Easy
Does It Disability Assistance Services
Board Meeting Minutes for Thursday, October 23, 2003
ROLL CALL:
Charles Pappas, Chris Hess, Dina Valicenti, Hale Zukas – Treasurer, Jesse Townley – Vice President (leaving the board), Jonah Markowitz – Secretary, Karyn Hernandez , Leslie Gordon, Lewis Stiller
Peter Trier – President, Winston Ching
Staff: Felix Knauth – Executive Director
Public: Susan Brown – Note Taker
PUBLIC COMMENT
Jonah Markowitz’s letter to Willard; please see attachment…
By phone - WILLARD HARRIS
Willard expressed that he felt threatened by the letter he received from Jonah, especially in reference to the words, “vulnerable to utilization and review committee.” He cited the need for better weekend attendant recruitment. He said he was willing to talk personally with board members. He claimed that he did not verbally attack Rose and denied inappropriate behavior or comments. He voiced concern over a “power vacuum” at EDI and said that EDI needs to get to “equilibrium.”
PETER: I am concerned that board, staff and clients perceive that things at EDI are handled in an open way (that EDI is open to comments and criticism) and that the board should view staff and clients’ ‘griping’ to be a good thing (keeping the organization from acting top-down). When EDI was evaluated for this quality a couple years ago it did very well. Board members and staff should be encouraged not to be argumentative, but to simply acknowledge hearing the problem unless the person complaining becomes abusive, then it becomes a different matter.
SECRETARY’S REPORT
Announcements
1) Bicycle Center Transportation Commission on Fifth
Matt Nickels Principal Transportation Planner
2) Personally tried 2 different private van companies as alternatives to East Bay Transit and would like the board and others to know that one only runs to 11 pm on weekdays and no weekend evenings and is primarily for medical appointments and the second runs only to 6 pm, so there are serious limitations to these services.
3) There is a new kosher restaurant in town at 2132 Center Street called Rafael’s; it is an Italian dairy and has available food to go.
JESSE:
1) Announced his regrets at leaving the board for other commitments; he had a wonderful time and enjoyed helping to solve complex problems.
2) Since he is no longer an EDI board member he is now able to fully participate on the Disaster Council as an advocate for disabled disaster planning.
3) This Saturday from 1-4 at Truit & White there will be a Disaster Council Exhibition.
JONAH:
Expressed his thanks to Dina for taking the minutes for the past year.
REVIEW OF MINUTES
MOTION: To pass the August 28th minutes
SECOND: DINA
Motion Passes.
MOTION: DINA to approve September minutes with correction (list votes and names of voters) SECOND: JONAH
Motion Passes.
MOTION: DINA
To accept October 9th minutes with correction. Correction for Oct. 9th (Louis Stiller, new board member, voted no, not aye, on 2nd resolution)
SECOND: JONAH
Motion Passes.
AGENDA
Statement regarding running for Board President…
HALE: “When Peter asked me to run, unfortunately I could not disagree. I have been involved in personal assistant care for about 30 years and I have served on the boards of several non-profits and, among other things, have dealt with many budgets. Lastly: I call them as I see them. Thank you.”
JONAH: MOTION to go into Executive Session
WINSTON: SECONDs
Motion Passes.
ACTION: ELECTION OF OFFICERS
PETER: MOTION Hale will be President
JONAH: SECONDs
Motion Passes.
LESLIE: MOTION Peter will be vice-president
JONAH: SECONDS
Motion Passes.
MOTION: PETER Nominates Chris for Treasurer
CHRIS: accepts JONAH: SECONDS
Motion Passes.
SECRETARY CANDIDATES: DINA AND JONAH
SECRET VOTE: JONAH – Jonah 5 /Dina 4 - one abstention
PETER: I’d like to express appreciation for Jesse’s (good work).
CALENDAR
MOTION: JONAH to change the November meeting to Monday the 17th.
SECOND: WINSTON
Motion Passes.
MOTION: JONAH to change the December meeting to Monday the 15th
SECOND: DINA
Motion Passes.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT Please see President’s Report attachment…
PETER: The hardest thing for me, as President, was playing a double role in terms of supporting the Executive Director and evaluating as a member of the board. In the future I think that the board should consider allowing the President to abstain from participating in this evaluation. I believe that it is difficult to do both. I need to emphasize that the decision to part ways with Felix was not an executive decision. I was advised by Doug to send a letter with specifics regarding firing. The decision regarding whether or not to pay Felix through November although his last day will be October 31st will need to be on the next meeting’s agenda.
CHARLIE: We should begin the letter by thanking him for what he has done well and hopefully he will be able to recognize what he was not able to accomplish and that we were not harmonious.
PETER: We need to correct the impression that issues regarding invasive care were the reason for his (Felix’s) termination and we need to legally protect the organization. We need a new chair for the fundraising committee and at the next meeting to elect two people for the executive committee.
MOTION: DINA to adjourn
SECOND: JONAH
Motion Passes.
Board Meeting Minutes for Thursday, October 23, 2003
ROLL CALL:
Charles Pappas, Chris Hess, Dina Valicenti, Hale Zukas – Treasurer, Jesse Townley – Vice President (leaving the board), Jonah Markowitz – Secretary, Karyn Hernandez , Leslie Gordon, Lewis Stiller
Peter Trier – President, Winston Ching
Staff: Felix Knauth – Executive Director
Public: Susan Brown – Note Taker
PUBLIC COMMENT
Jonah Markowitz’s letter to Willard; please see attachment…
By phone - WILLARD HARRIS
Willard expressed that he felt threatened by the letter he received from Jonah, especially in reference to the words, “vulnerable to utilization and review committee.” He cited the need for better weekend attendant recruitment. He said he was willing to talk personally with board members. He claimed that he did not verbally attack Rose and denied inappropriate behavior or comments. He voiced concern over a “power vacuum” at EDI and said that EDI needs to get to “equilibrium.”
PETER: I am concerned that board, staff and clients perceive that things at EDI are handled in an open way (that EDI is open to comments and criticism) and that the board should view staff and clients’ ‘griping’ to be a good thing (keeping the organization from acting top-down). When EDI was evaluated for this quality a couple years ago it did very well. Board members and staff should be encouraged not to be argumentative, but to simply acknowledge hearing the problem unless the person complaining becomes abusive, then it becomes a different matter.
SECRETARY’S REPORT
Announcements
1) Bicycle Center Transportation Commission on Fifth
Matt Nickels Principal Transportation Planner
2) Personally tried 2 different private van companies as alternatives to East Bay Transit and would like the board and others to know that one only runs to 11 pm on weekdays and no weekend evenings and is primarily for medical appointments and the second runs only to 6 pm, so there are serious limitations to these services.
3) There is a new kosher restaurant in town at 2132 Center Street called Rafael’s; it is an Italian dairy and has available food to go.
JESSE:
1) Announced his regrets at leaving the board for other commitments; he had a wonderful time and enjoyed helping to solve complex problems.
2) Since he is no longer an EDI board member he is now able to fully participate on the Disaster Council as an advocate for disabled disaster planning.
3) This Saturday from 1-4 at Truit & White there will be a Disaster Council Exhibition.
JONAH:
Expressed his thanks to Dina for taking the minutes for the past year.
REVIEW OF MINUTES
MOTION: To pass the August 28th minutes
SECOND: DINA
Motion Passes.
MOTION: DINA to approve September minutes with correction (list votes and names of voters) SECOND: JONAH
Motion Passes.
MOTION: DINA
To accept October 9th minutes with correction. Correction for Oct. 9th (Louis Stiller, new board member, voted no, not aye, on 2nd resolution)
SECOND: JONAH
Motion Passes.
AGENDA
Statement regarding running for Board President…
HALE: “When Peter asked me to run, unfortunately I could not disagree. I have been involved in personal assistant care for about 30 years and I have served on the boards of several non-profits and, among other things, have dealt with many budgets. Lastly: I call them as I see them. Thank you.”
JONAH: MOTION to go into Executive Session
WINSTON: SECONDs
Motion Passes.
ACTION: ELECTION OF OFFICERS
PETER: MOTION Hale will be President
JONAH: SECONDs
Motion Passes.
LESLIE: MOTION Peter will be vice-president
JONAH: SECONDS
Motion Passes.
MOTION: PETER Nominates Chris for Treasurer
CHRIS: accepts JONAH: SECONDS
Motion Passes.
SECRETARY CANDIDATES: DINA AND JONAH
SECRET VOTE: JONAH – Jonah 5 /Dina 4 - one abstention
PETER: I’d like to express appreciation for Jesse’s (good work).
CALENDAR
MOTION: JONAH to change the November meeting to Monday the 17th.
SECOND: WINSTON
Motion Passes.
MOTION: JONAH to change the December meeting to Monday the 15th
SECOND: DINA
Motion Passes.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT Please see President’s Report attachment…
PETER: The hardest thing for me, as President, was playing a double role in terms of supporting the Executive Director and evaluating as a member of the board. In the future I think that the board should consider allowing the President to abstain from participating in this evaluation. I believe that it is difficult to do both. I need to emphasize that the decision to part ways with Felix was not an executive decision. I was advised by Doug to send a letter with specifics regarding firing. The decision regarding whether or not to pay Felix through November although his last day will be October 31st will need to be on the next meeting’s agenda.
CHARLIE: We should begin the letter by thanking him for what he has done well and hopefully he will be able to recognize what he was not able to accomplish and that we were not harmonious.
PETER: We need to correct the impression that issues regarding invasive care were the reason for his (Felix’s) termination and we need to legally protect the organization. We need a new chair for the fundraising committee and at the next meeting to elect two people for the executive committee.
MOTION: DINA to adjourn
SECOND: JONAH
Motion Passes.