Executive Committee

Meeting Minutes

June 11, 2014

Appoquinimink State Service Center, Middletown, De.

9:50 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Members Present: Diann Jones, Chair, Vince Boehm, Brian Hartman, Mark DeVore, Terri Hancharick

Members Absent: Steve Slotkin, Larry Henderson, Rick Kosmalski

Staff: Pat Maichle

Guests: Mrs. Boehm

I.Call to Order – The meeting was Called to Order at 9:50 a.m.

  1. Approval of Minutes – The Minutes of the April 10, 2014 were approved as submitted with the change of date from 2013 to 2014.
  1. Approval of Agenda – The Agenda was approved as submitted with the addition of a summary of the Families Speaking Up meeting under Current Business.
  1. Chair’s Report
  1. Mark and Diann have been working on the Council approved raise for Pat with the OMB and with Representative Smith. Representative Smith reports recently that OMB has requested that the Council complete a Critical Reclassification. Mark and Diann will complete this process with Pat and submit it to OMB. This process will take 6 months to a year to complete. Diann will talk with Representative Smith once more and then begin to work on the critical reclass. Council may look at state enabling legislation next year for the Council.
  2. Diann attended the Healthy Life Without Limits conference that was sponsored by United Cerebral Palsy.
  3. SB #219 Access to Naloxone bill has been working its way through the Legislature. Diann has been supporting this bill personally at Leg Hall. Since October 2013 there has been 114 overdose deaths in DE. The access to the Naloxone will save lives. When this bill passes the House and is signed by the Governor, the DHSS will issue regulations regarding the use of this drug.
  4. Diann attended an Attack Addition meeting to help support a PR campaign to bring awareness to Delaware on addiction.
  1. Staff Report
  1. Pat received a flyer from “The Disability Advocate” Deb Nock. She offers her assistance and services to people with disabilities and families who have a need to navigate the social system.
  2. As requested by Diann, Pat brought copies of the online information about the MA Building Partnerships Initiative and the Texas equivalent. The DDC had been a partner with the Criminal Justice Council about 5 years ago and we have been working since on building our own system in DE to replicate what MA has accomplished. The VRTF Disabilities Subcommittee has been leading the work to accomplish this end. Training for people
  3. DOE has issued proposed regulations regarding seclusion and restraints in the Register of Regulations. They will take public comment and then issue final regs. In addition, the federal seclusion & restraints bills are moving in Congress, Keeping All Students Safe Act (S. 2036 and HR 1893). An Action Alert has been issued from the national disability community to support the Act.
  4. Rotenberg Center continues to be in the news as the FDA considers the use of the shock equipment that is used at Rotenberg. A recent article on this issue was shared via email as sent from the MA DDC Director.
  1. Financial Report/FAC Committee Report – The financial report was shared with the Committee. We are reaching the end of our federal fiscal year and are cognizant of the expenditures for this year. For the last two weeks in June and the first two weeks in July, the state fiscal system closes so no business can be conducted for us. We have notified our contractors.
  1. Current Business
  1. Legislative Agenda/Event Report – Pat and Brian discussed current legislation that is working in Legislative Hall; SB #229, the Employment Discrimination bill, a school safety bill, SB #219.
  2. SCR #26 – Update–Senator Poore is following up on the recommendations included in the report that was submitted to the Legislature. We appreciate her continued support helping the system change for crime victims with disabilities.
  3. Self-Advocacy Organization – Delaware People First has submitted their corporation application. When they hear back from the Corporation office, they will submit the IRS application for non-profit status. They have their EIN number, a bank account, flyers, and letter head. They have developed a new face book page, as well. They are feeling great about the progress that they have made.
  4. Delmarva Power – Brian provided a summary of the meetings that we have had with Delmarva. They are being bought out by Exelon of Chicago so the issues that we’ve been meeting with are on the slow track.
  5. JFC Update – Mark Up process has completed. Some funds were removed and some funds were added for different projects. The final budget bill will go out after DFAC meets next week.
  6. Transportation–We continue to meet with the DELDOT and legislators to discuss possible changes to paratransit in DE. Currently, we are discussing our concerns with Senator McDowall as we are not feeling that we do not have enough information about the “Plan” and would like a Moratorium on these plans so we can be clear about what is being planned.
  1. New Business
  1. COOP – We will meet with DTI on July 15th to receive training on the development of and progress for the COOP. We will then begin to develop a COOP for the DDC office.
  2. AIDD/Rhode Island Employment – Pat will attend this event at the suggestion of AIDD to experience a business/government partnership to streamline the recruitment and retention of employees with disabilities. This work is the result of a recent DOJ Settlement with the State of Rhode Island to get people to work and out of segregated settings.
  3. State Plan – Committees are reviewing the current 5-year State Plan to determine if there are changes needed for the coming year. The full Council will vote on the suggested changes at the July meeting and we will submit our Plan to AIDD in August. All Council Members are asked to be involved in this process as the Plan guides our decisions when expending funds for the coming year.
  4. Membership Committee/Slate of Officers – The Executive Committee reviewed the Membership of the Membership Committee and voted on that group. The Members of this Committee are Karen McGloughlin, Karen Gallagher, and Sue Ellen Powell. The Membership Committee will develop the slate of officers for the full Council to vote on at the September meeting. The Members voted unanimously to approve the Membership Committee.
  5. Families Speaking Up Presentation on the new definition of “community” issued by CMS – Brian made the presentation for this group. DDDS will be taking comments in public forums in the fall to consider for the state’s plan to comply with this new definition.

The audience was concerned that they weren’t aware of the rights complaint process. Brian informed them of this process.

The audience was concerned about the ability to build and run “gated communities” considering this new definition. There was a reminder that at one point the Arc was involved in the lawsuit to downsize Stockley Center. The “farmette” idea was voiced, as well.

  1. Adjournment – The meeting adjourned at 11:30 a.m.