Statewide Independent Living
Council of Illinois

Minutes of August 11, 2005

Statewide Independent Living Council of Illinois Attending Members

Executive Committee:

• Pam Heavens, Chair

• Tony Arellano, Vice Chair, Outreach Comm. Chair

• Willie Gunther, Treasurer, Operations Comm. Chair

Members:

• Christie Gilson, Urbana

• Ross Grove, DoA, Springfield

• John Miller, Peoria

• Pete Roberts, INCIL, Springfield

• Liz Sherwin, Rock Island

• Ken Williams, DHS/DRS, Chicago

Absent:

• Kevin Byrd, DDD, Springfield

• Anel Gonzalez, Secretary, Chicago

• Beth Hanselman, ISBE, Springfield

• Mark Karner, Chicago

• Candace Keller, DCFS, Springfield

• Veronica Lopez, Chicago

• Allison Lourash, Moline

• Judy Panko Reis, Chicago

• Peter Schultz, Rockford

• Darrell Taylor, Carbondale

• Marlin Thomas, Alton

Staff:

• Gerard Broeker, Executive Director

• Tara Dunning, Financial Manager

Guests:

• Ann Ford, INCIL

• Terry Gipson, Joliet

Thursday, August 11, 2005

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, August 11, 2005. Heavens welcomed members present and recognized newest member to the Council, John Miller, who is the Executive Director of the Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission. Introductions were made.

Chair Heavens made one amendment to the agenda. Following the Committee Reports the Council will go into closed session for discussion of the Executive Director’s annual review.

There is not a quorum today so most business will be tabled until the November 3 meeting.

Approval of Minutes: Minutes of the May 2005 minutes were distributed for review. These minutes will need to be approved at the November 3 meeting.

Clarification of the Rehabilitation Act: Williams discussed the differences between a 722 state and a 723 state as identified in the Rehabilitation Act. Illinois is a 722 State which means that the SILC does not administer Part C dollars and Centers for Independent Living nor does the SILC monitor the Centers.

Chair Report: Chair Heaves reported that she has enjoyed her time as Chairperson of SILC for the past two years and thanked the Council and staff for their support and guidance. Heavens will remain Chair until the November meeting.

Executive Director Report: Broeker reported that he has visited 23 of the 24 CILs and will be visiting West Central Illinois Center for Independent Living at the end of August completing his statewide visits to Illinois CILs. Broeker has been working on a report of the information he has gathered from these visits as well as information on formula funding to submit to the Illinois Legislator. This report will highlight each district and CIL identifying the CIL’s needs and funding issues.

Broeker reported on pending grants. We still have not received a response from Blowitz-Ridgeway Foundation for the $14,000 submitted in May for the Youth Summit. Broeker reported that he has been informed that the FY06 DHS Systems Change Grant originally committed for $18,500 has been reduced to $8,000. This grant will run through September 30, 2005.

Broeker reported that the Homeownership Coalition has received the following grants:

Other grants pending are:

Broeker reported that the Adhoc Committee developed to review the future of the Homeownership Coalition has met. It was decided that it is not realistic for the Homeownership Coalition to spin off on their own unless it receives the $997,000 grant from the US Department of Health and Human Services. It was suggested that since the HCPWD is represented in the current SPIL until 2007, planning will begin in 2006 to become its own 501(c)(3).

Proposed By-Law Changes: Broeker reported on two sections he would like to add to the current By-Laws. One pertains to the nomination and election process and the other on SILC neutrality DSU/CIL issues. This amendment to the by-laws will need to be mailed to the Council 30 days prior to a vote. They will be voted on at the November 3 meeting.

INCIL Report: Ford discussed the Freedom Ride Initiative. Campaign for Real Choice, INCIL, CCDI, SILC and the CILs are participating in a four day road trip through Illinois. Stops will be made in Alton, Effingham, Champaign-Urbana, Joliet, Chicagoland area, Galesburg, Bloomington and Springfield. At each stop a press conference or other event will be held to educate people about disability issues specifically the Community First Act and deinstitutionalization.

Ford also reported on the new Medicare Prescription Drug Program that is effective January 1, 2006. INCIL will be conducting trainings for CIL staff because this is very complicated. As of January 1 Medicaid will no longer pay for prescription drugs so recipients must choose a new drug plan.

Ford reported that INCIL is continuing the Illinois Disability Vote Project. This will be an ongoing project.

Membership Update: Broeker discussed the section in the By-Laws that states that if members miss two consecutive meetings they can be asked to resign. Attendance of members was discussed and the increasing lack of a quorum which makes it difficult to conduct business. It was decided the Executive Committee will work together to make recommendations to the Governor’s office for replacements of members who are not attending meetings. Representatives from the private sector and a parent of a child with a disability need to be appointed to the Council.

Youth Summit Update: Dunning reported on the success of the Illinois Youth with Disabilities Leadership Summit completed July 27. This was the seventh year of the Summit and the first year at the University of Illinois at Springfield (UIS). Dunning discussed the benefits of being at the University such as the costs of sleeping accommodations and the college atmosphere. She also reported on some areas that will need to be worked on with UIS and the Springfield Center for Independent Living. She will produce a budget report and a cost comparison for the next SILC meeting.

Homeownership Coalition Update: Benson discussed the work she is currently busy with and distributed an updated homebuyer summary of the 44 new homeowners who have gone through the program.

Outreach Committee Report: Committee Chair Arellano reported that the Outreach Committee met this morning and discussed revisions to the CIL Outreach Manual developed in 1998.

Operations Committee Report: Committee Chair Gunther discussed the audit bids received from four accounting firms. She and Gerard met last week to review the proposals that range in amounts from $4,200 to $7,600. The Operations Committees suggestion is to hire Estes, Bridgewater and Ogden for a one year contract.

Gunther also reviewed the budget reported ending June 30, 2005 that are included in the Board packets. There was discussion about ways to make the reports more clear and up to date by providing monthly reports to the entire board monthly.

Planning Committee Report: Broeker reported in the absence of the Committee Chair. He discussed the goals in the current SPIL. Goal #1 is Olmstead implementation. This is an ongoing project with the development of the Community First Act and the Illinois Freedom Ride. Goal #2 to research people with disabilities in Illinois for expansion of IL services and possibly write another Needs Assessment is being explored but this is a very expensive research project. Goal #3 in regards to expanding Older Blind funds is being addressed by INCIL.

Closed Session: At this time staff and guests were dismissed so that Council could conduct a closed session.

Next Meeting: The next meeting of the Statewide Independent Living Council will be held on Thursday, November 3, 2005.

Minutes prepared for J. Anel Gonzalez, Secretary by Tara Dunning and Gerard Broeker

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