MINUTES
QUARTERLY
MEETING
1:00
p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
600 Sandy
Lane,
Warwick, RI
Members
present: Leo
Canuel; Madeline
Colon;
Kristen Connors, 2nd Vice Chair; Rick Costa, Secretary;
Elizabeth
Graves, Chairperson; Margarita Grome; Ron Racine; Lorna Ricci; Jack
Ringland;
Members
absent:
Christina
Battista; Rui Goncalves; Anna Liebenow; Don Phelps; Tony Pierre;
Barbara Rozul.
Staff:
Camille
Pansa, Administrator;
Interpreter:
Toni
Butland
2. Minutes of the March 23,
2011: previously
sent.
A
motion
was made by Heidi Showstead and seconded by
Kristen
Connors to accept the minutes as written. The vote passed
unanimously.
For:
Leo
Canuel; Madeline Colon; Kristen
Connors;
Rick Costa; Elizabeth Graves; Margarita
Grome; Lorna Ricci; Jack Ringland; Heidi Showstead; Mary Wambach. Against: none.
3.
Suggested
dates for annual meeting: Wednesday, September 28; Monday, September
26;
Friday, September 30: The
annual meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 28th
from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. at the Warwick Public Library pending the
availability of
the meeting room. A light lunch will be
available prior to the meeting.
4.
Vote
to approve changes to RISILC Bylaws: The
Bylaws
were revised to reflect staffing changes and the addition of the Needs
Assessment Committee due to the new funding level and responsibilities
of the
Council. Minor
wording
changes were made for clarity. A
motion was made by
Kristen Connors and seconded by Rick
Costa to approve the Bylaws as revised. The vote
passed unanimously.
For:
Leo Canuel;
Madeline Colon; Kristen Connors; Rick Costa; Elizabeth Graves;
Margarita Grome;
Lorna Ricci; Jack Ringland; Heidi Showstead; Mary Wambach. Against:
none.
5.
Committee
Reports:
Needs
Assessment Committee: previously
sent.
Mary Wambach stated that
the
Needs Assessment Survey was a collaborative effort combining the
committee’s
effort and input from the two Centers and ORS. Upon Council approval,
the
completed survey will be converted into several accessible formats
including
Spanish, Portuguese, Large Print, and Graphics. A
motion was made
by Kristen Connors and seconded by Jack Ringland to approve the survey
as
written.
The vote
passed unanimously.
For:
Leo Canuel;
Madeline Colon; Kristen Connors; Rick Costa; Elizabeth Graves;
Margarita Grome;
Lorna Ricci; Jack Ringland; Heidi Showstead; Mary Wambach. Against:
none.
Finance/Resource
Committee:
Madeline
Colon reported that she, Barbara Rozul, and
staff had met with our bookkeeper, Bob Houghton, to review all bank
statements
and spreadsheets. All financial expenditures are updated and balanced.
A small
surplus was reported which will be needed for the third year of the
three year
level funding plan.
State Plan
Committee: Liz
Graves
reported that the next meeting will be held in the fall to write the
704
Report. She asked members to keep a record of all Council related
activities
and forward them to the State Plan Committee to include in the 704
Report.
Membership
/ Nominating Committee:
previously
sent. Camille Pansa reported that recruitment has been active and five
new volunteers
have joined the Needs Assessment Committee. All Council members will be
receiving letters of intent on remaining on the Council and their
interest on
serving on selected Committees and officer positions.
6.
GAC
Report:
previously sent. Liz Graves read her report aloud
highlighting several areas of importance.
7.
SRC
Report: previously
sent. Liz Graves read her report aloud
highlighting several areas of importance.
8.
Report
on Youth Transitioning teleconference: Heidi
Showstead stated the
importance of CILs’ involvement in youth transitioning. Many
teens not aware of the services provided by the
CILs. The conference recommended early intervention strategies that
could be
used by the CILs with regards to the services they can provide to youth
prior
to them transitioning to adult services. Another focus of the
conference was
involving youths in their Individual Education Plans. The conference
literature
is on file at the RISILC office.
9.
Chairperson’s
Report:
previously sent. Liz
Graves extended
her
appreciation to all members of the NAC for a job well done completing
the
survey. She also stated that we are coming to a close on our first year
of the
State Plan, and although there were many new and difficult changes and
challenges, we were still online to accomplish our goals.
Liz also stated that as a Council, we are all
looking forward to the ADA celebration which is scheduled for July 22;
and she
thanked Mary Wambach for spearheading the event.
10. CILs’
report on
budget cuts and stimulus/ARRA funds:
Lorna
Ricci (OSCIL) reported that due to the ARAA funds,
131 home
modification cases were completed. The remaining funds
are encumbered and will be used for projects already in progress. The
funds also enabled a new
position to be created
which is
currently being filled by two people who share the job
responsibilities.
Leo Canuel
(PARI) reported that PARI’s ARRA funds are also
encumbered and are being used for Spanish speaking staff and home
modifications. There is no current
wait list on home modifications
because
of the lengthy time it takes to complete
the process. There are usually 12 to 15 jobs in
progress at the same
time and last year’s modifications are just
now being completed.
Leo Canuel
reported on several
legislation issues such as the
Reauthorization
of the Sherlock Act. This Plan created a
Medicaid
buy-in plan for people with disabilities who wanted to
be employed but the cost
was too substantial. Currently, the
new
legislation is close to being approved and will allow more people
to become employed without
losing access to their
Medicaid
benefits. Leo also reported on the
concern and
safety of persons with disabilities. A bill introduced by the Attorney
General’s Office would mandate
background checks and
specialized
training for PCAs which would have devastating
effects
on the existing State PCA Program. The
language
of the revised bill has been changed and the safety of
the State PCA Plan is intact. The Licensing of PCAs has been put
on the back burner until next
year’s legislation session. The background
checks
will more than likely start this year.
11.
Educational
Presentation: none.
12.
Old
Business /
New
Business:
none.
Rick Costa
Secretary