HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommission On Disability - Minutes - 07/25/2002COMMISSION ON DISABILITY
Regular Meeting Minutes
July 25, 2002
Council Information Center, City Hall West
Members present: Mark Beck, Laura Burnet, Diane Dittos, Romola Fritz, Joan Cook, Paul Ostrof, Jerry Patterson,
Ruth Bell Skogerboe, Susan Williams
City staff: Rachael Palmer
Guests: Steve Sutter, Rob Fritz
Mark called the meeting to order at 12:20 p.m.
After the date of the meeting with Wendall Pryor, the new director of the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, was
corrected to August 15, the minutes of the July 11 meeting were approved as amended, on a motion by Laura and a
second by Jerry.
Susan asked for a list of helpers for the art show that is scheduled for October, 2003, in the Foothills Mall. Those
volunteering were Joan, Diane, Ruth, Jill, Laura, and Rob.
Old business:
Dial a Ride - Mark brought up the concern from the June 27 meeting about the DAR policy that drivers cannot
cross the threshold of a client to provide assistance to that person. The discussion that followed included a repeat of
the request that all COD members be forwarded Marlys Sittner's email to Tracy concerning her contact with the
city attorney about that policy (which email he mentioned at the July 1 I meeting). A concern was raised that this
issue needs to be addressed in a timely manner since there are DAR passengers who need the assistance now.
Mark also summarized the group's wish that the COD get a direct interpretation of the DAR policy from the city
attorney. Further discussion was tabled until Tracy is able to be present.
ACTION: Susan indicated that she had received a copy of the email in question and would forward it to the rest of
the COD members.
Statewide Independent Living Council seminar - Mark reported that he and Susan had made presentations at this
seminar yesterday, Susan's being on the NCCDC and his, on the COD. The seminar, which was attended by
personnel from Loveland and Fort Collins, also had presentations that described how to contact and be heard by
elected officials. A COD member raised the concern that the workshop was held at a location that was not served
by DAR. She would like to have gone but was not able to do so due to a lack of transportation.
ACTION: Mark will contact the Independent Living Council to encourage it to hold future seminars in
paratransit-accessible locations.
Sub-committee/Project Reports:
Mayor's Awards: Steve Sutter gave an update on the planning for this event. He indicated that next month many
preparatory activities will be initiated, including letter writing. The mayor will be signing the letter of invitation.
Employers will be paying for booth space, with this fee being collected by the Business Leadership Network. The
October training for city managers and other employers will give information as to how to interview disabled
applicants. The next BLN meeting will be in the downtown library at 1:30 p.m on Wednesday, August 14. The
next COD Awards meeting will be a brown bag one at noon on Thursday, August 15, in the Council Information
Center, City Hall West, just prior to the meeting with Wendall Pryor,
Diane showed a prototype of the centerpieces she is making for the Awards luncheon. She will be making at least
twenty of them and requested volunteers to help with them.
Heavy Doors: Ruth has been in contact with Dr. Green of the Occupational Therapy department at CSU concerning
the recruitment of volunteers to distribute the heavy doors pamphlets to local businesses, etc. Dr. Green described
the project to his classes, and one of his students has contacted Rob with an offer to help. The student will try to
recruit several more volunteers. The pamphlet is being finalized by Brad Randall, a graphic artist with the city.
Actions: Tracy will get a draft of the pamphlet to Rob for approval. Rob will set up the training meeting with the
students. Susan will contact both the Coloradoan and the Collegian to arrange for publicity on the project.
PHA: Immediately following the COD meeting, Mark will be making a presentation on PHA to the Building
Review Board, for its endorsement.
Employment: The training for city staff is on schedule. Money for the training itself has been approved, but not yet
for the lunch.
Action: Rachael will find out about funding for the lunch.
Art Show: Susan plans to wait until November to have the first meeting on the art show. It will be a brainstorming
session.
Assistive Technology: Jerry will get together with Tracy to set a time to work on this.
Other Business -Mark passed out a COD pamphlet that likely was produced in the early `90's. It has outdated
information in it. After a discussion about the possible usefulness of such a pamphlet, Susan made a motion that
we put the updating of the pamphlet on the 2003 Work Plan. Laura seconded the motion, and it passed.
Diane mentioned that she is closing out her old email address (aol) and requested that members use her new one
(attbi). She will miss the next meeting due to being out of town. Jerry indicated he will miss the next meeting
also.
Agenda item for the next meeting: A review of DAR policy, using the information from the email that Tracy
received. We will explore how to lay the groundwork concerning ways to influence DAR policy.
The meeting was adjourned at 1:20 p.m
Respectfully submitted,
Romola Fritz
Acting COD Secretary