COMMISSIONERS PRESENT
Mr. Earl Steenstra, Chairperson
Dr. Velma Allen
Mr. Donald Bowman
Ms. Peeti Greene
Ms. Jo Ann Pilarski

COMMISSIONERS ABSENT
None

MCB STAFF PRESENT
Mr. Patrick Cannon
Ms. Connis Kreiner
Mr. James Buscetta
Mr. Larry Best
Ms. Melody Lindsey
Ms. Michelle Visscher
Mr.Joe Pelle
Ms. Diamalyn Gaston
Ms. Karla Hudson
Ms. Amy Daniel
Mr. Charles Dunn

GOVERNOR'S OFFICE STAFF PRESENT
Mr. John Bruesch

FIA STAFF PRESENT
Mr. Douglas Howard
Ms. Jocelyn Vanda

GUESTS
Ms. Mary Wurtzel
Ms. Debbie Robinson
Mr. Geer Wilcox
Mr. Tom Carpenter
Ms. Elizabeth Mohnke
Mr. Dan Fleming
Dr. Susan Gormezano
Mr. Walter Saumier
Ms. Gretchen Garimella
Ms. Charis Austin
Ms. Beth Harvey

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
Chairperson Steenstra called the Committee of the Whole meeting to order at 9:30 a.m.
Mr. Steenstra noted that the agenda would be changed to accommodate Mr. Best who had a conflicting meeting in the afternoon.
Dr. Allen said that she wanted to acknowledge the receipt of a letter from a person who has some issues with the Business Enterprise Program. Dr Allen said she did not wish to discuss the issues at the meeting, but would be giving the letter to staff.
The Commissioners talked about their upcoming discussion with Director Howard.
Commissioner Bowman raised the issue of the National Federation of the Blind's criticism that the Board was increasingly distant from the blind community and were not present at outside functions/meetings. Chairperson Steenstra noted that with the appointment of Ms. Jo Ann Pilarski as a commissioner that the Board was complete and that the Board should proceed with planning a Board retreat which had been discussed in previous meetings. He said that at that time the Board could discuss committee assignments and Board attendance at other blind community meetings.

REGULAR MEETING

CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL, AND DETERMINATION OF QUORUM
Chairperson Steenstra called the meeting to order at 10:18 a.m. Roll call was taken and a quorum was present.

MS. GREENE MOVED, SUPPORTED BY MR. BOWMAN, TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 15, 2001 MEETING AS PRESENTED. THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Mr. Steenstra welcomed Ms. Jo Ann Pilarski as the newly appointed Commissioner and asked her to give a little of her background. Ms. Pilarski noted that she is a second grade teacher with Alpena Public Schools and said that most of her vision loss has occurred in the last five years. She said that the Commission had helped her tremendously to meet the challenges of teaching with her visual impairment.

PUBLIC COMMENT
Ms. Mary Wurtzel, Lansing Chapter President of the NFB, Michigan, said that she was present in 1978 when the legislation to establish the Commission was passed. She said that the hope then was that the Commission would have some autonomy so that it could be responsive to the needs of the blind community. She noted that it had come to the NFB's attention that the Commission was being hit with a severe budget cut which is one of their concerns. Other concerns, on a national level, include voting accessibility, services to seniors, and higher earnings limitation for blind people before losing social security disability.
Mr. Danny Fleming, operator in the Business Enterprise Program, expressed his concern that there were currently only two BEP suupervisors who were very overworked and expressed how much the commission has assisted him in his operation.
Mr. Geer Wilcox said that it is very important that the Commission be visible and have some impact and one of the key issues is to have control of its own budget.
Dr. Susan Gormezano expressed her concern with the funding for the Youth Low Vision Program. She said that Governor Engler had recognized the program in 1992 stating that the program exemplified the collaboration between state government and the private sector. She siad that she wants to make sure that as future plans are made, the YLV program is secure and that the students get served.
Ms. Debbie Robinson said she wanted to point out what is being repeated in the public comments is how very important the Commission for the Blind is to Michigan's blind citizens - children, college students, someone going back to work or seniors and that government really affects people's lives. She encouraged FIA and Governor's Office attendance at the Commission meetings to remain in touch with blind issues.

BOARD CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. Steenstra noted that two letters concerning the funds for the Youth Low Vision Program had been received and that Commissioners would be receiving copies of them.

DIRECTOR'S REPORT
Mr. Cannon called attention to the written MCB report and said he would highlight some of the information from it. He said that President George W. Bush had announced his Freedom Initiative which is a comprehensive approach to providing some needed access for people with disabilities. He also noted that the Public Rights of Way Advisory Committee had made its final report to the Access Board. Further, he reported that the Vision 2020 Process Design Team and the Executive Management Team had met to lay the groundwork to mesh initiatives going on within MCB.

DR. ALLEN MOVED, SUPPORTED BY MS. GREENE, TO ACCEPT THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT AS PRESENTED. THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES REPORT
Mr. Best reported a positive development with reference to the Business Enterprise Program (BEP) issue of planning for space in state buildings. He said the Department of Management has agreed to work more closely with BEP when any new building or renovations of state buildings is occurring in order to incorporate the BEP program in the plans.
Mr. Best advised that because the client reporting and tracking system is still not working properly and that assistance was not forthcoming from FIA, that the Commission would be receiving a sanctioning letter from the federal government because the 911 report, due last November 30, has not yet been produced or submitted.
Mr. Best said that the Vintage Program (the Independent Living Program for seniors) had been appropriated an additional five million dollars of federal money and, as a result, Michigan will be receiving an increase of $237,270 this fiscal year. However, due to the matching situation and the shortage in client services, Mr. Best said that he had budgeted all of the Vintage dollars to the IL program, along with the Part B grant and then removed Social Security money and some General Fund dollars, leaving the amount that is required to match the two federal grants. This money has been reverted back to client services which still leaves client services over $400,000 below last year's level.
Further, Mr. Best reported that the Governor had imposed a hiring freeze and announced a one-quarter-of-one-percent budget cut for the current year.

MR. BOWMAN MOVED, SUPPORTED BY DR. ALLEN, TO ACCEPT THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES REPORT AS PRESENTED. THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

FAMILY INDEPENDENCE AGENCY UPDATE
Mr. Douglas Howard, Director, Family Independence Agency was present to discuss several concerns that face the Michigan Commission for the Blind and also the agency's concern that these issues might be more readily resolved if the Commission had more autonomy. Mr. Howard said he was pleased to be at the meeting and that it provided him with an opportunity to become more familiar with the issues of the agency and also to meet consumers and staff. He indicated that FIA would give consideration to ways that MCB could be involved in budget development. Regarding autonomy to deal with legislative issues, Mr. Howard said that the Governnor asks that agenciies speak with one voice. He said that the Governor asks that agencies speak with one voice. He said that given current hiring constraints, he will remain cognizant of MCB's staffing needs and will give consideration to opportunities when MCB staff can be involved in meetings with the Department of Management and Budget. Director Cannon asked Mr. Buscetta to comment on what the budget issues mean in terms of client services. Mr. Buscetta said that the summer school program will be limited to only those people who need it in order to complete their degree. Travel and staff training will also be closely monitored. There is a backlog of older blind citizens waiting for services and a waiting list of people waiting to enter the Training Center. Chairperson Steenstra thanked Mr. Howard for his time and attention. Mr. Howard said that he looked forward to continued discussions with the Board.

CONSUMER SERVICES DIVISION REPORT
Mr. Buscetta said that the final 107 Review Report had been received and he provided an overview for the Commission Board. He reported that new legislation has been introduced that would provide for Medicaid buy-in for MCB clients. In particular, it would provide for some provision of personal attendance of a general nature for blind people.
Mr. Buscetta said that he was very proud of MCB staff who continue to work hard to provide the best services possible in spite of the current challenges.
Mr. Steenstra requested more information at a future meeting regarding privatization and the implications for vocational rehabilitation services.
Finally, Mr. Buscetta encouraged the Commissioners to come forward with any polity issues that they feel need to be addressed.

DR. ALLEN MOVED, SUPPORTED BY MS. GREENE, TO ACCEPT THE CONSUMER SERVICES DIVISION REPORT AS PRESENTED. THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
The meeting was adjourned for lunch at 12:18 p.m.
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The meeting was called back to order at 1:15 p.m.

CONSUMER INVOLVEMENT COUNCIL REPORT
Ms. Michelle Visscher said that she is the liaison between the Commission and the Consumer Involvement Council. She said that one of her goals is to keep the lines of communication open between the Council and Commission staff and Board. She said that the CIC is beginning to use teleconferencing for some of the issues on which they are working. She introduced Ms. Charis Austin, the Chairperson of the CIC.
Ms. Austin thanked Director Cannon for making the teleconferencing possible which is making communication between the CIC members easier.
Ms. Austin said the Council was currently working on revising the agency report card. She further reported that the CIC had provided input for the guidelines for the Training Center. The CIC is also addressing the important concern of technoloty; how it is purchased, what equipment is purchased, and who receives it. Ms. Austin said that the next CIC meeting will be at the Training Center in Kalamazoo on April 30. The Vision 2020 initiative will be discussed and she invited the Commisisoners to attend.
A discussion ensued regarding access to technology and Ms. Beth Harvey, Statewide Independent Living Coundil, was asked to speak about an assistive technology loan fund which has been done in several other states. The loan fund establishes low-income loans to help with the purchase of assistive technology.
The Commission Board requested that the CIC provide them with their minutes.

MCB TRAINING CENTER REPORT
Ms. Lindsey reported that she has received feedback from both the Consumer Involvement Counciil and the students regarding the Training Center Guidelines and hopes to have them finalized by April. She further reported that the Michigan Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired will be having their spring conference at the end of March at the Training Center.
She announced that a new substitute orientation and mobility teacher, Cindy Perkins, had begun work at the Training Center on February 5th.
The Omvig Report was discussed and Mr. Cannon suggested that the report should be discussed in depth at the Commissioner's retreat.

DR. ALLEN MOVED, SUPPORTED BY MS. GREENE, TO ACCEPT THE TRAINING CENTER REPORT AS PRESENTED. THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAM REPORT
Because Mr. Wurtzel was not present at the meeting, the Business Enterprise Program report was not received. Mr. Tom Carpenter was present to present the Elected Operators Committee Report.
Mr. Carpenter said that he was taking Casey Dutmer's place to report to the Board. Mr. Carpenter invited the Board to attend the annual workshop April 7-9. He also reported that the EOC has been working with John Victory as a take-off from the Vision 2020 initiative. A motion from the February 3, 2001 EOC meeting requesting the Board's action was discussed. The motion requests that the same process be followed when bidding out the 525 building as was followed when the House of Representatives Cafeteria was bid out. The Board will take this issue up at the April meeting.

MR. BOWMAN MOVED, SUPPORTED BY DR. ALLEN, TO ACCEPT THE EOC REPORT AS PRESENTED. THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

PUBLIC COMMENT
Ms. Beth Harvey, Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC), informed the Board that the SILC State Plan is due in July and that focus groups had met statewide in preparation for the Plan. Two of the groups were specifically targeted on blindness and Ms. Harvey said that SILC is making an effort to make sure that blind issues are a focus in the State Plan.
Ms. Charis Austin, representing the employment group in Grand Rapids, said that she wanted the Commission to ensure that another meeting was not canceled, like the one in Grand Rapids where the Commission incurred expenses because the meeting was canceled.

ADJOURNMENT

MS. PILARSKI MOVED, SUPPORTED BY MS. GREENE, TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:20 p.m. The nest meeting will be on Monday, April 16, 2001 at the Holiday Inn in Muskegon, Michigan. The Committee of the Whole will begin at 9:00 a.m. and the regular meeting will start at 10:00 a.m.