[nfbmi-talk] Fw: FOIA Response to Request for Information onContract Between BSBP/LARA, Perkins & FCC

Tue Oct 29 04:28:19 UTC 2013

Oh my God!  What do they at BS4BP do all day every day they put time in at
the office, since they certainly do not serve blind persons?  Need they have
a totally blind person go to the central office and instruct someone how to
type PERKINS into a search box to locate a contract document?  I am certain
there very very few PERKINS documents on file over the past year!  Oh, I
understand, you say they at BS4BP must hide and cover-up another
conflict-of-interest and misuse of rehabilitation funds for the blind and
deaf-blind!  If Mr. Rodgers is to open his mouth and spew out information, I
certainly desire him to put up and out the information, or do us all a
public service and shut-up!  Please don't ask me to apologize either for
this post, as I say what I mean, and no apology is needed or forthcoming
from me!

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbmi-talk [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Marcus
Simmons
Sent: Monday, October 28, 2013 4:23 PM
To: nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nfbmi-talk] Fw: FOIA Response to Request for Information
onContract Between BSBP/LARA, Perkins & FCC

As the sands pass thru the hourglass.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Haynes, Carla (LARA) 
To: president at map-n.org 
Cc: Rodgers, Edward (LARA) ; Luzenski, Sue (LARA) ; Pemble, Mike (LARA) ;
Belknap, Katie (LARA) ; Jones, Leamon (LARA) ; Gaston, Diamalyn (LARA) ;
Duell, Elsie (LARA) 
Sent: Monday, October 28, 2013 3:04 PM
Subject: FOIA Response to Request for Information on Contract Between
BSBP/LARA, Perkins & FCC

October 28, 2013

Mr. Marcus Simmons

E-mail: president at map-n.org

28179 Brentwood

Southfield, MI  48076-3069

Re:  FOIA Response to Request for Information on Contract between LARA/BSBP,
Perkins School for the Blind and the FCC

Dear Mr. Simmons:

This email is in response to your October 21st, 23rd & 27th, 2013, email
requests for information.  Please be advised that the Bureau of Services for
Blind Persons is combining these requests and processing them under the
state's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), MCL 15.231 et seq.  This request
was received by this office on October 22, 2013.

You have requested information as described in your emails (which are also
below) as:

"..Apparently, Perkins renegotiated the contract with LARA earlier this year
and signed the agreement in April of 2013.  However, in July of 2013,
Perkins refused to pay for services and directed providers to seek their
money from BSBP.  Therefore, I am requesting a copy of that contract."

(Description from email of 10-23-13): "I am writing you today to request a
copy of the contract between the Perkins School for the Blind and DSBP
concerning obligations in the "I Can Connect" program in which you alluded
to in your comments on Saturday at the NFBMI State Convention."

(Description from email of 10-27-13): "I am writing you today for the third
time to request a copy of the contract between the Perkins School for the
Blind and DSBP concerning obligations in the "I Can Connect" program in
which you alluded to in your comments on Saturday, October 19, 2013 at

FOIA Response - M. Simmons

October 28, 2013

Page 2 of 2

the NFBMI State Convention. The audio clip is attached for your
recollection."

In order to determine the extent of the research time, the size and number
of records of nonexempt information within BSBP responsive to your request,
a search must be undertaken.  For this reason, it is necessary to extend the
time for response, as permitted by Section 5(2)(d) of the FOIA, through
November 12, 2013, for your request.

If it is determined that there is a cost involved in the processing of this
request, you will be sent an email which will include an invoice outlining
that cost (before or no later than November 12, 2013).  This email may
either request a deposit (if the cost is over $50.00) or request payment of
the total cost if the amount is under $50.00.

Please note that nothing within the federal American with Disabilities Act
(ADA ), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (RA), as amended, or
the state's FOIA (MCL 15.231 et seq.) requires a public body to process FOIA
requests free of charge.  Further, while the ADA and Section 504 of the RA
may mandate that, upon request, material be produced in an accessible format
without charge, neither the ADA or Section 504 of the RA preclude a public
body from charging costs under the state's FOIA. Thusly, please note that no
labor fee charges have been, or will be, assessed to convert existing,
nonexempt public records responsive to your requests into an accessible
format to forward to you.

Sincerely,

Carla Miller Haynes, FOIA Coordinator

Bureau of Services for Blind Persons

Attachments - 3:  Email Requests for Information

cc:     Edward F. Rodgers II, Sue Luzenski

          Mike Pemble, Katie Belknap

          Jones, Leamon, Elsie Duell

From: Marcus Simmons [mailto:president at map-n.org] 
Sent: Monday, October 21, 2013 8:37 AM
To: Rodgers, Edward (LARA)
Subject: I Dan Connect contract

Dear Mr. Rodgers,

I have been advised from two sources on the progress of the "I Van Connect"
program., from you and Senator Gregory. In both statements it was alluded to
a signed contract between both parties.
REF.:

"Senator Gregory was advised that the program is offered through the Federal
Communication Commission (FCC) and is part of a 3 party contract between the
Bureau of Services for Blind Persons (BSBP) in LARA, the Perkins School for
the Blind (Perkins) and the FCC.  The contract calls for Perkins to expend
funds for all program costs and to then seek reimbursement from BSBP.  BSBP
then submits the information to the FCC, and they send the funds to LARA to
pay Perkins.  It is a grant program through the FCC which Perkins agreed to.

Apparently, Perkins renegotiated the contract with LARA earlier this year
and signed the agreement in April of 2013.  However, in July of 2013,
Perkins refused to pay for services and directed providers to seek their
money from BSBP."

Therefore, I am requesting a copy of that contract.

Changing what it means to be blind,
Marcus Simmons, President,
Wayne County chapter NFBMI
28179 Brentwood
Southfield, MI 48076-3069
president at map-n.org
(248) 552-8928

From: Marcus Simmons [mailto:president at map-n.org] 
Sent: Wednesday, October 23, 2013 4:03 PM
To: Rodgers, Edward (LARA)
Cc: Luzenski, Sue (LARA)
Subject: request a copy of contract between Perkins School for the Blind and
DSBP FOIA ada 504 I Can Connect

Dear Mr. Rodgers, Edward (LARA), 

I am writing you today to request a copy of the contract between the Perkins
School for the Blind and DSBP concerning obligations  in the "I Can Connect"
program inwhich you alluded to in your comments on Saturday at the NFBMI
State Convention.

Changing what it means to be blind,
Marcus Simmons, President,
Wayne County chapter NFBMI
28179 Brentwood
Southfield, MI 48076-3069
president at map-n.org
(248) 552-8928

From: "Marcus Simmons" <president at map-n.org>
To: "Rodgers, Edward (LARA)" <rodgerse at michigan.gov>
Cc: "Luzenski, Sue (LARA)" <LuzenskiS at michigan.gov>, "nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org"
<nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Third request for a copy of contract between Perkins School for the
Blind and DSBP 

Dear Mr. Rodgers, Edward (LARA),

I am writing you today for the third time to request a copy of the contract
between the Perkins School for the Blind and DSBP concerning obligations  in
the "I Can Connect" program inwhich you alluded to in your comments on
Saturday, October 19, 2013 at the NFBMI State Convention. The audio clip is
attached for your recollection.

If I don't hear from you, I will assume that no contract exists. If this is
the case, the information I received from Perkins is correct indicating the
only support they provide is "some services in Michigan (database and
equipment procurement)" and that is all.

Maybe the source of funds comes from subcontracted fund manager, RLSA of
Pennsylvania or somewhere else.

This needs to be resolved immediately.
In any case, why hold the clients hostage. Maybe you should consider using
some of the roll-over funds from last year to complete your obligation,
therefore not tying up earmarked funds to replace the grant money, since
this is a temporary situation and the funds will be restored shortly.

I expect to hear from you promptly on this matter.

Cordially,
Marcus Simmons - President
ASE Certified Technician
Motown Automotive Professionals nonprofit
A 501(C)(3) Public Charity
55390 Lion Industrial Drive
New Hudson, MI 48165-8544
(248) 552-8928
See our story at:
http://www.carcrazycentral.com/Video.aspx?VideoID=306
And get more information at:
http://www.map-n.org
Email: president at map-n.org<mailto:president at map-n.org>

Carla Miller Haynes

LARA Bureau of Services for Blind Persons (BSBP)

201 N. Washington Square, 2nd Floor

P.O. Box 30652

Lansing, MI  48909

Telephone:  517-373-2063 or Toll-Free 1-800-292-4200

Fax:  517-335-5140

www.michigan.gov/bsbp