[nfbmi-talk] open questions and observations

[joe harcz Comcast]

August 28, 2010

 

A point of public information here for the record:

 

Today, August 28, 2010 at approximately 10:30 a.m. I went to the Michigan Commission for the Blind web site. I accessed the link and agenda for yesterday’s MCB quarterly board meting with url and main body posted from my signature line.

 

Now, I note that the agenda item referring to a closed session to discuss a potential settlement of the Hill, et al v. MCB, et al was apparently removed from the agenda.

 

There was no public notification as to why this was done.

 

Now, certainly the chair and the board can amend the agenda. I have no quibbles  with that at all.

 

Just putting this out as a documentation of events and postings to the MCB web site.

 

Regardless, it does appear that MCB has been involved in some heavy litigation since January. That is born out by the fact that at the budget meeting of August 26 Ms. Zanger clearly denoted that during this fiscal year MCB has already expended $80,000 to the Michigan Attorney general’s office pursuant to their interagency agreement.

 

As an open question do these expendatures wihch all said were extraordinary and subsequent settlements  take away from services to MCB consumers?

 

Sincerely,

 

Joe Harcz

 

Attachment:

http://www.michigan.gov/dleg/0,1607,7-154-28077_28313_34884-242259--,00.html

 

http://www.michigan.gov/dleg/0,1607,7-154-28077_28313_34884-242259--,00.html

 

 

 

 

August 27, 2010, Meeting of the MCB Board

 

MICHIGAN COMMISSION FOR THE BLIND

FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 2010

VICTOR CENTER BUILDING, 3rd FLOOR

CONFERENCE ROOM A/B

201 N. WASHINGTON SQUARE

LANSING, MICHIGAN

9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

 

Live audio streaming of the meeting will be available online  at approximately  9:00 am at the MCB Web site at

www.michigan.gov/mcb

 

To listen to the Commission meeting over the telephone dial:

 

1-916-233-0780 or toll free 1-888-296-6828

 

Passcode:         847670# (required for both call in numbers)

 

Please note new public comment email address listed below

 

AGENDA

 

             I.      Committee of the Whole

Block quote start

 

·         Commissioner Updates

 

·         RSA Final Monitoring report

 

·         Follow up from previous meeting

Block quote start

 

o        Blindness Training Planning Committee

Block quote end

 

·         Other

Block quote end

 

Break

 

REGULAR MEETING

 

          II.      Call to Order, Roll Call, and Determination of Quorum -

          Ms. Jo Ann Pilarski, Chairperson

 

       III.      Approval of June 18, 2010 Meeting Minutes - MCB Board

 

      IV.      Approval of July 20, 2010 Special Meeting Minutes - MCB Board

 

         V.      Board Correspondence

 

      VI.      PUBLIC COMMENT*

 

   VII.      COLLEGE POLICY REVIEW & APPROVAL

 

VIII.        ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS

Block quote start

 

Director Pat Cannon, Director's Report

 

Leamon Jones, Consumer Services Director

 

o        State Plan

 

o        Standards & Indicators explanation

Block quote end

 

LUNCH:      The Commission Board for the Michigan Commission for the Blind calls for a closed session to discuss the potential settlement of a case currently

in litigation: Hill, et al v MCB, et al.  The closed session is necessary to discuss the merits of settlement and to ensure that confidential and protected

discussions are not made public and available to opposing parties.  This closed session is authorized by MCL 15.268(e).  A 2/3 vote of the board is necessary

to go into closed session pursuant to MCL 15.267(1).

 

(Note: Lunch provided to Commissioners and presenters identified on the agenda)

 

      IX.      PUBLIC COMMENT

 

         X.      Elected Operators Committee Report - Mr. James Chaney, Chair

Block quote start

 

·         Motion #1:  To have a one day Highway Vending conference in September to meet with MDOT to re-evaluate EOC's highway contract.  (No Board Action

Necessary)

 

·         Motion #2:  The Highway Vending meeting should be handled like the Annual Workshop (Board Action Required)

 

·         Motion #3:  Mandatory meeting points will not be awarded  for the Highway Vending meeting (Board Action Required)

 

·         Motion #4:  Whomever the Sault Ste. Marie Coast Guard facility is awarded to agrees to enter into a teaming partnership with Acorn Foods (Board

Action Required)

Block quote end

 

      XI.      Board discussion regarding B E P Vending as it relates to the Randolph Sheppard Act and Public Act 260 Panel:

Block quote start

 

Mr. James Hull, Acting BEP Manager

Ms. Constance Zanger, Acting Administrative Services Manager

Ms. Sherri Heibeck, Training Center Director

Mr. James Chaney, Elected Operator Committee Chair

Mr. Joe Sontag, Policy Manual and Rules Sub-committee Chairperson

Block quote end

 

   XII.      EOC Ad Hoc Committee Update - Bill Lozier

 

XIII.       Other

 

XIV.       Adjournment

 

*NOTE:   Public comment may be submitted during the meeting from 9:30- 12:00 p.m. via email, to be read at 1:00, to

mcbpubliccomments at gmail.com

.

 Emails received outside of this time frame are not considered part of Public Comment.  Public Comment is limited to 3 minutes per individual.

 

The meeting site is accessible.  Individuals attending the meeting are requested to refrain from using heavily scented personal care products in order to

enhance accessibility for everyone.  People with disabilities requiring additional accommodations (such as materials in alternative format) in order to

participate in the meeting should call Sue Luzenski at 517/335-4265 by August 24, 2010.