Commission For Persons With Disabilities

Commission for Persons with Disabilities Regular Meeting Minutes September 5th, 2019 6:00 PM Present: Amy Dudek, Kevin Harkins, Cynthia Litton, Mark Marcy, Julie Menders, Kevin Saythany, and Elanah Sherman (Chair) Excused absences: Laurie Messore, Barbara Stigar Others Present: Jie Chen and Jennifer Netopski. Call to Order: Elanah called the meeting to order at 6PM. Determination of Quorum: It was determined a quorum was present (5/7). Approval of Minutes: On a motion from Kevin H, seconded by Mark, the August 2019 Meeting Minutes were approved with amendments. Citizen Comments: Guests Jie and Jennifer said they were nurses interested in the work of the Commission. Elanah explained the purpose of the Commission and urged them to attend activities during Disability Awareness Week. Communications: None. Old Business Westgate Shopping Center - Update: No updates. Since Elanah has not heard back from Building Official Jim Troeger, Elanah asked if another member would contact him. Mark Macey said he would request an update from Jim. Mark plans to call him first, then follow up with an email if there is no response. Upcoming Norwich Census - Update: No updates. Charging Stations- Next Steps: Elanah has received no responses from possible focus group participants. The commission members will ask any people they know who may benefit from the wheelchair chargers to contact Elanah. Disability Awareness Week: Review of Calendar and Designation of Responsibilities: Members reviewed the draft calendar presented by Julie; Julie will finalize the calendar within the next week. Elanah will contact agencies regarding literature for the resource table on 10/9. The resource table will be staffed 2:00 – 3:30 by Cyndi; 3:30 – 5:00 by Kevin S; and 5:00 – 7:00 by Elanah. Voting Rights Radio Show: Kevin and Elanah, along with the two Registrars, will appear 10/7 at 11:00 AM on the Stu Breyer Show.  Publicity: The senior center will do publicity for the Municipal Round Table & the Legislative Panel Discussion, both of which will take place there. Expenditures: Comptroller Josh Pothier clarified to Elanah that his office must receive verification (via vote) of Commission-approved expenditures. The following expenditures were approved: $45.00 for revision of the banner. Mark made a motion to approve, seconded by Kevin H; the motion was unanimously approved. Up to $800 for sign-language interpretation. Kevin H made a motion to approve, seconded by Mark; motion approved with one abstention (for reason of conflict of interest). $400 to Melissa Marshall for conducting the Disability Sensitivity Workshop. Mark made a motion to approve, seconded by Kevin H; the motion was unanimously approved. Banner: NPU has our revised banner and will hang it as soon as a vacancy occurs.. Other: Brigid will contact the Norwich Police Department and Norwich Public Utilities to invite them to participate in the Municipal Round Table. New Business 2020 Calendar: The Commission will finalize the 2020 calendar at the November meeting. Other: Laurie has submitted an emailed letter of resignation. Elanah explained to her (by email) that her resignation will not be acted upon until she submits a hard copy of the letter to the City Clerk. Council Member Stacy Gould did not put Barbara Stigar’s resignation on the Council calendar because she was concerned that Barbara’s stated reason for resigning – lack of transportation – should be examined. Elanah clarified to both Stacy and the City Clerk that the Commission had wanted Barbara to remain a member, but that Barbara had expressed multiple reasons for resigning, including a lack of interest in the Commission’s work. Barbara had also declined the invitation to attend some meetings by phone, as well as offers of transportation by Commission members. When Barbara was told that the Commission would be voting on changing the meeting time to hours when paratransit is available, Barbara had said that paratransit was unaffordable for her. Adjournment: On a motion from Kevin H, seconded by Mark, the meeting was unanimously adjourned at 7:07 PM. The next meeting will be at 6:00 PM on Thursday, October 3rd, 2019 at Norwich City Hall in Room 319. Meeting Minutes written by Ivery Stakley; revised by Elanah Sherman.