Easy Does It
Board of Directors Meeting
Minutes for October 23, 2002

Present: Jonah Markowitz, Felix Knauth, Peter Trier, Jonathan Gold (on telephone), Hale Zukas, Winston Ching arrives at 6:55pm; Kyle Eminger arrives at 6:45 pm; Jesse Townley arrives at 7:10.
Not in attendance: Todd Groves, Dina Valicenti, Leslie Gordon (on leave)
 
Meeting started at: 6:40 pm; Leslie asked Jesse to run the meeting
 
Public Comments: None
 
September Agenda: “Manual” spelled wrong (“Manuel”) on agenda. Jonathan requests that it be corrected before it goes on website
 
Minutes from August and September:
Jonathan makes correction to September minutes to say that he conveyed Todd’s and Dina’s votes, not that he cast them
Peter wants correction to September minutes regarding motion for consent calendar.
 
Jonah makes motion to approve September minutes; Jonathan seconds; Kyle abstains; Hale abstains because he didn’t get minutes. Motion passes.
 
Consent Calendar:
Peter makes motion that consent calendar be produced by executive director/president; Jonah seconds.
Jonathan has problems with wording in consent calendar. #6 is a fragment sentence. Felix will fix.
Pulling: change in employee status; becomes an item.
 
Agenda
Jonah wants to add: change of date in November and September meeting; Peter says to change after guest speaks.
Jonah presents Jesse additions: changing fundraising/development title of committee; combining personnel and judicial into one. Peter suggests we put all changes:
Peter: After we approve our agenda, then date for next two meetings; then Kyle’s items, then guest, then elections, reports, Jesse items.
Jonah makes motion to approve agenda; Motion seconded; agenda approved.
 
Victoria Filbert, Adult Protective Services
Since 1979 in Alameda County; addresses all issues of abuse adults and elders (over 18 and under 65) with limited ability; dependent adults; elders: over 65. Example: undue influence. Most cases don’t involve law enforcement; caregiver or attendant no longer available; someone’s needs are too broad for family to take care of. Cases generally stay open for only 3 months, otherwise must be reassessed. Social service withlink to law enforcement; anyone who witnesses abuse is mandated to report it; reporters: independently held liability.
There cannot be policies in agency to keep employee from filing a report on abuse.
Linked with Public Guardian of Alameda County. County is last choice in probate court. Exhaust family members first to take over conservertorship.
Mandated reporters are held confidential.
Money management program.
Reporting party can be subpoenaed.
Neglect; abuse; financial abuse the biggest. This year 40% disabled adult abuse is financial and it is climbing.
Questions:
Jonah: Am I as a member of the EDI Board liable? Answer: No, unless you’ve witnessed the abuse or made policies that prevent your staff from reporting.
Jonah: Define signs of abuse. Answer: Physical – any use of force including restraint, burning, slapping, kicking, injuries that are inflicted, perpetrators say it is accidental; Sexual abuse -- encounters with someone who lacks capacity to give consent, or forced; Neglect – reasonable; Self-neglect--food, shelter, clothes, hygiene; Dominance/Undue influence – take over, redirect mail, isolation; Financial Abuse – someone put in position of trust abusing money/property such as theft of properties and social security checks.
Prevention/Intervention: invoke 2100 powers
Peter: Can EDI say to its employees: please report, but tell us what happened. Answer: yes. Can’t wait a couple of weeks, must be forwarded immediately.
What happens if we have a client who abuses drugs and uses up money by mid-month; when should attendants report. Answer: Adult Protective Services cannot do anything if person understands what they are doing (free will) and does not want to change their behavior.
Must report suspicion of abuse, neglect.
Kyle: lack of power outlets, should I have called APS? Answer: Yes, funding for one time clean up; provide services to keep in shape.
Kyle: IHHS Attendant refusing to clean house as part of duties? Answer: Attendant is required to do what is in contract.
Hale: What is a dependent adult? Answer: between 18 – 64, has a mental or physical disability, andwho is unable to take care of themselves. When someone takes advantage of dependence.
Jesse: If attendant sees someone going downhill, can we ask our attendants to tell supervisor. Answer: No must be attendants; must be who saw it.
Felix: What should we advise attendant to do. Answer: Tell attendant to call APS.
Jesse: Do you have a list of other service advisors and is EDI already involved. Answer: Yes. Refer to website CARE. Rely on social services, neighbors, friends, and churches.
 
Dates of Next Meetings:
Jonah makes motion to change November meeting to Monday November 25; Kyle seconds. Motion passes.
Jonathan makes motion to change December meeting to Thursday December 19. Motion seconded. Motion passes.
 
Elections of Officers
Peter: vote on president, vice president, treasurer, secretary. Todd does not want to be vice president; Dina did not respond about secretary.
Jonah makes motion to make Peter Trier president; Jonathan seconds. Motion passes.
Peter: wants Jesse to run for vice-president.
Peter makes motion for Jesse to be vice-president; Jonah seconds. Motion passes.
Peter makes motion for Jonah to be secretary. Jonathan seconds. Motion passes.
Jonah makes motion for Hale to be treasurer. Motion seconded. Motion passes.
Peter: Takes effect immediately. Serve for one year.
 
Kyle
Passes out information on personnel committee. Peter requests that info get sent to Jonathan.
 
 
Secretary Report: Jonathan, Suzy and Jonah will work out basic minutes details.
Executive Director Report:.
Felix: impressed with job Jesse did on employee manual. Mandated reporting needs to be added along with some other details. Rose, Gina and I will have it finished by the end of next week and then Board will get it. Suggest Jesse to be your agent and report to you.

Fundraising: filed with IRS, say we are a private foundation; we want to be a public charity; IRS won’t get back to us; we are registered on IRS website as public charity.
Peter: write a letter to IRS and explain what is going on.

Kyle: Development idea – what is client assistant fund?
Peter: Funds to help people.
Felix: Eight different ways client can apply for this fund.

Felix: transportation co-pay will be before city council on Nov. 12; I’m meeting with them on Nov. 4.
Jesse: Let us know if board members should show up in mass.
Felix: It’s Jonah’s call.
Jonah: Always good to show up.
Peter: Felix, send email to members of board to let them know what is going on.
 
Modified Duty: costs go up, but costs are small compared to Workers Comp. Haven’t had workers comp claim since April. Specifically designed for health problems, but there are other problems that come up such as unable to transfer. Person is put on modified duty but that is not really modified duty; wants conditional duty in which person gets proper training.
Jonah: Board approval for a modification of modified duty so that an attendant can be kept employed.
Jesse: provide timetable, consequences for solution, connected with evaluations, under disciplinary action.
Felix: not a disciplinary action. Don’t want it tied to anniversary date. Withdrawing proposal.
Jonah: Jesse will continue to modify employee handbook and we will see it.

Jonah: Employee of month?
Felix: two – Chris and Tina
 
President’s Report: changes in by-laws will be next month; board policy manual – nothing to present right now, trying to get minutes together
 
Jesse proposes changing name of development committee to fundraising committee. Peter seconds. Motion passes.
 
Motion to merge personnel to judicial committee; chair or president may appoint other board members to serve on the judicial committee for hearings if necessary. To be a judge at the hearing you must be a board member. Other members who are not board members must sign a statement of confidentiality to be a part of this committee.
 
There followed a discussion.
 
Peter calls the question. Jonah seconds; Jonathan abstains; motion passes.
 
Hale: criteria Employment Opportunities?
Peter proposes putting this on the agenda as evaluation of attendants for the next meeting.
Felix: no new evaluation proposals, only weighted them.
Peter: board should know them.
Hale: I have a problem with the weighting.
Jesse/Jonathan: don’t micro-manage
Felix: Address what this committee does and be part of the by-laws.
 
5 hour call to 4 hour standard call: tabled for next meeting
 
Cost-cutting committee: tabled.
 
Invasive Care committee: discussed meeting with Loni Hancock after Nov. 5.
 
Modification of Scope of Services: tabled
 
Felix: asks to make modifications; who does he send it to? Answer: all Board members in next meeting
 
Jonah asks Felix about Biggins from City Works. Peter answers. Felix says nothing has changed since July.
 
Jonah makes motion to adjourn; Jonathan seconds. Motion passes.
 
Meeting ends 9:10. Notes submitted to Jonah by Susan Parker.