COMMISSIONERS PRESENT
Mr. Earl Steenstra, Chairperson
Dr. Velma Allen
Mr. Don Bowman
Ms. Peeti Greene

COMMISSIONERS ABSENT
None

STAFF PRESENT
Mr. Patrick Cannon
Ms. Connie Kreiner
Mr. James Buscetta
Mr. Larry Best
Ms. Melody Lindsey
Mr. Bob Utrup
Ms. Holly Mahoney-Bierlein
Ms. Rosalind Byers-Lang
Mr. Ray Kirklin
Ms. Elizabeth White
Ms. Janet McInnis
Ms. Anne Fridline
Mr. Joe Willett
Ms. Amy Daniel
Mr. Charles Dunn

GUESTS
Ms. Sheila Maier
Mr. Mike Maier
Mr. Tom Douglas
Ms. Beth Chorba
Ms. Georgia Kitchen
Ms. Donna Murphy
Ms. Mary Wurtzel
Mr. Jim Murphey
Mr. Brian Seybert
Ms. Rebecca Seybert
Ms. Kelli Alfano
Ms. Deb Snyder
Mr. Ed Volway, Jr.
Ms. Kathy Volway
Ms. Louise Archer
Ms. Evelyn Wettlin
Mr. Larry Posont
Mrs. Donna Posont
Mr. David Robinson
Ms. Debbie Robinson
Ms. Sheila Chastain-Latham

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
Chairperson Steenstra called the Committee of the Whole meeting to order at 9:15 a.m.
Discussion began with the draft letter for Chairperson Steenstra’s signature to Douglas Howard, Director of the Family Independence Agency (FIA), which outlines several issues the Commission Board wishes to discuss with Mr. Howard when he is present at the February Commission meeting. Suggestions were made to finalize the letter and Mr. Cannon indicated that those changes would be made and the letter would be sent to Director Howard soon.
The next item for discussion was the Elected Operators Committee (EOC) retreat that would be held on January 19 and 20. Mr. Bowman indicated that he would be attending the retreat representing the Board.
Ad Hoc committees were discussed. Mr. Cannon advised the Board that the Skills of Blindness Committee and the Transportation Committee have determined that their work is more or less complete with the recommendations which have recently been made. He also said that the Marketing and Public Relations Committee continues to meet. Further, the Director’s Communications Committee has been formed and is meeting bi-monthly with the Executive Management Team to provide a direct communications link between all of the offices and management.
Mr. Bowman raised the issue of accessible meeting sites and noted that public comment had been provided at the previous two Board meetings that the meeting site was not accessible. Mr. Cannon explained that the meetings are now being held out-state more frequently than in the Lansing area and noted that some communities do not have adequate public transportation, but felt that these communities should also be included when meeting sites are being selected.
Mr. Steenstra noted that several members of the National Federation of the Blind/Michigan (NFB) were present to present to the MCB Board resolutions that had been passed at the last meeting of the NFB. Mary Wurtzel joined the Board at the table to read the resolutions. The first resolution urged the MCB Board to carefully consider each recommendation of the Omvig report and called upon the Commission to implement the recommended changes at the Training Center with due speed. Ms. Debbie Robinson commented that the NFB urged the Board to have a time in the agenda where dialogue could occur between the NFB and the Board with regard to the Omvig report.
The second resolution calls on Governor Engler to take all necessary steps to restore the Commission for the Blind to an independent status as mandated by P.A. 260. Mr. Larry Posont said that the FIA is an umbrella agency and that history has proven that umbrella agencies do not work for blind people and that a clear, independent board that can be involved in all processes is needed.
The third resolution calls for the Commission Board to carry out their responsibility which includes setting and overseeing Commission policies as prescribed under P.A. 260 and further resolves for the Board to re-establish direct contact with organized blind consumers. Ms. Georgia Kitchen urged the Board to communicate more effectively with blind organizations like the NFB.
The fourth resolution calls upon Governor Engler and the Legislature to correct the current funding mechanism and remove the administrative barriers that limit full-service delivery to the blind citizens of Michigan. Ms. Sheila Chastain-Latham spoke about the needs of the senior blind in Michigan.
The fifth resolution calls upon all necessary state officials and legislators to remove the barriers that have restricted the growth and potential of employment for blind people in highway vending. Ms. Donna Posont said that this would provide the opportunity for more jobs for blind people and urged the Commission to work with the Department of Transportation to overcome hindrances.
Mr. Steenstra thanked everyone for their comments and said that the Board would be taking all of the resolutions into consideration.

REGULAR MEETING

CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL, AND DETERMINATION OF QUORUM
Chairperson Steenstra called the meeting to order at 10:20 a.m. Roll call was taken and a quorum was present.

DR. ALLEN MOVED, SUPPORTED BY MS. GREENE, TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 11, 2000 COMMISSION MEETING AS PRESENTED. THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

PUBLIC COMMENT
Mr. Geer Wilcox agreed with the resolutions passed by the NFB and said that the agency needed to be a Type One agency. He also felt that when there is representation of the blind organizations on the Board that the Board has been more effective.
Mr. Larry Posont said that FIA and certain people within the state government have downgraded the Commission’s status and that it is also harming the vending program. He also said that it was time to move ahead with the recommendations of the Omvig report.
Ms. Mary Wurtzel noted that there are many people who are waiting for services and that change comes slowly, but that the NFB would be tenacious to “win the war.”
Ms. Sheila Chastain-Latham said that transportation is an issue for those in the blind community in order to attend the meetings.

BOARD CORRESPONDENCE
There was no Board correspondence.

DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Mr. Cannon reported that Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, as amended, which requires that electronic and information technology in the federal sector be accessible, has been approved and is a final rule. He also reported that the Vision 2020 Process Design Team would be meeting on January 25 and 26 and the Executive Management Team would be meeting with them on January 25 to discuss how the Vision 2020 process meshes with short and long-range program planning.
Mr. Cannon said that he had a compact disc available which contains the final report of the Public Rights-of-Way Access Advisory Committee of the U.S. Access Board which will be used to develop a proposed rule based on the final report. Finally, he said that he had recently attended a meeting of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) where the FCC reaffirmed their decision that requires the major television networks to make a percentage of their primetime programming accessible to blind viewers through descriptive video.

MR. BOWMAN MOVED, SUPPORTED BY MS. GREENE, TO ACCEPT THE DIRECTOR’S REPORT AS PRESENTED. THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

SELECTION OF A VICE-CHAIRPERSON
Dr. Allen nominated Ms. Greene as the Vice-Chairperson.

MR. BOWMAN MOVED, SUPPORTED BY DR. ALLEN, TO CLOSE THE NOMINATIONS AND APPOINT MS. GREENE AS THE VICE-CHAIRPERSON. THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

MCB TRAINING CENTER REPORT
Ms. Lindsey thanked the members of the NFB for raising the issue of the Omvig report and also the issue of improving services at the Training Center. She noted that one of the areas that has been addressed is the appearance of the building. Another area which has been addressed is that the building has been made a non-smoking facility. Areas outside the building have been designated as smoking areas. She noted that she is very enthusiastic about the possibilities that the report presents and said that there are areas that need further discussion.
She said that guidelines are being developed that deal with minors, the apartment living experience, and general student guidelines. The guidelines will be presented to the Consumer Involvement Council for final comment at their next meeting.

MR. BOWMAN MOVED, SUPPORTED BY DR. ALLEN, TO ACCEPT THE MCB TRAINING CENTER REPORT. THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

CONSUMER SERVICES REPORT
Mr. Buscetta said that regardless of the problems encountered with the client data system, he was very proud of the staff who continue to work very hard to provide excellent services to the citizens they serve. He reported that the vacant secretarial position in Flint will be replaced with a half-time secretary in the Flint office and a half-time secretary in the Lansing office. He also reported that over forty MCB staff will be participating in an ethics training in the spring through the Region V Rehabilitation Continuing Education Program. Further training will be provided on job placement especially for rehabilitation counselors a nd counselor/teachers some time in the summer of 2001.
Mr. Buscetta also informed the Board that MCB now has 22 Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) signed and in effect with Workforce Development offices around the state.
Further, Mr. Buscetta informed the Board that Ms. Joanne Search who was previously employed in the Detroit Office and the wife of Mr. David Search, previously of the Gaylord Office, had passed away.
Finally, Mr. Buscetta commented on the draft 107 review that had been received.

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

CLIENT CHOICE
Ms. Amy Daniel, Counselor, Lansing Regional Office, told the Commissioners that in 1998 amendments were passed to the Rehabilitation Act that mandated that each state create written policies that aid individuals to make informed choices. She said that the philosophical basis for client choice is that people should have control and be responsible for all the decisions that affect their lives.

CENTRAL REGION REPORT
Ms. Elizabeth White, Assistant Supervisor, Central Region, reported that the Flint office has 18 closures, six of which are homemakers, for the fiscal year. She said she has been working with the Shiawassee Michigan Works office to assist in getting computer accommodations up and running. She also reported that Joe Willett and she would be conducting an Employment Readiness Seminar on January 17 and that she, Mr. Willett and Anne Fridline would be helping out at the Career Day Seminar in Detroit on February 8. She said that she is enjoying participating in the small business task force which is an ad hoc committee of the Commission with the task for re-writing MCB’s policy on small business and self-employment. She introduced Mr. Ray Kirklin, Rehabilitation Counselor, Saginaw office. Mr. Kirklin noted that he serves on the area placement council for Gratiot, Isabella and Clare Counties. He also serves on a committee with Northern Michigan area educators who meet with teachers of the visually impaired. Some other committees he’s involved in are the Technology Committee and the Tech 2000 Committee.
Ms. White introduced Ms. Janet McInnis, Rehabilitation Teacher. Ms. McInnis said that she serves 17 counties and has recently had the opportunity to also teach mobility skills which she is enjoying. She said that she also serves on the Vision 2020 Design Team and feels that it will create more leaders within the agency.
Ms. Anne Fridline said that she was a member of the Communications Committee and feels it is a wonderful communication tool for open dialogue at all levels. Ms. Fridline is also involved in the Career Days which are held five to six times a year. Finally, she brought an article from the Flint Journal about Commissioner Greene’s mentoring of a blind seven year-old student.

INDEPENDENT LIVING REPORT
Mr. Bob Utrup reported that in FY 2000, the Independent Living Program (IL) served 1,018 people; down 300. Mr. Utrup attributed it to the problems with the new client tracking system and that one teacher has been on leave for several months. Fifty percent of the clients were 80 years of age or older; 70 percent were female; 85 percent white. He said that services to the African-American population are down, but services to the Native American population are up, with services to Hispanics remaining about the same. Mr. Utrup said that he and his staff had recently met and discussed ways to improve customer satisfaction.
Mr. Utrup introduced Ms. Holly Mahoney-Bierlein, IL Counselor. Ms. Mahoney-Bierlein expressed her appreciation for the community agencies and consumer groups for making her job easier and told of a specific instance in which the NFB helped her with a client’s needs.
The meeting was adjourned for lunch at 12:09 p.m.

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The meeting was called back to order at 1:15 p.m.

REPORT FROM SVRC INDUSTRIES, INC.
Mr. Bob Utrup introduced Ms. Debra Snyder, Vice President of Community Services, and Ms. Kelli Alfano, Communications Coordinator, from SVRC Industries, Inc. He spoke about th e good working relationship the Commission has with SVRC. Ms. Snyder said that SVRC is a United Way agency and programs include evaluation, work adjustment, placement services and a sheltered workshop.
Ms. Alfano said that the Work First Program is part of the Michigan Works! Workforce Development Program. The Work First Program offers job search classes and SVRC is the sole provider of these classes in Saginaw County.

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES REPORT
Mr. Best reported that the total expenditures for FY 2000 w ere just under $17.1 million which left nothing to roll forward into the 2001 fiscal year. He said that all of MC B’s requests for increases for FY2002 have been denied by the Department of Management and Budget. The proposed budget for 2001 is $15,672,000 which means that all program budgets will be cut, with the Vocational Rehabilitation program taking the largest cut. Mr. Best said that the largest problem is with the way Social Security reimbursements are processed and indicated that any that are received during this year will be put back into the VR program to restore the previous level of services to clients.

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

BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAM REPORT
Mr. Wurtzel reported that the McNamara Building was progressing well. Also, he said that he had learned through the recent hiring process for the two promotional agents that MCB should be encouraging students to seek summer employment, noting that this would give them needed experience for future jobs, the same as their sighted peers.
Mr. Brian Seybert was in attendance to present the Elected Operators Committee Report. The first motion was to request that Gwen McNeal be invited to make a presentation at the February Elected Operators Committee meeting about summer youth employment. Mr. Wurtzel commented that this motion came out of an idea by Ms. McNeal which will give the opportunity for clients to have summer jobs in the BEP facilities.
Mr. Seybert read a fifth motion by the EOC that a strongly written letter be written by the EOC to the Committee Chair of the representatives of the Michigan Department of Transportation to return the Marquette Welcome Center’s business to the Commission’s representative operator in Marquette, Michigan. Finally, Mr. Seybert invited the Commissioners to the EOC Retreat to be held the first weekend of February.

MS. GREENE MOVED, SUPPORTED BY DR. ALLEN, TO ACCEPT THE BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAM REPORT AS PRESENTED. THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comme nt at this time.

ADJOURNMENT

MR. BOWMAN MOVED, SUPPORTED BY DR. ALLEN, TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:05 p.m. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, February 20, 2001 at the Victor Building in Lansing. The Committee of the Whole will begin at 9:00 a.m. and the regular meeting will start at 10:00 a.m.