johnston, Joe Bravo, Terra House and Fran Pizzola. Anyone interested in joining the Executive Committee pool of candidates, please contact Chris Rosa. Recruiting: Have taken a look at existing council, striving to increase diversity with new recruits. Anyone who would like to recommended a possible candidate, please contact Chris Rosa.

VESID has been supportive of NYSILC's involvement in this process. Time frame has been set up to allow for phone interviews, recommendations to VESID, then presentation to Regents by Fred DeMay. Recommended that we start the recruitment process earlier next year to enable a list of candidates to be presented to NYSILC at its June 2000 meeting.

Public Policy Committee: Fran Pizzola reported on the regularly scheduled meetings - April and June. State's Rights (Constance & Constance) and the Attorney General issues. Letters have been received by Fran Pizzola and Brad Williams from the Attorney General's office stating there has been a great deal of miscommunications with regard to positions. Work is underway to bridge these communication gaps. Constance and Constance is still at the District level. Olmstead should be decided in July. The Muller case decision could influence the outcome of the Constance case. Laura Hagen and Joe Bravo are following up regarding the appropriate contacts we need to make on the State Medicaid Director's Plan for "Most Integrated Setting." The Public Policy draft (direction for operations of this committee) is still tabled. Currently issues are being handled as they present themselves. NYSILC was asked to join in a coalition to establish a Medicaid Buy-In for the working disabled in New York State. More information is being requested on this issue before a decision can be made.

Monitoring & Evaluation Committee: James Billy deferred to Bob Shepherd. Bob reported on the VESID State Consumer Satisfaction Survey results. Results have been sent to the 35 CILs. Workgroup to be started with CIL representatives and Marianna Brown as NYSILC's representative. Much was learned from this first survey, but there is room for improvement. Workgroup will fine tune the survey for future use. SILC needs to see an overview of the results. Information available from survey has its limitations. Next survey is projected for January 2000. For the Federal report, Bob Gumson reported that VESID, not RSA, will again do three site reviews this year - Arise/Oswego, NAILS, and Westchester Minority satellite. First review for last week of April.

Recruitment Committee: Reported by Chris Rosa. Toward the goals of fuller participation in meetings, the Executive Committee directed Brad with the assistance of Stephanie to people who have not been meeting the membership requirement of attending meetings. Those letters have been sent.

VESID Report: Bob Gumson reported that VESID did disseminate the Technology Infrastructure Project applications. The 34 applications returned are being reviewed this week. It is anticipated VESID will have approximately $115,000 left after the applications are paid out. $50,000 was set aside for VESID to coordinate a statewide training opportunity. VESID is contemplating a model of a "best practice" exchange. CILs would be able to "pair up" as mentor-mentee groups around the state to provide unique training opportunities and underwrite the costs on each end for the mentor and mentee to exchange their knowledge. It would pay for travel, materials, honoraria or staff time, lodging and per diems. VESID is about to release the 3 year RFP for the Amsterdam center. Customer Satisfaction Survey will be conducted in January 2000. Several in this room have been part of the workgroup. Bob Shepherd has been consultant to organize not only a process but also product. This has been done in conjunction with NYSILC and we are discussing a portion co-share for the cost of the survey.

Bob Shepherd reporting on "Independent Living Center Satisfaction Survey." Individuals with consumer service records between 10/1/98 and 09/30/99 will be surveyed. The survey will assess:

1. Center's programs and services that affirm the IL philosophy.
2. Staff's knowledge, effectiveness as communicators and ability to assist consumers effectively.
3. Consumers' affirmation that they have benefited from their relationship with the CIL.

The survey will be short, available in English, Spanish and alternate formats. Bob reviewed the individual questions on the survey and went on to discuss the response scale ("Yes/Agree," "No/Disagree" and "I Have No Opinion"). Items left blank would be scanned as "No Response." Only "Yes/Agree" and "No/Disagree" responses will be counted and calculated into percentages. Each Center is accountable to receive at least 80% on each question. Comments will be entered and reported to both the CIL and VESID. Each CIL will provide a list of Consumers with CSRs. Then the CIL will be provided survey packets to be sent out to the consumers. Preaddressed and Post Paid return envelopes will be included. Each CIL will be identified on the packets going to their consumers. Cover letter will be included from the appropriate center with the following statement appearing at the bottom of the letter: "This survey was developed in conjunction with VESID and the New York State Independent Living Council." Five (5) scale answering system is recommended by VESID as opposed to the three (3) scale currently planned. Surveys will be excluded if it is clear from the comments that the consumer was answering about another agency. Timeline is to present survey here today, translate materials by the end of July, print surveys by the end of August. Survey results will be compiled, as they were last year, graph and narratives. Consequences for falling below 80% satisfaction (corrective action plan in conjunction with VESID) will be addressed the same way as other contractual issues with the ILC Administration office.

Motion by Maria Dibble, second by Joe Bravo, that we ask VESID to go back to the committee and have a brief meeting to provide feedback specifically on the issue of the scale. Motion carried with one abstention.

Motion by Joe Bravo, second by James Billy, that the Council recommended to VESID and the Committee that this survey be tested before it is widely put out to be used by centers. Motion carries with 2 oppositions and 1 abstention.

Part C Program/RSA Administration: Rick Anderson and Jerry Iodice reporting. VESID decided to give program administration to RSA. As of 10/1/99, IL money (Discretionary Grant Program, Part C of Title VII) will be administered by RSA. Janice Plumer is the Financial Officer/Grant Management Specialist and Rick will work with her administering the program. Each ILC will be a grant instead of a contract. Janice Plumer will be working with CIL Executive Directors to negotiate budget for your grant (Form 524). 704 reports will be used for renewals (program goals, work plan and needs for technical assistance). December 31, 1999 new 704s will be reported. Highlights (unique aspects) from 704s will be reported to Washington. Reviews: Will be using VESID schedule of reviews. 15% of CILS will be reviewed each year by a team representing RSA, VESID, CBVH, NYSILC and a non-Federal reviewer. Use Federal Review guide as a self-assessment tool, in preparation for reviews. Target date of 7/31 to get grants awards and packets out. Grant award will have a start date of 10/01. Budget period will be one year (10/01/99-09/30/2000). Packets will contain all instructions. Moneys will be electronically transferred to your specified checking account. Drawdowns can be done in advance. EDGAR (Education Department General Administrative Regulations) will be included in the packets. COLA (Cost Of Living Allowance) - will have to get back to the Council on this matter. The Federal side will not effect the payout of the VESID advances. Council directed the Executive Director to prepare a Federal guidelines notebook for centers.

Open Forum:

• Dates for 1999-2000 Full Council meeting. November 19, 1999; March 17, 2000; June 16; 2000; and September 15, 2000.
• Executive Directors on Site Reviews. Non-Federals could not be from NYS.
• Transition Subcommittee - Suggested that it become a subcommittee of the Public Policy Committee at this time. Legislation regarding this issue is needed by July 1 to bring NYS into compliance with the Federal IDEA.

Chris Rosa invoked the authority of the Council to establish an ad hoc Transition Committee. Members: Bob Shepherd, Marianna Brown, Anne Pavlak and Joe Bravo.

• Points of View cable access show - Obtain copies for each center, cost $1,554.

Motion by Anne Pavlak, second by Georg Fleischer, to allow NYSILC to obtain one copy of each of the Points of View shows for each center. Motion carries unanimously.

• Points of View - Brad unavailable for next taping. Topic of the next segment deals with advocacy related issues. Interested Council member(s) contact Brad.

Motion by Maria Dibble, second by Joe Bravo, to adjourn this meeting. Motion carries unanimously.