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

COMMISSIONERS ABSENT
Mr. Earl Steenstra, Chairperson

MCB STAFF PRESENT
Mr. Patrick Cannon
Ms. Connie Kreiner
Mr. James Buscetta
Ms. Melody Lindsey
Mr. Terry Donnelly
Mr. Larry Best
Ms. Amy Daniel
Ms. Karla Hudson
Ms. Virginia Dean
Mr. Fred Wurtzel
Ms. Constance Zanger

GUESTS
Mr. Richard Hocking
Mr. Gere Wilcox
Ms. Carol Osmar
Mr. Ed Osmar
Ms. Valerie Barnum-Yarger
Ms. Gretchen Garimella
Ms. Elizabeth Mohnke
Ms. Brenda Fink
Ms. Carol Isaacs

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
Vice Chairperson Greene called the Committee of the Whole meeting to order at 9:17 a.m.
Ms. Greene said that she had recently attended a meeting of the Underserved Committee and that the Committee had decided to change its name to the Diversity Committee. She said that the Committee had discussed the shortage of staff and how that was impacting services to MCB clients and wanted to know if the Board could be of assistance in any way. Director Cannon replied that he would be having a meeting soon with Family Independence Agency Director Doug Howard and that subject would be one of the topics of discussion at the meeting. After further discussion, the Board determined to write a letter to Mr. Howard regarding the staffing issues.

REGULAR MEETING CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL, AND DETERMINATION OF QUORUM
Vice Chairperson Greene called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. Roll call was taken and a quorum was present.

APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES
DR. ALLEN MOVED, SUPPORTED BY MS. PILARSKI, TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE JUNE 18, 2001 MEETING AS PRESENTED. THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

PUBLIC COMMENTS
Mr. Richard Hocking said that he is a highway vendor operating under a temporary agreement with the Business Enterprise Program. He said that at the Elected Operator’s Committee (EOC) meeting on June 23, 2001, motions were passed to extend the temporary agreement for the operation of the Richmond and Adaire Highway vending rest areas until December 1, 2001 and at that time, the facility will be placed up for bid and that if Mr. Hocking decides that he does not want to run the Richmond Adaire vending facility temporarily, the facility will be placed on the bidline immediately. He said that he is asking the Commission Board to make the temporary agreement permanent.
Ms. Carol Osmar stated that she is a member of the EOC and was at the meeting that Mr. Hocking referred to and that this situation has occurred once before in the history of the Business Enterprise Program back in 1978 and that the facility did not go up for bid.

BOARD CORRESPONDENCE
There was no Board correspondence at this time.

DIRECTOR'S REPORT
One of the items that Mr. Cannon highlighted in the written MCB report was a meeting that he and Melody Lindsey attended of the Michigan Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired (MCBVI). Ms. Lindsey provided an update on Training Center activities. He said they also discussed the advocacy efforts of MCBVI on behalf of the Commission for the Blind. Further, Mr. Cannon noted the upcoming MCBVI Convention and encouraged Commissioners to attend the Convention as well as the convention of the National Federation of the Blind in November.
Mr. Cannon also reported that the Commission for the Blind, along with the Michigan Rehabilitation Services, and other public rehabilitation agencies around the nation have formed a new organization entitled the National Organization of Rehabilitation Partners (NORP). The purpose of the new organization is to advocate at the national level for public funding, to be more collaborative with the private sector, and also to form a stronger partnership between rehabilitation agencies and state and federal governmental agencies. MCB has chosen to join this organization in place of the Council of State Administrators in Vocational Rehabilitation.
MS. PILARSKI MOVED, SUPPORTED BY DR. ALLEN, TO ACCEPT THE DIRECTOR’S REPORT AS PRESENTED. THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

CONSUMER SERVICES REPORT
Mr. Buscetta reported that several staff have attended the mobility training entitled “Discovery Learning Training.” Mr. Buscetta said that more staff will be attending the training and invited Commissioners to attend also. Another training that staff have participated in recently is “Building Trust Relationships” which deals with job placement and building trust relationships with employers.
Mr. Buscetta advised the Commissioners of the 107 Review held the previous week by Mr. Douglas Burleigh, Administrator, Regional Services Administration (RSA) and, Mr. Charles Linster, MCB’s liaison with RSA. He said that the majority of the review has to do with MCB’s working relationship with Michigan Works! offices. Accessibility is the largest issue for MCB clients at the Michigan Works! sites. He said that all 25 agreements with the Michigan Works! offices have been completed.
MR. BOWMAN MOVED, SUPPORTED BY DR. ALLEN, THE ACCEPT THE CONSUMER SERVICES REPORT AS PRESENTED. THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

CENTRAL REGION UPDATE
Mr. Gerry Such, Manager of the Central Region, was unable to be present at the meeting but Ms. Amy Daniel, Mr. Terry Donnelly, Ms. Karla Hudson and Ms. Virginia Dean were present to update the Commissioners on the region’s activities. Ms. Daniel said that she and Kathy Halligan, administrative support person for the region, had nominated one of the customers that Ms. Daniel works with, Dr. Kristianna Matthewis, to be inducted into the International Hall of Fame for Persons With Disabilities and she is one of five people in the United States who will be presented with the award. Further, Ms. Daniel said that this fall she will be working with about eighteen students at MSU and she and the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities are planning on providing training on technology with the entering students.
Ms. Karla Hudson said that she is working with the Michigan Works! office in Lansing on accessibility issues for MCB clients. She serves on the Michigan Works! Disability Council and also represents the needs of persons who are blind in using the service centers. She told of the plans for the Career Day that will be held on October 17 for about 20 students in the area. She also is on the MCB Marketing and Technology Committees.
Ms. Virginia Dean said that she works with homemaker cases as well as serving referrals from the counselors. She also serves on the Marketing Committee. She participates in the Mini-Adjustment Programs and is a strong advocate of them.
Mr. Terry Donnelly said that his area of emphasis is transitioning and he is on the Washtenaw Transition Council which holds a Transition Fair every two years. He works with the Supported Employment Council in Ann Arbor to help find supported employment opportunities. Also, he consults with the University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University on a regular basis to assist students at the two universities.

MEDICAID UPDATE
Ms. Carol Isaacs, Deputy Director, Health Legislation and Policy Development, Department of Community Health, introduced Ms. Brenda Fink, Acting Director for the Long Term Care Initiative, Department of Community Health. Ms. Isaacs said that the federal government has come up with ideas that allow programs, within the individual states, that would provide options for people who want to work but fear losing their Medicaid Insurance. Because the problem is so complex, many departments within state government are involved and representatives from not only the Department of Community Health but also the Family Independence Agency, Career Development, Management and Budget, and the Governor’s Office have met over the past year to consider a program for assistance in the State of Michigan. A solution is being sought that is affordable and acceptable to the disability community.
Ms. Fink told about two federal grants, for which Michigan has applied, for system infrastructure changes which will assist in providing support to those who wish to work with items such as personal care and accessible housing.

The meeting was recessed for lunch at 12:00 n.
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The meeting was called back to order at 1:05 p.m.

TRAINING CENTER REPORT
Ms. Lindsey informed the Commissioners that the Training Center Guidelines will be implemented as of September 4, 2001 and she expressed her great appreciation to the Committee that worked on the guidelines. The guidelines are divided into three categories: General guidelines for anyone who comes to the Center, apartment guidelines for anyone who is involved in the apartment-living experience, and finally, guidelines for minors.
Ms. Lindsey also reported that representatives from Ameritech had visited the Training Center. The purpose of their visit was two-fold. They were invited initially to talk about funding opportunities for technology but also came to look at employment opportunities for blind people.
MS. PILARSKI MOVED, SUPPORTED BY DR. ALLEN, TO ACCEPT THE TRAINING CENTER REPORT. THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES REPORT
Mr. Best reported that the FY 2002 budget contains a slightly higher than expected increase for MCB.
Further, he shared with the Commissioners a paper he had written regarding the problems with funding in the Business Enterprise Program. He said there were five issues. They are 1) the rent issue; 2) vending stand retirement; 3) funding for new facilities; 4) inadequate fieldstaff; 5) replacing old equipment. This information will be shared in the form of a business plan with the Department of Management.
DR. ALLEN MOVED, SUPPORTED BY MS. PILARSKI, TO ACCEPT THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES REPORT AS PRESENTED. THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAM REPORT
Mr. Wurtzel reported that the McNamara Food Court opened and, on the first day, served 1,068 customers and the figures have remained high.
Mr. Wurtzel also said that the promulgation of the rules process is continuing. The operators will be meeting to review the rules and have an opportunity to ask questions.
Mr. Wurtzel also commented on a meeting which staff had with representatives from the state Attorney General’s Office on the subject of catering in state buildings and facilities. He said it was clear, according to the comments from the Attorney General staff, that BEP operators do have the right to provide comprehensive catering services in such facilities, although there is no statutory mandate for building tenants to utilize only BEP services.
Ms. Carol Osmar and Mr. Casey Dutmer were present to represent the Elected Operator’s Committee. Ms. Osmar read the motions from the June 23, 2001 EOC meeting. Both motions dealt with the issue that Mr. Hocking had raised in public comment. After lengthy discussion, it was decided that further study of the issue is needed to determine if the issue is addressed by an already-existing policy and the Board will wait for recommendations from staff and the EOC.
DR. ALLEN MOVED, SUPPORTED BY MR. BOWMAN, TO ACCEPT THE REPORT AS PRESENTED. THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

PUBLIC COMMENT
Ms. Valerie Barnum-Yarger, Statewide Independent Living Council, presented the Board with copies of the “Michigan State Plan for Independent Living.”

ADJOURNMENT
DR. ALLEN MOVED, SUPPORTED BY MR. BOWMAN, TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
The Meeting was adjourned at 2:55 p.m. The next meeting will be on Monday, September 17, 2001 at the Ojibway Hotel in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. The Committee of the Whole will begin at 9:00 a.m. and the regular meeting will start at 10:00 a.m.