New York State
Independent Living Council

Full Council Meeting
Crossgates Banquet House
Albany, New York
November 21, 1997

Present:

Members: Marianne Williams (Vice Chair), Barbara "Bobbi" Linn (Treasurer); Ralph William Shields (Member at Large); Chris Rosa (Secretary); A. Georg Fleischer, Michele Greene, Anne Pavlak; Frances Pizzola; Sally Johnston, Charles McGrady, James Billy, Myrta Cuadra.

Ex-officio: Tom, Robertson, Sharon Flom, Liz Murphy.

Invited Attendees: David Arocho, NYSILC Executive Director, Bob Gumson of VESID, Stephanie Lawton (NYSILC Office Manager), Patty Arocho.

Absent:

Members: Douglas Usiak (Chair); Sue Ellen Rose, Robert Shepherd, T. K. Small, Jack White, Gisela Distel.

Ex-officio: Patricia Bruno; Robert Boehlert; Darby Penney.

The meeting was called to order by Co-Chair Marianne Williams at approximately 10:20 AM. Since a quorum was not yet available, a number of items were discussed which did not require a vote.

Executive Director’s Report

David Arocho presented a summary of NYSILC activities over the last two months. At the beginning of November the cycle of hearings on the formation of the State Plan for Independent Living sponsored by NYSILC was concluded in Long Island. Various council members and the Executive Director chaired these meetings; members included Doug Usiak, Bobbi Lynn, and Anne Pavlak.

The Executive Director went on to highlight the following activities:

Joint sponsorship with the Self-Advocacy Association and Capital District Developmental Disability Services Offices (DDSO) of a Medicaid Managed Care Informational Forum. About fifty persons attended.

Training on Reauthorization of the Federal Rehabilitation Act for council members and CILs. It was very successful, in spite of the fact that attendance was lower than expected due to a snowstorm.

In the administrative area, Stephanie Lawton was hired to fill the position of Office Manager as of October 1. Stephanie has brought our financial records up to date and is going to organize the office files into database format for easier access and retrieval.

Quorum

A quorum was achieved with the arrival of several members from New York and the Bronx.

Minutes

The minutes of the September 12 full council meeting were read and passed without correction.

Treasurer’s Report

Bobbi Lynn presented the Treasurer’s report with assistance from David Arocho and Stephanie Lawton. The report was accepted without correction.

Executive Committee Report

Marianne Williams gave the Executive Committee report. Minutes for the August 22 and September 24 Executive Committee meetings were approved. Questions were raised regarding previous council motions to provide funding in the amount of three thousand dollars ($3,000) to the Independent Living Center of Hudson Valley to develop a website. A motion was made by Ralph Williams Shield to table the discussion until the next council meeting. The motion passed unanimously. Discussion also arose on a previous council motion to provide funding in the amount of one thousand dollars ($1,000) for a work incentive conference in Syracuse. It was indicated that this had already been done.

The Executive Committee had directed David Arocho to purchase whatever adaptive equipment was needed in the office to make it accessible for people with disabilities. TTY equipment and Braille hardware and software were purchased with FFY 1997 funds.

A brief discussion took place regarding the implications of the Attorney General opinion on the status of council members as public officers. This opinion clearly holds that council members are indeed Public Officers; however, they are not covered under state insurance policies due to a number of technicalities in the law. NYSILC members and staff are therefore liable to be sued for their official acts. A motion was passed directing the Executive Director to obtain D&O insurance as soon as possible. The insurance shall be purchased through the Council of Community Services.

VESID and IL Administration Reports

Bob Gumson delivered the VESID report on behalf of Ron Calhoun as well as his own Independent Living Program update. He stated that VESID was well on the way to a new record for placements, close to its goal of twenty thousand. Outcome goals based on types of employment were also set: no more than 9% of consumers to be placed in sheltered employment. Another area of importance and concern for NYSILC is VESID’s proposal that it relinquish administration of the Title VII, Part C program. A brief discussion of other state plan issues took place. The plan is ready to go to Larry Gloeckler for final draft presentation to the regents.

Mr. Gumson also informed NYSILC that VESID and the State Department of Education are being sued by the Federal Department of Justice for untimely implementation of the National Voter Registration Act. Some CILs have contracts with SED for implementing this act and may therefore be impacted. These centers are not, however, parties to the suit. Three of the centers were found not to be reporting the required weekly activity. Depositions are being scheduled and the role of the centers may be a subject of these depositions.

Mr. Gumson discussed the consumer satisfaction survey which his office had designed and sent to the centers to distribute. Its purpose is to gather statistical data regarding the services provided by ILCs. Responses have been received and the results will be tabulated over the next few months. These will be shared with NYSILC and the centers.

Site Compliance Reviews are scheduled for February, June and August, 1998; centers to be reviewed are Glens Falls Independent Living Center, Independent Living Center of the Hudson Valley (Troy) and Middletown Action Toward Independence. NYSILC needs to identify members who can attend these reviews. It involves two days.

CBVH Report

Sharon Flom presented the Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped report. The Commission’s name will be changed, as many consumers and advocates have recommended. CBVH welcomes suggestions in this regard. CBVH was part of the old Department of Social Services, which was restructured by the Pataki Administration. A new department called the Office of Children and Family Services was created of which CBVH is now a part.

CBVH is looking to enhance services to children, services that they need but are not receiving through other educational programs.

Job Description Changes

After some discussion, changes to the job descriptions for the positions of Office Manager and Communications Outreach Coordinator were approved by the Council. These were deemed necessary to ensure a smooth operation of the office and to clarify the scope of supervision.

Congress ‘98

A meeting to bring together all independent living councils nationwide will be held in Houston, January 14-16, 1998. David Arocho and Chris Rosa will represent NYSILC.

Nominations and Election of Executive Committee

The nominating committee has proposed the following slate of officers for the Executive Committee to be considered at the election on March 6. 1998:

Chair: Barbara (Bobbi) Lynn

Co-Chair: Chris Rosa

Secretary: Anne Pavlak

Treasurer: Charles McGrady

Member-at-Large: Frances Pizzola

Bios of each will be mailed to the members before the election.

NYSILC Meetings for 1998

Council will meet March 6, June 16 and September 11, 1998, at the Albany Marriott.

Annual Meeting Committee Report by Anne Pavlak:

Annual meeting and conference will take place June 14-16, 1998, at the Albany Marriott. Conference format will be a three track set of workshops: NYSILC’s track will include the annual meeting on June 15, and a Cultural Diversity workshop from 9 AM to 2 PM, on Tuesday, June 16. The RCEP track will include workshops on Monday and Tuesday focusing on issues such as the Reauthorization of the Rehab Act; the IL track will consist of presentations developed by COIL and AILCNY and interested independent living centers.

James Billie further elucidated the Cultural Diversity Training workshop. It will consist of two interactive sessions and a wrap-up meeting to tie up all the issues presented. David Peterson and the Looking Glass Players will be asked to participate.

Personnel Committee Report by Anne Pavlak:

Contract for Executive Director has been finalized. Personnel Policy needs revision. The text of the job descriptions has been finalized.

Public Policy Committee

Frances Pizzola has taken over as chair of this committee. She will follow up on accessibility issues and welcomes suggestions and other assistance.

Open Forum

Ralph William Shields informed the Council that the Brain Injury Association of New York State in cooperation with the Health Department will implement a series of workshops on Sensitivity Training and Outreach. These will take place in the New York City area, contact Judy Avner (518) 459-7911.

The meeting adjourned at approximately 2 PM.