Statewide Independent LivingCouncil of Illinois
Statewide Independent LivingStaff:
Guests:
Call to Order:
The quarterly meeting of the Statewide Independent Living Council of Illinois was called to order by Chair Heavens at 10:05 a.m. on Thursday, November 3, 2005. Heavens welcomed members present and introductions were made.
Approval of Minutes:
Minutes of the May 5 and August 11, 2005 meetings were distributed for review and approval.
MOTION: Sherwin motioned to approved the May 5 and August 11, 2005 minutes as presented. Arellano seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Executive Director Report:
Broeker reported that fellow SILC member, Marlin Thomas passed away October 20. Included in the meeting packets today is the funeral program book. As we have done in the past a collection will be taken to assist the Thomas family with expenses during this emotional time.
Broeker discussed the vacancies on the Council. He has discussed with Charlotte Cronin of Family Support Network about possible appointment to the Council. Charlotte is the parent of an adult with a disability. He has also spoken with Barbara Pritchard who along with her husband, Lester, started Campaign for Real Choice. They both expressed an interest to serve on the Council. Broeker stated he has also done some outreach to the Asian American Outreach Group of Chicago. He met with Bernarda Wong who has agreed to assist in locating a potential Council member with a disability from the Asian community to serve on SILC.
Broeker reported he has also spoke with Dan Dickerson, Lead Navigator with the navigator program about potential Council members and with Ann Ford about CIL directors who would be interested in serving.
After discussion about the many vacant positions on the Council and the diversity needed to fill those positions, it was suggested that an ad hoc nominating committee be formed to facilitate this process. SILC can only make recommendations to the Governor’s office on potential members.
MOTION: Sherwin motioned to activate the ad hoc nominating committee to assist with membership vacancies. Arellano seconded the motion. Motion carried with one abstention.
Broeker reported the HUD Fair Housing Initiative Program which ends December 5 has not been renewed. This is the grant that funded the Fair Housing Specialist position previously held by Abbie Spindell. Abbie resigned in early October to move on to another position so she would have been laid off in early December anyway.
Broeker discussed the Medicare Part D program. As of November 14 people should be able to apply for benefits. There are still quite a lot of bugs to work out.
There was discussion about the Independent Living History and Philosophy Training SILC hosted for the Centers for Independent Living in September. The training was not well received. There certainly were lessons learned here about hiring qualified presenters.
Next Broeker distributed a statement of common principles of life sustaining care and treatment of people with disabilities. Many organizations have signed onto support this statement.
MOTION: Arellano motioned to support the statement of common principles on life sustaining care and treatment of people with disabilities. Sherwin seconded the motion. Motioned passed.
There was discussion about the All Kids program Governor Blagojevich is initiating. This is to be an insurance program for children under the age of 18 who are not eligible for the KidCare Program.
Update on Youth Summit:
Broeker reported on the Illinois Youth with Disabilities Leadership Summit. Broeker discussed the decline of sponsors and funding for the event and the continued expense of hosting the three day Summit. There are cost comparison reports in the packets for the past three years. With the move of the Summit to the University of Illinois at Springfield in 2005 there was a savings of approximately $12,000. There was discussion about potential sponsors and seeking other grant opportunities as well as ways to reduce costs.
Update on Homeownership Coalition:
Broeker gave an update on the Homeownership Coalition for People with Disabilities. There was discussion about the funding difficulties and the need to use reserve cash to continue to fund the Program Manager’s salary. Broeker reported that the $900,000 compassion grant was denied. This award would have been a huge success and could have allowed the Homeownership Coalition to become its own entity. After reviewing the budget information provided in the packets Broeker reported that a solicitation letter will be mailed in early January to Realtors, area builders and others in the housing field in an attempt to raise funds and awareness of the program.
Chair Report:
Heavens discussed her experience participating in the Freedom Ride `05. It was a very powerful week and there were great stories and programs happening at each of the stops along the ride. The purpose of the four day trip was to promote the Community First Act.
INCIL Report: Roberts distributed a written report on INCIL activities since the last meeting. He discussed the 3% COLA that Centers are hopeful they will receive this year. Mike Egbert is here to discuss formula funding later in the day. The Illinois Disability Vote Project has set goals for the next year. The Community First Act will be introduced in the spring session.
At this time the meeting was recessed for lunch.
Audit Report: Heavens reconvened meeting following lunch and Broeker introduced Richard Grafton from Estes, Bridgewater and Ogden. Grafton gave an oral report regarding the fiscal year 2005 audit and stated that there were no significant findings. He also answered several questions regarding how to establish further fiscal safeguards in a small office.
MOTION: Panko Reis motioned to approve auditor’s report. Sherwin seconded the motion and the motion carried.
Programs Committee Report:
Broeker reported that Allison Lourash is not seeking a reappointment and Marlin Thomas was going to assume the chair position but since his death the only member of this Committee is Ross Grove, an ex-officio. Heavens asked for a volunteer from the voting members to chair the Programs Committee. Liz Sherwin volunteered to chair the Committee.
Operations Committee Report:
Gunther reported that the Committee met Wednesday evening regarding several personnel documents. The travel policy and personnel policies will be tabled until the February meeting so that additional changes may be made. Executive Director’s job description as revised was distributed and discussed. Gunther also discussed a recommended change that can be adopted without a vote. From now on, the Executive Director will have sole control of all staff position descriptions except for the Executive Director position.
MOTION: Gilson motioned to accept revised Executive Director position description and Sherwin seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Gunther also discussed that she will periodically look at SILC’s books as a way to strengthen internal controls.
The last discussion dealt with funding issues of the Youth Summit and the Homeownership Coalition. After several opinions were voiced it was decided that Broeker would draw up a “bare bones” budget for the Summit and a list of all operations grants the Homeownership Coalition has pending with dates of submission and work with the Executive Committee regarding recommendations for each of these programs in light of the dwindling funding each is receiving.
Outreach Committee Report:
The Committee met this morning. Sherwin spoke about the growing Hispanic population and the CILs’ struggle to serve them adequately. Gonzalez and Arellano discussed requesting funding for a multi cultural study of people with disabilities in Illinois. The Committee will work with Gerard on possible funding for this type of study.
Planning Committee Report:
No report given.
Election of Officers:
The slate as presented was:
- Tony Arellano - Chair
- Christie Gilson - Vice-chair
- Anel Gonzalez - Secretary
- Willie Gunther - Treasurer
Heavens opened the floor for further nominations. No further nominations were made.
MOTION: Sherwin motioned to close nominations and Gunther seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Slate was voted on and the slate was elected. Congratulations new officers!
Formula Funding Update:
Mike Egbert, the Executive Director of OFA CIL in Mt. Vernon discussed formula funding for the CILs.
By-Laws Amendments: Several wording changes were made to Article 6, Section 3.1 regarding nominations and Article 10, Section 6 regarding SILC’s neutrality during monitoring disputes. After much discussion the changes are as follows:
- ARTICLE VI SECTION 3.1 Nominations. An ad-hoc nomination committee consisting of three to five members shall be appointed at the meeting prior to the election of officers. All nominations must be submitted to the nomination committee at least forty-five (45) days prior to the election. The nomination committee shall send a proposed slate of officers for election to all voting members at least thirty (30) days prior to the election. Any further nominations must be submitted to the Executive Director fifteen (15) days prior to the election to be included on a paper ballot. The Executive Director will then create a ballot to be passed out and marked at the election meeting. Nominations from the floor will be accepted on the day of elections.
- ARTICLE X SECTION 6 Neutrality Regarding Monitoring Disputes. The Illinois State Plan on Independent Living authorizes the Designated State Unit (DSU) to monitor compliance with published CIL standards and indicators by individual CILs. The SILC has no oversight authority in compliance review matters. As an unbiased party in such matters, the SILC, including all members and staff, shall not take a position and shall not become involved in any disputes which arise out of the DSU’s monitoring authority over individual CILs. This shall include any adverse funding decisions which arise out of the DSU’s monitoring of an individual CIL.
SPIL Amendments: At the last Council meeting there was discussion about clarifying in the Illinois State Plan for Independent Living that Illinois is a 722 state. Broeker was given the task of writing language to clarify the SPIL. This language was proposed, “The State of Illinois operates under Section 722 of the Rehabilitation Act, therefore, all CILs who receive Federal funding under Part C, receive that money directly from RSA and are subject to compliance reviews which are performed by RSA.”
MOTION: Sherwin motioned to accept the language as proposed. Gunther seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Supreme Court Update:
Arellano discussed his recent trip to Washington, DC to protest against assisted suicide to media as the Supreme Court hears Gonzales v. Oregon. Broeker agreed to keep members apprised of any actions involving this case.
The next meeting of the Statewide Independent Living Council will be held on Thursday, February 2, 2006.
J. Anel Gonzalez, Secretary Approved Date: February 2, 2006
Minutes prepared for J. Anel Gonzalez, Secretary by Tara Dunning and Gerard Broeker
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