Commission For Persons With Disabilities

Commission for Persons with Disabilities Regular Meeting Minutes August 4th, 2022, 4pm Room 319, Norwich City Hall To attend virtually, please call 860-215-8140. Meeting ID 4038191 Present: Julie Menders, Amy Dudek, Mark Marcy, Joanne Philbrick & Wendy Fenner, Absent: Cynthia Litton Others Present: Brigid Marks Call to Order: Julie called the meeting to order at 4 PM. Determination of Quorum: It was determined a quorum was present, with the current members in the commission (5/6). Citizen Comments: None Communications: None Old Business: Disability Awareness Week 2022: They have 1 event confirmed and 1 event in the works. Joanne asked how events will be advertised. Julie will create and submit a press release, members share events on social media, and advertise at a local radio station. Someone may volunteer to create a flier that they can share with Art Reach, Reliance Health and the Senior Center. If they inform the Senior Center of events soon enough they may possibly post them on the Senior Center newsletter. Joanne hopes that they especially invite veterans organizations. Last month Julie suggested having a bookclub at Otis for the novel “Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist” this year’s One Book One Region, a collaboration between the librarians of Eastern CT. But she ultimately decided not to because all programs for the book are in August and the Author event will be in September. Program 1: Bridgit & Julie contacted Elanah Sherman, a past president of the commission about doing a program during Disability Awareness Week. Elanah agreed to do a 90 minutes in- person program with compensation covering the first 3 titles of the ADA including time for Q&A. They are considering having the program at the library Wednesday, October 12th at 1:30pm. Joanne believes the time may limit who can attend. Julie and Elanah decided on the afternoon because many people may not want to go out at night. They are also considering doing the program twice, once during DAW and then a few months later. Joanne suggested they have a suggestion box at the event where attendees can add what they want to hear more about. Mark made a motion to have Elanah as a guest speaker with compensation $150-$200 but Joanne recommended they vote on a determined amount instead and Bridgiet agreed. Mark made another motion to have Elanah as a guest speaker with $200 compensation which was seconded by Amy and unanimously agreed on by the commission. Program 2: Last month, Mark volunteered to reach out and follow up with legislators so we can have a legislators forum. He hasn't contacted them yet but he has begun to take notes and start planning. He is also considering what topic they should cover and hopes to host it at the Senior Center. Julie asked that he have more definitive plans next month. New Business: Update Bylaws: Article 3 Section 1: Mark made a motion to change quorum from 9 members to 7 members. Joanne seconded it and it was unanimously approved. Article 3 Section 1f: (In event of illness member may attend meeting by phone): Mark made a motion to allow unlimited hybrid meetings, conditional on technology. Amy seconded it and it was approved unanimously. Article 3, Appendix 1 (More about allowing members to attend by phone ) Mark made a motion to get rid of Appendix 1 in its entirety, seconded by Joanne and unanimously approved. Commissioners plan to discuss updated by-laws next month. Adjournment: On a motion from Mark, seconded by Joanne, the meeting adjourned at 5:04 PM. The next meeting will be at 4 PM on Thursday, September 1st, 2022 at the Rose City Senior Center. Meeting Minutes Written by Ivery Stakley on August 4, 2022.