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MINUTES
CT Council on Developmental Disabilities
ANNUAL COUNCIL MEETING
September 8, 2020, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Microsoft Teams (Online)
The 226th meeting of the CT Council on Developmental Disabilities was held on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:06 p.m. on Microsoft Teams.
Presiding: James Hexter, Chair
Recorder of Minutes: Donna Devin, Program Assistant
Voting Members Present: Charles Bergamo, Mary Beth Bruder (represented by Molly Cole), April Burke, Kevin Daly, Ann Gionet, James Hexter, Chair;
Bryan Klimkiewicz, Joyce Lewis, Ellyn Little, Patricia Richardson, Lauren Traceski, Brenda Stenglein
Voting Members Absent: Antonia Edwards, Vice Chair; James Rosen
Non-Voting Members Absent: Louis St. Felix
New Non-Voting Council Members: Emily Ball, Michelle Baughman, Andy Cirioli III,
Doris Maldonado, Alfred Piehl, Kaitlynn Ramos
Staff: Walter Glomb, Director
Members of the Public: Julie Ball, Dianne Bilyak, Kenneth Cabral, Cristina Calabro, Carmina Cirioli, Win Evarts, Shannon Jacovino, Kim Little, Nanfi Lubogo, Melissa Marshall, Leslie McNabb, Lisa Nee, Linda Rammler, Sheri Romblad, Jossie Torres
1. Call to Order: With a quorum present, James Hexter, Chair, called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m.
2. Approval of Agenda: Chuck Bergamo motioned to approve the agenda. Joyce Lewis seconded the motion. The agenda was approved.
3. Approval of July 14, 2020 Minutes: Kevin Daly motioned to approve the minutes. The motion was seconded by Charles Bergamo. The minutes were approved. Brenda Stenglein abstained.
4. Amendment of the Minutes: Comments will be filled in for James Hexter, Council Chair. Chuck Bergamo motioned for acceptance. Bryan Klimkiewicz seconded the motion. All approved the amendment. Brenda Stenglein abstained.
5. Comments by the Chair: James Hexter, Council Chair; informed the Council that voting for the Council Chair and Vice Chair would be done via email to the Council Director, Walt Glomb
6. James welcomed and introduced the Council’s Grantees. From 10:30 a.m. to 11:20 p.m., ten-minute presentations were given by Council Grantees on the projects they’ve been working on over the past fiscal year:
The Arc Connecticut: Win Evarts, Executive Director – Update on initiative for Self Directed Services and Supports
The Arc Connecticut: Dianne Bilyak, Project Director –Overview on the Parents Leadership and Encouragement Group
State Independent Living Council (SILC): Melissa Marshall, Alliance Coordinator & Disability Policy Consultant – Annual presentation on the Cross Disability Lifespan Alliance
People First of CT: Jossie Torres, Self Advocate Coordinator, DDS & People First President – Report on the People First of Connecticut Self Advocacy group
Dr. Linda Rammler, Community Training Director, UCONN University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Research, Training and Service – Presentation on the State’s Customized Employment initiative
Dr. Linda Rammler, UCONN University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Research, Training and Service – Report on the Post-Secondary Education initiative
PATH/Family Voices of Connecticut: Carmina Cirioli, Executive Co-Director – Update on the Connecticut Sibling Network project
PATH Parent to Parent/LifeCourse – Sheri Romblad
CT KASA (Kids as Self Advocates) – Emily Ball, PATH Youth Outreach Coordinator – Presentation on CT KASA
(At 11:20 a.m., the official business portion of the Annual Meeting commenced.)
7. Nominations and Election of Council Chair and Vice Chair for 2021:
All Council members were in favor of voting for re-election of James Hexter as the Council Chair. The Council cast their votes for the Vice Chair position by way of emailing their nominations in a secret ballet to Walt, the Council’s Director. Charles Bergamo was elected as Vice Chair.
8. Introduction of New Council Members: Andy Cirioli was welcomed to the Council. He has a brother who has grown up with a developmental disability and hopes his work on the Council will ensure others who have a disability reach the same level of fulfillment his brother has experienced.
Kaitlyn Ramos introduced herself. She is very involved in the disability community and has been a CT KASA leader and spokesperson. She is very excited to be on the Council.
Michelle Baughman greeted the Council. She is a self advocate and the parent of a child with a developmental disability. She has created several support groups online and in-person, has served on multiple boards and worked with individuals who have developmental disabilities.
9. Review and Adoption of Budget for FY 2021: James Hexter, Chair, asked for a motion to adopt the Budget for Fiscal Year 2021 as presented. Kevin Daly motioned to approve the budget. The motion was seconded by Brenda Stenglein. The budget was approved.
During the discussion of the budget, Joyce Lewis asked why the dollars designated for Partners in Policymaking had increased. Walt Glomb, Director, explained because of cancellation of Partners due to Covid-19, the monies were rolled over to the upcoming year. The UCONN UCEDD and the Council are looking into an expansion of Partners.
The motion to approve the FY 2021 budget passed unanimously.
10. Adoption of Calendar for FY 2021: Chuck Bergamo moved to adopt the calendar. Joyce Lewis seconded the motion. With no discussion, the Council voted unanimously to adopt the calendar. The calendar will be filed with the Secretary of State’s Office.
11. Discussion of State Plan Objectives for 2022-2026: James Hexter, Chair opened a discussion on ideas for the Council’s state plan objectives. Chuck Bergamo would like to see an objective for accessible and reliable inter-community transportation resources and a way to easily navigate the system to find these resources. Also, Chuck would like to see all resources for people with developmental disabilities made more readily available. He stressed how caregivers have no time to conduct their own research.
Patty Richardson noted a lack of training and support in tech funding. She called for more peer to peer support for individuals new to technology to assist them in using their tech more effectively; the result being individuals can connect better with family and the resources in tele-health services.
Brenda Stenglein voiced her support for an objectives that addresses families being able to easily find the resource options they need. She suggested using the colleges to help with families who need training and assistance with the technology piece.
12. Adjourn: James Hexter asked for a motion for adjournment. Chuck Bergamo motioned to adjourn. Patty Richardson seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned at 1:06 p.m. The next Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 10, 2020 via Microsoft Teams.