EDIDA
Board of Directors Meeting
Minutes - 7/24/03
Present:
Board Members - Peter Trier, Leslie Gordon, Karen Hernandez, Winston
Ching, Jesse Townley, Jonah Markowitz, Chris Hess (appointed during
meeting)
E.D. - Felix Knauth
Minute Taker - Denise Glagau
1. Public Comment
On 7/15/03, City Council passed resolution making 7/27 Cece Weeks Day
each year; Jonah M was at meeting; copy of proclamation is en route
from Donna Spring's office.
District Coordinator/Lori Hancock's office (Sherry) will be working with EDIDA on the re-introduction of AB524/invasive care committee.
Peter - the Berkeley Disabled List is a worthwhile effort, e.g., in connecting people looking for work with people looking Employment Opportunities, and EDIDA should support it.
2. Minutes
Jonah didn't receive packet from May 22.
Jonah moves to table approval of minutes from 5/22 and 6/26.
Peter seconds, but comments that we need better coordination between
Board & staff.
Felix agrees to take this on.
Jesse comments that he sent 5/22 minutes to Gina 1 1/2 - 2 weeks ago.
All in favor.
3. Consent Calendar
- no notes taken
4. Agenda
Peter proposes dealing with Chris Hess' application to join Board after
Committee reports and to deal with Paratransit issue after that;
Peter also wants to add Executive Session beginning at 8:45 P.M.
Jesse asks about FY04 budget and fundraising party; Felix says these
issues will be included in E.D. Report and Fundraising Committee Report.
Jesse suggests adding Board Responsibilities Stmt back to agenda as
last action item.
Jonah moves to approve agenda. Peter seconds. All in favor.
5. Presidents' Report
- no notes taken
6. Executive Director's Report
FY04 Budget
Felix says there will be $16,000 in savings this year, need to get
balance showing to $0, Felix suggests moving surplus to van operations,
Board agrees.
Jesse suggests that lines 12, 13, 14 all be the same, with asterisks
beside next to all positions to indicate 2% cola, to show city that
EDIDA is committed to retention of staff.
Felix notes that the two positions not showing an asterisk received
raises this past year b/c of changes in their job descriptions.
Peter disagrees with Jesse, suggests putting asterisks which would
indicate 2% cola approved.
Jesse moves to mark all lines in latest budget with asterisk indicating
2% cola.
Jonah seconds.
Peter objects re: Rose's position b/c …???, suggests adding it
just next to Gina's position.
Jesse accepts amendment.
All in favor of marking Felix's position and Gina's position with asterisk
indicating 2% cola.
Employee of the Month
Discussion re: having employee of the month or some kind of recognition
of outstanding service. Peter says he's not inclined to require the
E.D. to do it a particular way.
Jonah moves to annually honor employee of the year at winter party.
Jesse seconds.
All in favor.
Disaster Planning and Case Management
Jesse suggests that EDIDA use money allotted in budget for these purposes.
Felix says he can find Disaster Planning person by August 1st.
Felix says that re: case mgmt position, he and Rose are able to deal
with case mgmt without using too much of their time and he doesn't
want to spend the money just because it is there.
Leslie suggests that issue be reviewed each month b/c it can get out
of hand.
Felix will report hours spent on case mgmt for this period at the next
meeting.
Internal Audit
Jonah moves for internal audit to be conducted monthly, to be reviewed
after 3 months.
Jesse seconds.
All in favor.
7. Secretary's Report
There is no secretary's report this month. Pertinent matters re: minutes
covered in Minutes section.
8. Executive Committee Report
There is no Exec. Comm. Report this month.
9. Fundraising Committee Report
Felix states that goal of fundraising is to get unrestricted gifts.
Leslie has done a letter. Next step is to work up letter and get names
of people to send letter to. Letter has only been sent to f/r committee,
but should be sent to all Board members so they can see what is being
sent to people whose names they suggest. Jonah suggests adding foundations
to list of places to send letter. Leslie asks if letter should be sent
to clients to request that they send it to people who may be interested
in donating - Peter asks that this letter be drafted - Felix says there
are different versions of the letter ready.
Jonah asks if Karen is working on video - she has tried one place and
will try another. Peter suggests asking staff if they are interested
in helping out.
10. Personnel / Judicial Committee Report
The committee heard an appeal of disciplinary matter this month.
Employee Handbook
Most of the employee handbook has been approved, except for Refusal
Policy and ID Badge issue. Peter reports that Hale had some comments
about the handbook and suggests that Board take no formal action
at this meeting. Jonah moves to table Refusal Policy and ID Badge
issue to next meeting. Jesse seconds. All in favor.
Felix states he doesn't want to reproduce the handbook now if there are concerns beyond the Refusal Policy and ID Badge issue. Peter asks if it matters if Board tables whole handbook. Jesse asks that since it is in binder form with loose leaf and there are only 2 outstanding issues why not reproduce it, especially since approval of handbook was passed at last meeting and is now EDIDA "law." Peter moves that distribution of handbook be delayed until a reasonable time after next Board meeting when 2 aforementioned items are addressed. Jesse notes that we must clarify then that old policy applies. Felix notes that Leslie was initially the one concerned about making new handbook with items that may change. Leslie states that now it is too confusing to go back to old policy for one month after new policy has been in effect for one month. She clarifies that she had wanted to delay passing of motion for approval of handbook last month, but since it was approved, she thinks the handbook should be distributed ASAP and that changes should be distributed as they come about. Peter withdraws motion and says that staff should distribute handbook in reasonable time and incorporate changes as they come about.
Appointment of Chris Hess
Jonah moves to make Chris Hess a Board member. Discussion of conflict
of interest issues. Jesse seconds motion. All in favor.
Berkeley Paratransit Issue
Peter says it is very likely there could be a contract with Paratransit
before the next Board meeting and wants Board to authorize E.D. and
President to sign suitable contract. Jonah moves for Board to authorize
E.D. and President to enter contract with Paratransit before the
next meeting. Jesse seconds. Discussion. EDIDA provides tax-exempt
status and Paratransit provides transportation. Peter moves that
before 5:00 PM Paratransit would provide regular service, after 5:00
PM there would be emergency service only. Clients eligible for Berkeley
Paratransit services will be informed by letter. Jonah seconds. All
in favor.
Felix states that he and Rose will do dispatching (Rose - Tu, Th, Felix
- M, W, F). They will ask clients (particularly those getting rides
near to 5:00 PM) about their arrangements to get home.
Felix states that EDIDA must get at least 5 calls/day and not more
than 8/day. Rides will be $35. "E" money cannot subsidize
service. Felix will try to get escape language in contract in case
there are not enough calls. Leslie states that EDIDA will need to be
clear that it is a 1st come, 1st serve service, there is no advance
scheduling, and there can only be 8 calls/day.
15. Adjournment
Jonah moves to adjourn meeting. Karen seconds. All in favor.
EXECUTIVE SESSION - separate minutes
September Election
The election will be held at the Board Meeting the 4th Thursday of
September. Peter wants a letter to go to clients letting them know
about election and application process. Leslie moves that a letter
be prepared for Board recruitment and that it go to clients, disability
organizations, and organizations like Support Center, Compass Point,
etc that can help with Board recruitment. Peter seconds with friendly
amendment for letter to be posted at EDIDA. Peter will draft letter.
Leslie adds that applications must be in by September 10th. All in
favor.
Jonah moves that after September election, current Board members take
outgoing Board members out to dinner. Chris seconds. All in favor.