NYSILC Full Council Meeting

September 8, 2006

Present:Mel Tanzman, Chris Zachmeyer, Robert Gumson, Pratik Patel, Bruce Darling, Greg Jones, Sharon Flom, Lauren LeFebvre, Robert Gaffney, Michael Orzel, Doug Uziak, Mike Godino, Gene Hughes, Edith Prentiss, Dennis Boyd, Sharon Shapiro, Randy Black-Shantz, Michael Smith.

Present via phone: Christina Curry

Staff: Brad Williams, Sue Cohen, Patty Black, Joe Adler

Guests: Melanie Shaw, NYAIL

Call to Order-9:00am

Roll Call

Appointment of Interim Secretary
Mel stated that the Executive Committee is recommending that Lauren LeFebvre be appointed Interim Secretary for the duration of Alexander Wood's medical absence.

The recommendation was moved by Mike Godino and seconded by Dennis Boyd. All voted in favor.

Minutes: The minutes of May 19, 2006 were reviewed and approved as presented. Moved by Sharon Shapiro and seconded by Mike Godino. All voted in favor.

Executive Director’s Report: Brad Williams reporting.

• Brad discussed his activities report and added that he had been appointed Voting Machine Custodian. Brad recognized Mel Tanzman as accepting a Public Policy Award presented to NYSILC at the BIANYS Annual Conference in June. He also updated those present on the issue of adding disability related questions to the demographical information collected by pollsters.
• Brad thanked the board for its quick response to the required vote amending the SPIL.
• Discussion was held regarding HAVA implementation and possible strategies for the upcoming General Election.

Treasurer’s Report: Mike Godino reporting.

Mike Godino stated we are within budget. One item of note was that it was no longer necessary to have two phone lines so one was removed. Dennis Boyd moved to accept the Treasurer's Report, seconded by Pratik Patel. All voted in favor.

Committee Reports:

• Executive Committee Christine Zachmeyer reported that the committee has reviewed the final draft of the Bylaws that the full council will be voting on today. The committee has also completed its evaluation of the Executive Director, Brad Williams, and that the outcome was most favorable. She also explained that staff salary adjustments had been made, the visit from RSA and, the HAVA DVD Project.
• Bylaws Committee Mel highlighted the recommended changes that have been proposed by the bylaws committee. The presented bylaws were approved with the following changes:

  3.6 Where emergency action must be taken but cannot be taken by the Executive Committee (as described in Section 4.4(d)), the action may be taken without a meeting of the council if there is consent for the action in writing or electronically by at least two-thirds of the directors entitled to vote with respect thereto. Any such action will be reported to the Board of Directors at the next regularly scheduled meeting.

  3.7 Should a member of the Board of Directors fail to attend two regularly scheduled Council meetings, either in person or electronically, within the corporation's fiscal year, the Executive Committee may recommend to the appointing authority that such director be removed from the Council and a new director be appointed to fill the vacancy created in accordance with the provisions of Article Two, Section 2.5.

  4.5 Duties and Responsibilities of the Executive Committee. (e) A Special Meeting of the Executive Committee may be called if, at any time, any two members of the executive committee determine it to be necessary. Under such circumstances, the Vice-Chair shall call a Special Meeting of the Executive Committee. Such a "Special Meeting" shall be comprised of the elected officers of the corporation.

  4.6 (f) Shall dissolve all ad-hoc committees, task forces, and other subgroups of the Council when appropriate with the exception of the Executive Committee and Standing Committees, and

  4.9 The Treasurer shall be the Chief Fiscal Officer of the Corporation and shall be responsible for the funds of the Corporation.

  6.1 By appointment of the chairperson, the Board of Directors may, by resolution duly adopted, establish one or more standing committees, each of which shall consist of three or more members, which committees, to the extent provided by such resolution, shall advise the Council in the management of the Council. The standing committees shall be the Public Policy Committee, the Finance Committee, the Personnel Committee the Recruitment Committee, and the State Plan Committee.

  Motion to approve bylaws with changes made by Christine Zachmeyer and seconded by Doug Usiak. All voted in favor.

  Motion made by Doug Usiak to approve the proposed Conflict of Interest Policy and include said policy in the new bylaws and seconded by Dennis Boyd. All voted in favor.

• Travel Committee -Randy Black-Shantz reported the Travel Survey is complete and will be available on the NYSILC website as well as being provided to all ILC's and disability related groups. Other possible avenues for distribution will be discussed at the next Travel Committee meeting.
• Statewide Needs Assessment Committee - Doug Usiak reported that the committee has been gathering statistics and compiling data. This information will be useful in determining "unmet need".
• Disability Vote - Mike Godino stated the committee has not met since the last full council meeting. Brad added that they are working on having a "disability" related question added to the information gathered by pollsters for demographical purposes. Thus far, this has been very frustrating.
• Statewide Consumer Satisfaction Survey - Christine Zachmeyer reported that the committee is looking at NYS and Federal CSR's for a 6-month period. They are also collecting information from focus groups.
• Emergency Preparedness - Edith Prentiss expressed her interest in attending the SILC Congress in New Orleans in January
• Youth Leadership - Bob Gaffney reported that there will be a "Youth Leaders Speak Out" forum at the NYAIL Conference on October 31.
• VESID - Bob Gumson reported that they have increased their SILC funding request from 4 million to 5 million. He added that the new State Plan and new SSAN RFP will be coming up in the spring.
• CBVH - Sharon Flom reported that they will be holding open forums around the state regarding the state plan and that RSA will begin a monitoring program in 2007.
• Open Forum - Edith Prentiss stated that Capital Land taxi has accessible service in Albany.

Adjourn There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 3:00pm