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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">DRAFT<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-ALIGN: center; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-add-space: auto"
align=center><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">MICHIGAN
COMMISSION FOR THE BLIND<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-ALIGN: center; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-add-space: auto"
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">FRIDAY, JUNE 15,
2012<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">CONSTITUTION
HALL<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle
style="MARGIN: auto auto 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-ALIGN: center; mso-add-space: auto"
align=center><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">525 W. ALLEGAN
STREET<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle
style="MARGIN: auto auto 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-ALIGN: center; mso-add-space: auto"
align=center><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">LANSING, MI
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">CON CON A &
B<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">MINUTES<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><U><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">COMMISSIONERS
PRESENT<o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 3in; TEXT-INDENT: -3in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Mr. Larry Posont <SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Ms. Lydia Schuck<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Mr. John Scott<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 3in; TEXT-INDENT: -3in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 3in; TEXT-INDENT: -3in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><U><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">COMMISSIONERS
ABSENT<o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 3in; TEXT-INDENT: -3in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">There are 2 Commissioner
vacancies.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><U><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">MICHIGAN COMMISSION FOR THE BLIND
STAFF PRESENT<o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Mr. Pat Cannon<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 4">
</SPAN>Ms. Sue Luzenski<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Ms. Susan Turney<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 3">
</SPAN>Ms. Julia Burdgick<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Ms. Constance Zanger<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 3">
</SPAN>Ms. Christine Boone<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 3">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Ms. Sue Chinault<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 4">
</SPAN>Ms. Carla Haynes<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Mr. Chris Lautner<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 3">
</SPAN>Ms. Alyssa Clark<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Mr. Josh Hoskins<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 4">
</SPAN>Mr. Joe Pelle<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Mr. Leamon
Jones<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 3in; TEXT-INDENT: -3in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><U><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">GUESTS/ATTENDEES<o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Mr. Mark Eagle<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 4">
</SPAN>Mr. Terry Eagle<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Ms. Valarie Barnum-Yarger<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 2">
</SPAN>Mr. Joe Sontag<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Ms. Mary Wurtzel<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 3">
</SPAN>Mr. Fred Wurtzel<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Mr. Steve Langtry<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 3">
</SPAN>Ms. Risa Langtry<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Ms. Mary Ann Robinson<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 2">
</SPAN>Mr. David Robinson<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Mr. Rodney Craig<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 3">
</SPAN>Mr. Leonard Yourist<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Mr. Tom Warren<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 4">
</SPAN>Mr. Bob Rafferty<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Ms. Pamela King<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 4">
</SPAN>Ms. Paulette Powell<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Mr. Mike Powell<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 4">
</SPAN>Mr. Marcus Simmons<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Ms. Kim Walsh<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 4">
</SPAN>Mr. Joe Harcz (via telephone)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Mr. Joe Sibley (via
telephone)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><U><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Call to
Order, Roll Call and Determination of Quorum<o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The meeting was called to order at
8:40 a.m.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Roll call was taken and a
quorum was determined.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Staff and attendees introduced themselves.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><U><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">APPROVAL OF
MINUTES<o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 1in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">SCOTT
moved to accept the MARCH 23, 2012 Board meeting MINUTES; SCHUCK
seconded.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Discussion:<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN></SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">There was no
discussion.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 1in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">THE
Motion passed unanimously.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 1in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><U><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">APPROVAL OF
AGENDA<o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 1in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">SCOTT
moved to accept the AGENDA; SCHUCK seconded.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Discussion:<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN></SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">There was no
discussion.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 1in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">THE
Motion passed unanimously.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><U><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">PUBLIC
COMMENT<o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Mr. Joe Sontag:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Hello, Joe
Sontag, Lansing.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I don’t have a
whole lot to say this morning but may have a few things to say later this
afternoon.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I just thought I’d point
out as the BEP as of this morning as of this date there still has been no
resolution and no meaningful communication whatsoever regarding my points and
the baseline points and other points earned in the time since I left active
operation in 2010. And I find this all rather frustrating if not entirely
surprising given the management style that seems to pervade the program.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It’s no wonder that the program itself,
even though it’s the highest visibility thing that this Commission does, and
it’s been the most successful employment program for blind people both in
Michigan and around the country that given the already tough economic situation
that it’s really a shame they don’t do a better job working together.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I realize very well that responsibility
for a lot of that falls on operators and there’s no overlooking it but the
current employment where certain people by virtue of special relationships or
the ability to drive and otherwise appear to be non-blind seem to be free to
write their own tickets and the rest of us, especially those of us who have
political connections or affiliations that are not approved by management seem
to have a much more interesting course regardless of the merits of what we do or
what we have done so with that I’ll relinquish the balance of my time and thank
you.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Mr. Terry Eagle:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Good
morning, Terry Eagle.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I speak as
the representative, President of the National Association of Blind Merchants of
Michigan and I’d like to speak briefly on the administrative hearing that’s
going to be before you, decision that’s going to be before you today.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I think it’s outrageous that it has
taken 364 days to get to this point to have Ms. Langtry have her proposed
decision addressed.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Former Chair
Pilarski avoided addressing it by asking the same persons of whom the grievance
was against resolve it or settle it or whatever and she just pawned off her
responsibility and the Boards responsibility off onto the same people who
created the grievance in the first place.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>I was Ms. Langtry’s representative at that time and after that and one
other case I decided to step aside because I believe that this board, not the
current board, but the Commission for the Blind was retaliating against me
because of my advocacy and representation of blind merchants and that’s why Fred
Wurtzel is now involved in the administrative hearings.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And I implore you to do right and give
this woman her just dues now and forever let the program grow the way it was
intended to grow.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It’s ridiculous
how the locations are going down the drain and people are not even making
minimum wage at the locations in many cases.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And I begged and pleaded with the
operators committee and this management to look at locations out of the past 4
years and I believe, personally, that we’re at the point of LARA wanting to turn
this program over to the Department of Management and Budget and I believe,
personally, to destroy this program because of the lack of compliance with the
law, the lack of management that is competent and the out and out lack of care
for blind people as merchants in this state.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Thank you.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><U><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Commissioner
activities<o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Commissioner
Schuck thanked everyone for coming and expressed excitement at all the ways
people are able to participate in the meeting, especially given transportation
issues that exist all around.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She
shared that she didn’t have any activities to report.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Commissioner Scott informed attendees that he’s been busy since the last
Commission meeting in March and shared a story of where he first heard Mr.
Freeman talk, the guest speaker at this meeting, whom he had arranged to be
here.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He also gave an overview of
other activities he has been involved in including working with churches and
mosques on social and economic issues in Southeastern Michigan regarding
collaborating on transportation issues in that area, and also working with
Warriors on Wheels who are advocating for solving transportation issues for the
disabled in Southeastern Michigan.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Commissioner Schuck added that she attended the MAER, Michigan
Association for Education in Rehabilitation, conference and made a presentation
on her research for what parent’s desire for transition planning.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She shared there was great discussion
from the attendees which sparked some future meetings to have continued
dialogues about transition services.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Commissioner Schuck also reported that she heard an excellent speaker,
Beth Kennedy, talking about deaf blind needs around the state.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Commissioner Posont reported that he has worked on a committee drafting
the 2013 State Plan.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He shared that
he gained knowledge on how the State Plan works, how it’s been amended in the
past and the intent and function of the document.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He also commented on the three
universities and the undergraduate and master’s programs degrees.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Commissioner Posont wrapped up by saying
that participating in the development of the State Plan was a good experience
educating him on different facets of the State Plan.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He went on to report that he has not
been very involved in the Business Enterprise Program meetings, although vendor
frustrations continue. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><U>BOARD
CORRESPONDENCE<o:p></o:p></U></B></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Ms. Luzenski informed the Board that there were two pieces of Board
Correspondence received from Mr. Joe Harcz.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Both pieces were read aloud and are
attached in their entirety to the end of these minutes.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Commissioner Scott shared that he had contacted Assistant Attorney
General Tom Warren regarding the need for clarification on a decision that had
been made by the Board on the choosing of a new operator for the State Plate
Cafeteria and he was waiting for that information.<B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><o:p></o:p></B></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><U><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">PUBLIC COMMENT (via
telephone)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Mr. Joe Harcz:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This is Joe
Harcz, I’m talking as loud as I can.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>One, we have continued violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act
on an ongoing basis and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, both in regard to
the program access, alteration triggers, accessible public meetings and
accessible information.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It goes to
the last meeting where there was no raised character and Braille signage on
every permanent room and compliance with the alteration triggers after $3.5
million worth of renovations at the Training Center.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Now that responsibility goes to the
Agency but also the Department of Technology Management and Budget which oversaw
that program.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Now we’re talking
about, the Governor and all kinds of people are talking about turning over to
DTMB our BEP program and everything else when they can’t even figure out how to
follow the ADA.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And by the way,
there are also thousands of documents, and I’m talking thousands of documents
that are image based files under DTMB’s control.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We also have lack of complaint
continually by Michigan Administrative Hearing System with continued requests
for accessible information to petitioners violating their due process
rights.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We also have a continued
conflict of interest going on with MCB staff funneling money into New Horizons
for various programs and services while she sits on the Board.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And that by the way is an operation that
offers sub minimum wage to people with disabilities as do all of our community
rehab programs.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It’s an outrageous
exploitation which will be brought up this afternoon but not continue.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We also have the continued lack of
accountability of this Agency on how it spends its money.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Going back to the State Plate, that’s
been vacant for 7 months.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We plowed
in money into that, untold amounts with no blind operator in there.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The promulgated rules are clear and we
can follow those rules and as I said in my Official Board Correspondence ladies
and gentlemen, you can rescind what you voted on in February.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>You didn’t have enough information, you
know that was kind of rammed through, I’m not throwing out any kind of
blame.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The only people that can
change the promulgated rules and change Public Act 260 are the legislators.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>That’s the end of that story and by the
way that goes to the Executive Order and any shenanigans going around that, you
know as well, in the mix.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The
Governor, under the Constitution, has the authority to transfer us to another
agency but he does not have the authority under the Michigan Constitution to
effectively reverse an act of the legislator.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If this state doesn’t want a separate
Commission for the Blind then the legislature has the bill and rescind Public
Act 260.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Other than that we should
not secede our authority on both state and federal mandates.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Thank you.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-hyphenate: auto"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><U><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Status of Governor’s Executive Order
Transferring Commission<o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Director Cannon recapped the history of the issuance and rescinding of
Executive Order 2012-2.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He also
updated attendees that there has been no official word of when a new Executive
Order will be issued.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Director
Cannon also confirmed what Commissioner Posont had stated earlier that the State
Plan draft cannot be completed until the new Executive Order is issued and
wording from that can be incorporated.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Commissioner Posont added that it is his understanding that the attempt
to separate the Business Enterprise Program state and federal facilities are
what has held up the issuing a new EO and could possibly be the reason the State
Plate has been held up.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Director Cannon stated that since the rescinding of the Executive Order
the Administration has made a sincere effort to listen to comments and concerns
made by staff and stakeholder groups.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Commissioner Scott said it appeared that discussions going on with MCB
and the consumer groups are surface discussions because the Board does not know
any information.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He urged the
Administration to talk to the Board, consumer groups and RSA.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Director Cannon added that at the
National Council for State Agencies of the Blind attendees from the national
offices of the National Federation of the Blind and the American Council of the
Blind both shared there have been conversations with Chief Deputy Director
Zimmer and expect the state to respond to the concerns expressed during these
conversations.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Commissioner Schuck shared a story about the question asked of Mike
Zimmer at the legislative appropriations committee meeting if he or staff had
any insight into what was driving the Executive Order and neither could supply
more of an explanation than creating efficiencies.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><U><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Accessible Public Transportation in
Detroit<o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Ms. Pamela King, the Detroit
Department of Transportation (DDOT) ADA Coordinator spoke on behalf of DDOT and
Mr. Ron Freeland the Chief Executive Officer who could not attend.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Ms. King gave an overview of the DDOT
and her role as the ADA Coordinator in relation to DDOT including making
modifications to policy and procedures to ensure ADA compliance and investigate
complaints under Title II.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Discussion included clarification
that DDOT strictly deals with transportation.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Commissioner Scott gave background on
his interactions with Ms. King and Commissioners asked if Mr. Freeland has any
solutions to rider complaints about long rides, fixed route and para-transit
issues.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Ms. King explained that
there are changes being made to deal with known issues and complaints.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Director Cannon asked if there were any
plans for DDOT to educate riders on how to more effectively use the fixed route
system, Ms. King answered there were not currently any plans and hoped to start
this soon.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Commissioner Schuck
asked for an explanation of how the para-transit system worked, Commissioner
Scott and Ms. King explained how the transportation system works in
Detroit.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><U><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">State
Plan<o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Director Cannon reported that tentative State Plan meeting dates would be
planned in Escanaba, Gaylord, Lansing, Kalamazoo and Detroit.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He reiterated that these dates were
tentatively planned in July and would be based on the issuing of a new Executive
Order.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Director Cannon also advised
Commissioners that there is a need to hold two phone meetings with Commissioners
and these will be determined based on the dates that public hearings
occur.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Commissioner Schuck asked if BEP is exempted from being considered and is
the rest of the State Plan basically the same as the previously adopted
plan.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Director Cannon answered yes
the plan is essentially the same.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>She also asked if MCB has been involved in the discussions regarding the
Federal/State split of the BEP program.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Director Cannon shared that staff have been involved with some
conversations but not all. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><U><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Business Enterprise Program
(BEP)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Ms. Constance Zanger, Business Enterprise Program Manager updated
Commissioners on items in her written report and noted which Director objective
the information correlated with.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>She also informed attendees that BLAST will not be held in 2012 but
planning has begun for 2013.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Ms.
Zanger also reported that two EOC representatives travelled to Illinois to
attend a BEP workshop and Michigan is hoping to reciprocate at some
point.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Ms. Zanger also updated Commissioners on what some of the new BEP
operators are doing in their facilities and spoke about the upcoming EOC
sub-committee meetings and regularly scheduled EOC quarterly
meeting.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Commissioner Schuck asked Ms. Zanger about the inventory project stating
that she felt it was moving slowly.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Ms. Zanger informed that she had forwarded a pre-proposal document to
LARA Finance for their review.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><U><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Administrative Law Judge
Recommendation – <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Robyn
Kay<o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Commissioner Schuck read the ALJ recommendation.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Commissioner Posont shared his thoughts
that the Commission is not actively seeking new locations as there is no
motivation for staff to build new locations and the site that was lost was not a
mandated site.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Ms. Zanger added that the Promotional Agent has been working with the
Transportation Services Administration to secure an additional site for this
vending route.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 1in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">SCHUCK MOVED TO AFFIRM THE ALJ
RECOMMENDATION; SCOTT SECONDED. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Discussion</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">:<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Commissioner Scott added that, because this isn’t a mandated site, there
isn’t a whole lot to be done about keeping an operator in the military
site.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Commissioner Posont stated
that building numbers are lower than they were in the past and this has an
affect.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Mr. Dave Robinson spoke as a representative of Ms. Robyn Kay and informed
attendees that he also had been her Promotional Agent.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He gave a history of Ms. Kay being in
the facility.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He added that Ms. Kay
has referred facilities to her current P.A. to secure for her as additional
sites and has had no results.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 2">
</SPAN><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">THE MOTION PASSED
UNANIMOUSLY.</B><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Commissioners asked that there be a follow up report given at the next
Commission meeting for this operator.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><U><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Administrative Law Judge
Recommendation – Risa Patrick-Langtry<o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Ms. Luzenski read the recommendation of the ALJ.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Director Cannon gave background
information on this case and why it was before the Commission now.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Ms. Luzenski read the draft Order
prepared for Commissioners.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Commissioner Schuck stated that this
appears to be another instance where the staff does not want to testify and, if
this has not been done in a year’s time, then the operator should be awarded
what she is asking for.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Assistant
Attorney General Warren reminded Commissioners that the record for this case is
incomplete because of an action by the Administrative Law Judge, when it came
before the Commission previously it was remanded back to the ALJ and, at this
time, the decision needs to be affirmed based on the existing record, rejected
with reasons why based on the existing record or remanded back with clear
instructions to the ALJ for creating a complete record.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Mr. Warren gave particular examples of
information that could be asked for from the ALJ.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Commissioner Scott stated that his
perception of the problem in this case was that the recorder was not turned back
on by the ALJ during the proceedings but a systemic problem appears to be that
the Commissioners discuss a recommendation, an Order is prepared and sent to the
parties involved but Commissioners do not get to see the Order.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Commissioner Schuck read an excerpt
from the June, 2011 Commission meeting minutes where a discussion occurred
between Board members at that time remanding this case back to the ALJ.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Ms. Luzenski gave a timeline
clarification of when the case first came to the Commission Board, the Order
which was created, the new ALJ recommendation which asked for clarification,
then a new motion by the Board in June 2011.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She went on to state that it appeared
that a new Order was not created and forwarded to the ALJ giving a clearer
explanation of what the Commission Board was seeking.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Mr. Fred Wurtzel commented on how
all of this has affected Ms. Patrick-Langtry economically and gave his opinion
on how the Board should vote on this issue – in favor of Ms.
Patrick-Langtry.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Commissioner Schuck asked to discuss
what the process would be if a new hearing was requested.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Ms. Luzenski asked Mr. Warren to comment
on if there was a possibility to have a new hearing expedited.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She also clarified that, although the
case is from 2009, there were many hearing continuances and evidence hearings
that delayed the case actually coming before the ALJ in November, 2010, not
coming before the Board until March 2011.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Mr. Warren answered MAHS will typically schedule a hearing 45 to 60 days
after receiving a request.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He
stressed again to the Commissioners that they don’t have the evidence to make a
decision to affirm, reject or modify the decision.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 1in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Scott
moved to remand the decision to the ALJ for the purpose of reopening the proofs
of the case in order to get a complete transcript; Schuck seconded.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 1in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Ms. Luzenski read the original ALJ recommendation dated December 3,
2010.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Commissioner Schuck asked if
Commissioners would be able to affirm the original ALJ Recommendation which had
just been read.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Mr. Terry Eagle,
who was the representative of Ms. Patrick-Langtry at the time of the filing,
spoke on her behalf stating that the many delays were because Ms.
Patrick-Langtry had an illness and was receiving treatment and Chair Pilarski,
at the time, directed staff to settle this case and at that time he backed off
the case because of a perception of discrimination against him.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He added that because of the lack of
staff response to the Board motion Ms. Patrick-Langtry deserves a default
judgment.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>There was clarification that the ALJ Recommendation made was acceptable
to Ms. Patrick-Langtry.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Commissioner Schuck concurred and withdrew her
second.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 1in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Schuck
moved to affirm the final decision of the ALJ dated December 3, 2010; Scott
seconded.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Discussion:<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Ms. Luzenski read the recommended ALJ
decision again.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Mr. Wurtzel wanted
it clarified that the Commissioners want to find in favor of Ms. Patrick-Langtry
by transferring the Okemos Rest Area to her Howell vending route.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Ms. Zanger asked what the Commissioners
intentions were for the operator who is currently operating the Howell Rest Area
vending route.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Commissioner Schuck
responded that the BEP staff will have to straighten out this situation with the
operator who was put into the facility.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>She added that BEP staff needs to learn to not award facilities that are
being contested. Commissioner Scott expressed concern that this creates a
possible can of worms and another operator could come back and claim the
Commissioners had no legal basis for passing their motion.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Mr. Warren commented that Commissioner
Scotts sensitivity to the issues was acute, he added that Commissioners could
affirm the ALJ Recommendation if they find that all the findings of statement of
fact are valid, but any modification, change or substitution creates the need to
have an independent basis for the findings.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 2">
</SPAN><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">THE MOTION PASSED
UNANIMOUSLY</B><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Break:<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>11:04<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Reconvene:<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>11:13 <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><U><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">State
Plate AG recommendation from Tom Warren</SPAN></U></B><U><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Commissioner Scott asked Mr. Warren about a letter that was sent to him
in February expressing concerns about the actions that were taken during a
Special Commission meeting.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Mr.
Warren stated that he responded to concerns raised to the Director believing
that the memorandum would be shared with the Commissioners.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He added that he does not wish to
discuss the legal advice given in a public forum, leaving the Commissioners with
the decision to either have a closed session to discuss the memorandum or Mr.
Warren can answer broadly to satisfy the question in a public forum. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Mr. Warren went on to say that the issue
which was presented to him was the propriety of changing the criteria for
selecting a vendor for a particular location.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He added that there was an adoption of a
resolution which had some different conditions than the rules that normally
applied.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Mr. Warren broadly stated
that the rules are the rules and the existing rules are the ones that the
Commission adopted, the Commissioners have the authority to change the rules if
they choose but, unless the rules are formally changed, the actions of all
parties involved are guided by the rules.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Commissioners asked if the memorandum had ever been forwarded to them and
it was determined that it had not. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There was discussion on when it was sent
to the Director and the confirmation that it would be sent to the Commissioners
as an attorney/client confidential memorandum as soon as
possible.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Commissioner Schuck asked Mr. Warren what would happen to the ALJ
decisions if an Advisory Board was created.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Mr. Warren did not
know.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><U><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Elected Operator Committee
(EOC)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>James Chaney, EOC Chair started by clarifying that what was done with the
State Plate was done with the belief that a problem was being solved.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He went on to say that if what was done
was against the rules the EOC would support the Board putting things back the
way they were supposed to be and follow the promulgated rules.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Mr. Chaney asked the Board if they were
ever going to tackle the issue of Public Act 260 and the problem of immediate
competition in buildings and Public Act 260 is not going away.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He added that if the Board was not going
to act on it then could they ask the Department of Technology Management and
Budget (DTMB) to stop all the illegal actions against the vendors in State
Buildings as this is an issue that is hurting the operators and affecting set
asides.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Lastly, he stated that the
EOC has been working well with BEP staff and asked that all financial reports
keep being given to the EOC.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He
thanked the Board for allowing him to speak and said “hi” to Director
Cannon.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Commissioner Scott responded that as a former public employee his office
had a coffee maker and he suggested checking with the local fire department and
health department on the legality of employees having cooking equipment in
offices.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He went on to ask that
buildings be identified which have in-house competition for the operators,
brought to the attention of the Commissioners and then they can ask the Agency
what is being done about the problem.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Commissioner Posont stated that he believed the competition problems lie
with the lack of training as with proper training the customers would not feel
shorted on meeting their needs.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Commissioner Schuck added that she wasn’t sure how the Commissioners
could impact this issue and it may be difficult for an operator to confront
someone in a building who was housing a coffee maker.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Commissioner Posont said that the
machines being brought into offices today are much more sophisticated and,
again, the problem may lie with the needs of the customers not being
met.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Commissioner Schuck shared that an idea may be for Mr. Chaney and others
to state the problems and come up with solutions and the Board may be willing to
assist in solving the problems that way.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Ms. Luzenski asked to revisit an earlier statement Commissioner Schuck
had made about the BEP inventory process and it taking a long time.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She went on to refer to one of the 2012
Objectives of the Director which was discussed and adopted in February stating
that the inventory process would be reported on in March and June, with a target
completion date of September, 2012.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Commissioner Posont asked if the BEP Audit Report had been received from
the Auditor General.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Staff
responded that it had not been received.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Lunch:<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>11:50<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Reconvene:<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>1:00<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><U><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">PUBLIC
COMMENT<o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Joe Sontag:<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Hello, Joe Sontag once again with a
couple different things. This is a carryover from this morning, the issue of the
BEP inventory management project was brought up and aside from being astounded
and amazed as a business person and someone who agreed to and largely succeed in
following rules and obeying laws and so forth, I cannot understand how we can be
so long down the road how it can take so long to get a useful and reasonably
complete inventory of the Business Enterprise Programs not inconsiderable
assets.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We were well on the way to
accomplishing that while Mr. McEntee was working for the program.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I was operating a facility at the time
when John and<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>his reader/driver
showed up and proceeded to get book, chapter and verse and even taking the time
to resolve the conflicting information that came up regarding the equipment that
had been tagged multiple times and things of that nature.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>John was satisfied, he was done with my
location and then, all of a sudden, after viewing other documentation that came
his way he called me up late one afternoon and says “hey Joe, are there a couple
of water tanks hiding or something in your facility someplace” and I said “now
that you mention it yeah but I didn’t know if that was program stuff or ours and
since it didn’t come up”, “okay well I’m coming back over.”<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Sure enough it turned out to be BEP
property, two 100 gallon water tanks in this building.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So John’s word to me was that he thought
the inventory was about 2/3 complete. I guarantee you, if it hadn’t been for the
hostile climate that persuaded Mr. McEntee to leave that we wouldn’t even be
discussing this today because it would be done.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Possibly, who knows, what questions
might have been revealed but it certainly would have been done and it would have
been as complete or better than it’s ever been handled before.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Shifting gears completely, I wanted to
get in a word about the payment of subminimum wage to workers with disabilities
in sheltered shops or the center based employment situation or whatever the
current jargon is.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It’s my
understanding that there’s been some talk, mostly in the back channels about
phasing out Section 14C of the Fair Labor Standards Act but over a 6 year
period.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>All I’ve got to say is,
number one, people with disabilities have the same basic needs as anyone else,
they need to buy their basic things now.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>And for people to be paid less than minimum wage in this day and age,
especially when the better run sheltered shops are able to pay their executives
extremely well and give themselves bonuses as we observe with the New Horizons
outfit here is frankly not acceptable to me.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And if I had my way about it there would
not even be a 3 year phase out.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>There’s no reason for it, the money is there and I would like to say that
I hope this Board takes a strong stand against doing business with any outfit
that is known to pay its workers or even a portion of its workers less than
minimum wage and that we should support enabling the legislation to make that a
thing of the past.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Thank you.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Dave Robinson:<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Thank you.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Dave Robinson and thank you
Commissioners for giving the opportunity to make public comment.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I wanted to go back and talk also about
the question on the inventory and that seems to be, it seems to be done quite
often with this agency, that is unreasonable delay in getting things
accomplished.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This is just another
example of what’s been done with other things.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>A little bit of history on the inventory
situation was that back in the late 90’s it was commissioned that inventory be
done and that means that anything over $300 at the time of value would get a tag
with a specific inventory number on it and that was supposed to be recorded into
a system that we could track within the BEP.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>That was commissioned and a good part of
the equipment was tagged but as we proceeded through the years the promotional
agents found that a lot of the equipment never did get tagged so we had a lot of
discrepancies in the system.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>However, then the talking about the way John came in and started looking
at equipment again and found out that there were still a lot of
discrepancies.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And you know,
keeping up with an inventory system isn’t any good unless you have a good way in
the system to input it into your computerized logging of equipment and where
it’s at.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And so that was never
done.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There was never a way of
maintaining that system and for example, now we’ve gotten to the point where
there’s nobody controlling the warehouse, nobody knows what’s in there and if it
works, doesn’t work.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The most
recent incident was a new operator asked for a single door cooler because their
33 year old cooler finally went out and asked the PA to get them a single door
cooler.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The PA sent him from the
BEP warehouse a single door freezer because the PA didn’t know the difference
between a single door cooler and a single door freezer.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And so it cost the BEP to have it
delivered down there, it was the wrong equipment and had to take it back and as
far as I know he’s still waiting for his cooler.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>That’s the kind of things that are
constantly happening and happen with the BEP currently and its costing us a lot
of money, costing the operators a lot of money for that to happen.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And I also just wanted to say that
another incident with the equipment like the demolition of a $7,000 snack
machine because the PA didn’t get his paperwork in just occurred recently.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There another piece of equipment that
was a valuable piece of equipment is destroyed, gone, out of the program, no use
to anybody else just because something didn’t get done.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So I think these are issues that are
critical, creates problems for the operators and even though you may not have
any direct contact about that it’s things that you need to know that’s happening
in this program because of the incompetency of the current management.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Thank you.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Marcus Simmons:<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I’d like to make a commendation.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We had a client for MCB that needed some
hearing aids and the counselor was making it extremely difficult for that person
to receive hearing aids. The actions were inconsistent with the policy manual
and other output from MCB.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I told
that client to contact Leamon Jones to see if we could get it resolved and
within a couple of days the client had a new IPE with the hearing aids on it
paid for by Michigan Commission for the Blind and I want to complement them on
that action.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Thank
you.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Fred Wurtzel:<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I want to talk a little bit about this
morning’s conversation regarding illegal sales of products in buildings and one
of the things that was talked about was while I don’t know if coffee was the
main thing to worry about, coffee may not account for a huge percentage of sales
but it counts for a large percentage of profit because coffee is one of the most
profitable things in our program.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>So every time we lose a cup of coffee of sales we a really nice piece of
profit.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I know how uncomfortable it
is, and someone said somehow maybe the operator can confront the people that are
selling the stuff.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Well, Hazell
Brooks did that and she lost her license for her trouble even though she had
reported numerous times and asked for assistance in resolving the issue before
there was a confrontation.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This
doesn’t have a very good history.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I
personally have gone up to floors where vending machines were and took that
because, first of all, you don’t want the operator confronting their own
customer you want to have that staff person being an advocate for the
operator.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And, yes, it is
uncomfortable, you’re going in and obviously somebody wants to do what they’re
doing otherwise they wouldn’t be going through the trouble of having vending
machines come in, they wouldn’t be going through the trouble of setting up
displays of stuff.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This building
here and the other tower, I don’t know if it’s still going on but they were
having regular hot dog sales. I had to go confront those folks about hot dog
sales.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They didn’t like it, I’m
sorry they didn’t like it but they were given, they always say we’re giving this
money to charity of some kind.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>That
very well could be and I’m sympathetic because I raise funds for the National
Federation of the Blind and I know how hard it is to raise money and I know how
good it is for you to have a place where you can get some money.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I’m sorry but that money doesn’t belong
to them.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Under the law that money
belongs to the Business Enterprise Program operator who is responsible for that
building.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There’s only one way to
do it that I know of and that is confrontation in a civil, loving, caring way to
explain to people that this is the law and they need to live by this law just
like they have to live by every little rule and regulation in their job.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>As state employees everybody understands
the rules, that there are rules that you have to follow.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They don’t always like it, they don’t
always even follow them but never mind that, they’re still there and they still
need to follow them.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Their
supervisor needs to tell them that it’s not permissible to go to Sam’s Club on
state time and buy stuff and bring it in and sell it to other employees.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They’re not supposed to stock places on
state time.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>That’s a
misappropriation of funds because you’re taking somebody’s paycheck and using it
for something that it wasn’t appropriated for by the legislature.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So these things are not difficult to
understand, they’re uncomfortable to enforce, they’re uncomfortable to follow
through on but they’re not hard to understand.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So I urge you to do all you can to see
that these laws are followed.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Mary Wurtzel:<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Do you really think I could let Fred
speak and not speak?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This is Mary
Wurtzel.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>You know I was just
remembering that I took over a vending location in 1972 and Larry Posont and I
were on the first Elected Operator Committee but you know one thing I’m thinking
about in BEP and I’m not sure and I think I have some sociological ideas about
why this program has always been confrontational so if you want to work in BEP
just get used to the fact that somebody is going to be mad at you all the
time.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And I have heard that if you
ask people in rehabilitation across the country that do BEP, they’ll say
something like oh no anything but BEP.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Now I just heard a story, it’s a terrible story.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It’s about a home where there’s a
therapy aversive stimuli and the children are being shocked when they have
misbehaved.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Now some people are
claiming that this will get a positive result that is desired and we are
hopefully past just punishment and I just think that there’s people who will
always do things wrong and there’s people who will sometimes do things right and
I’m not saying that we as consumers shouldn’t point out the things that are
wrong in the program, or any program or with the Commission but, see I believe
that by expecting the worst of people, that’s including the staff of the
Commission for the Blind or anyone else you’re probably going to get what you
expect – the worst.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>As I said I
don’t think anyone is perfect, but I was married to a guy that worked in the BEP
for a long time and I’m not going to say who did it but one time Fred picked up
the phone and someone started to swear at him for about 10 minutes, he never
said a word and they hung up.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So if
that tells you anything about how it can be working in State government or
anywhere, I mean this is a very negative period of time in our culture I
think.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Everybody wants to practice
the blame game, somebody has to be at fault about everything.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Once again, I’m not saying, we the
consumer we are the watchdogs of what’s going on but also we have a future
before us and this, I was there, god I can’t believe it I’m so old, I was there,
as many of you know in 1978 when<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>P.A. 260 was passed and so many of you say that nothing’s changed but in
actuality some things have changed.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>I will stop in a second, but I just want to tell you something that has
changed.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>When I had my vending
location in Ann Arbor’s City Hall now believe it or not I was not allowed, I had
a guide dog at that time, I was not allowed to have that dog in my vending
location.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She had to be locked in
the room down the hall from me which made her get sick, which made her have to
retire in about 1974 which was the last time I ever had, I didn’t have a guide
dog until now.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So I just want to
tell you that, that has changed.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Thank you very much.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">MaryAnn Robinson:<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>MaryAnn Robinson.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I just wanted to mention that I believe
there’s been lots of progress for blind people.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I’ve seen a lot of changes, I’ve seen a
lot of good things.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I want to see
more good things, I believe we have the capacity to make lots of strides.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>But I’m also concerned because I’ve been
coming to these meetings for probably 4 years, 3 years and I don’t expect the
worst of people but I believe when people make mistakes they should try to learn
from them, I believe when they make them repeatedly they should be held
accountable for them. I don’t see any accountability and I see hundreds of
thousands of dollars being spent on settlements on paying for equipment that was
lost, replacing equipment that was lost.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>That money should be going to blind people in Michigan.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It should be spent on services for blind
people who need them.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I believe
lots of operators in the BEP have suffered because of the steps that current
promotional agents have taken.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I
believe that the Director of the commission and BEP staff have not talked
appropriately to building managers.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>They are not, they need to be told what the laws are and expected to obey
them even though they work in public state buildings or in our government.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They should be expected to follow the
law.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I don’t believe that the BEP
staff has supported the operators.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>They haven’t had the gumption to tell the managers when they can’t allow
caterings.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They tend to side with
the managers rather than the operators.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>I want to believe in justice but I’ve seen so much injustice in this
program and I wonder what it’s going to take to hold these people
accountable.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They don’t show up to
legal hearings, if again I mentioned this at another meeting, if they were
working in another corporation they would have been gone 4 years ago.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They are still here and mistakes are
still being made. What needs to be done to make the Commission Director
accountable to this Board?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>What
needs to be done for him or this Board to make the BEP staff accountable for the
continuous mistakes they are making?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>And I’m asking you as a Board this is a challenge to you if it takes a
letter to the Governor, if it takes going to the Governor’s office and pointing
out what’s being done repeatedly year after year after year then I say take
those steps so the Commission for the Blind can become the Agency that we want
it to be.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So I say those on this
Board has the power to make recommendations regarding whether people remain in
their positions.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We have seen so
much over the past 4 years I think the Board needs to act and act decisively and
make recommendations based on all the problems on all the flagrant violations of
rules on all the suffering, on all the mismanagement of funds and you have the
power.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>My challenge is to you, do
something so that I don’t come back in September and say we have not, we’re
still in the same place, mistakes are still occurring. Let’s have the gumption
and I can think of other words but let’s do what we need to do.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Let’s make the Commission for the Blind
the agency that we believe it should be.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>It can become that way again.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Please, please listen to what we say, take the steps and do something
about it.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Thank
you.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Joe Harcz:<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Joe Harcz, National Federation of the
Blind and Michigan ADAPT.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Ok
several things, one we don’t need to wait to have that report from the Attorney
General clearly stated that the Commission, EOC and Agency exceeded their
authority relative to the vote on the February 8 place a motion rescinding that
and revert to the promulgated rules.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Secondly, going to what MaryAnn said, I frankly find it inexcusable that
the Director had that information in front him, knew that we were violating
Public Act 260 and promulgated rules and didn’t even inform the Board.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Inexcusable at first instance.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Going back to the public hearings.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>All our public hearings will be invalid
upon their face if we don’t have effective communication throughout the system,
including notification, and full programmatic access to the facilities in this
state.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>That would be a violation of
the public hearings policy in Title I and it’s a violation of Section 504 and
it’s a violation of Title II of Americans with Disabilities Act which is gone on
forever in this state.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Third, and
this goes to what Mr. Warren was saying this morning, the elephant in the room,
the Michigan Administrative Hearings System is in substantial violation of the
effective communications requirements of all legal entities which is under
Tennessee v Lang Supreme Court decision in that they do not remand in a timely
manner effective communications with people who are blind including Dave
Robinson upon request, including Sheila Stelmach including other people.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Look we are violating due process of
law.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Going back to the Catch 22 we
go to nonfeasance and dereliction of duty, you know in not having the recording
on with Risa’s case and who gets penalized, who gets penalized for years?<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>At these substantial violations and
calling it an administrative law court which is run by who, Deputy Director
Zimmer.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And by the way when anybody
tells me that we have communications related to Executive Order 2012-2 and when
our very own Commissioners didn’t even get a heads up or communications on that,
let alone members of the NFB and other organizations and when I have to go and
fight for piecemeal information which they throw out charges of $745,000
requesting certain information related to this process under the FOIA, so called
Freedom of Information Act is just plain incredible.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Fifth, going to what Lydia asked this
morning, the problem with the Executive Order as it stood wasn’t again the
transfer to DHS, he has that authority, but with that other existing order in
eliminating the policy making and quasi-judicial role established by Public Act
260 of this Commission Board by creating this idiotic Advisory Board, you know,
is a substantial reversal of Public Act 260.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It guts it at its core.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It eliminates the independent
Commission.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Sixth, on the State
Plan, even if (time)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Administrative
Reports</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><U><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Director’s Report</SPAN></U><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Director Cannon recapped his written report, highlighting the NCSAB
conference and the impending appointment of a new RSA Commissioner, Dr. Fred
Schroeder’s report and the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP)
Director’s speech by Kathy Martinez and referred to an article on accessible
credit card charging mechanisms in taxi cabs.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He also mentioned the grand re-opening
at the Training Center and the mini-adjustment program that was just
completed.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Director Cannon updated
Commissioners on the 2012 Director objectives stating they were all on target
but the Newsline objective and staff is working with Newsline to complete that
objective.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Commissioner Scott asked Director Cannon about the possibility of MCB
funding Newsline and asking why MCB can’t fund the service as many other states
have the ability to fund this.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Director Cannon spoke of his personal support of Newsline and that MCB
did receive approval for the Commission to provide a $20,000 grant in support of
Newsline.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He went on to answer
questions regarding funding options.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Commissioner Posont gave some facts regarding Newsline and stated that
there is no conflict of interest between his positions on the Commission Board
and his being President of NFB-M as he doesn’t have anything to do with the
monetary side of Newsline or the NFB-M.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>He went on to add that he believes the Board should request or demand
that funding for Newsline be put into the State Plan because the money is there
and available and extra money should be requested to be used for marketing.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Director Cannon reminded Commissioners
that MCB was the original funder for getting Newsline off the ground in the
state with an Innovation and Expansion Grant and modest funding has been
provided in other years, but in other years Newsline was a budget line item
within the Department of Education.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>He added that the Public Service Commission has been approached for
assistance but to no avail.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><U><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Staff Reports</SPAN></U><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Ms. Christine Boone, Training Center Director informed attendees that
there were 150 to 200 people at the Open House, including Commissioners Posont
and Schuck, staff and students.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She
added that students participated by being greeters and giving tours, while
teachers made themselves available in each of the classrooms to talk to
attendees and answer questions.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Ms.
Boone proclaimed the most disappointing part was the technology center not being
completed.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Commissioners praised
Ms. Boone on the food and how the day was planned.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Ms. Boone informed Commissioners that the college assessment program is
beginning and will be immediately followed by the college prep program.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Commissioner Schuck asked about Braille
signage at the Training Center as it was not installed during the Open
House.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Ms. Boone shared that the
Braille signage had been omitted from the construction contract without any
explanation and staff has put up temporary signs from the ones used previously
and are in the process of ordering the new signage and asked for patience from
all while this is completed.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Other staff had no additional information to add to the written
report.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Commissioner Schuck did ask
Mr. Leamon Jones, Consumer Services Director about summer programs,
specifically, Career Club and other options for her daughter for the
summer.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There was discussion
regarding information needing to be updated on the MCB website.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><U><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p><SPAN
style="TEXT-DECORATION: none"> </SPAN></o:p></SPAN></U></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><U><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">State
Plate AG recommendation from Tom Warren</SPAN></U></B><U><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN></SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Commissioner
Posont asked to revisit this discussion from earlier in the day and asked for a
motion to be made by Commissioners to adhere to the promulgated rules on this
issue.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Commissioner Schuck stated
that she was fine with how the vote went when this meeting was held until public
comment, when a clarification was provided that explained that one of the
situations that could occur at the State Plate would result in the BEP operator
paying for their own rehabilitation. Commissioner Posont stated that this
problem needs to be solved because it’s such a high visibility cafeteria and
this site needs to be re-opened as soon as possible. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 1in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Schuck
moved that the Board rescind the Board’s previous decision and follow Assistant
Attorney General’s opinion on adhering to the promulgated rules in respect to
filling the Business Enterprise Program Operator position at the State Plate;
Scott seconded<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 1in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Discussion:<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Commissioner Scott stated his
interpretation of the discussion earlier with Assistant Attorney General Tom
Warren, which he believed to be that the promulgated rules needed to be followed
and they weren’t.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Director Cannon
asked if he could supply some verbiage for the motion that would accomplish what
was needed.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 2">
</SPAN><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">THE<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>MOTION WAS
REMOVED.<o:p></o:p></B></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 1in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Schuck
moved to rescind the Commissioners previous action to use an alternative method
of operator selection at the State plate cafeteria and return to FOLLOWING the
promulgated rules; Scott seconded.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 1in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Discussion:<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There was no
discussion.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 1in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The
Motion passed unanimously.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 1in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Commissioner
Schuck asked Director Cannon if there was truly no one that was qualified to run
the State Plate as of March.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Director Cannon clarified a couple of things including how much money was
put in to renovate the facility, which has all been done at the cost of the
House of Representatives and has only recently been completed.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Commissioner Schuck shared that Terry
Eagle submitted a bid under the old motion but would not be able to submit one
with the motion just made.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Director
Cannon stated that with the new motion and following the promulgated rules,
hopefully that would give the program a qualified operator for the
location.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He added that he is not
going to discuss a client case at a public meeting, nor is he sure of Mr.
Eagle’s status at the Commission and Commissioner Schuck would need to discuss
particulars of his situation with Mr. Eagle or he would need to authorize her to
discuss his case as an advocate or representative, although this has the
potential to compromise her role as a Commissioner on any issues with Mr. Eagle
that would come before this Board. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Commissioner Posont stated a hope that resources would be utilized to
make this location successful, providing the support needed for the Operator who
will be running it as the reputation of blind people and the Agency is on the
line.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He was very emphatic about
making this facility work.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Commissioner Scott asked if MCB is working with the House of
Representatives during the renovation to ensure that all the work is done with
blind people in mind.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Director
Cannon answered affirmatively that the process was done in partnership and
consultation with BEP staff and the House of Representatives.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Break:<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>2:23<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Reconvene:<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>2:27<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-hyphenate: auto"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><U><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">CONSUMER ORGANIZATION
REPORTS<o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-hyphenate: auto"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-hyphenate: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">National Federation of the Blind –
Mike Powell, 1<SUP>st</SUP> Vice President<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-hyphenate: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-hyphenate: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Mr. Mike Powell, 1<SUP>st</SUP> Vice-President of NFB-M read a prepared
statement which included expectations and quality of services from staff who
administer a $25 million dollar budget, a listing of the meetings NFB members
have attended since 2008 in the guise of active participation to develop legal
and quality policies for the agency.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>He added that the organization felt that in return for all of these
volunteer hours spent, blind employees have been illegally fired, BEP operators
have had their licenses illegally revoked and they have been met with
negativity, attempts to close meetings, denial of documents in accessible
formats and an increasing level of poor services provided to Commission
clients.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Mr. Powell went on to
state that the current Board has pushed for public meetings on the State Plan,
improved and strengthened training of staff, set specific, measurable,
achievable and realistic goals for the Director in the midst of an
unsatisfactory evaluation, and asked for monthly updates on data.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Mr. Powell commented on the appointments
of the Board by the Governor and listed NFB’s expectations of the Board.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He informed attendees of dates of the
National NFB convention, the State NFB convention, the status of Newsline and
enhancements, summer camps for 2012 and reminded the Board of the nine
Resolutions that were sent to the Board in the fall. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-hyphenate: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Mr. Fred Wurtzel thanked Commissioners for allowing NFB to present and
stated he is proud to be an NFB member.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>He outlined ways the NFB advocates for blind people in the state and
added that the NFB’s reason, diligence and desire is to make the world a better
place for blind people.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-hyphenate: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Mr. Dave Robinson thanked Commissioners for time on the agenda and spoke
about the spirit of the Commission for the Blind as the NFB believes it should
be giving examples of ways he felt the Agency staff blocks progress of the
clients. He also spoke about BEP rules for facilities, in particular the rule of
an Operator having income of 120% of minimum wage to be successful as determined
by the Federal government. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Mr.
Robinson gave a couple of examples of facilities that did not meet the
requirement and rhetorically asked where the sense of obligation and
responsibility was by the staff.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He
went on to say that the Training Center was so successful because the spirit of
blind people is present there and this is not present throughout the rest of the
Agency and NFB intends to change it.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-hyphenate: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Mr. Mike Powell introduced each of the Resolutions: meeting ADA
requirements for signage; rights to due process at administrative hearings;
Commission Board administrative support; Commission meeting minutes on the
website; defective communications from the Michigan Commission for the Blind;
NFB announcement on the vendor’s line; challenge experiences at the Training
Center; New Horizons; and the college policy/means test.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There was short discussion about most of
these Resolutions.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-hyphenate: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-hyphenate: auto"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><U><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Community Rehab
Organizations</SPAN></U></B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-hyphenate: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-hyphenate: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Commissioner Posont asked that this topic be moved to an earlier agenda
spot as some staff that will be participating need to leave.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He informed attendees that a
resolution came before the Board at the March meeting from the Consumer
Involvement Council regarding the Agency doing business with organizations
paying subminimum wages to many workers. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-hyphenate: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Commissioner Schuck reported that there are 66 companies in the state
that pay subminimum wages to people with disabilities and the MCB has dealt with
13 of them in fiscal years 2011 and 2012.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>She gave an overview of the purpose of subminimum wage places, also
referred to as sheltered workshops, <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>and spoke about some prevalent attitudes
in these environments.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Commissioner
Schuck read the list of 13 organizations that are paying subminimum wages.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-hyphenate: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-hyphenate: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 1in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Schuck
moved that we suspend any dealings with any of these agencies if they are still
paying sub-minimum wage by the next Commission meeting, September 21, 2012;
Scott seconded.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 1in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Discussion:<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Commissioner Posont expressed puzzlement
as these are all non-profit corporations who receive tax credits, are guaranteed
contracts, pay less than minimum wage and receive endowments and there is no
understanding of why these companies can’t pay minimum wage.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Director Cannon reiterated that
MCB clients placed at any of these entities are not paid below minimum wage and
some of the agencies pay very well and benefit clients.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Ms. Christine Boone spoke about her perspective on clients working in
non-integrated work environments, and while she does not support people with
disabilities making subminimum wages, she does believe that clients can benefit
by being placed in these environments that provide competitive employment.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She went on to add that there are times
that integrated work settings can be isolating and not a good work experience,
but in a sheltered workshop they are more accepted by peers who become friends
and create a fuller life. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Mr.
Leamon Jones informed attendees that the Agency cannot take a closure on placing
clients in a position paying subminimum wages as this is not considered a
successful closure.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He added that
placing individuals in these environments allows for a true assessment of the
level of function and skills of clients allowing for the opportunity to provide
specific training for clients as needed.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Commissioner Posont shared a story about Dr. Fred Schroeder taking over
the New Mexico agency for the blind and he showed a sheltered workshop how they
could go from paying subminimum wages to minimum wages for all employees.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Commissioner Posont believes that if
given no choice these companies would pay the minimum wage to all employees and
that this is the role that the Board needs to take.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Mr. Jones added that the real dilemma is
that in fully integrated settings assessments, evaluations and work tryouts are
not available and those are things that are achieved in these workshop
environments that lead to placements in the community.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Commissioner Schuck made the point that
MCB would not place clients in an environment that was abusive and this equals
abuse in a different manner.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Director Cannon followed up on a couple comments made during the
discussion including the reference made to Fred Schroeder and going on to say
that the Rehab Act does not prohibit agencies from doing business with sheltered
workshops.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He also wanted the staff
perspective of Ms. Boone and Mr. Jones heard to provide a more in depth
explanation of why MCB does business with these entities.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>There was discussion about changing the date for the organizations to
discontinue paying subminimum wages used in the motion and it was determined to
leave it as stated in the motion.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Director Cannon asked what the expectation would be with clients that are
currently placed with these employers.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>The Board discussed that if these companies want to supply minimum wage
or above jobs and not charge for assessments so the agency is not giving them
any money than that is fine but the organizations need to change their business
model of paying subminimum wages.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Director Cannon cautioned Commissioners that the action they were
considering taking exceeded their authority as a commission, adding that
purchasing and contractual relationships with community rehab organizations was
an administration function.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Commissioner Schuck responded that Commissioners saw this as a policy
issue.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The
motion passed unanimously.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-hyphenate: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-hyphenate: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-hyphenate: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Michigan Council of the Blind and
Visually Impaired (MCBVI) – Joe Sibley, President<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN></SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Mr. Joe
Sibley, President MCBVI, apologized for not being able to be at the meeting in
person but he needed to attend a previously scheduled meeting with Loeks
Theaters regarding MoPix and having this service provided in more theaters
throughout the state.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He stated
that he was planning on talking about the blind organizations, gave some history
about how MCBVI came about and gave specific information about the Michigan
affiliates and plans for advocacy and efforts to engage a younger
generation.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Mr. Sibley spoke about
the national convention being held in July in Louisville, Kentucky and the state
convention being held in September in Lansing. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Mr. Sibley gave his opinion on the different advocacy styles of ACB and
NFB, including differences in approaches to rehabilitation styles and the
issues.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He stated that when
Executive Order 2012-2 came out, MCBVI did not picket or protest but studied the
issue and asked appropriate officials to sit down to talk and were welcomed to
the table to voice their opinions.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>He went on to explain that this was the approach used to start the
successful MoPix project.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Mr. Sibley shared that while listening to
some of the discussions that went to the Administrative Law Judge level, he
believes that the parties sitting down to discuss this beforehand could have
alleviated these issues reaching this level.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Mr. Sibley said of course there are issues with the Agency but there are
also very good staff who are providing services.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He informed attendees that he is up for
re-election for President of MCBVI and becoming part of one of the consumer
organizations when he lost his sight was one of the best things he has ever done
and there are wonderful people in both organizations. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He stated that the NFB and MCBVI, while
having different approaches, have worked together nationally to solve issues and
he is hoping that both organizations, at a state level, can work side by side
and move forward.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Finally, he
stated that with what is coming in the future he is cautiously optimistic that
something new can be created and some of the issues tweaked.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN></SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Commissioner
Schuck complemented Mr. Sibley on his radio voice and asked if MCBVI produced
resolutions the previous year at their convention.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He answered that the resolutions created
the year before dealt with national issues but this years may deal more directly
with in state issues.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Mr. Sibley thanked the Board for the opportunity to
speak.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Commissioner Posont asked to discuss how the Community Rehab
Organizations will be notified of the Commission action and then said that two
Commissioners can’t discuss this outside of the meeting because Mr. Warren
stated that would be considered a quorum.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Commissioner Scott disagreed but it was discussed that according to the
policy a quorum is determined as a majority of commissioners appointed at any
given time. It was determined that Commissioner Schuck would write a letter
serving notice on the CRO’s of their mandate and circulate it to other board
members for review.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">New
Business<o:p></o:p></B></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN></SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Commissioner
Posont stated that he would like to have discussion on some of the resolutions
they heard about today, specifically on the one regarding
signage.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Director Cannon commented that
signage is often over looked and neglected whether renovation or new
construction although it is relatively inexpensive.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Commissioner Posont asked that it should
be basic beliefs and questioned whether businesses are built without signage
anymore.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Public Comment</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Mr. Fred Wurtzel:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Thank you
Mr. Chairman and thank you Commissioners for passing what I consider to be a
forward looking and aggressive and realistic policy on subminimum wages.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>As one of the ways to publicize this I
would request that you ask the Director to ask the public relations person for
the Commission for the Blind to issue a press release forthwith about the motion
that was made so that it would be well known to the public the position of the
Michigan Commission for the Blind.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Thank you.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Mr. Dave Robinson:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Dave
Robinson, again complement the Commission on their actions today and being able
to listen to us and what we had to say in regard to the issues.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>One of the, it is on commenting on
Commissioner Posont’s comments on the accessibility, it’s really mind boggling
by the State Agency that’s in charge of physical plants in our buildings, that
is DTMB, does not have a specific code of standards in terms of accessibility
when they’re building or remodeling facilities.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It seems to me that these codes and
these standards are not different than the plumbing codes and other codes that
are responsible in terms for building or remodeling a facility.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Such as boggles the mind that they are
forgotten and certainly the State should be forward looking in terms of making
sure that those kinds of accessibility issues are not forgotten and hopefully
the next State ADA Coordinator, whomever that may be or is, could facilitate
that to make sure that the occurrence at the Training Center never occurs again
in a State building.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I might also
remind you that there was mention that, in order to be a full compliant public
hearing the hearings that are going to be held on the state plan are going to
have to be at a fully compliant accessible building.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And there also has to be fully compliant
information about those hearings to people, to the public and to people with
disabilities.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So we might want to
keep that in mind when you think about making information accessible as
well.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So I think that it’s really
important that we continue again to look at the issues and look at the
specifics.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Commissioner Schuck
brought a comment to say if there are people having issues have them talk to the
Commissioners, have them call in, have them come to the meetings and I really
think we as an organization need to and continue to need to encourage blind
people that is the ones really being affected by the actions of this agency to
come here and express their appreciation or their discontent so that you could
really know and get the flavor of true spirit of what is the Commission for the
Blind here in Michigan.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Thank
you.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Ms. Kim Walsh:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>My name is
Kim Walsh and I’m very pleased to be here. It’s been quite a while and I’m also
pleased that I am the immediate past president and still an executive officer of
the International Association of Audio Information Services.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We represent audio information services
worldwide whether they’re radio based, internet based, phone based you name it,
the technologies have changed so much in the last period of time that we have
membership of all different types of distribution.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Many of you know me from the Detroit
Radio Information Service in Detroit today I’m wearing the IAAIS hat because
I’ve just come from, last month, our convention in Houston.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>First off I want to applaud the consumer
organizations, I’m thrilled to be at this meeting where the two main consumer
organizations reported out because I do believe the most important work really
does take place on Main Street, and in our own back yards and belonging to these
groups is important.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Some of the
strides on the international level, I’ve just had the pleasure to witness some
really phenomenal things and at our convention in Houston, maybe some of you
have read about it maybe you have not yet read about it, but 13 years in the
making I had the pleasure of being at our convention and in collaboration with
the store Best Buy and their Insignia brand debuting the Narrator radio which is
the first ever AM/FM HD radio fully using universal design standards that the
IAAIS created in collaboration with Best Buy. Our board approved those universal
design standards in November of 2008.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Some of you might remember that we worked originally with the vendor
Dyce, unfortunately in a national pilot project involving three radio reading
services in Rochester New York, Washington D.C and Lawrence Kansas there was an
awful board problem or something catastrophic with that receiver and it was not
something that was easy to fix and the company was too small.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So now we’ve gone back to the table and
asked Best Buy hello remember when you asked us to design these standards, we
won the Stevie Wonder Vision Award for at the Consumer Electronic Show in 2009,
what are you going to do about this project and they said oh yeah what about
that and so the reality is today the Narrator is on the market it can be bought
on Best Buy’s website and Best Buy is making a big effort to get the word out
about this product.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And beyond just
people with vision impairment and disabilities, I really think this radio has
huge potential for anyone who’s elderly, has trouble with dexterity, you name it
because it’s a fully accessible radio that anybody can use.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So that’s very exciting.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The other thing I want to just touch on
is anyone who has just been around the block with radio based audio information,
remembers the bicycling around with actual tapes and during my presidency we
moved our entire file share to a cloud based technology and in the last year
shared some 20,000 hours of programming back and forth between services for
about $5 a month.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So we are really
proud of that new service.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It’s
been a service for years on a server in somebody’s office and now its not.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Thank you so much, I’m grateful to be
hear and hopefully I’ll be here more now that I’m not the International
President.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Mr. Joe Sontag:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Anyway, just
a couple of things.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Number one I,
too, would like to add my thank you to the Commission Board for taking the
actions they did today, especially the action this afternoon regarding the
payment of subminimum wages to people with disabilities.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Actually I, not to start anything, but I
hope that, let’s just say, I hope that we didn’t lose anybody listening on the
phone because I just wanted to comment on one thing I heard during Joe Sibley’s
presentation this afternoon, I just wanted to point out, speaking strictly from
the, I think it applies well beyond myself and that is the idea the National
Federation of the Blind being an angry organization.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I admit personally to being a bit on the
high strung side when I get passionate about something, it’s been a
characteristic of mine from the time I was born, I understand.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>But I think what Mr. Sibley was
referring to was the fact that some of us have gotten to the point where we have
limited patience for folks who will not attempt to reason things out.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The NFB as far as I’ve known certainly
in my experience off and on for the past 25 years or so, has been the kind of
organization that reasons things out and expects tight logic just as a standard
approach to things.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I think, I
agree certainly that when problems arise the best approach is to sit down and
have sincere discussions with people all around the issues so that equitable
solutions can be worked out.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Difficulty arises when people either play the game pretending to sit down
and reason with you and have frank and honest discussions as opposed to just
going through the motions so you can tell your superiors that you’ve done it and
these people just aren’t cooperating.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>I’ve done it and I personally make no apology with us getting to the
point where we decide that enough is enough and they’ll lay it on the line.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And keep laying it on the line until
appropriate attention is gained somewhere.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>I’ll just close with this, I guarantee you when blind people start
realizing that long last there are people who are willing to listen with both
open ears and open minds you’ll see a lot less anger regardless of who
individuals are affiliated with or whether they’re not affiliated with anyone at
all. Thank you.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Ms. MaryAnn Robinson:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I’d
like to echo some things I’ve heard already.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I wanted to commend the Commission Board
for taking the stance regarding those 13 agencies that are still paying
subminimum wage.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And I work in an
agency with people who have multiple disabilities and I can understand that they
want to be in a setting where they feel they have friends and they feel they’re
not alone, we’re not encouraging those people to leave those agencies if all of
the 66 workshops began to pay minimum wage we could refer people there and they
could be in those settings and if they have supervisors, managers, directors who
are making thousands of dollars they ought to look at their budget and see where
they can trim in the top level in management and start paying all workers
minimum wage.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I’d also, because of
what we’ve heard about the ADA and accessibility I would like to urge that Mr.
Cannon issue a directive to all program staff to look at the format that clients
of the Commission are requesting and if it’s Braille, I’d like him to issue a
directive insisting that his staff provide information in the format that
consumers are requesting.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>That is
something that is in the agency and the state should be doing it should be the
Commission for the Blind, he has the power and authority to do that and it
should have been done years ago but I’d like it to start now and he can make it
start now. And I’d like the Board to follow up on that so that we can say that
BEP operators, students, seniors, all clients are not receiving information in
print when they request it in Braille.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>And the agency has the option in not working along with the
Administrative Hearing system and you can’t tell me that they don’t use the
email and if they don’t provide information in Braille and email they should
also request that be done or they not use that system. I’ve been a therapist for
a long time and I want to say that anger is an appropriate feeling when it’s
expressed constructively and I, too, feel that we should start at the table and
try to work out issues and that’s where good dialogue should begin and should
continue as long as everybody is willing to work at the table. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>But as Mr. Sontag said when enough is
enough its appropriate to express feelings constructively and some anger is
justifiable.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I mentioned things
earlier today and some things that have been going on at the Commission for a
long time are totally unacceptable to blind people and they need to stop
now.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And if the staff who’s
currently there and has the power to stop those behaviors and are not willing to
do it they shouldn’t be there so I suggest that the Board take a look again and
if the staff doesn’t respond then they need to look at somebody who will.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Thank you very much.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Ms. Kim Walsh:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It’s Kim
Walsh again and this is just a quick point.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Earlier we were talking about
accessibility and everything being accessible and maybe I’m naïve and don’t
understand a State rule but for this particular meeting comments are taken by
email only for a small period of time in the morning and there are a lot of
empty chairs in this room and I know from having participated by the web and by
phone most of the last year that there are quite a few people there and I’m
wondering why that group of people isn’t, doesn’t have a roll call done, isn’t
included in the attendance and can’t be patched in by phone like the two
reporting, like Joe and other people during the course of the meeting as a
matter of course.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And I would be
curious to know why that can’t happen today.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Ms. Luzenski and Commissioner Schuck responded to Ms. Walsh’s comment
indicating that public comment is available by email for a period of time and
phone public comment is already available at each public comment.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Ms. Luzenski added the capability of
making public comment available to web listeners is not available at this
time.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Mr. Joe Harcz:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>First I don’t
want to use up all my time in thanking you guys, but thank you especially on
your reversal of the State Plate and the subminimum wage vote.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>On the issue of the Americans with
Disabilities Act it is not a building code but a civil rights law and it ties
into Section 504 in which we’re obligated to follow as well (inaudible).<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It’s not just a matter of alterations or
new construction either, it goes into pre-ADA construction because signage is a
program access issue and raised character and Braille signage is supposed to be
on every permanent room of every public building. Period.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>End of story.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Mounted at 60 inches actually now
they’ve changed it to (inaudible) you can have the center line at 45 inches and
it was not even in the Victor Office Building wall, not even on the Michigan
Commission for Disability Concerns, not even on the men’s room.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>When I make a complaint then they go
change it ad hoc, ladies and gentlemen you’re sitting in a building that was
post ADA construction that was not compliant until I brought it up, until I made
a stink.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>DTMB did a survey, which I
believe I’ve sent to everybody, including Mr. Cannon in 2008.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The point is the barriers haven’t been
removed but the fundamental obligation, the fundamental obligation that goes to
MCB is we are, we sign assurances with RSA every single year that we follow
Section 504 and that we have complete program access and by God we have the
obligation to ensure that.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It also
goes to the second part of the CIC motion, you know, relative to contracting
with people that did not follow 504 that is already a current obligation and yet
we already heard and one of the Commissioners note we contracted with Peckham,
no Braille, no Braille for her kid.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>We, we spent MCB money for that, we already know that there are high
paying jobs supplied by previous reports with the State, Secretary of State and
the past board of Peckham.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>But they
don’t make accommodations to blind people, and I know three people that have
applied for those jobs and that goes to the effective communications
requirement.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>How many times have
people seen me request information from the Director and not receive a response
by simple email. A failure to respond is in and of itself a violation.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And look at all the brouhaha that went
over draft meeting minutes and then that falls (inaudible).<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The Director, by the way, is (inaudible)
the State of Michigan ADA Coordinator where clearly articulated responsibilities
and yet, frankly ladies and gentlemen, he is one of the biggest violaters
personally, personally.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I’ve
documented this over and over again, this also goes to our friends at MCBVI, Mr.
Cannon was at the 2002 convention of which Joe Harcz was a member of MCBVI at
the time which drafted a resolution, required it on our state building.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Now I’ve recently joined, again rejoined
NFB who are the ones fighting for this.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>This is our civil rights.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>There are no time for excuses.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>It goes up and down the food chain, everybody points at everybody else,
the whole state is out of compliance.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Adjournment<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 2">
</SPAN><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">SCOTT MOVED TO ADJOURN; SCHUCK
SECONDED.</B><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 2">
</SPAN><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">THE MOTION PASSED
UNANIMOUSLY.<o:p></o:p></B></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN></SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The meeting
adjourned at 4:40 p.m.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The next Commission meeting is
scheduled on September 21 in Lansing.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">________________________________<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Mr. Larry Posont,
Vice-Chair<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Date:__________________________<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Official
Board Correspondence Equipment Inventory</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri>July 11,
2012</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Paul Joseph
Harcz, Jr.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri>1365 E. Mt.
Morris Rd.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Mt. Morris,
MI 48458</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><A
href="mailto:joeharcz@comcast.net"><FONT
face=Calibri>joeharcz@comcast.net</FONT></A></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT
face=Calibri>To:</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Michigan
Commission for the Blind Commissioners</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri>And MCB
Director Patrick D. Cannon c/o Sue Luzenski</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri>(via
e-mail)</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Dear
Commissioners, et al,</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri>I bring your
attention to the following segment related to Equipment Inventory in the MCB
Report:</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT
face=Calibri>“</FONT><U><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Equipment
Inventory<o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">B E P is
currently in the process of completing a full equipment inventory.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Inventory data collected variously over
the past 18 months is inconsistent to the point the equipment database cannot be
properly reconciled.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Consequently,
the Program will enter, with departmental approval, into a contractual
arrangement for the inventory to be completed by an independent contractor.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>As of this writing, the Program is in
the process of soliciting preliminary proposals to ascertain potential cost and
potential contractor interest.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Also
as of this writing, as the Program conducts incoming product inventories, it
will also confirm the equipment inventory for that facility in preparation for
the on-site contractual equipment inventory.””<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Simply, how
can this lack of ongoing<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>basic<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>accounting, let alone accountability be
allowed to continue? Do we know where taxpayer funded equipment is or not?
Further, isn’t this an ongoing responsibility of the Business enterprise Program
staff including Administrators and Promotional Agents? Moreover, we all know
these deficiencies in inventory control and management will be sited in the
Michigan Auditor general’s report. Shouldn’t heads roll on these issues rather
than the “glib” response that is made over and over again saying effectively,
“We’re working on it?”</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri>In this
regards is the rumor true that for lack of “due diligence” in tracking and
accounting for equipment inventory that a $7,000 snack machine was recently lost
during the demolition of the Holt rest area? If true just who is accountable?
</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri>I suppose
there will be some hand ringing on this and other excuses and then as per usual
the agency will find a way to blame the operator or people like me for pointing
out the obvious. But, no blame, let alone accountability will go to any agency
staff.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri>I would like
to see some real numbers here and real accounting, and fewer excuses.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT
face=Calibri>Sincerely,</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Paul Joseph
Harcz, Jr.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Cc:
RSA</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Cc:
several</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Official
Board Correspondence State Plate</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri>July 11,
2012</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Paul Joseph
Harcz, Jr.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri>1365 E. Mt.
Morris Rd.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Mt. Morris,
MI 48458</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri>E-mail:
</FONT><A href="mailto:joeharcz@comcast.net"><FONT
face=Calibri>joeharcz@comcast.net</FONT></A></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Re: House of
Reps Illegal Vote</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT
face=Calibri>To:</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Michigan
Commission for the Blind Commissioners Posont, Scott, and Schuck via
e-mail</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Also: Patrick
Cannon, Susan Luzenski via e-mail</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Dear
Commissioners,</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri>I point to
the following quote from the BEP Report in the most recent MCB
Report:</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri>“</FONT><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">During the
temporary closing of the House of Representatives cafeteria, much has been
accomplished to the physical facility, as noted in the March report.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The operator selection process commenced
as recommended by the Committee and as approved by the Board.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>However, based on informal guidance from
the Assistant Attorney General with whom M C B works, the process has been
halted.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The informal guidance
cautions M C B about the use of an alternate, even if temporary, bidding process
and the guidance is currently under review.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri>“<SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Now, I and
several others including terry Eagle and David Robinson informed the Board, the
agency and the EOC that the abrogation of promulgated<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>rules exceeded the legal authority of
the MCB Board, the EOC, and the agency. Now, we’ve plowed untold monies into the
House of Reps facility and it is still not occupied by a blind person mandated
by Public Act 260. This is clearly outrageous but can be resolved simply at the
July 15, 2012 meeting by a simple motion and vote to rescind the vote of
February 8, 2012. Then we simply must demand the agency follows existing rules
relative to that mandated facility.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT
face=Calibri>Respectfully,</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Paul Joseph
Harcz, Jr.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Cc:
several</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P></DIV></BODY></HTML>