2003-01-22 - Commission for Residents with Disabilities - Minutes Board or Commission: ❑ Commission on Residents With Disabilities
Document Type: 0 A e
g nda 0 Minutes
Meeting ate: 01/22/2003
Type of Meeting: ❑ Regular Meeting
MINUTES OF THE BUFFALO GROVE COMMISSION
FOR RESIDENTS WITH DISABILITIES MEETING
January 22, 2003
I. Call to Order—The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.
IL Roll Call—Commissioners present included Chairman Kahen, Commissioners Chorney,
Sussman,Duinrauf, Holm, Verson, Klassman, and Weiner. Also present were Trustee liaison Berman,
Trustee liaison Braiman, and staff liaison Stunners.
III. Approval of Minutes—A motion to approve the ininutes of the 12/18/02 meeting was made by
Comm. Verson and seconded by Comm. Sussman. Motion Carried.
IV. Chairman's Report—Chairman Kahen read and accepted the resignation of Comm. Spallone.
The commission inquired if it was the Village's practice for the Village President to issue a proclamation
to resigning members of various commissions. Chairman Kahen noted that Comm. Spallone had only
served 1 '/2 years on the commission and it may be more appropriate to issue, instead, a letter of thanks
on commission letterhead.
Chairman Kahen noted that follow up was being conducted for the Village resident on Le Jardin
Court who was seeking assistance with obtaining perinission to modify the curb cut at her
driveway to make it wheelchair accessible.
Chairman Kahen informed the commission of an inquiry he received from a Village resident on
Lockwood seeking assistance in locating a house in the village that was built to be accessible.
Building Commissioner Edward Schar had informed Chairman Kahen that no single faintly
housing developments in the village were originally built to accessible standards and that he has
seen no specific perinits related to retrofitting homes to become accessible. Chairman Kahen
referred the resident to Lake County Center for Independent Living.
V. Comm. Verson stated she was looking into the opportunity to have wheelchair basketball at the
Buffalo Grove Days Fun and Food Program again in 2003. She stated that RIC Express had concerns
with parking at the event in 2002. Other cominissioners indicated parking was available directly next to
the tent, even though many of the players parked near the police station. If the program proceeds for
2003 a better effort will be made to inform the RIC Express of the closest parking option, and the event
will be scheduled to occur just after Fun and Food when Buffalo Grove Days is open to the general
public to increase visibility of the event.
VI. Sub-Committee Reports—
Community Service and jccessibility Sub-Committee — Chairman Kahen stated it had been
determined during 2002 that the emergency pager program was not feasible via the village due
to cost and staffing constraints. Trustee Braiman suggested the commission consider making
the public aware that the service is available via Northwest Central Dispatch and provide
contact information as appropriate. Trustee Berman echoed those sentiments and explained the
current budget constraints; he suggested the commission investigate the Northwest Central
Dispatch system and inform the public regarding their options.
Business/Community jwareness Sub-Committee - Comm. Weiner updated the commission on the
status of the "Assisted Shopper" program inquires at local retail establishments. Walgreens,
Dominick's, and Jewel have all informed him they have an informal program in place should a
customer request assistance but do not advertise the service. The manager at Walgreens stated
it was a corporate decision and Comm. Weiner was informed he would receive a written
response from Walgreens corporate office in Deerfield. Ken William at Dominick's stated he
will take the issue up with management , and the District Manager at Jewel gave Comm.
Weiner a case number and stated Comm. Weiner could call to follow up on the inquiry.
Public Jwareness Sub-Committee - Comm. Holm suggested that if the commission is again
involved in the Buffalo Grove Fine Arts Invitational that the artists should include some
individuals with disabilities. She noted an email which she had sent referencing two artists with
disabilities which she had found searching on the internet. Trustee Braiman noted that the
Village is providing some services to Amdur Productions for this years event, but is not
participating in the funding as it did for the first year. Chairman Kahen will contact Amy
Amdur regarding having disabled artists at the event.
Schools Sub-Committee- No Report.
Legislative Sub-Committee- No report.
VII. Items for Discussion—
Review of 2003 Goals / Sub-Committee's Progress — Chairman Kahen asked for additions,
deletions, or revisions to goals as the commission establishes its goals for calendar year 2003.
Chairman Kahen stated newly appointed Comm. Morton wanted to revisit the idea of a lending
closet in 2003. Comm. Klassman suggested increasing commission visibility by having a booth
at a Chamber of Commerce Luncheon. Other commissioners commented they were primarily
still working on previous goals and would like to carry them forward for 2003.
Review of Draft Survey / Survey Tasks — Fire Department Liaison Sweica informed the
commission of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) which relates
to whom has accessibility to medical information and how it may be used. This federal
legislation will take effect April 14 and will have far reaching impacts. Some implication to the
proposed commission survey are that information could not be sent back with water bills,
instead requiring a separate envelope sent to a locked box accessible only to a secure and
approved individual. Furthermore, the survey would need to include a detailed waiver
indicating who is collecting the information and what specifically the information will be used
for. Further research will be required to determine the feasibility and proper mechanism to
proceed with the disabilities survey.
Buddy Baseball — Chairman Kahen and Comm. Klassman are meeting next Wednesday with
Mike Rylko, Executive Director of the Park District, to determine size and feasibility of a
rubberized surfaced field for Buddy Baseball. Staff Liaison Versten has sent inquires to
approximately 15 companies that provide the surfacing and it appears it may be prohibitively
expensive at this time.
VIII. Staff Liaison Report
Jmbulance Lockdowns — Fire Department Liaison Sweica informed the commission that he was
still reviewing certain aspects of ambulance lockdowns for wheelchairs for disabled individuals
that cannot be transported on a stretcher. He reported that they had a new regional coordinator
who was very detail oriented and that such was delaying the process. In the interim he
indicated a wheelchair could be secured via the side bulkhead seatbelt, if necessary.
Comments on Proposed Letter to Schools - Fire Department Liaison Sweica provided a list from
schools of students with physical disabilities that would require assistance in an emergency
evacuation. It was noted that in the future the Fire Department could collect this information
during fire drills at the schools which are performed during the first two months of the academic
year.
IX. Other Business—None.
X. Adjournment — Motion to adjourn made by Commissioner Chorney and seconded by
Commissioner Verson. Meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
Next Meeting:
Wednesday, February 26th, 2003 at 7:00pm,lower level conference room, at Village Hall.