NYSILC Full Council Meeting

May 14, 2001

Attendees: Joe Bravo, Chair; Fran Pizzola, Vice-Chair; Sally Johnston, Member-at-Large; Maria Dibble, Mary Ewing, Marguerite Haring, Doug Hovey, Steve Lovi, Harvey Rosenthal, Bob Shepherd, Mel Tanzman, Frieda Zames, Ron Bassman, Sharon Flom; Bob Gumson; Greg Jones, Ann Marie Vadney, Brad Williams, Stephanie Lawton.

Guests: Pat Doyle, Denise Figueroa, Melissa Hall, Nick Cappaletti, Tracy Yuells, Teena Willard, Jackie-CDCI.

Absent: Terra House, Secretary; Pat Figueroa, Treasurer; Calvin Alderman, Judy Avner, William Bird-Forteza, A. Georg Fleischer; Steve Holmes, Paul Molloy.[ and Amy LaShomb]

Joe Bravo welcomed members of the Council and guests.

Open Forum: Frieda Zames mentioned that she has a bill given to her by John Gresham that would make the ADA a law in New York State regardless of what happens on the national level. Brad Williams added that this bill is a sovereign immunity bill introduced by Assembly member Luster; the purpose of this bill is to allow for an ADA suit in NYS for monetary damages in Federal Court, thus reversing the Garret decision. John Gresham is trying to get Section 504 of the Rehab Act included in this bill as well. Regarding SCRIE (Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption), Republican Senators are needed to support this issue. Marguerite Haring mentioned that GM offers a $1,000 disability package for people in need of accommodations. Joe Bravo mentioned Chrysler and Ford offer this same package.

Motion by Joe Bravo, second by Frieda Zames, that the Council actively support an ADA equivalent and 504 bill for New York State as part of the legislative item. Motion carried unanimously.

Motion by Bob Shepherd, second by Marguerite Haring, to accept the minutes of February 9, 2001 as presented. Motion carried unanimously.

Executive Director’s Report – Brad Williams reporting.

• In February, had a chance to meet with Jeff Lovell, Governor’s Secretary for Education, talking about restoring the $1 million add.
• Also in February, Larry Gloecker had invited Brad participate in meetings in DC regarding a discrepancy for the Vocational Rehabilitation funding at the Federal level between the funding formula and the mandatory COLA legislation for each state.
• Brad participated in the meetings with the Governor’s office and Department of Health regarding Olmstead. A five point agenda was put forth at these meetings. A follow-up meeting was had in March, while the April and May meetings needed to be canceled.
• Work was done on the Federal increase to Title VII Part C Funds, work on the Voc Rehab gap funding, and stabilize the Assistive Technology Act funding. This legislation will sunset in a couple of years. Request has been made for this not to be phased out.
• Met with Brad Beckstrom, Governor’s DC Liaison, while working on the Assistive Technology Act issue. Great opportunity to begin a relationship for the future.
• Senator Clinton did formally submit an appropriation request for a $20 million increase to the Title VII Part C appropriation, a $12 million increase to the top of the Vocational Rehabilitation appropriation and a $5 million increase with the language changes for the Assistive Technology Act. Waiting to hear if Senator Schumer joined in on this request.
• On the State Appropriation side, we found out that the Assembly budget resolution the $1.7 million was put back -- $1 million restoration, $200,000 for Cortland, $500,000 COLA. The Senate side restored, in their budget resolution, the $1 million and in a letter from Senator Kuhl that they would find additional funds to address the remaining needs.
• Laura Hagen did a wonderful job about organizing and getting the word out regarding the Election Reform issue. A series of hearings were held. Jim Dixson from NOD testified. Disabled citizens were at every hearing.
• The Buffalo ILC competed and won the Independent Living Management Rehabilitation Research and Training Center grant for the next five years, which had traditionally been at ILRU in Houston for the past 20 years.
• NCIL is doing conference call trainings on various subjects, participated in one already on the SPIL and working on developing the materials for one in July on Media Relations.
• 60 people attended the Ticket to Work-Work Incentives Improvement Act and Workforce Investment Act training in Buffalo. Great diversity among the attendees.

Treasurer’s Report – S. Lawton reporting. Financial reports presented. Note was made of the additional expense incurred due to the Hawaiian travel agents error. This money will be refunded.

Motion by Maria Dibble, second by Fran Pizzola, to accept the Treasurer’s Report as presented. Motion passed unanimously.

Executive Committee Report: Fran Pizzola reporting. The committee met on April 20, 2001. Minutes of that meeting will be in your next packet.

Committee Reports:

• [Tape eaten by recorder.]
• Housing Committee - Frieda Zames reporting. At Sally Johnston’s suggestion, I would like to discuss the Building Codes Council that impacts on housing. In 1984, the International Building Codes Council developed rules that stated that all apartments should be accessible, and now they want to drop the accessibility codes from 100% down to 2%. EPVA has taken the lead position on this issue. It is a 17 member council under the jurisdiction of the New York State Fire and Prevention Building Codes is with the Department of State, including two statutory (Department of State and the Fire Marshal of the State of New York), two others (Department of Health and Department of Labor), the remainder are broken up between 7 categories (a codes person, a fire person, a disability advocate, etc., all approved by the Attorney General). Department of State is the Secretary of State, not the Attorney General. Governor’s office is aware of this problem and is addressing this matter at the present time. Visitability – NYSILC should support this issue.

• Transportation Committee – Calvin Alderman absent. No committee reports have been met submitted to date.
• Transition Committee – Bob Shepherd reporting. No recent meeting has been held. Meeting schedule needs to be addressed. Bob would like to resign as Chair of this sub-committee or have help from committee members to address the meeting requirements. Further discussion will be had at a later date.

• Election Reform Committee – Laura Hagen is absent. She is in Washington meeting with Jim Dixson. Laura has had a meeting with Senator Spano regarding changing NYS Election Law and on polling booths, making sure they are accessible. She should be at the next meeting and able to give a better report. CDCI personnel are on the Assembly, Senate and Governor’s Task Forces regarding election reform. Several machines have been examined and a recommendation will be made at a later date.
• State Plan Committee – Brad Williams reporting. The committee has done very well working with the process and defining procedures. Drafts have been done and circulated. NY’s State Plan has been used as the model for National trainings.

VESID Report – Bob Gumson reporting. State Plan – Brad mentioned that the Board of Regents passed the SPIL that this Council had approved without any changes. CBVH has the plan now and it is awaiting approval from DOB (Dept. of Budget). Open Executive Director positions in NYC – Brooklyn, Harlem and Queens all have Executive Director openings. Transition – VESID released an RFP on 5/7/01 to replicate the three successful ILC school transition projects. The RFP’s are for $100,000 each with no matching funds needed. Each of the three awards will replicate one of the existing models (Binghamton, Westchester, Utica). The three existing models were continued for a 3-year extension at $75,000/year and the level of service delivery has been reduced as well, but will add mentoring responsibilities. RFP’s are due 6/8/01. Part B Funding – The new contract cycle is approaching. Systems Advocacy Network money will be included in the contract for those ILC’s that have agreed to participate. The NYSILC sub-committee has identified Statewide Systems Advocate terms and conditions and an application is currently being developed. Every CIL is eligible for a minimum of $15,000, but will increase by the redistribution of any funds from the 41 entities that will become eligible for this opportunity and do not take it. [19 Federal CILs, 36 CILs in NYS, eliminate crossovers, resulting in 36 CILs and 5 satellites (CDR, ARISE-Oswego, NAILS, Herkimer satellite, Minority satellite of Westchester). State Money – Approval was received to reissue $2-$3 million of unspent State contract funds; each of the 35 CILs will receive $58,000 for anything that supports the operation of the CIL. Mention was made of having a training program to aide CILs in spending monies, so as not to return funds in the future, when we are asking for additional monies each year.

CBVH Report – Sharon Flom reporting. State Plan is on its way to DOB from the Governor’s office. CBVH’s central office has moved to Rensselaer. RFPs – CBVH is reviewing its RFP, a release date is not yet known. Strategic Planning – CBVH is undertaking a long-term strategic planning process between 5 and 10 years. CBVH has met with contract agencies; private agencies for the blind that it has contracts with, there will be a meeting 5/31-6/1/01 for the 16-18 other stakeholders. A follow-up meeting will be had in the fall as well. CILs need to continue to develop relationships with the CILs.

New Business:

Executive Committee Nominations.

Joe Bravo nominated Maria Dibble for Chair, second by Mel Tanzman.

Fran Pizzola nominated Doug Hovey for Vice Chair, second by Maria Dibble.

Sally Johnston nominated Frieda Zames as Member-at-Large, second by Marguerite Haring.

Joe Bravo nominated Pat Figueroa for Treasurer, second by Sally Johnston.

Fran Pizzola nominated Amy LaShomb for Secretary, second by Joe Bravo.

Motion by Maria Dibble, second by Doug Hovey, adjourned to 9/10/2001. Motion passed unanimously.