Connecticut State Council on Developmental Disabilities

-APPROVED-           

 

MINUTES

CT Council on Developmental Disabilities

COUNCIL MEETING

January 14, 2020, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Beth El Temple, 2626 Albany Avenue, West Hartford, CT

 

 

The 223rd meeting of the CT Council on Developmental Disabilities was held on Tuesday, January 14, 2020 from 10:00a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Beth El Temple in West Hartford, CT.

 

Presiding:  James Hexter, Chair

 

Recorder of Minutes:  Donna Devin, Program Assistant

 

Members Present:  April Burke, Antonia Edwards, Vice Chair; Ann Gionet, James Hexter, Chair; Bryan Klimkiewicz, Gretchen Knauff, Joyce Lewis, Ellyn Little; Patricia Richardson, James Rosen, Brenda Stenglein, Lauren Traceski

 

Members Absent:  Charles Bergamo; Kevin Daly, Shelagh McClure, Michael Scanlon, Louis St. Felix,

 

Staff:  Walter Glomb, Director; Michael Lucas, Council Intern from the UCONN Department of Public Policy

 

Members of the Public:  Nikki Gwinn, Program Director, Beyond Kids Foundation, Inc.

 

1. Call to Order:  Without a quorum present, James Hexter, Chair, began the meeting at 10:05 a.m.

 

2. Public Comment:  Nikki Gwinn, Program Director from the Beyond Kids Foundation introduced herself and spoke about the Stamford, CT, non-profit organization. Their inclusive program focuses on youth in the community who want to express themselves through fashion design and modeling.

3. Comments from the Council Chair:  James Hexter, Chair, urged the Council’s Committee Chairs to schedule their Committee meetings and send their meeting agendas and minutes to the Council’s Program Assistant for posting on the Council website.

The membership of the Council Committees was finalized. The Advocacy, Public Information & Education Committee members are: Tom Cosker (non-Council member), Bryan Klimkiewicz, Ellyn Little, Co-Chair; Doris Maldonado (non-Council member), Brenda Stenglein, Co-Chair; and Lauren Traceski. The Legislative Program & Policy Committee members are: April Burke, Co-Chair; Kevin Daly, Co-Chair; and Antonia Edwards, Council Vice Chair. The Proposal Review Committee members are: Charles Bergamo, Chair; James Hexter, Council Chair; Gretchen Knauff, Joyce Lewis, and Patricia Richardson, Vice-Chair. The Membership & Support Committee members are Charles Bergamo, Joyce Lewis, and Brenda Stenglein. The Ad Hoc Five-Year Plan Committee members are Tom Cosker (non-Council member), and Doris Maldonado (non-Council member). The Executive Committee members are Charles Bergamo, April Burke, Kevin Daly, Antonia Edwards, Council Vice Chair; James Hexter, Council Chair; Ellyn Little, Patricia Richardson, and Brenda Stenglein. Ann Gionet and Louis St. Felix haven’t yet selected a committee to serve on.

 

4. Report from the Council Director:  Walter Glomb, Council Director, submitted the Council’s annual report on December 31st.

A flyer on Supported Decision Making was well received.

Walt has a meeting on Thursday, January 23rd with the Connecticut Coalition for Supported Decision Making. He wants to work with the them to get the information on Supported Decision Making out to all parent and advocacy organizations.

The Department of Developmental Services’ Central Office has refilled 2 key positions. Kenneth Cabral is taking over for Robin Wood who retired. He is the new Director of Family Services Strategy. Wayne Seidel is the new Director of Case Management, a position previously held by Bob Smith, who also retired. The Council is looking forward to working with the new staff.

To address the area Self Direction, The Arc CT is promoting an informational campaign for self-directed services and supports.

The Red Lion Inn in Cromwell, CT, is closed temporarily. The Conference team is hopeful it will be open in time for the Building a Great Life Conference (BAGL).

Acceptance of applications for Partners in Policymaking was extended until Friday, January 31st. Faculty are excited to begin the training sessions with the Partners’ Class of 2020.

The Cross Disability Alliance met on Thursday, January 9th. State Senator Derek Slap and a Gallo & Robinson Representative discussed legislative issues for the upcoming 2020 Legislative session, that impact people with disabilities.

There have been no requests for Consumer Involvement Fund funding since last November’s report.

Parents with Disabilities has adopted the name of the Parent Leadership & Encouragement group.

Connecticut People First is holding a meeting on Thursday, January 30th. Walt continues to be a regular attendee of their meetings.

Plans are in the works for the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services (BRS, and now within the CT Department of Aging and Disability Services), and the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) to begin offering a Customized Employment service this year.  Walt suggested the Council make a presentation on Customized Employment services an agenda item for a future Council meeting.

Walt is plugged into the state’s Livable Communities Community. They are developing materials for the public to promote living in the communities.

On the topic of Post-Secondary Education, Goodwin University is all set to accept students for the Fall of this year.

On Demand Transportation has been the topic at the CT Legislature’s Transportation for a Vulnerable Population task force, which Walt attended, and he has a meeting scheduled with Mark Rolfe, Deputy Commissioner of the CT Department of Transportation. Because of the success of the Stronger Community Opportunities through Organized Transportation (SCOOT) program introduced by the Council’s sister-Council in Illinois, information on it is being sent to CT based providers of transportation.

CT-KASA continues to do a great job.

Walt reported on the Housing situation he has been researching.

 

5. Budget Report:   The Council’s Disability Policy Specialist is on medical leave. The budget is on track and staff continues to look for opportunities to save money and cut back on costs whenever possible.

 

6. Call to Order:  With a quorum present, James Hexter, Chair, called the meeting to order at 1:08 p.m.

 

7. Approval of Agenda:  Ellyn Little motioned to approve the agenda. April Burke seconded the motion. The agenda was approved.

 

8. Approval of November 12, 2019 Meeting Minutes:  Ellyn Little motioned to approve the minutes. The motion was seconded by Lauren Traceski. Joyce Lewis abstained. The minutes were approved.

 

9. Discussion of Council’s Housing Position White Paper:   Donna Devin will resend the paper to Council members, who will then review it and send their comments to Gretchen Knauff.

 

10. Legislative Agenda for 2020 Session of the Connecticut General Assembly:   The Connecticut General Assembly has a short legislative session this year. It begins on Wednesday, February 5th and ends on Thursday, May 9th. A great opportunity to reach out to the Legislature will be on Wednesday, February 19th, when the Council holds its annual Legislative Breakfast in the North Atrium in the CT Legislative Office Building. (Details will be forthcoming.)

James Hexter, Chair, mentioned there is a list of legislative proposals from last year the Council was tracking that the Council may find helpful as it decides what legislation to keep on their radar for this year. Donna Devin will send the past list of proposals to all Council members.

 

11. New Five-Year Plan:  The new plan needs to be submitted by Sunday, August 15, 2021. The Council is in the process of soliciting new ideas and public comments for the plan.

 

12. Topics for the Council Retreat in April:  Gretchen Knauff would like to see the new Five-Year plan as one of the retreat’s topics. Walter Glomb, Council Director wants to include a Council orientation refresher, such as its mission and moral mandate.

 

13. Council Attendance to Annual Disability Policy Seminar in March:  The 2020 Disability Policy Seminar will be held Monday through Wednesday, March 23-25, 2020 in Washington, D.C. The Council has enough funds available to send the Council Director and another Council member to the conference. April Burke, Antonia Edwards, Vice Chair; and Ellyn Little all expressed an interest in attending the Seminar. Donna Devin will forward the Seminar agenda to all members. Requests from members to attend the Seminar should be emailed to James Hexter, Chair.

 

14. Announcements and Adjournment:  The meeting concluded at 2:45 p.m. The next Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 10, 2020 at Beth El Temple in West Hartford.