Quarterly Council Meeting Minutes
FINAL
February 10, 2017
Hilton Garden Inn, Cary, NC

MEMBERS PRESENT: Karen Armstrong, Amanda Bergen, Wendy Boyd, Caroline Bradstock, Adonis Brown, Lisa Byrd, Eric Chavis, Anna Cunningham, Bryan Dooley, Christina Dupuch, Kerri Eaker, Mary Edwards, Jason Faircloth, Myron Gavin, Joshua Gettinger, Michael Groves, Kelly Kimple, Wing Ng, Desiree Peterson, Deb Zuver (for Joseph Piven), I. Azell Reeves, Dave Richard, Clare Shocket, Nessie Siler, Vicki Smith, Jim Swain, Sandra Terrell, Mya Lewis (for Jason Vogler), Kelly Woodall, Paula Woodhouse

MEMBERS ABSENT: Wayne Black, Katie Holler, William Hussey, Representative Verla Insko, Cheryl Powell, Peggy Terhune
    
STAFF PRESENT:  Chris Egan, Cora Gibson, Steve Strom, Melissa Swartz, JoAnn Toomey, Yadira Vasquez, Philip Woodward, Letha Young

CONTRACTORS/GRANTEES PRESENT:  Lauren Borchert, Karen Hamilton, Jill Hinton, Brandon Matthews, Gordon O’Neill, Devika Rao

GUESTS:  Jennifer Bosk, Karen Cook, Paula Coppola, Natalie Davis, Kathy Dooley, Elizabeth Kahn, Danielle Matula, Tara Myers, David Owen, David Taylor, Jr., Judy Taylor

WELCOME AND ATTENDANCE

Vice-Chairman Wing Ng asked that any Council member with a potential conflict of interest regarding any item on the agenda to identify that conflict for documentation in the minutes and recuse, as necessary. He also reminded members of the emergency exits at the Hilton Garden Inn. Anna Cunningham then conducted the roll call.

APPROVAL OF COUNCIL MINUTES

Wing Ng asked for approval of the November 2016 Council meeting minutes. A copy of the minutes had previously been made available to Council members.

MOTION: Clare Shocket made a motion to approve the November 2016 Council meeting minutes. Paula Woodhouse seconded the motion. The motion was approved by unanimous vote.

DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Chris Egan provided his report to the members with a brief review of the historical evolution and progress of important and significant protections for individuals with disabilities and families since the late 1960’s. He went on to compare the fast pace of technological change in that same timeline and provided references and examples regarding the increasing speed and complexity of innovation, particularly in technology. However, the pace of change to fully implement the Americans with Disabilities Act and opportunities for people be fully included has not occurred nearly as quickly. He discussed and shared the image of a geodesic dome structure, drawing on a comparison to the lessons that we can take from this structure in the energy and strength of the design and connected this to the efforts of the Council to foster a broader range of choices and opportunities for individuals with I/DD and families in their communities.

He concluded with a congressional statement included in the DD Act that disability is a natural part of the human experience that does not diminish the right of individuals with developmental disabilities to live independently, to exert control and choice over their own lives, and to fully participate in and contribute to their communities through full integration and inclusion in the economic, political, social, cultural and educational mainstream of United States society.

FINANCE REPORT

Wing Ng reminded members to complete their reimbursement forms and submit them to staff. Dr. Ng gave a brief report on the financial status of the Council. A copy of the report had previously been made available and reviewed with Council members.

LEGISLATIVE UPATE/PUBLIC POLICY

Wing Ng reminded the members of the policy update presentation by Erika Hagensen on Thursday. Jill Hinton gave a brief review of the report that was provided to the Council.

MOTION: Anna Cunningham made a motion for the Council to accept the 2017 Public Policy Priorities. Eric Chavis seconded the motion. The motion was approved by unanimous vote.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Christina Dupuch shared information about the Supportive Living Kickoff meeting coming up on March 28 and 29, 2017 and thanked the members for their support of this grant on behalf of Vaya Health.

Wendy Boyd shared information that the Triangle Down Syndrome Network is inviting everyone to participate in the inaugural Down Syndrome Advocacy Day celebrating World Down Syndrome Day at the NC General Assembly Legislative Building in Raleigh, NC on Tuesday, March 21, 2017.

Paula Coppola gave an update on the housing location for homeless people in Raleigh and some meetings she’s been attending.

Jason Faircloth shared information about the fundraiser being held by the US Disabled Golfers Association for golfers with disabilities on May 5, 2017 at the Neuse Golf Club in Clayton. Also, the golfers will be helping the City of Clayton build an inclusive playground for kids.

David Taylor, Jr., shared information about the SABE and the SABE conference being held in September, 2017 in Arkansas.

Vicki Smith shared the final Adult Care Home report and reviewed the role of Disability Rights NC.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Wing Ng requested presentation of committee reports. Please refer to the committee minutes for a detailed description of the committee’s work, including motions made in committee.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The Executive Committee members met December 19, 2016 and January 17, 2017. Copies of the minutes were made available to Council members. Dr. Ng asked members to review the minutes.

FINANCIAL ASSET DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

Committee chair Amanda Bergen presented the Financial Asset Development Committee report. Updated information concerning their initiatives was given. She thanked all committee members and staff and gave a brief update on the discussions from the Thursday meeting. The following motion was presented on the floor for Council consideration:

MOTION: Amanda Bergen made a motion for NCCDD staff to pursue and research the following topics for potential permission to draft Request(s) for Application(s) (RFAs) at the May Council meeting:

1. To address the employment needs of post-transition adults ages 22-64.
2. To develop a new I/DD employment resource guide (including the Upward to Financial Stability curriculum) and template as well as a new distribution system to integrate with existing network channels.
3. To create an interactive digital look book to highlight how North Carolina’s I/DD community maximizes their assets to access community life.

Kelly Woodall seconded the motion. The motion was approved by unanimous vote.

COMMUNITY LIVING COMMITTEE

Committee chair Kerri Eaker presented the Community Living Committee Report. Updated information concerning their initiatives was given. She thanked all committee members and staff and gave a brief update on the discussions from the Thursday meeting. The following motion was presented on the floor for Council consideration:

MOTION: Kerri Eaker made a motion for NCCDD staff to pursue and research the following topics for potential permission to draft Request(s) for Application(s) (RFAs) at the May Council meeting:

1. Intensive Case Management Model after transition to less restrictive environment.
2. Natural supports.
3. Transportation.
4. Affordable Supportive Housing.

Eric Chavis seconded the motion. The motion was approved by unanimous vote.

ADVOCACY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

Committee chair Nessie Siler presented the Advocacy Development Committee report. Updated information concerning their initiatives was given. She thanked all committee members and staff and gave a brief update on the discussions from the Thursday meeting. The following motion was presented on the floor for Council consideration:

MOTION: Nessie Siler made a motion for NCCDD staff to pursue and research the following topics for potential permission to draft Request(s) for Application(s) (RFAs) at the May Council meeting:

1. Explore outreach to the Latino/Spanish speaking communities per Goal 3, Objective B.

Kelly Woodall seconded the motion. The motion was approved by unanimous vote.

NEW BUSINESS

Chris Egan reminded the members of the presentations from Thursday of the Council’s in-house initiatives that were brought forth for approval of continuation funding. The following motions were presented on the floor for Council consideration:

MOTION: Wendy Boyd made a motion for continuation funding of the In-House Conference Funding Initiative for the period of July 1, 2017 - June 30, 2018 for an amount up to $24,000 with match requirement waived since this is an in-house initiative of the Council. Eric Chavis seconded the motion. The motion was approved by unanimous vote.

MOTION: Nessie Siler made a motion for continuation funding of the In-House Council Development Fund Initiative for the period of July 1, 2017 - June 30, 2018 for an amount up to $40,000 with match requirement waived since this is an in-house initiative of the Council. Anna Cunningham seconded the motion. The motion was approved by unanimous vote.

MOTION: Kerri Eaker made a motion for continuation funding of the In-House Public Policy Initiative for the period of July 1, 2017 - June 30, 2018 for an amount up to $60,000 with match requirement waived since this is an in-house initiative of the Council. Joshua Gettinger seconded the motion. The motion was approved by majority vote.

MOTION: Eric Chavis made a motion for continuation funding of the In-House Jean Wolff-Rossi Fund for Participant Involvement Initiative for the period of July 1, 2017 - June 30, 2018 for an amount up to $30,000 with match requirement waived since this is an in-house initiative of the Council. Wendy Boyd seconded the motion. The motion was approved by unanimous vote.

OLD BUSINESS

Chris Egan reminded members to sign up for one of the three Ad Hoc Committees: Member Recruitment, Five Year Plan, and Communications and Member Development.

ADJOURN

Wing Ng asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting.

MOTION: Anna Cunningham made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Amanda
Bergen seconded the motion. Motion was approved by unanimous vote and the meeting was adjourned.

Approved: _________________________
Anna Cunningham, Secretary
Date: _______________