[nfbmi-talk] Fw: Response to FOIA Request of 2-8-12 - EOC Minutes and Recording for Meeting of 2-6-12

Tue Feb 14 20:20:31 UTC 2012

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Haynes, Carla (LARA) 
To: joe harcz Comcast (joeharcz at comcast.net) 
Cc: Cannon, Patrick (LARA) ; Farmer, Mel (LARA) ; Turney, Susan (LARA) ; Luzenski, Sue (LARA) ; Duell, Elsie (LARA) ; Zanger, Connie (LARA) ; Hull, James (LARA) 
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2012 2:58 PM
Subject: Response to FOIA Request of 2-8-12 - EOC Minutes and Recording for Meeting of 2-6-12

February 14, 2012

Mr. Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.

E-mail: joeharcz at comcast.net

1365 E. Mt. Morris Rd.

Mt. Morris, MI 48458

Re:  EOC Meeting of 2-6-12 Minutes and Recording

Dear Mr. Harcz, Jr.:

This letter is in response to your February 8, 2012, email request for copies of public records, received on February 9, 2012, in this office.  Please be informed that the Department's Michigan Commission for the Blind (MCB) is processing this request under the state's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), MCL 15.231 et seq.

You have requested information as described in your email, a copy of which is below.

Your request is granted as to existing, nonexempt records in the possession of this department responsive to your request.

Attached and below are the minutes of the above meeting.  In regards to the recording of this meeting, this will be sent to you as soon as I receive a copy.  I am expecting this recording within the week.

We will not charge for the cost of this FOIA but this does not prohibit us from charging you or any other requestor for other requests.

Sincerely,

Carla Miller Haynes, FOIA Coordinator

Michigan Commission for the Blind

Attachments: 

1.            Email of 2-8-12

2.            Minutes of EOC Meeting of 2-6-12

cc:           Patrick Cannon

                Mel Farmer

                Susan Turney

                Elsie Duell

                Constance Zanger

                James Hull

From: joe harcz Comcast [mailto:joeharcz at comcast.net] 
Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2012 1:00 PM
To: Cannon, Patrick (LARA)
Cc: Zanger, Connie (LARA); Hull, James (LARA); Larry Posont MCB Comm.; lydia Schuck MCB Comm.; John Scott MCB Comm.; James Chaney EOC; nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org; Vendorsmi at nfbnet.org; Elmer Cerano MPAS
Subject: more ada rehab act requests information

Feb.  8 2012 Request for EOC Minutes Recording

Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.

1365 E. Mt. Morris Rd.

Mt. Morris, MI  48458

joeharcz at comcast.net

To: Patrick Cannon, James Hull constance Zanger

Michigan Commission for the Blind

And: James Chaney Elected Operators Committee Chair

And: Michigan Commission for the Blind Commissioners

All,

I'm writing today to request in accessible format the EOC meeting minutes of it's "emergency meeting" on Monday night. They may be sent to me as simple e-mail attachments and/or enclosures to my e-mail address listed above.

I'm also requesting that a thumb drive in mp3 format of the recording of that meeting is sent to me at my mailing address listed above.

I make these requests pursuant to obligations well known under the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title II, and numerous provisions of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended.

Sincerely,

Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.

Cc: NFB MI

Cc: Several Vendors

Cc: RSA

Cc: Elmer Cerano MPAS

Elected Operators Committee Meeting Minutes, Monday, February 6, 2012, by Teleconference. The meeting was called to order at 7:10 PM, and was chaired by Shane Jackson.

Roll Call:

Present: Greg Keathley, Garnet Prentice, Andrea Nelson, Rob Essenberg, Kevin Tomczak, Risa Patrick-Langtry, Matilda Steele, James Chaney, and Shane Jackson.

Absent: Dale Layer.

BEP Staff Present: Constance Zanger, James Hull, and Jennifer Doroh.

Guests Present: Larry Posont, Joe Harcz, Cheri Eagle, and Hazell Brooks.

Interview Process for the House of Representatives Cafeteria by the Committee: Constance Zanger gave a history of the facility as discussed in the last special meeting of the committee. Information was provided on the previous operator serving the facility. The facility is classified as a cafeteria therefore; an operator with cafeteria certification is required. An alternate process will be needed for selecting a new operator as only one is cafeteria certified at present. An Ad-Hoc group consisting of Rob Essenberg, Andrea Nelson, Constance Zanger, James Hull, and James Chaney, met to identify a mechanism for having a blind presence at the facility while maintaining a skilled candidate to operate it. They drafted a solicitation and interview questions. Some members indicated that they did not receive that information. The solicitation document was read by Constance Zanger. Concerns were shared among members which ranged from how legal the process is, having an outside entity run the location, to violations against the promulgated rules. After discussion, Andrea Nelson made the following motion which was seconded by Rob Essenberg:

TO ACCEPT the document with the following amendments:

1. Should an outside entity be awarded this facility, that they must agree to enter into negotiations for a teaming partner arrangement with a licensee that expresses an interest in operating the facility.

2. Should an outside entity be awarded this facility, that they must be prepared to train a licensee in food service operations at the facility, but are not required to hire that licensee during that training period.

Roll call vote was taken. Greg Keathley, Andrea Nelson, Rob Essenberg, and Shane Jackson, voted yes. Risa Patrick-Langtry, Garnet Prentice, and Matilda Steele, voted no. Kevin Tomczak abstained. The motion passed with a 4 to 3 to 1 vote. Shane Jackson asked Constance Zanger and James Hull to inform the committee who is getting cafeteria certified for the February meeting. Rob Essenberg also asked the agency to provide Garnet Prentice with sample teaming partner arrangements from other states. The interview questions were not presented. However, the motion that passed along with the solicitation and questions will be E-mailed to committee members and Commissioners. If members have additional questions or they would like to remove a question, they were encouraged to forward them to James Hull, who will have a final draft by the February meeting. Discussion took place on the Commission Board meeting on Wednesday, February 8, 2012. James CHANEY inquired after the Commission Board votes on it, how soon the facility will be available on the bid line. Constance Zanger reported that she expects the facility to be on the bid line on Tuesday, February 14, 2012, provided the board passes the motion on Wednesday. Shane Jackson moved into public comment which was seconded.

Public Comment by the Public:

1. Rob Essenberg commented that when selecting operators, the interview panel should have equal representation so the building manager won't override the panel's decision.

2. Hazell Brooks inquired about which items were included in the proposal.

3. James Chaney commended Garnet Prentice, Kevin Tomczak, and Greg Keathley, for sharing their concerns about the interview process.

4. Greg Keathley inquired which committee was meeting.

5. Joe Harcz, Garnet Prentice, and Shane Jackson commented on Public Act 260 and the interview process for the House of Representatives Cafeteria may be a violation of that act.

6. Cheri Eagle commented on the legal aspects of the process. She also commended Joe Harcz for his input.

7. Greg Keathley feels that nothing has been violated.

Adjournment: Kevin Tomczak made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Garnet Prentice seconded it. The meeting was adjourned at 8:42 PM.

Preparation and Distribution of Minutes by Jennifer Doroh:

Minutes were prepared and completed by Jennifer Doroh on Tuesday, February 14, 2012.

Minutes were approved (by the chair on date.)

Carla Miller Haynes

DLARA Michigan Commission for the Blind

201 N. Washington Sq., 2nd Floor

P.O. Box 30652

Lansing, MI  48909

Phone:  517/373-2063

FAX: 517/335-5140

www.michigan.gov/mcb
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: Response of 2-14-12 Granted - Minutes Attached.doc
Type: application/msword
Size: 70656 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org/attachments/20120214/04a6c88b/attachment.doc>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: Elected Operators Committee Meeting Minutes Monday February #6 #2012.rtf
Type: application/msword
Size: 39494 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org/attachments/20120214/04a6c88b/attachment-0001.doc>