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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommission On Disability - Minutes - 02/15/1982M I N U T E S. COMMISSION ON DISABILITY FEBRUARY 15, 1982 Due to inclement weather, the regular meeting of the Commission on Disability, usually scheduled for the second Monday of each month, was cancelled for February 8, 1982. Instead it was called to order by chairperson Rosemary Kreston at 6:30 P.M. on Monday, February 15, 1982, in the new City Hall, 300 W.LaPorte Ave., Fort Collins, CO. ROLL CALL: MEMBERS PRESEITT: Connie Anne Brakken, Eldon L. Decker, Bobbie Guye, Dana S. Hiatt, Charlotte Kanode, Rose- mary Kreston, Alida Mercedes Loinaz, Mike Meyers, Betty Shuey. MEMBERS ABSENT: Nancy Rising Jackson, Dorothy Lasley. CITY STAFF: Linda Pretz GUESTS: Verna Lewis, Debbie Warner Charlotte Kanode made a motion that the reading of last month's minutes be dispensed with and accepted as written. The motion was seconded and carried. SECTION 504 UPDATE Rosemary Kreston introduced Verna Lewis, Assistant City Manager, who spoke to the group concerning the status of Section 504 regulations as it pertains to the city of Fort Collins. Ms. Lewis recently atten- ded a workshop for the International City Managers Association, under the theme of "Opening the Doors to Handicapped Citizens". The objec- tives were to gather data and information from seven model governments which had demonstrated innovative approaches to implementing Section 504, and to design a handbook that could serve as a guide to communi- ties in complying with 504 regulations. Although Section 504 was suspended as of June 1981, Fort Collins continues to enforce the regulations under their human rights ordi- nance, which includes handicapped. On Tuesday, February 23, 19829 during CSU Handicapped Awareness Days, Ms. Lewis will join in a panel discussion exploring the legal rights of handicapped. Linda Pretz was appointed as city liaison specialist to assist the Commission On Disability in areas concerning Section 504. Rosemary Kreston suggested that members be thinking about a plan of action regarding what we as a group can do to encourage law makers to re -instate the original 504 regulations. The subject will be considered at the next meeting. -1- COD FEBRUARY MEETING MINUTES - Page 2 NYDP PROCLAMATION Linda Pretz revealed that she had received a letter from the Na- tional Office On Disability requesting a liaison person from the Com- mission On Disability be appointed to cooperate with their personnel in supporting the designation of 1982 as the National Year of Disabled Persons, in the continuation of the 1981 IYDP goals, and in promoting public awareness. Alida Loinaz made a motion that a letter be drafted to NOD indicating our interest in proclaiming NYDP, and naming either Rosemary Kreston or Dorothy Lasley as liaison person. The motion was seconded and carried. A decision as to who will serve as liaison rests with Rosemary and Dorothy. REVISION OF BY-LAWS The proposed by-laws were again reviewed and the following re- visions -�✓ere voted upon and accepted: Section 2 - PURPOS This Commission will advise the City Council and the employees and residents of the City of Fort Collins. The Commission will formulate, recommend, and support such programs as it deems im- portant to assure voluntary compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and other related legislation. REVISION: This Commission will advise the City Council and the employees and residents of the City of Fort Collins on issues concerning handicapped. The Commission will formulate, recommend, and sup- port such programs as it deems important to assure voluntary compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and other related legislation. Section C - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 5. Secretary Responsibilities b. Send draft copy of regular Commission meeting minutes to all members within two (2) weeks following the meet- ing. REVISION: b. Send draft copy of regular Commission meeting minutes to all members of the Commission and to the City ounci within one 1 week following the meeting. e. Maintain file copy of all minutes and other committee ac- tivity.. REVISION: e. Maintain file copy of all minutes of Commission meetings and other Commission activities. -2- COD FEBRUARY MEETING MINUTES - Page 3 Section E. T=ERSHIP There are eleven (11) members of this Commission. All members must apply to the City of Fort Collins for membership. All mem- bers are appointed by the City Council. REVISION: There are eleven (11) members of this Commission. All pros- pective members must apply to the City of Fort Collins for membership. All members are appointed and are subject to re- moval by the City Council. 1. Term of Membership Four (4) years, with a maximum service period for any one mem- ber of the Commission not to exceed two (2) consecutive full terms or eight (8) consecutive years. (The four-year terms shall be staggered). After eight years of membership, a person can re -apply for membership following one (1) year of non -membership. REVISION: lour (4) years, or until a member successor is appointed, with a maximum service period for any one member of the Commission not to exceed two (2) consecutive full terms or eight (8 con- secutive years. (The four-year terms shall be staggered . After eight (8) years of membership, a person can re -apply for membership following one (1) year of non -membership. 2. Membership Responsibilities a. Display sensitivity to and awareness of the needs, de- sires, and aspirations of persons with physical or mental disabilities. REVISION: a. Display sensitivity to and awareness of the needs, de- sires, and aspirations of persons with physical, mental, or emotional disabilities. b. Present all items from citizenship at large to Commission for consideration. REVISION: b. Present relevant items from the citizenship at large to Commission for consideration. g. A member will be automatically replaced after three (3) consecutive or six (6) total unexcused absences in the course of one (1) four (4) year term. -3- COD FEBRUARY MEETING MINUTES - Page 4 REVISION: g. Attendance policy will be in accordance with the City of Fort Collins handbook for Boards and Commissions: Section VI. General Responsibilities and Specific Differences Upon acceptance of appointment, board and commission mem- bers demonstrate their intention and ability to attend meetings. Therefore, either of the following shall auto- matically cause a member's appointment to terminate: a. Three consecutive absences from regularly scheduled meetings of the Commission not approved by the chair- person. b. Four absences from regularly scheduled meetings of the Commission in any calendar year not approved by the chairperson. F. COivu:ISSION MEETINGS 2. 'Toting/Quorum b. "Absentee ballots" will only be accepted for Execu- tive Committee elections, and only then at the dis- cretion of the person conducting the election. REVISION: b. No "absentee ballots', will be accepted. 3. Special Meetings c. Reported/reviewed at the next official Commission meeting. REVISION: c. Reported/reviewed at the next official Commission meetine by the nnmmiaQi^r roo n7 _u_ I .- 5. Agenda/program d. Allows for an open discussion in each meeting for mem- bers to share information. e. Is read at the start of the official. Commission meet- ing by the person presiding over the meeting. REVISION: d. e. Is read at the start of the official Commission meet- ing by the person presiding over the meeting. Allows for an open discussion in each meeting for mem- bers to share information. -4- COD FEBRUARY MEETING MINUTES - Page 5 The revised draft of the by-laws will be mailed with this month's meeting minutes and reviewed for approval at the March meeting. A final copy will then be forwarded to the City Council. ELECTION OF OFFICERS Charlotte Ianode made a motion that the present officers remain on duty until July when regular elections will be held. The motion was seconded and carried. ''I'_'Y ISSUES Linda Pretz read a notice from City Manager John Arnold request- ing each 3oard and Commission to identify issues they felt should be addressed by the city in the 1983 budget, and during the next several years, so that a elan of strategy for dealing with them could be for- mulated. Among those suggested were: Support of human services programs now being cancelled because of federal budget cuts; transportation needs not being net by Care -A -Van and Transfort; review of city codes on accessibility for public buildings, shopping centers, and commer- cial establishments; enlargement of areas open to hearing impaired; provisions for new disabled residents moving into the community; pro- moting employment of both skilled and semi -skilled handicapped; provid- ing financial assistance on utility bills for low-income disabled resi- dents; utilizing the expertise of disabled in the computer data pro- cessing field whenever changes are being pro -posed which might affect that segment. Rosemary greston distributed brochures concerning CSU Handicapped Awareness Days which will be held February 22-26, 1982. ADJOURNMENT Charlotte Kanode made a motion that the meeting by adjourned at 8:45 P.M. The motion was seconded and carried. The remainder of the business was tabled until the March meeting. Respectfully submitted, Bobbie Guye Secretary A Center for Health and Family Counseling has been established at 1235 Riverside Drive, Fort Collins. Administrator Mary Moczydlowsky offers services in psycho -social assessment, information and referral, follow-up care, on -going counseling, and consultation. For information t� and appointment, call 484-4022, -5- C] C COD FEBRUARY ILEETING MINUTES - Page 6 The Larimer County Department of two handbooks entitled "Fort Collins Income Families" and "Renting: Know ter". Call 221-7430 for details. Human Development has prepared Directory of Services for Low Your Rights and Duties as a Ren- An outlet for handicrafts created by disabled is being offered by a special shop in an Englewood mall. Mile High Handicrafts by Han- dicapped will take salable items on consignment for commissionable sale, to acquaint the public with the talents of the disabled and to give disabled an opportunity to turn their hobbies into a profit. For information call or write Jim Misener, Mile High Handicrafts by Handicapped, Cinder Alley, 701 W. Hampden, Englewood, CO 80110. Phone 781-2288 between 10:00 A.M. and 6:00 P.M. In cooperation with the 3ehabilitation Center for the Blind and Deaf, the Rocky Mountain Road Runners club has volunteered to initiate a running program for blind and partially sighted individuals to help impr-ove physical fitness. Sighted guides 'mill be provided for all levels of participants. Contact Nancy Schubert at 866-2734 between 7:30 A.i•. and 4:00 P.M. for details. Beginning this month, the Tropicale, of the Carnival Cruise Lines, is offering 22 wheelchair accessible cabins on their excursions. Ad- ditionally, ramps and elevators can take disabled passengers to all areas of the ship. Check with your local travel agency for informa- tion, schedule, and cruise dates. ., Access Homes is a specialty real estate firm dedicated to exclu- sively serving citizens with physical impairments in obtaining acces- sible housing. Located in Colorado Springs, the firm is ramrodded by Audrey Swain, herself a victim of multiple sclerosis. They will cus- tom build residences for all types of disabilities. For information, call Access Homes, Colorado Springs, 685-9728. The National Easter Seal Society and Building Owners and Managers Association International have compiled a booklet, entitled "Building Access", designed to acquaint owners and managers of features which will make their facilities usable by persons with disabilities. Copies of it (Publication A-296) are available by sending a self-addressed, stamped business size envelope to the Yational Easter Seal Society, 2023 west Ogden Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60612. A permanent reference collection of comprehensive and pertinent consumer -related information for organizations, schools, libraries, and vocational rehabilitation programs serving deaf Americans is a- vailable from the Caption Center, WGBH TAT, 125 Western Ave., Boston, MA 02134, phone (617)492-2777, TDD (617)491-5724. In honor of IYDP, the Ohio Library Association has developed a perpetual calendar indicating the birthdates of famous persons with disabilities. The "Awareness Calendar" is available for $1.50 from the Ohio Library Association, 40 S. Third St., Columbus, Ohio 43215. L -6- n U COD FEBRUARY �IEETIXG MITNTES - Page 7 C Three films designed to help change student attitude toward han- dicapped are being introduced by the Lawren Productionp, Inc. For in- formation, write them at P. 0. Box 666, T'endocino, OA 95460, or call (707)937-0536. The ton-Se-ist Child Development Project of the Women's Action Alliance, Inc., has completed the first year of research and develop- ment for Project R.E.E.D. (Resources of Education Equity for Disabled). The goal is to incorporate images of children and adults with disa- bilities into early childhood classrooms, to make those images non- sexist and multicultural, and to integrate them with images of able bodied people. For added details, contact Berle Froschl, Director, Non -Sexist Child Development Project, };omen's Action. Alliance, Inc., 370 hexing - ton Ave., 'ew York, iY 10017, phone (212)532-8330. -7 Ll • A. NAME CITY OF FORT COLLINS COMMISSION ON DISABILITY BY-LAWS The name of this organization is "Commission on Disability" as estab- lished through City Ordinance #166 on November 3, 1981. B. PURPOSE This Commission will advise the City Council and the employees and residents of the City of Fort Collins on issues concerning the handi- capped. The Commission will formulate, recommend, and support such programs as it deems important to assure voluntary compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and other related legis- lation. C. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE The Executive Committee shall consist of four (4) persons -- a Chair- person, a Vice -Chairperson, a Secretary, and a member -at -large. The Executive Committee will be elected by a majority vote by the Commis- sion members as a whole, except for the member -at -large which will be selected by the Chairperson from Commission members not already elected to the Executive Committee. The City liaison person is invited to all executive committee activities and meetings. 1. Term of Office One (1) year, with a maximum service period for any one member of the Executive Committee not to exceed two (2) consecutive full terms (two (2) years) or three (3) non-consecutive full terms (three (3) years). 2. Procedures At the discretion of the Commission membership the Chairperson and Vice -Chairperson MAY revolve terms, each serving six (6) months, if desired. Additional officers may be elected by the Commission as necessary. 3. Chairperson Responsibilities a. Preside at regular Commission meetings b. Preside at Executive Committee meetings c. Develop agenda items in coordination with Executive Committee d. Assure that Commission meetings adhere to the agenda e. Personally assure that Vice -Chairperson (or Secretary) is prepared to preside at meetings in Chairperson's absence. f. Be available for consultation at request of Commission members and City of Fort Collins employees and residents. g. Bring all statements proposed by individual members on behalf of the Commission before the entire Commission at a regular meeting h. Report to entire Commission all communications she/he has received and/or sent related to his/her position as Chairperson of the Commission i. Maintain contact with City liaison person j. Oversee development of report(s) to City Council 4. Vice -Chairperson Responsibilities a. Preside at regular Commission meetings and Executive Committee meetings in Chairperson's absence b. Assist in developing agenda items c. Assist with subcommittees and/or task forces d. Contact Chairperson in event of Vice -Chairperson's absence at either regular Commission meeting or Executive Committee meeting e. Assist in writing report(s) to City Council 5. Secretary Responsibilities a. Preside at meetings in Chairperson's and Vice -Chairperson's absences b. Take minutes to all official Commission meetings and Executive Committee meetings c. Assist in developing agenda items d. Send draft copy of regular Commission meetings minutes to all members of the Commission and the City Council within one (1) week following the meeting e. Maintain file copy of all minutes of Commission meetings and other Commission activity f. Forward one copy of Approved regular Commission meeting minutes to City Clerk's Office to become a part of the official City Record g. Develop and distribute correspondence/paper work as necessary to the Commission's activity h. Contact Chairperson and substitute minutes -taker in event of Secretary's absence at either regular Commission meeting or Executive Committee meeting i. Maintain a current list of Commission members' names, addres- ses, and phone numbers and distribute this list to members following any change(s) therein. j. Arrange for meeting minutes to be sent in taped form for those members requesting it. k. Assist in writing report(s) to City Council 6. Member -At -Large Responsibilities a. Assist in developing agenda items b. Assist with subcommittees and/or task forces c. Contact Chairperson in event of his/her absence at either regular Commission meeting or Executive Committee meeting d. Assist in writing report(s) to City Council D. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETINGS Executive Committee meetings are held monthly, approximately two (2) weeks after a Commission meeting, for the Executive Committee and City liaison person (when available) to develop the agenda for the next Commission meeting. E. MEMBERSHIP There are eleven (11) members of this Commission. All prospective members must apply to the City of Fort Collins for membership. All members are appointed, and subject to removal, by the City Council. 1. Term of Membership Four (4) years (or until a member's successor is appointed), with a maximum service period for any one member of the Commission not to exceed two (2) consecutive full terms or eight (8) consecutive years. (The four-year terms shall be staggered.) After eight years of membership, a person can re -apply for membership following one (1) year of non -membership. 2. Membership Responsibilities a. Display sensitivity to and awareness of the needs, desires, and aspirations of persons with physical, mental or emotional disabilities b. Present relevant items from citizenship at large to Commission for consideration c. Submit agenda items to Chairperson (or other Executive Commit- tee member) at least one (1) week or five (5) working days before the scheduled Commission meeting d. Consult with Commission whenever making statements or joining activities specifically on behalf of the Commission e. Participate as needed in special task forces, subcommittees, etc. f. Contact a member of the Executive Committee when unable to attend a Commission meeting. (This will be considered an excused absence.) g. Attendance will be in accordance with Section VI (General Responsibilities and Specific Differences) of the Boards and Commissions Handbook. h. Write a letter of resignation to Commission when resigning i. Contact Care -A -Van at 226-3529 to reserve regular transporta- tion to Commission meetings if this transportation service is required. If a member has reserved Care -A -Van for meetings, but is unable to attend a meeting, the member should contact Care -A -Van at least one (1) working day before the meeting to cancel the reservation. j. Contact the Secretary if taped meeting minutes are desired F. COMMISSION MEETINGS 1. Official Meetings a. Held once a month, generally the second Monday of the month b. Begin at 6:30 pm and end, at the latest, at 8:30 pm c. Are held at the Council Information Office, City Hall, 300 Laporte Avenue, which is accessible to persons with mobility impairments d. Are attended by enough members to constitute a quorem. If there are not enough members present by 6:45 pm to consti- tute a quorum, the members present may cancel the meeting. e. Provide sign language interpretation for persons with hearing impairments 2. Voting/Quorum a. All regular members are full members with voting rights b. No "absentee ballots" will be accepted. c. Six (6) members constitute a quorum (a simple majority) 3. Special Meetings a. Called by any Commission member with approval of a member of the Executive Committee. b. Subcommittee meetings and task force meetings will be called and held as needed by the discretion of their chairpersons c. Reported/reviewed at the next official Commission meeting by the Commission member who conducted the special meeting. 4. Notice of Meetings Notice of regular Commission meetings is included with the minutes of the previous month's meeting. 5. Agenda/Program a. All items are developed by Chairperson in conjunction with Executive Committee b. Items from Commission members must be submitted at least one (1) week or five (5) working days before the scheduled meeting c. Agenda will be adhered to d. Is read at the start of the Official Commission meeting by the person presiding over the meeting e. Allows for an open discussion in each meeting for members to share information s 0 6. Recordkeeping and Dissemination of Information a. Is handled by the Secretary with assistance from members and the Employee Development Department of the City of Fort Collins b. The Commission will report their activities to City Council, via a written report, at least once a year F. SUBCOMMITTEES/TASK FORCES 1. Appointment Subcommittees and/or task forces are appointed by Commission vote or by Chairperson if time does not permit a vote by membership at a scheduled Commission meeting. 2. Reporting Each subcommittee or task force reports to the Commission. 3. Membership a. Members of subcommittees/task forces need not be members of the Commission b. Members of subcommittees/task forces have full voting rights within the subcommittee/task force G. BY-LAWS 1. Notice Written (or taped, for those members requesting it) notice of proposed by-laws or changes must be made to each member at least two (2) weeks or fourteen (14) days prior to the scheduled vote. 2. Approval Approval of by-laws must be by two-thirds (eight (8) votes) of the Commission membership. 3. Amendments Amendments to by-laws must follow notice and approval procedures in 1 and 2 (above). 4. Review By-laws will be reviewed yearly for possible changes to assure a smoothly functioning Commission.