COMMISSIONERS PRESENT
Mr. Earl Steenstra, Chairperson
Dr. Velma Allen
Mr. Donald Bowman
Ms. Peeti Greene
Mr. Steve Handschu

COMMISSIONERS ABSENT
None

MCB STAFF PRESENT
Mr. Patrick Cannon
Ms. Connie Kreiner
Mr. James Buscetta
Mr. Larry Best
Ms. Melody Lindsey
Mr. Fred Wurtzel
Mr. William Droll
Mr. Tom Ray

GUESTS
Mr. Casey Dutmer
Ms. Elaine Newell
Ms. Beth Harvey

Chairperson Steenstra called the Committee of the Whole meeting to order at 9:25 a.m.

Mr. Steenstra enumerated several items for discussion during the Committee of the Whole and began by updating the Commissioners on the Vision 2020 process. Mr. Handschu registered his concern in how the Chair was chosen as the representative of the Board on the Vision 2020 Design Team. Much time was spent discussing this issue and the Vision 2020 process. The issue will be discussed at the June meeting and all Commissioners will receive all of the information from the Vision 2020 meetings.

Mr. Bowman reported on the Business Enterprise Program (BEP) Workshop which was held on April 28-30. He said that there were many vendors present and that there was a lot of enthusiasm by those attending. Mr. Handschu also attended the workshop and said that there was a lot of improvement in the Business Enterprise Program. He said that the main complaint he heard was the wish for more Commissioners to attend the Workshops.

Mr. Steenstra requested that P.A. 260 be provided in the appropriate formats to the Commission Board for purposes of the discussion on the Board organization and MCB’s administrative placement at the June meeting.

Mr. Handschu requested the assistance of the planning consultant with the Skills of Blindness Committee.

CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL, AND DETERMINATION OF QUORUM

Chairperson Steenstra called the regular meeting to order at 10:25 a.m. Roll call was taken and a quorum was present.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

DR. ALLEN MOVED, SUPPORTED BY MS. GREENE, TO APPROVE THE APRIL 10, 2000 MINUTES AS PRESENTED. THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Mr. Fred Wurtzel reported that the Braille Literacy Bill had passed the Senate. He thanked the Board, Director Cannon, and FIA Director Douglas Howard.

Mr. Casey Dutmer said that he was disappointed that there was so much discord among the Commission Board and said that it was terribly important for the Board to become united and work together. Further, he was encouraged to hear about the ideas coming out of the Vision 2020 Design Team process which will allow for more opportunities for openness and input by consumers.

DIRECTOR’S REPORT

With regard to the passage of the Braille Literacy Bill, Director Cannon said that the legislation had been given “immediate effect” in the House of Representatives and was expected to receive an affirmative vote on immediate effect by the Senate. He said the bill would then go to the Governor for his signature. He also thanked the leaders of both consumer organizations, the parent’s organization and noted that the efforts of Ms. Lisa Splawn had helped immensely.

Mr. Cannon said that he and Gerry Such had attended the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR) and National Council on State Agencies for the Blind (NCSAB) Conferences and major topics of discussion centered around the Workforce Investment Act, Ticket to Work and the Work Incentives Improvement Act. While in Washington, Mr. Cannon also attended the annual meeting of the President’s Committee on Employment of People With Disabilities. The focus of the meeting was on the Youth Leadership Forum, the High School High Tech Project and the Business Leaders Network.

Mr. Cannon reported that he and Jim Buscetta had attended a meeting of the Governor’s Workforce Commission in Muskegon and that discussion there also centered on the Workforce Investment Act, the Work Incentives Improvement Act and also about the accessibility of one-stops around the state for people with disabilities.

Mr. Cannon said that MCB had participated in a very successful vendor’s fair at the Washtenaw County Library for the Blind which attracted 720 participants.

Mr. Cannon also reported that a new Communications Committee has been formed at the Commission and will have its first meeting on June 1. He also said that the Marketing and Public Relations Committee is seeking suggestions from staff and Commissioners for a slogan that will be consistent with the mission statement.

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

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES REPORT

Mr. Best said that good news had been received regarding federal funding for the FY2001 budget. An increase for Title I has been proposed of 2.5% and the Older Blind program will also receive an increase. An additional one-time-only grant of $344,087 for this fiscal year for the Older Blind Program has already been received.

Mr. Best reported that he had had some positive discussions with regard to the cash match agreement issue and would keep the Board informed as things develop. He said that no progress had been made on the FTE issue.

Mr. Best reported that discussions were still being held with regard to the cafeteria in the 525 Building, but that the agency would take a hard-line stance to enforce P.A. 260 and the need for consideration of monetary and space matters at the time decisions are being made.

He announced that a student assistant, Shannon Hengesbach, is on board for the summer to assist with computer systems.

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

Mr. Handschu requested that in the next Administrative Services report, the Board receive a staff recommendation for how to deal with FTE’s, state match and percentage of federal funds that come into the state.

Discussion again centered on the 525 Building and it was suggested that Director Howard be invited to attend the Commission meeting in August.

MCB TRAINING CENTER REPORT

Ms. Lindsey introduced Mr. William (Will) Droll, the recently hired Industrial Arts Teacher at the Center. Mr. Droll said that he had been with the Michigan Career and Technical Institute for the past five years, and had worked in industry prior to that. Ms. Lindsey said that Mr. Droll will be going to the Iowa Commission for the Blind to receive training from a highly respected industrial arts teacher there.

Ms. Lindsey stated that the interviews for her secretary would be held soon. She further reported that the Consumer Involvement Council (CIC) meeting had been held at the Center. The CIC was given a tour of the Center and will be providing feedback on draft rules and policies. A beautification/interior upgrades committee has been formed to look into making those types of improvements at the Center.

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

CONSUMER SERVICES REPORT

Mr. Buscetta informed the Board that five Memorandums of Understanding (MOU’s) have been signed with Workforce Investment Act partners around the state. Also, an MOU has been signed with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and they will be providing training in the fall to Commission staff to furnish information on services that are available for MCB consumers through the USDA. MCB will also provide the USDA with information about services that would benefit their rural clients who are blind.

Mr. Buscetta further reported that several MCB management staff have been participating in a series of six sessions that are a very thorough, sophisticated management-training program. He said it has also provided a valuable networking tool with other businesses in the Lansing area which may provide job opportunities for consumers.

Mr. Buscetta said that Employment Seminars are being held in conjunction with the Mini-Adjustment Programs. Joe Willitt and the regional supervisors are responsible for conducting these seminars. The participation and the contents of the seminars has been very good. He complimented Jim Baird and Bonnie Betz for the accommodations they have made at the Mini-Adjustment Programs for the Employment Seminars.

Finally, Mr. Buscetta informed the Board that the MCB Small Business Policy is going to be reviewed by a small group of staff and said that the Board would be receiving it also for their review.

MR. HANDSCHU 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 11:55 a.m.

The meeting was called back to order at 1:00 p.m.

CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINT PROCESS

Ms. Elaine Newell, Coach/Attorney, Disability Liaison, with the Department of Civil Rights, explained that the Department of Civil Rights has been re-engineered to try to better serve the customers of the state. A problem resolution process has been developed and each case has to be completed in eighty-four days. She provided an overview of the entire process. The process includes the opportunity for early resolution and in 1999 almost one thousand cases were resolved during the early resolution process. Ms. Newell has been appointed as the Disability Liaison.

TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE UPDATE

Mr. Fred Wurtzel, Chair of the Technology Committee, said the two main issues that the Committee is concerned with are accessibility and training. Mr. Wurtzel presented the Committee’s draft mission statement and the values and beliefs statements. He said that advocacy is a key issue and that the agency should develop a methodology to promote advocacy. Much discussion ensued regarding accessibility issues and the Family Independence Agency’s role in making technology accessible to blind staff and consumers. A technology report will be on the June agenda.

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

BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAM REPORT

Mr. Wurtzel introduced Mr. Casey Dutmer, Chair of the Elected Operators Committee, and began his report with an update on the 525 Building. Mr. Dutmer was asked his opinion about the situation with the 525 Building and he stated that it was his opinion that the Commissioners should support the agency’s position in this matter.

MR. HANDSCHU MOVED THAT THE BOARD ADOPT AS ITS POLICY THE STATEMENTS THAT LARRY BEST MADE IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES REPORT ON THIS ISSUE. THE MOTION WAS NOT SUPPORTED.

DR. ALLEN MOVED, SUPPORTED BY MS. GREENE, THAT THE BOARD GO ON RECORD IN SUPPORT OF THE POSITION THE AGENCY HAS TAKEN WITH REGARD TO THE HANDLING OF THE 525 BUILDING SITUATION. THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

Mr. Wurtzel continued his report with an update on the McNamara Building. An innovative approach is being taken and franchises have been applied for to supply food service to this building.

Mr. Dutmer read the motions from the April 30, 2000 Elected Operators Committee Workshop Business Meeting. Mr. Dutmer was elected Chair and Mr. Tom Carpenter was elected Vice-Chair. Mr. Dutmer commented that he felt that the workshop was successful. He outlined several goals which he wishes to accomplish while he is the Chair to open the lines of communication.

DR. ALLEN MOVED, SUPPORTED BY MR. HANDSCHU, TO ACCEPT THE BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAM REPORT. THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

MR. HANDSCHU MOVED, SUPPORTED BY DR. ALLEN, TO ACCEPT THE ELECTED OPERATORS COMMITTEE REPORT. THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

PUBLIC COMMENT

There was no public comment at this time.

ADJOURNMENT

MR. HANDSCHU MOVED, SUPPORTED BY MS. GREENE, TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.