APPROVED

MICHIGAN COMMISSION FOR THE BLIND

SEPTEMBER 16, 2002

LANDMARK INN

MARQUETTE, MI

MINUTES

COMMISSIONERS PRESENT

COMMISSIONERS ABSENT

None

MCB STAFF PRESENT

GUESTS

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

The Committee of the Whole was called to order at 9:06 a.m.

Ms. Greene reported that she and Mr. Cannon attended the Marketing Committee meeting. The meeting was informative and fruitful. Ms. Greene also reported that her Cultural Diversity Fan project is a positive one and is coming along fine. The fans are being disseminated quickly.

Mr. Adler made note that today is Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year in the Jewish religion. In future planning, it is the only holiday that would keep Jewish observers away from Commission meetings.

Ms. Pilarski opened the floor to public dialogue.

During the public dialogue part of the meeting, various issues and ideas were discussed which dealt with the new governor for Michigan, vocational rehabilitation funds and the 88/12 split between MCB and MRS, staffing and budget issues and how they effect MCB.

REGULAR MEETING

CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL AND DETERMINATION OF QUORUM

The regular meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. Roll call was taken and a quorum was present.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Mr. Bob Karvinen, who has his own low vision equipment supply company in the Upper Peninsula, stated that it’s been really helpful working with John McMahon and Mike Welch. They have been really helpful in contributing to the growth of his business

BOARD CORRESPONDENCE

There was no Board Correspondence.

DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Mr. Cannon mentioned the retirement dinner on August 29 in Lansing honoring all fifteen retirees. Eight people have already retired, six additional will be leaving at the end of October, and one remaining retiree will be leaving at the end of April 2003. The Commission is in the process of hiring four people to succeed the open vacancies of those that have left or are in the process of leaving. Which would be a rehabilitation counselor for the Detroit office, two rehabilitation counselors of which hopefully one would be a teacher for the Lansing office, and a secretary for the Flint office.

Mr. Cannon also mentioned that MCB is in the process of the self-assessment evaluation as part of the planning and quality initiatives and the Vision 20/20 efforts. The surveys are out and the PAQ Team meets October 4.

The two major state consumer conventions will be held this fall. The Michigan Council of Blind and Visually Impaired (MCBVI) will be meeting in Lansing on October 25,26, & 27 at the Clarion Hotel. Director Cannon urges Commissioners and staff to support the convention. Charlie Crawford, the Executive Director of the American Council of the Blind (ACB), will be the representative and featured speaker on Saturday October 26. The National Federation of Blind (NFB) State convention will take place November 8,9, & 10 in Kalamazoo at the Radisson Hotel. Romona Walhoff, who is the national representative, will be the featured speaker on November 9.

Mr. Cannon referred to an article that was in the MCB report. The America Foundation for the Blind is conducting a national study to identify the most livable cities for blind persons. Mr. Cannon urged Commissioners to look at the article and feel free to give them a call if they choose to participate.

The mini adjustment program took place at the Landmark Inn, located in Marquette, MI. September 8-13. Mr. Cannon again urged commissioners to attend a mini adjustment meeting at least for a day.

CONSUMER SERVICES REPORT

Mr. Buscetta reported that the MCB staff did have "Ticket to Work" training with Terry Martin, training director for Maximus. Ticket to Work is still scheduled to roll out in Michigan in November.

Mr. Buscetta also noted that there are a few other items that need to be emphasized. Anyone who receives Medicare and is successfully employed can continue to receive their Medicare benefits for eight and a half years. This is not true for those receiving Medicaid benefits. Unfortunately, Michigan is not a state with a Medicaid buy-in and hopefully that is something that can be resolved in the future.

At the Ticket to Work training programs an hour was set aside at the end of each day to discuss the Youth Low Vision program. Staff made plenty of positive remarks.

Also, the Youth Low Vision program is mandated to provide head born aids and the Commission is working diligently with school systems to provide hand held aids as well.

Mr. Buscetta also reported on the Section 107 Monitoring and Technical Review. Two days were spent reviewing cases. Overall the quality of the cases in compliance with federal laws were quite exceptional.

REGIONAL REPORT

Mr. Bernie Kramer spoke to the commissioners in regards to northern Michigan still remaining understaffed. A team has been developed in Northern MI., to look at what resources are available and what are the demands of the consumers. The next meeting will be on the 15th and 16th of October in Clare, MI. Mr. Kramer expressed his excitement regarding the team. The attempt is to get all customers on the Commission’s computer system and make sure that everyone is being served.

Mr. John McMahon made note that Susan Dees was invited but had a prior engagement and in her absence Marie Moisio will be attending.

The Youth Low Vision program has been working really hard with the school districts across the Upper Peninsula to get student referrals in early and the referrals have been slowly coming in. Jim Baird an instructor at MCB Training Center was in the Upper Peninsula for a week and met with about 12 clients teaching them industrial arts.

Mr. McMahon brought samples of Thimbleberry Jam to guests, staff and commissioners from a client, Mr. Ken Therrian who has his own successful homemade jams and jellies business. Ms. Peeti Greene proposed to Ms. Pilarski that the commissioners send a thank you letter to Mr. Ken Therrian for utilizing MCB services and commending him on his success.

Ms. Sue Johnson from the Escanaba office reported on the vocational rehabilitation closures for this year, which are fifteen homemakers and eight competitive closures.

Mr. Mike Welch reported that the Independent Living program for this year, at last count, had 75 closures, The IL program is receiving referrals of younger clients, which is encouraging to the program. The mini adjustment was very successful. About twenty people including spouses stayed at the Landmark Inn and 10 people came in as day students. Also, Mr. John McMahon went out into the community and provided services for independent living clients, those who only needed three or four skills and were not interested in attending the Mini.

Regional Community Partnership Report

Darlene Piconi, President of Employment Training Services, has a total caseload of 22 clients, 20 are currently employed. The commission referred 8 clients and 7 are employed. Ms. Piconi mentioned a case study that after two previous positions is now successfully employed full time, making above minimum wage, with benefits. Ms Piconi thanked the Escanaba staff for trusting her judgement in job placement.

Bob Chapman who recently retired from Michigan Rehabilitation Services has been instrumental in MCB obtaining office space in the Marquette Michigan Works office. Mr. Chapman stated that he’s been very encouraged in the last few years of the positive changes for our clients.

Ms. Marie Moisio a professor at University of Northern Michigan became familiar with the program through a teacher who works with visually impaired students. Ms. Moisio was referred to Mr. John McMahon to assist a blind student interested in doing Medical transcription. She suggested that if more faculty and staff would get involved in the work that the commission is doing it would help enhance our program and Northern Michigan University.

The meeting was recessed for lunch at 11:32 a.m.

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

MCB TRAINING CENTER UPDATE

Ms. Lindsey reported that the mini adjustment program will be one of the presentations featured at the National Conference for Residential Training Centers for the Blind in Albuquerque, NM. She also reported that the Commission is in the process of implementing the streamlining of the referral process, so if clients are interested in the training center they can get started right away.

Also, referring to the National Conference for Residential Training Centers for the Blind in Albuquerque, one of the presentations will address the issue of independent living. The State of Washington has switched over from dormitories to apartment living and they will touch base on the advantages and disadvantages of having the program.

Ms. Pilarski said that mentioning the mini adjustment meetings again made her think of Jim Baird and the hard work he has done and proposed that the Commissioners write him a Thank You letter.

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES REPORT

Mr. Cannon presented the administrative services report in the absence of Mr. Best. There was no expenditure report for the month of August. There’s an $111,000.00 rent issue with respect to the Cadillac Place cafeteria space, which has been resolved. There’s also a budget issue with the BEP operator’s retirement systems health benefits. BEP failed to charge MCB for the last three years, which totals $88,000.00. They would have liked the sum of money all at once but with some negotiations MCB is able to only pay $29,000.00 this year, next year and the year after next.

Every year towards the end of the fiscal year there are states that aren’t able to spend all their federal money and it’s returned to the federal government. The Commission every year asks for the available federal money and this year the Commission received $500,000.00.

It is the end of the fiscal year, which means its closing time for the books and accounts for fiscal year 2002. MCB has not received any word of change to the 2003 budget. As for the 2004 fiscal year budget it’s a little to early to go into detail but hopefully there can soon be discussion in regard to enhancements taking place early spring 2003.

BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAM UPDATE

Mr. Fred Wurtzel spoke in regard to the Cadillac Place. It was agreed with Department of Management and Budget that BEP would make a choice about the space BEP would like to use. BEP chose to relinquish the dining room area and keep the kitchen space. It was asked if McVety and Associates would do a market research of the area. They did and their recommendations were to 1.) Don’t do anything for a year, 2.) Put a cart service in. 3.) Put a franchise service in such as a KFC or Taco Bell. BEP has decided to take their first recommendation and to not do anything right away, which will allow time to update the kitchen area.

Mr. Wurtzel noted that if anyone had any good ideas of how BEP could get back into the welcome center outside of Marquette it would really help boost the business of Ms. Laura Fletcher. Due to service issues the area was taken away from BEP.

Ms. Mary Jenkins brought along samples of Ms. Laura Fletcher’s vending services. Ms. Fletcher, who started off with 6 machines has, increased to 32 machines in her 6th year as an operator.

Ms. Laura Fletcher expressed how there was a time when she was unable to get a job but over the last four or five years she’s learned about blindness and doing business. Jim Baird was able to get Ms. Fletcher motivated about vending. Recently, she has placed a new machine in the public schools and currently has machines all throughout Marquette.

ELECTED OPERATORS COMMITTEE REPORT

Mr. Casey Dutmer stated how he expressed his disappointment to Ms. Jocelyn Vanda and Ms. Kimberly Wells on their response from the last meeting. The governor’s office had requested a list of issues and resolutions and Mr. Dutmer said he provided them with what they had requested but they did not respond.

He also recounted a conversation with Ms. Vanda in which he defended the rights of consumers to express their views at commission meetings. Finally, Mr. Dutmer reported the meeting with the DMB Director, which focused on the BEP business plan and its anticipated support from FIA and DMB. He said he was disappointed with the DMB response.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Mr. Fred Wurtzel thanked Mr. Cannon for mentioning the NFB meeting on November 8,9, & 10. The focus of the convention will be on travel this year.

Ms. Greene addressed a question to Mr. Kramer regarding establishing a relationship with the Native Americans in the Upper Peninsula. Mr. Kramer stated that we do have some linkage to reach out to the Native Americans in the Upper Peninsula.

Ms. Darlene Piconi thanked the commission for all of their help and was informed today that because she and Mr. John McMahon were married on September 6, the Commission will no longer be able to use her services due to a conflict of interest.

There was brief discussion among Commissioners and Director Cannon regarding Ms. Piconi’s situation. Chairperson Pilarski stated that this is a subject that should be discussed in a closed session.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 2:46 p.m. The next meeting will be on Monday, October 21, 2002 at the Thomas Edison Inn in Port Huron, Michigan. The Committee of the Whole meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m. and the regular meeting will start at 10:00 a.m.

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JoAnn Pilarski, Chairperson

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