Minutes of the EDIDA Board Meeting
4/27/06 (April)

Board Attendees: Jonah, Winston, Leslie, John, Charles, Aydan, Blane

Other Attendees: Rose and Gina, EDIDA Co-Executive Directors, Don (Voicer for Winston and Minute taker), Emily (assistant to Leslie)

Charles began the meeting at 6:50 P.M.

Public Comment

Charles has been working with health professionals that are amazed that EDI exists.

Jonah attended the Commission on Labor workshop on workplace bullying.

Gina attended the 37th anniversary of People's Park. There were a few disabled attendees.

Approval of Minutes from March 23rd

Jonah moved to approve, Leslie seconded, and the minutes were approved without objection.

Blane was introduced to the Board as its newest member. He said he was glad to be part of the Board and that he would help where he could.

President's Report

Leslie noted that she had e-mailed her report to the Board. She said that the Executive Directors' duty lists had been approved. She said that a copy of the motion that had been approved regarding keeping the EDs in their respective jobs as long as their performance was satisfactory was to be put in the EDs' files. Don was to send the exact wording of the motion to Leslie. Leslie stated that a rumor that involved a Board member and an ex-Board member working to support another bidder for the City of Berkeley (COB) contract had been denied by both.

Executive Directors' Report

One female attendant was hired.

There were 334 attendant calls, 40 on-demand response calls, 95 transportation calls, and 5 repair calls in March.
There were no client complaints.

Aflac signed up new staff at the last staff meeting.

The EDs met with a KPFA reporter and were interviewed about EDI's Emergency Response Program. They received lots of positive feedback from the community.

EDI received $4000 from the Weinberg Foundation.

The RFP for the next four years is being worked on and copies are available from the office. The EDs are having the first of many meetings with the grant writer.

The SUS Committee and the EDs are drafting a Client Handbook.

The Executive Committee met and worked on the RFP. Mark, Leslie, Gina and Rose attended. (It was noted that Charles and Hale were also on the Executive Committee.)

The finances for the fiscal year are OK and indicate roughly a $9000 surplus. The EDs have put $4000 of this surplus in next year's budget toward an organizational consultant position.

The ED's passed out a prospective budget for the 06-07 fiscal year. The Service Coordinator position was to be moved to four 10-hour days instead of five 8-hour days, allowing for the elimination of the 6:00-8:00 A.M. dispatcher position. They have determined that they will be able to fund an Outreach and Development Coordinator at 22 hours a week. On-call hours are to be increased by five per day. Jonah moved to defer approval of the budget to the Executive Committee. Leslie seconded, and the motion passed without opposition.

Leslie said that she had, as had others, received a letter from a staff member opposed to hiring an Outreach and Development Coordinator, but that she thought it was a good idea. Rose and Gina defended the idea of adding this person. Jonah said he was glad they were trying this. Charles asked everyone to comment on the idea. Leslie said that she was in full support but suggested that the EDs needed to educate the staff as to the need for this position. John said that the Executive Committee would look at the budget and determine if it was OK. Blane said that he liked the idea of having an expert in the field, and said that the e-mail in opposition did not have good details. Winston asked if the position would be partially self-funding, but was discouraged from looking at it that way and was told that it would be a learning curve for everyone. Charles said that the consensus was it was a good idea and told the Board that they needed to give the person time to show results.

Approval of Agenda
Jonah moved, Charles seconded, and a motion to approve the Agenda was passed unanimously.

Action and Discussion:

A. Sabrina Klein regarding workshops

Charles said that Sabrina had been unable to come, but had sent some materials for the Board, which he passed out, including a self-assessment for the Board. Sabrina will come to the May Board meeting to follow up on the results. She also sent six potential dates for the Board retreat. Discussion followed as to the best date, and it was determined that Sunday, June 18th would be the best for the most Board members. The decision of where to hold the retreat was narrowed to the North Berkeley Senior Center or to Leslie's community room.

[Gina said that Mark had called and that he was out sick.]

B. Update on transportation

The EDs informed the Board that the transportation co-pay had been reduced to $6.00 in the new budget for the next fiscal year.

C. Update on expanding the Case Manager position

The Board was informed that the position was being left at 12 ½ hours per month in the proposed budget.

D. Term Limits

Charles gave Board members a handout on the issue and asked that it be on the Agenda for the next meeting.

E. Co-Executive Directors Annual Review

Leslie and Charles will work a Review letter to be put in the EDs' files. There had been a solicitation for staff feedback a couple of meetings ago and Leslie had received a few responses.

F. Habitual User Policy

Jonah moved to approve the Habitual User Policy and Winston seconded, but a vote was not taken after discussion. The discussion was that there used to be a high use fee, but the fees were not being paid, so the practice was ended. Don said that the policy as proposed would be ineffective. He suggested that perhaps a client could be banned from calling for service on the same shift more than a limited number of times in a row. Gina, Rose, and Leslie said they would work on it. Blane said the policy needs teeth and enforcement. Blane will join the SUS Committee for their next meeting. The issue will be on next month's Agenda.

G. Dispatcher Policy

Rose said she had nothing yet and asked that the item be on next month's Agenda.

Secretary's Report

Winston said that there was nothing new but he would like to see the Executive Session minutes contain more detail and have a time limit as to how long they will be kept. The policy of keeping Executive Session minutes in a sealed envelope in the office indefinitely was discussed and Charles said that he would research what should happen to Executive Session minutes.

Treasurer's Report

Hale was not present. Charles said that he was upset that EDI was paying $405 per hour for their lawyer and that he wanted a search committee to look for a disabled lawyer. Blane said that he would make a few calls and the item was to be added to the next month's Agenda. Winston suggested that DRA on Center Street might be a good resource.

SUS Committee

They mailed a certified letter to a client that owes EDI money and they are working on outstanding invoices.

Invasive Care Committee

John said that Jonah and he were unsure who was Chair of the Committee. He said that he is concerned that Dare to Dream and Rapid Response, who are bidding against EDI for the new COB contract, have an RN on call to do invasive care. Rose said that she is not sure Berkeley would want to add medical services to EDI and that the RFP does not mention invasive care. Rose said they should meet with COB staff and see how the City feels about it. Blane said that Rapid Response has not been responsive to their other commitments. Leslie empowered John to call a meeting of the Committee. Winston moved, Blane seconded, and it passed unanimously to have John call an Invasive Care Committee meeting.

By-Law Modification Committee

Charles suggested that the Board run ideas off Sabrina during their upcoming interactions.

Consultant Search Committee

Consultant search was mentioned as one more possible task for Belinda Stradley.

Winston moved, Blane seconded, and it was passed unanimously to adjourn.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:12 P.M.