Orange County Disability Advisory Board Meeting Minutes of February 11, 2008 The February 11, 2008 meeting of the Orange County Disability Advisory Board was called to order at 11:00 a.m. at the Supervisor of Elections Office, 119 E. Kaley Street, Orlando, Florida. Mark Kirkham led the pledge of allegiance. Vice Chairman Louis Fazio opened the meeting in the absence of Board Chairperson, Theresa Madison. Louis welcomed all attendees and stated that the board is in transition with two new board members being added within the next 30 days. Roll call was taken by Phyllis Coombs. A quorum was not present for an advisory board meeting to be held. An informational meeting was provided to those in attendance. Board members present included: Louis Fazio, Jr., Board vice Chair; Michelle Rivers, and Mark Kirkham. Louis advised that the board is down two board members meaning that a minimum of five board members must be present to conduct a business meeting. Board members absent: Theresa Madison and Jose Fernandez. Jose Fernandez later joined the meeting at 11:30am. County Staff Present Phyllis Coombs, Executive Assistant to Ella J. Gilmore Samme Ripley, Staff Liaison to the Board/ADA Program Manager Guests Present Bill Cowles, Orange County Supervisor of Elections Lucy Melendez, Community Outreach Coordinator, Supervisor of Elections Bill Hearndon, Para transit Operations Manager - LYNX Community Advisors Present Jeff Coleman, Agency for Persons with Disabilities Doug Davis, Center for Independent Living Dwight Sayer, Lighthouse Central Florida Bill Hearndon - LYNX Jorge Garcia/Joe Temples – MV Transit (Para transit, ACCESS LYNX) Cheryl Stone – Consultant, MetroplanOrlando, FL Commission on Disabilities, FL TD Commission Paul Odham – Orange County Public Schools Freda Mays/Kirsten Barrett – Workforce Central Florida Public Attendees Chuck Graham Nikki Hugues Shelly Justice Bob Larsen Jeffrey Priest Susan Priest Richard Wilkerson
1
Presentation by Bill Cowles, Orange County Supervisor of Elections Voting Equipment Update The Supervisor of Elections stated that it was the Governor that made the decision to discontinue using touch screen machines as the primary voting system in Florida. Fifteen counties in Florida currently use the touch screen as the sole method of voting at the polling place and at early voting sites per ADA requirements based on the federal law. Therefore, during the Presidential Preferential Primary those counties were allowed to use the machines, however, at the Primary in August and at the November General Election touch screens will no longer be used as the sole method for early voting. At these elections in the fall, counties will use the optical scan method with the paper ballot with one touch screen ADA unit as required. For Orange County at 2008 elections, there will be a paper ballot which voters will mark and put through the optical scan machine and there will be one ADA unit at each polling place. There is now a concern in the disability community that touch screens are only good through 2010 per the ADA requirement, however, there are no options or solutions. Legislators are trying to figure out what is next. The original intent was to use the Automark equipment as a replacement to the touch screen but Automark has changed ownership and the company that had owned Automark had an exclusive three year marketing agreement which has expired and they had begun working with vendors to get all equipment certified. With ESS (Election Systems and Software) as the new owner, Orange County will use the paper ballot at the polling place and one touch screen. A problem was created when vendors sold a new product very cheaply and the vendors stated that they no longer would support the hardware and software on the old equipment (optical scanner) so Orange County and six other counties had to buy the new optical scan system. One last point mentioned was that the new paper ballot will look different to voters, except those who voted by absentee ballot during the January 29 elections. The new paper ballot will use ovals as the voter’s marking instead of the arrow. At this point, board member, Jose Fernandez joined the meeting (11:30a.m.) Presidential Preference Primary Update Mr. Cowles mentioned that there was some confusion by voters about Florida’s closed primary. People had called his office asking if they needed to vote when the February primary elections were going on in other states. He explained that in Orange County, city elections, county commission seats, school board and judges elections are all nonpartisan so it is rare that a voter has to ask which party affiliation am I. Most people will vote in the November elections when party affiliations don’t matter. He also mentioned that for the August 26 Primary Election language will be added so that voter’s understand why it is a closed primary. Coming up in February elections will be held for the Winter Garden mayoral race, a run off election Orlando’s District 2, and a General Election for House District 32.
2
Seven percent of the voters in Orange County took advantage of absentee voting. Absentee voting is being encouraged. In Orange County, early voting is conducted at the Supervisor of Elections office and at the early voting sites (city halls and libraries). The Presidential Preference Primary is the selection process for the National Democratic and National Republican Party super delegate selection process. They set the rules and the rule states that no state can go before February 5 other than Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada. The Florida Legislature Republican Majority moved the election to January 29. An agreement was signed that candidates would not come to Florida; if they did they would lose funding. A full discussion followed. Questions asked included: Super delegate votes Problems encountered at the polls requiring voter’s assistance. An individual with a disability who could not reach the “vote” button required assistance from a poll worker to push the button and the procedures that are required to be followed. Machines can be disconnected and moved by the poll worker for this purpose. Misinformation about the paper ballot process Who can use the touch screen: all or only people with disabilities Headsets were inoperable; audio was not working Is there an expert at each polling place Absentee voting Accountability of touch screen machines and Ear piece covers for the touch screen machines. People can use their own ear pieces or bring along their own ear piece covers to vote on the touch screens. Board Member Community Reports Louis Fazio commented that he had attended the Interagency Life After High School Forum the evening of January 24 mentioning that Samme Ripley lends her time and support for this event which is a great opportunity for special needs youths to take advantage of the resources available to them and their parents as they begin their challenge to attend post secondary school or live independently in the community. Jose Fernandez reported that as an advisory board it has limited capabilities stating that participation is an honest effort by the Disability Advisory Board to help the disability community. Louis Fazio mentioned that feedback is needed and everyone should speak with one voice to be heard by the legislators. Mark Kirkham stated that he will continue to work with the board on assembling the views for legislative presentation. Michele Rivers reported that she had attended the Lake Sybelia Elementary School Fundraiser to purchase a walker for a student in need. ADA Report Samme Ripley provided the following event opportunities: February 16, Canine Companions will hold an assistance animal graduation 3
February 23 is a Homeowner’s Opportunities and Foreclosure Prevention Workshop at the Plaza Theatre on Bumby February 22 is the next ad hoc Voter’s Partnership Committee Meeting February 29 is the next ad hoc Legislative Committee Meeting March 6 is the scheduling date for TD Day in Tallahassee March 18 will be Developmental Disability Day in Tallahassee Announced EITC tax preparer dates for Orange County also providing a schedule of other disability organizations who are participating this year in EITC Announced that a copy of the February ADA Report has been transmitted Announced the dates of local disability organization meetings Announced that two new board members have been selected but still require the approval of the MMRB and BCC Announced that the Disability Advisory Board Resolution is up for Sunset and a meeting has been scheduled with the MMRB
Advisor Reports Jeff Coleman, Agency for Persons with Disabilities announced that he is hoping that the Governor’s budget will be good for the agency. There will be some negative reports forthcoming on the Medicaid waiver program. He stated that many cuts are the result of the federal cuts which reduce state funding. He also added that staff has been hired and trained to conduct the new APD consumer assessment tool. This assessment tool will determine the supports and services that consumers need. Assessing all consumers will be a long arduous process and the agency is starting with the consumers in residential group homes. Doug Davis, Outreach Director, Center for Independent Living reported he is doing a lot of outreach by speaking at organization events in his new role for the center and he is trying to become more involved within the business aspect of Central Florida such as the Business Advisory Council Breakfast on the 19th. The breakfast meeting is open to all businesses and agencies. Also the CIL fundraiser, RAMPAGE, is underway through November 2008. This program provides ramps for persons with special needs. Other projects underway by CIL include: Emergency Preparedness Conference sponsored by the Office of Emergency Management for Persons with Disabilities chaired by Dan Ryan in June, a Consumers Forum in July and the Corporate 5K at which CIL will provide a run/walk team. Dwight Sayer, Lighthouse Central Florida, stated the Sight and Sole Walk is being held at Crane’s Roost on March 29. Call 407-898-2483. Lighthouse has also just completed the Tactile Garden and new renovations at 215 E. New Hampshire Avenue. Everyone is invited to participate. Joe Temples, MV Transit, reported that he is representing Russell Brashear who could not be in attendance. He introduced the new assistant General Manager for MV Transit, Jorge Garcia. The new building location will open soon and announced that no public meetings will be held there but the internal operations will be moving their offices to this location. Also, the on line trip planner is now available for use. 4
Cheryl Stone, consultant for MetroplanOrlando and a LCD board member stated: Local Coordinating Board meeting will be held at Metroplan Orlando on February 14. Discussion at this meeting will surround the board’s responsibilities for doing an evaluation of the local CTC (community transportation coordinator) AHCA is rethinking managed care. AHCA will extend the TD Commission’s contract to September and replace some of the money that had been previously removed. Money should come in around the 21st. Commission is supporting the transportation commission revision bill, SB788 Announced that the 2008 Legislative Session begins the first week in March when budgets will be presented The Commission on Disabilities will meet in Tallahassee next week and perhaps once a month in Tallahassee to complete the objectives addressed by the Governor for people with disabilities (assistance at gas stations, accessible parking, reviewing how monies originating from handicapped parking violations can be used to set up programs for people with disabilities, looking at accessible taxis and hotel/airport shuttles for people using wheelchairs, also, a state ID to be used by consumers and maybe a voucher system implemented as well) Paul Odham, Transition Specialist – Orange County Public Schools, reported: He had heard from a teacher who had received free dental services that were provided in the area recently Announced that the Transition Department will meet at the State Convention this week and he will provide a presentation on post secondary opportunities for special needs students which will also address the soft skills that young people need to develop to gain employment He also mentioned that the Bureau of Labor Statistics recently published showed the top ten occupational groups and seven of them do not require college degrees. Of the top 30 growing occupations, 70% do not require college degrees Freda Mays, Workforce Central Florida reported that a job fair would be held at the Orange County Workforce Center and not at the Blossom Trail location as previously reported in the January minutes. A Job Developers Network Meeting will be held on February 26 at the Orange County Workforce Center. The meeting is open to all businesses, workforce staff and agencies. She then introduced the new navigation specialist, Kirsten Barrett. Public Comments Susan Priest queried regarding the Medicaid discontinuance of services for students with disabilities. Cheryl Stone and Jeff Coleman advised they would assist her with regard to these transportation services. Dwight Sayer stated that the National Federation of the Blind is offering scholarships for blind and visually impaired students graduating from high schools planning to attend
5
college. The scholarships will be presented in May at the Faith Convention. Scholarships will be presented in the amounts of $1,750, $1,500 and four, $1,000 scholarships. Applications are on line at www.nfbfl.org or contact the Division of Blind Services. Nikki Hugues stated that the FL Council of the Blind has scholarships for blind and visually impaired students from the local chapter. Applications are available at www.fcb.org. Chuck Graham inquired about the accessibility of the new MV Transit location as he likes to drop off his eligibility paperwork. Chuck was informed that he can drop off his paperwork at the main LYNX location on Garland Street. The new location is not for public access but for internal operations. All public meetings will continue to be held at the main LYNX location. The next meeting of the DAB is scheduled for March 17, 2008 at Marks Street unless otherwise notified. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 1pm.
6