Dearborn Commission on Disability Concerns

Ford Community and Performing Arts Center, Studio A
July 15, 2004

Commissioners & City Staff Present
Cathy McAdam
Cheryl Kreger
Dale Swanson
Claudia Damian
Sonya Tishler
Gary Filiak
Mona Ramouni
Nancy Bower
Kim Hetrick
Mary Hodak
Jane Nelson Thomas
Kurt Giberson, Director DPW
Susan Fitzmaurice, ADA Coordinator
Mayor Michael Guido
Councilwoman Hubbard
Councilman Polidori
Staff Photographer

1. Call to order: 2:07 PM
2. Roll Call.
3. Agenda. No changes to agenda, except to take a break for presentation and photo with Mayor.

Mayor Guido presented the Commission the award received at the US Convention of Mayors, “we think it is important to make Dearborn accessible and friendly to all people in Dearborn.” He and Councilpersons Hubbard & Polidori were present for a photo.

4. Minutes. Commissioner Dale Swanson: I motion to accept the minutes as written. Seconded Commissioner Cheryl Kreger, Unanimous.

5. Election.
Chair. Commissioner Kim Hetrick: I nominate Cathy McAdam for Chair. Seconded by Commissioner Claudia Damian. Vote by raising hands unanimous.
Vice Chair: Commissioner Dale Swanson: I nominate Cheryl Kreger for Vice-Chair. Seconded by Commissioner Claudia Damian. Vote by raising hands unanimous.
Chair announced that Commissioner Dale Swanson would continue to be the third Executive Committee member. Also that in the future all annual elections would be held in July.

6. ADA Report:
• Polling surveys all completed and turned in. We were one of the first cities to complete them.I have forwarded copies of them to the schools, and to Kurt. i will be meeting with building services director for the schools to discuss the changes that must be made to comply. No date set as I am waiting for the next word from Kyle Dubuk of Michigan Protection & Advocacy. I will also need to meet with someone from St. Alphonsis because they have two problems that must be corrected. If they do not voluntarily make the corrections - the city must make the changes or the polling site must be changed.
• Baily’s sidewalk cafe is gone.
• End of fiscal year has come and gone. We again did not spend all of our budget. This year’s budget more closely reflects what we actually spend. The biggest change is in travel which was halved, but still exceeds what we spent each of the two previous years.
• As I write this I do not know the status of my office. But the room is large and I can’t wait to get into it and actually make it my own. If anyone enjoys unloading boxes and putting things away I could use some help next week or the week after dependent upon my office status.
• New camera was purchased as approved at last meeting. Also the hearing devices. I know the hearing devices have arrived, but as my office is nonexistent they are being held in shipping. The business cards and brochures may be there too, but there is a printing backup from end of year requests and I told them we did not need our items until homecoming.
• The problems with the carnival company are not yet resolved. Jeff Williams of the Carnival company has our recommendations for changes and will be presenting them to his insurance company. I have copies of last years signs and recommendation forms if anyone wants to see them. I have spoken to both the Department of Justice and the Michigan Office of Finance & Insurance and both assure me that waivers are absolutely illegal and not required. I am being sent formal complaint forms from both in the event they are needed. Jeff Williams is flying in from somewhere right now and will call in as soon as he lands. He’ll answer questions or offer to join the meeting at that time.

7. Chair Report:
September 16, next meeting, 6-9 PM
Following meeting changed from November 18th to November 11th due to the possibility that the chair and ADA Coordinator could not attend.

August election spot checking needed. There are 30 priority polling sites to survey for inside accessibility. There is a polling survey sheet to be filled out. If each Commissioner does 4 they will all be completed. Sign-up sheet circulated.

Disability Mentoring Day for Dearborn and Metropolitan Detroit October 13 2004
The Great Lake ADA conference call series

A. July 20, 2004 1:00pm-2:30pm Central Time
"ADA Update: 14 Years Later" featuring: John Wodatch, Chief of the
Disability Rights Section, US Department of Justice and Sharon Rennert,
Senior Attorney, ADA Division of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

B. August 10, 2004 1:00pm-3:00pm* Central Time (Note: 120 minute session due to technical nature of the program)
"Introduction to the Revised ADAAG/ABA Guidelines" featuring: Dave Yanchulis and Jim Pecht of the US Access Board. Scheduled for August 10, 2004 from material)

8. Homecoming:
The brochures are out and include a mention of the commission. Set-up pretty much the same as last year. Parking passes will be made available. TTY in police van. Access meeting before homecoming will finalize anything needed.

9. Committee Reports:

Communication and Awards:
Need email addresses to send out announcements
Dale needs 50 envelopes
Need exact language for 501c3 language

Communication and Awards Committee meeting , July 6, 2004

For the Back Fence and other Press Releases, Dale sent Mary Laundroche three documents: first, the details on Pathway to Possibilities; second, two on awards information, one including contact information, the other criteria for the awards; and third, a list of improvements to City buildings.

The Back Fence will include the aforementioned short version of the awards information and building changes. The long version will go into a press release to the media and the city web site in a week or two. Dale will take the long version and the improvements to the city buildings and put them in the e-newsletter.

Dale has given the sponsor letter to the Rotary Foundation, as we had planned in our previous committee meeting. Other sponsor letters will go out after the July 15th meeting.
We need to distribute the nomination forms. In August, Mona and Jane will work on the distribution of the nomination forms.

Dale can't send out the fund-raising letters until we find out if the Businesses that donate to our worthy cause will be eligible for a tax write-off. Cathy will get back to Dale on that sooner rather than later.

Dale will bring copies of the nomination form to the next Commission meeting. Accessibility:
Commission Damian & McAdam and ADA coordinator met with Paul Klink.It was decided that the main reason TTYs not being used properly was user error. Trainings to be scheduled in the fall - 1 for all libraries, 1 for City Hall, and 1 for DPW. Schedule after changes in office locations settled.

Visitability:
No meeting. Will schedule one after meeting.

Education:
No meeting. Will set a date for next meeting after meeting. Need to plan Town Hall meeting and Famous People Players workshop.

10. Commissioner Reports:

Commissioner Gary Filiak: Accessible water fountain being installed at Penn/ Vassar. Need to resolve issues of inaccessible fountains versus elimination fountains. ADA Coordinator and Commissioner Filiak will resolve on a case by case basis.

Commissioner Mary Hodak: Working on updating resource list.

Commissioner Cathy McAdam:
Need to review annual report for any changes.
New city website up - we can have the city maintain it if we choose to. Need to find out the procedure.
Abilities Expo - the Commission will man the table one day (probably Friday), the Warren Commission one day ( probably Saturday) and we will try to find volunteers or anyone else to man it Sunday. Does not need to be manned at all times.

Commissioner Kim Hetrick: E. Gallagher died this past week. He was the main push for the FDR memorial to include his wheelchair. Author of many books, renown disability advocate.

BREAK

11. Strategic Planning
Large group: Added to Education Committee Mission Statement: To Advocate for full access to library services for people with disabilities.
Then broke into small groups - Education Committee worked on resource list.

12. Meeting adjourned: 4:52PM.