Committee on Disability & Employment

May 2, 2018: 9:00 AM
Frances Perkins rm, 45 Commerce Dr, Augusta

State Workforce Board COMMISSION ON DISABILITY AND EMPLOYMENT May 2, 2018 9:00 AM ? 12:00 PM Central Maine Commerce Center 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta Frances Perkins Room Call in: 877-455-0244, Conference code: 9218175360 AGENDA 9:00 Welcome, Review/approve March meeting?s minutes 9:15 Review / discuss CDE Draft plan for 2018/2019 9:45 Review / update CDE Bylaws 10:15 Break 10:30 Discussion: State Agencies? Response to Legislators? Request for EFM follow-up Areas not addressed? Strategies to continue focus on topic. 12:00 Adjourn Next Meeting: July 18, 2018 9:00 ? 12:00 Central Maine Commerce Center Frances Perkins Room CDE Strategic Plan 2018-2019 DRAFT Governance Update bylaws Membership Identify role gaps in voting membership Request participation by ex-officio members from State Government Add five new members by December 2018 Purpose 1. Develop and implement strategy to monitor and report out on state agency progress in addressing recommendations of the CDE and EFM to the executive and legislative branches. a. Invite each agency to CDE Meeting to share information with members i. July ? DHHS (SAMHS, OADS, OFI) ii. September ? DOL (BES, BRS, WIOA providers) iii. November ? DOE b. Develop analysis/findings from presentations c. Request audience with appropriate executive/legislative bodies to present findings. 2. Collaborate / partner with other advisory bodies to develop coordinated effort to advance the employment of Mainers with disabilities to include strategy regarding societal and cultural barriers.

COMMITTEE ON DISABILITY & EMPLOYMENT MEETING

05/02/18

Present: Jennifer Kimble (Chair), Donald Rice, Jeanie Coltart, Karen Fraser, Gayla Dwyer, Mel Clarrage (Phone)

Absent: Rachel Dyer, Peaches Bass

Staff: Garret Oswald, Joshua Howe, Cheryl Moran

Welcome, Review/approve March meeting’s minutes Jennifer Kimble opened the regular meeting at 9:02am with welcomes and introductions and called motion to approve the 03/21/18 meeting minutes. Donald Rice motioned. Jeanie Coltart seconded. Minutes approved as written.

Jennifer stated she will follow-up with Senator Amy Volk about the meeting on July 18. Jeanie stated that she feels the committee needs to be more politically active even though we are an advisory committee. She suggested to meet with the new Governor and suggest to hire a new aide that is familiar with People with Disabilities (PWD) to help guide the new Governor. We need to be more progressive. Jennifer, following up with Jeanie stated let’s look at the Bylaws and see what flexibility we have. Garret Oswald asked, do we have a Quorum (referring to the Bylaws)? State this for the record because we have 5 members here. Jennifer stated they have a Quorum. She asked, all in favor? Oppose? Abstain? All in favor.

Review/discuss CDE Draft plan for 2018/2019 Jennifer apologized for not getting the CDE Draft plan for 2018/2019 out sooner. She stated based on their last conversation one of the goals is to target adding 5 new members by the end of this calendar year. Jeanie mentioned that Jennifer also spoke at the State Workforce Board (SWB) meeting on membership. Jennifer stated that she put out a plea in support from Fred Webber the SWB Chair. She pointed out that DHHS was not at the table however; DOT stated that they want to be at the table – we should follow-up. Jennifer asked Garret if they should go directly to the Commissioners? Garret responded, we can go directly to whom fills in for the Commissioner. Donald stated that he knows of 2 people in Washington County that might be interested. Gayla Dwyer mentioned that she also knows of 2 people that might be interested. Referring to the back of the agenda the CDE Draft plan for 2018/2019 she asked, overall, does everything on this piece of paper make sense? Everyone responded yes.
Purpose: 1) a. Invite each agency to CDE Meeting to share information with members - i. July – DHHS; Jennifer stated she heard back from Developmental Services stating they can attend the July meeting. Garret stated this can come from us and does not need to go through the SWB. Purpose: 2) Collaborate/partner – Jennifer stated they did some of this with the 5 Council meetings. Garret stated that this has gone to the wayside. Jennifer stated this is hard to sustain when you have different administrations. Joshua Howe asked is there a way to align these meetings because they have the same representation? Jennifer aske Mel Clarrage to speak about the 5 Councils and how they got going. Mel then stated that he drove the idea of pulling the groups together. One representation that is lacking on these councils are People with Disabilities (PWD). The reality is that people have heavy workloads and may be contracted to the state. There’s no really that independent voice. Jennifer stated that she feels it’s hard with just volunteers. As we get more vocal, it’s more realistic of going forward. Jeanie expressed again that she would like to form a committee to work with the new Governor. Jennifer responded to Jeanie’s suggestion by stating it’s limited to what we can do as a volunteer committee. Mel recommended to create a part-time position like they did back in the 1980’s. Joshua asked what did that position do? Mel answered the position was funded through Bureau of Rehabilitation Services (BRS) back then.
Garret stated to articulate the work plan and have it very concise. He strongly stated that he is perfectly willing to take all the hits if it’s coming from the change and is incorporated in the plan. Garret asked should we talk to Senator Amy Volk about this and look at the exception clause in the Law? If someone has a disagreement, they can go to the Legislature and change the Statute. Should we also invite Representative Ryan Fecteau? Cheryl Moran stated that we need someone from this committee to attend a SWB meeting and report an update on what’s happening. Jennifer agreed because this is a workforce issue. She stated she will invite both Senator Volk and Representative Fecteau to the July meeting. Garret stated identify those groups #2, Title 26 (SRC) DBVI). Jennifer stated they are focused on VR services (SRC) (DBVI). Garret stated he is the least knowledgeable at the SRC meeting therefore, he is the least effective as of right now. Mel stated in the past, the balk of the Chairs’ meeting focused around Legislative issues. Joshua pointed out that no one is responsible for coordinating them. That’s the issue! Gayla mentioned an article she read called “#stopactingweird”. We are saying equal/equal but sending mixed messages. She stated she will forward the article to Cheryl Moran. She also suggested to invite Renee Doble, Economic Development Specialist, City of Brewer. Jennifer stated we need to find a way to bridge this. Joshua stated this committee fits directly into the State Unified Plan. Garret then pointed out that Veterans are the flavor of the day right now.
Jennifer – PWD are perceived of not having skills or education as Veterans are. Garret stated we need to promote the message of awareness without getting ourselves into trouble.
Jennifer Kimble called motion to vote on the CDE Strategic Plan 2018-2019 draft making changes. Donald Rice motioned. Jeanie Coltart seconded. Motioned carried. Jennifer stated on #2 she will add ‘identify groups in which we should collaborate” and expand #2 “to focus on employer efforts”. Garret - additions suggested: identify funding opportunities to pursue; and identify a resource from the BLN going forward.

Review/update CDE Bylaws Jennifer stated how they had a previous conversation regarding the 2 documents in front of them; the Statute under Title 26 and the CDE Bylaws.
Jennifer pointed out that the language in the Bylaws is very close or is the exact language that is in the Statute. What will come out, is what is no longer in the Statute. She stated that she would like to invite Ginny Carroll from BES to future meetings to discuss about the Policy Committee before we make any changes. Garret stated that the Policy Committee have met only a couple times.
Jennifer stated they first should confirm what is in the Statute and cannot change. Also, she stated, everything that is in the Statute has been corrected in the Bylaws. Garret stated we will start enforcing (terms) because this is what we were not doing. He stated other committees do not have Statutory commitments. Three years would be a nice number – same as the SWB. Everyone agreed. He pointed out that it would be nice to have a standardize form on commitment and benefits that new members can bring.

Discussion: State Agencies’ Response to Legislators’ for EFM follow-up areas not addressed? Strategies to continue focus on topic. Jennifer asked committee members if everyone had a chance to read and compare what she wanted to happen? Her goal is to have this conversation and to bring Senator Amy Volk to the table. Garret suggested to also invite Representative Ryan Fecteau because he was also involved. Due to time constraints, the committee was not able to finish this discussion. Will continue at the next meeting.

Adjourn Jennifer Kimble called motion to adjourn. Donald Rice motioned. Gayla Dwyer seconded. Meeting adjourned at 12:05pm.

Next meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 18 from 9am – Noon in the Frances Perkins room, CMCC Augusta.

Respectfully submitted by Cheryl Moran

Attendance Jennifer Kimble Attended
Mel Clarrage Phone
Donald Rice Attended
Jeanie Coltart Attended
Karen Fraser Attended
Gayla Dwyer Attended
Rachel Dyer Excused
Peaches Bass Excused

Attachments