Easy Does It Disability Assistance Services
Board Meeting Minutes for Thursday, March 26th, 2004

ROLL CALL: Charles Pappas, Chris Hess – Treasurer, Dina Valicenti, Hale Zukas – President, Jonah Markowitz – Secretary, Peter Trier, Winston Ching

Public: Susan Brown – note taker, Karla Thompson – interpreter

Executive Directors: Rose Acampora, Gina Sasso

PUBLIC COMMENT
JONAH: April 5th is the 35th Anniversary of People’s Park in Berkeley, and they have gardening every Sunday.

EXECUTIVE REPORT
ROSE: We have an oral presentation due on April 12th.
SUS = Ayanna

MINUTES

(January 29th 2004)
Changes: ED’s Report (gained Stephanie May and lost Amber)

JONAH: MOTION: to approve minutes
PETER: SECONDS
Motion Passes.

Expenses: 825,707.00

PETER: Budget Discussion: Chris and Rose wrote a draft proposal. 125,000 in the red. I would like to authorize Hale and the EDs to approve a final draft.
Issues:
1) Raise fees from 6 to 12$
2) Projected less transportation hours
3) Salaries to remain constant
4) Possiblity of lay-offs (managers)
5) Co-pay to stay constant
6) Addressing a sizable increase in worker’s comp (this will be addressed, but will still be a large increase)
7) Increase in medical plan coverage
8) 9 to 5 hours (people might have to wait longer for assistant care due to transportation overlap)

EDI is required to provide emergency transportation and attendant care. We’re most concerned about preventing a situation where somebody is stranded; we may provide limited wheelchair repair if insurance permits, by designated personnel. In other words someone may have to wait for an attendant providing transportation. It should not be routine transportation.

LOUIS: There is a rumor again that Berkeley might be getting some wheelchair taxis. Possibly by May 1st, but we’ve heard that before.

Measure B:
Kimberly Willis Starbuck, our contract manager
We will continue to honor ‘free three’ tickets. Berkeley paratransit tickets. Give three per quarter.

GINA: We get a lot - I can get a tally.
EDI Emergency vouchers will stay the same.

PETER: MOTION: to authorize the President to agree on and submit a final proposal to the City of Berkeley.
JONAH: SECONDS
Motion Passes.

PETER: There will be a meeting at my house, 1pm Saturday.

PETER: MOTION: to authorize the President to pay up to 6,000 for Gina and Rose until the end of April and to vow that a contract will be prepared by the next board meeting.
LOUIS: SECONDS
Motion Passes.

JONAH: MOTION: to leave executive session
DINA: SECONDS
Motion Passes.

DINA: MOTION: to approve agenda
JONAH: SECONDS
Motion Passes.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

HALE: We have retained JS as our insurance broker.

GINA: In seven working days he will start working on our contracts.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS’ REPORT
GINA: We’ve had a problem with dispatchers not picking up right away, sometimes a client waited 10 minutes. We have put out a memo on the problem and are working on the situation. It may involve disciplinary action.

The RFP is in progress, due April 1st, there is still time for feedback.

HALE: This RFP is similar to the last one – they may not think much though went into it.

CHRIS: Did Kimberly give any feedback.

GINA: We kept close to the original language with accurate information and a few additional changes.

PETER: I’m more concerned about them getting what they asked for.

ROSE/GINA: So our understanding is that this will be between the org. and the client, not involving the attendants, unless they so wish.
We have a staff mtg. on March 15th and will have a guest speaker on Managing Stress and Taking Care of Yourself. His name is Bill, he is the Education Specialist at Family Caregivers Alliance in SF. It is easy to get burnt out; the talk will address stress and also depression picked up from environments/situations with clients.

EXECUTIVE SEARCH COMMITTEE
JONAH: MOTION: to authorize the President to pay up to 6,000 in salary to Rose and Gina while the Board is finalizing a contract.
PETER: SECONDS
Motion Passes.
ROSE/GINA: We took all the job duties from Felix’s contract and divided those up.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORT
PETER: We need to have a meeting this month to talk about the contract.
ROSE: As far as fingerprinting, the compliance date for NAIC is April 4th, should be done by then. It is a pretty extensive criminal history. Jeff and Natasha say that this may be negotiated. Dep. of Justice will review: serious crimes, theft, drugs, and violent/sexual crimes. It means we’ll need to terminate someone if anything shows up.
JONAH: Doug felt we should have this coverage.
PETER: Staff should be kept informed.
ROSE: It is also ongoing, anything new will be reported and you have to send a specific termination form to discontinue the info.
PETER: Let’s have an Executive Committee mtg. on Tues. March 16th, day before St. Patrick’s Day.
SUS REPORT
GINA: One client had financial and mental difficulty – some bounced checks…it was resolved with her sending 10$ a month until paid off. One person had extra calls this month, approved by SUS. I will continue to call before a client reaches their limit to see if they want to go before SUS.
PETER: As a committee we don’t like to refuse clients – but as an agency we have to maintain staff and this means they need a certain level of freedom to refuse to work with a client. (see earlier conversation)
GINA: When we notice a pattern we try to say – is there a problem here – to prevent staff burnout on the client.
INVASIVE CARE COMMITTEE
JONAH: We have worked hard to get this bill reintroduced on Loni’s agenda. I feel we were made to jump through a lot of red tape. No guarantees, but the struggle continues.
PETER: Make clear the support we have from the city is very helpful. Part of the language makes me cringe – “paramedical service” - I don’t think attendants are. We need to explain that our interests are for all CA disabled, not just for EDI. Trying to amend a law vs. new legislation is a dilemma. It will specify training Employment Opportunities and perhaps that will satisfy insurance.
BOARD RECRUITMENT
PETER: The Pres. Can appoint somebody to work on this.
JONAH: We need at least one or two more members, we are down to nine.
PETER: Up to two staff members can be on the board with votes, or one staff representative without voting rights. Clients are welcome as well. Pls. talk to Hale before taking action.
EDI NEWSLETTER
GINA: I think it should be quarterly
Committee: Charlie will be the chair, Dina layout, Susan editor, Karyn and Jonah.

DINA: MOTION: to adjourn
JONAH: SECONDS
Motion Passes.