Dearborn Commission on Disability Concerns

PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
JUNE 13, 2002

COMMISSIONERS COMMISSIONERS
ATTENDING:

Christian L. Mageli (via conference phone)
M. Cathy McAdam 
Claudia Damian
Kim Bretton Hetrick
Gary B. Filiak
Mary Hodak
Jad K. Jadallah
Dale Swanson
Dr. Cheryl Kreger (arrived at 3:00)

ABSENT:
Jane Thomas
Ryan McGraw

STAFF ATTENDING:

Kurt Giberson, City LiaisonDenise Toepfer
Julie LaBenne, Recording Secretary  

GUESTS:
Paul Klink
Doug Feldkamp
Christel Sanecki
Michelle Kazmierski
Denise Toepfer

Call to order
Commissioner Mageli called the meeting to order at 2:10 pm. Ms. LaBenne took roll call.

Approval of the Agenda
The Agenda was changed by Vice Chair McAdam adding #8 HEGRIA outreach program.
Motion to accept by K. Hetrick and seconded by D. Swanson. Vote: Unanimous

Approval of May Minutes
Vice Chair McAdam moved to wait until the Chairman was available by conference phone.

Executive City update
Kurt Giberson announced The City Council adopted the Commission Budget as submitted; the funding will be available July 1, 2002. These funds are separate from the Transition Plan already in progress. The current monies are as follows (estimates);
Transition Plan at $50,000.
Barrier Free Access Phase I at $83,000.
ADA requirements by City Facility study at $160,000.

ADA Coordinator update; interviews with 5 candidates today went well, there are 2 more to be completed. A point score will be applied to each candidate and the top 3 will be considered.

Mileage support update; in regards to Commissioner Kregers letter; The Legal Dept states that no City money can be used in development of our support. As a City Commission we should communicate with the Mayor before contacting the Press. As a private citizen each Commissioner may proceed as they wish.

Homecoming update; A suggestion to be included in a 20x20 tent with the Parks Division was well received. This tent should be centrally located in the lower part of the Ford Field.
Commissioner Hodak asked why we are not listed in the Homecoming brochure/program? Because our placement is undecided, the exact listing was not available when the program was developed. Once we become established to one area (on a yearly basis) the program will reflect us.

Vice Chair Report
Leader Dog update; Ara will be retiring in August to Traverse City instead of San Diego. She reminded everyone of the difficult job of training a new guide dog, with hand signals and verbal discipline.

Survey update; A general response letter has been written and a mailing list will be compiled at the time of mailing.

The Executive Committee discussed further training sessions through Bob Ziolkowski for the City Clerk and City Council. For the City Council to become more familiar with us we should attend some of their meetings. Kurt Giberson suggested the Commission request to be on the Agenda for City Council.

Descriptive Video Service update; this service can be accessed by choosing SAP instead of Stereo under the Audio portion of your on screen menus. Only 2 channels (Turner Broadcast & CBS) are still not coming through.

Vice Chair McAdam spoke with Tara Gnau of the Henry Ford Centennial Library about their recent purchase of a Zoom text magnification program. She also verified that a working TTY phone system at their facility.

The Ethics in Local Government Seminars on June 19 & 20, 2002 from 2 to 3:30pm and 7 to 8:30pm. RSVP to Bob Ziolkowski not required but would be appreciated.

Vice Chair McAdam spoke with a woman, who was referred by the Secretary of State, about accessible parking at her place of work. This referral shows the exciting support and cooperation between government bodies the Commission expected to achieve.

Chair Report
The Access committee will have a new Chairperson, Commissioner Damian. This committee will continue to address Transportation, Homecoming, and other housing needs.
A Task Force has been formed to look into the Visitability issue. This Task force will include Commissioners Hetrick, Swanson, and himself.

Please do not include any Non-business E mail to Kurt Giberson or Julie LaBenne.

A recent meeting with Julie LaBenne to reevaluate her job description included;
A formal job description submitted for approval to Kurt Giberson.
Voice mail checked daily, as rerouted by Linda OConner based on urgency
Resolutions will be typed by Kurt Giberson or the new ADA coordinator.
Future motions passed should include who will take responsibility for typing the letter/response indicated in the motion.
Archives of the meeting will be on MD (mini disc) which allows transfer/copy to several mediums, when requested.
Detailed minutes will be kept on MD and future typed minutes will be abbreviated.

Commissioner Damian was asked if TTY systems have answering machine capabilities? Kurt Giberson assured a greeting is set up and someone answers during business hours. Paul Klink of Communications responded that voice mail should be an automatic feature.

Commissioners Hetrick & Swanson are requested to assist Denise Toefper with the purchase of
wheelchair accessible equipment for the gym. Their tests and recommendations are needed.

Copies of Chairman Magelis response to the point of view letter, as it appeared in todays Press & Guide, were distributed.

Motion to attach the response letter to the minutes by C. McAdam & seconded by K. Hetrick. Vote: Unanimous.

Vice Chair Continued
Vice Chair McAdam moved to wait for C. Kreger to discuss the Special Education Mileage.
The survey response letter included information for Seniors/Seniors at risk. Many seniors requested help with Home and Lawn maintenance. The City no longer has the program that referred volunteers, due to loss of the director. She contacted Michelle Kazmierski at the HEGRIA outreach program (on the resource list) to attend our meeting and discuss how we may work together.

HEGRIA Outreach program
Michelle Kazmierski briefed the Commission on her background and clarified that HEGRIA is not only for Seniors. Programs to help the homeless (house fires etc..), funded by grants money from the City, are run through her office. A food pantry, clothing pantry, & medical supply pantry are located in the Health Dept. and stocked by fundraisers. Commissioner Hodak asked if medical equipment (wheelchairs, walkers, etc) are needed for the equipment loan program? Yes, but space is limited. Most of her referrals come from the Police Dept., EMS techs, Meals on Wheels volunteers, and other City workers. She often reroutes them to a State or County program that can accommodate their request. Other cases, she visits the home herself.

Special Education Mileage
Commissioner Kreger verified the Mileage is for all of Wayne County, targeted for low incident disabilities. Included are Blind, Deaf/Hard of Hearing, and physically disabled and Trainable Mental Disabilities. She is uncertain how far the Commission wants to go, contacting the Mayor or take on as individuals. Programs for these children are Federal mandated and will remain, yet they are very low funded. Chairman Mageli will contact the Mayor to discuss this further.

TTY Recommendations & Training
A meeting with C. McAdam, C. Damian, Bob Ziolkowski, and Paul Klink to discuss Citywide TTY training. They looked at the Michigan relief information and discussed a possible training package. A concern regarding the types of TTY systems in City facilities and uniformity in the training. C. Damians main concern is the new Ultra tech phones are not compatible with older phones and Vise Versa. Doug Feldkamp responded that 5 systems in the City are in question for age. His main concern is locating manuals and compatibility between phones. Paul Klink requests an equipment integrity check by C. Damain. Doug Feldkamp will compile a list of Make and Model # s for her.

Public Comments
Denise Toepfer started by thanking Chairman Mageli for his response letter to the Press & Guide.
A free motion machine for chest/upper body has become available and it is ADA approved.
Information distributed and updates include:
The new Web page address.
Wild Swan performance Monday, June 17, 2002
Music/Movement class is full performance at Homecoming.
E-mail regarding Federal Funding for local recreation programs may be cut. Please contact your Congressional Representative and show support. Copy forward to Mayor also.

Chairman Mageli asked Why the Summer Activities brochure did not specify disability items? In the main brochure/folder a page could be added showing the enabling features of the Community & Performing Arts center. The winter brochure additions need to be finalized by the end of June.

Christel Sanecki representing AAUW associations that promotes Disability programs. The Utah AAUW has created a public forum on How Disabilities have affected my life. Their advocacy group and Independent Living Center have teamed up to educate other AAUW leaders. Christel Sanecki will present the Commissions need for support in the community at their next meeting.

Sub-Committee Reports
Education/Employment Committee Cathy McAdam. None at this time, they will meet June 27th.

Independent Living/accessibility Committee Claudia Damian None at this time.

Public relations/Awards Committee Dale Swanson. J. Jadallah is working on inserting a survey in the Access Newsletter. Awards update; Disability awareness for Employers in the community includes banners and workshops. They wish to involve Robin Jones, but workshops are in the beginning stages. WebPages update; the resource list added. April Meeting; Catherine Vargus of CDTV has a tape of the April meeting that will be viewed at our July Commission meeting.

Visitability Task Force
Planning their response to the Commissions wish to develop an ordinance requiring/recommending accessible housing in the City of Dearborn. This task force group will be C. Damian, D. Swanson, C. Mageli, and K. Hetrick. Strategies include; fact finding research, contacts at City, and seeking support as they go. They encourage any input other Commissioners may have.


The Next meeting will be July 18, 2002 and August/September meetings will be on the 3rd Thursday of each.

Commissioner Reports
Dr. Cheryl Kreger Disability awareness and training update; the schools currently have programs for teachers and she has asked their social workers to look at programs available for students. Mileage update; A phone bank will be making calls to remind Friends of the Schools to vote, happening on the eve of election. Anyone interested in helping, contact her office at 730-0483. Also two mailings will go out, paid for by unions.

Gary Filiak Homecoming update; there will be a total of 45 handicap parking spots (8 for vans w/lifts) on site and 6 golf carts will be available. Every 3rd shuttle bus from Dearborn Heights will be an accessible bus, these buses run every 15 minutes. Brochures will be available in larger print as requested. Wright & Fillipis, through Kevin Mitchell, is providing a ramp to the production stage for Jam Packed and Music/Movement performances. A bench has been added to the south entrance of the Performing Arts Center for persons waiting at the door.

Dale Swanson None.

Kim Bretton Hetrick None.

Mary Hodak Free cell phone update; Paul Klink of Communications at the City of Dearborn, contacted by Leo Welsh of the Senior Program. City questions the quality of used equipment and how to train the user properly. In South Lyon a wavier was required, removing the City from follow-up and reliability of equipment. Currently 911 cell phone calls from Cingular network users will go to the Dearborn call center, all others to the State Police.

Commissioner Hodak contacted Peg Drake of Dearborn Heights Commission on Disability Concerns only to discover they have dissolved.

Senior Citizen Trips update; Kurt Giberson will contact Greg Orner/Eric Peterson to see that trips available will carry a designation when accessible.

Claudia Damian Detroit police training update; on hold pending contractual agreements w/DPOA. TTY test calls update; since March 2 calls have failed.

TTY Class update; at the meeting suggestions to get a MRC (Michigan Relay Service) Rep. to help with training. Gale Edwards, service manager at MRC, would like to meet with us. She has created an outline for Bob Ziolkowski, showing specifics that will be taught in the classes. Paul Klink suggested the trainees call one another inside the city to keep their skills sharp and train new employees.

Commissioner Damian has written a letter to her church requesting a pew in front be removed, so that wheelchair users will not be pushed to the rear of the church near exit doors.

Jad Jadallah None, left after public comments.

Kurt Giberson reminded the Commission of the Ethics in Local Government class dates & times.


Adjournment
Vice Chair McAdam adjourned the meeting at 4:40pm.