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2002-02-27 - Commission for Residents with Disabilities - Minutes Board orCommission: ❑ commission on Residents With Disabilities Document Type: 0 A e g nda 0 Minutes Meeting ate: 02/27/2002 Type of Meeting: ❑ Regular Meeting MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BUFFALO GROVE COMMISSION FOR RESIDENTS WITH DISABILITIES MEETING FEBRUARY 27, 2002 I. Call to Order—The meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m. IL Roll Call— Commissioners present included Chairman Kahen, Commissioners Slaw, Verson, Gottlieb, Holm, Weiner, Sussman, and Spallone,. Also present were Trustee Liaison Glover and Staff Liaison Summers. In addition, Susan Bauer and Marilyn Rebnord, of Special Kids, Special Families, were in attendance. III. Approval of Minutes—A motion to approve the minutes of the 1/23 meeting was made by Comm. Slaw and seconded by Comm. Verson. Motion Carried. IV. Chairman's Report— Chairman Kahen reviewed correspondence— a letter distributed to Dr. Richard DuFour, Superintendent of School District 125, noting that handicapped parking stalls near the Stevenson High School sky bridge were missing the required handicapped parking signs. Chairman Kahen noted that he has visited the school since that time and the signs have been replaced. Chairman Kahen informed the commission of correspondence from Police Chief McCann indicating handicapped parking violation tickets were down from 692 in 2000 to 386 in 2001, a 44% drop in tickets issued for this violation. Chairmen Kahen noted that Chief McCann had indicated that this drop was a result in understaffing and that he expects the number to trend back up in 2002 as the Police Department approaches full staffing. Chairman Kahen also reported that N.O.D. now wants a $600/year fee to be a member, whereas it was previously free. Comm. Sussman asked what the commission would get in return for its annual fee, to which Chairman Kahen read the list of services provided. It was agreed that the services offered were not worth the fee and that the commission would not be a member of N.O.D. V. Commissioners Reports— Comm. Sussman stated she had seen a Daily Herald or Chicago Tribune delivery driver using a handicapped parking stall for newspaper delivery. She confronted the driver and asked her not to use the handicapped stalls. Comm. Sussman wrote down the delivery driver number and will report it to the newspaper when she locates the information she recorded. In the meantime Comm. Sussman suggested the commission send letters to both newspapers asking them to inform their delivery drivers not to use the handicapped parking stalls when dropping off newspapers. Comm. Sussman also reported that one local gas station has handicapped logos on their pumps but when handicapped individuals need the service no one is available to assist in pumping the fuel. Comm. Sussman indicated she believes the handicapped logos on the pumps should be removed or covered up. VI. Sub-Committee Reports A. Community Service and Accessibility Sub-Committee— Chairman Kahen discussed preparations for Buffalo Grove Days 2002. He indicated the commission had $350 to spend on a novelty item for the event and that he would like to have something to distribute with the CRD logo on it. Chairman Kahen asked if Staff Liaison Versten still had the computer file of the CRD logo. Comm. Weiner stated he would check in to potential items to be printed and report back, but wanted to know what quantity would be needed. Chairman Kahen indicated an approximate quantity of 300 should be sufficient. Chairman Kahen also discussed an emergency pager program, similar to that in Arlington Heights. He stated Staff Liaison Versten had spoken to Asst. Village Manager Neukirch and that she believed grant money may be available to implement such a program. Comm. Spallone indicated she had identified two persons interested in a support group for parents with disabilities. She stated both were mothers with M.S. She also indicated she would continue to publicize via articles and segments on Channel 6 as well as pass out flyers at Buffalo Grove Days. Comm. Slaw indicated he believed the commission's goals should be updated following each sub-committee report. The commission agreed and suggested that staff should perform this regular update. B. Business Community Awareness Sub-Committee— Comm. Weiner distributed a list of employer and consumer related issues. Employer related issues/mindset included "what's in it for me," and "I just work here." The consumer related issues included on the handout consisted o£ 1. Easy access parking, both quantity and location 2. Assisted shopper programs—with or without a nominal fee 3. Larger size printing on signs and prices 4. Express checkout specifically dedicated to those with disabilities 5. Long lines at movie theaters 6. Gas stations having a wheelchair emblem with no one to help as mentioned in Comm. Sussman's report. The sub-committee also suggested a wheelchair basketball team versus the Village (Fire Dept, Police Dept, Village Board) and possibly getting a disabled comedian to perform at Buffalo Grove Days or another appropriate venue. Comm. Verson will gather information and related costs to determine feasibility. The sub-committee questioned how Buffalo Grove Police Officers currently handle traffic stops for the hearing impaired. Comm. Verson suggested the police carry a card indicating that it was a traffic stop and that the individual should provide a driver's license and registration. Chairman Kahen indicated he would inquire with the police department as to the current system. C. Public Awareness Sub-Committee— Comm. Holm distributed a handout for the sub-committee. The first item on the handout related to ideas for possible Village Newsletter articles. Suggestions included: 1) explaining what handicapped aisles in stores mean, and 2) explaining hidden disabilities and showing sensitivity to the issue. The commission discussed what handicapped aisles in stores meant and decided the exact definition was sufficiently unclear as to avoid this article for the immediate future. The sub-committee asked the remainder of the commission to keep them apprised of projects so that the Public Awareness Sub-Committee may publicize them as appropriate. For example, Comm. Weiner is currently working on a guest speaker, an estate planner for persons with special needs, and Comm. Spallone discussed having a newsletter article devoted to answering disability questions. Chairman Kahen indicated he was concerned that the commission did not have the expertise to answer some specific disability questions and that the column would create a liability situation that was inappropriate for the commission, the remainder of the commission agreed. Charrman Kahen suggested the articles take on a more "Did you know..." format. Comm. Spallone asked for the submittal dates for the newsletters. D. Schools Sub-Committee— Comm. Sussman indicated this sub-committee's goals could be met through coordination with a new grassroots parental support group — Special Kids, Special Families. Susan Bauer and Marilyn Rebnord, of Special Kids, Special Families, were in attendance and described the group, its formation, and efforts to date. They indicated their group was specifically focused on School District 96 but that all parents were welcome to attend. Comm. Slaw suggested Special Kids, Special Families could become one large organization with sub-groups by school district. Ms. Bauer distributed copies of the "Wrightlaw Flyer" and the commission asked if a link to the Wrightlaw webpage could be created from the CRD website. Comm Slaw asked Ms. Bauer and Ms. Rebnord how the school district had responded and to identify the three or four current goals of the group. Ms. Bauer stated the schools seemed to be responding well and that at this time what the group needed most were places to meet and publicity. Ms. Bauer indicated they currently meet at the Vernon Township Library but that the library maintains a strict closing time and often the group is not done meeting by close of the library. She asked if Village facilities could be used for the meetings and if when Village facilities are used there is a requirement that the meetings be open to the public. Comm. Verson questioned if the commission could use Channel 6 to publicize Special Kids, Special Families. Comm. Slaw indicated the commission could also publicize the group via the newsletter and the CRD website. The question arouse of when the commission website would be up and running. Furthermore, Comm. Verson asked why there was not a community bulletin board in the lobby of Village Hall. E. Advocacy/Legislative Sub-Committee— Comm. Slaw discussed the proposed budget for the State of Illinois and specifically, its revised and cut funding for disabilities. He believes the commission should prepare a written opinion and send it to the state. Chairman Kahen indicated that he agreed and added that the commission should get Village Board approval prior to forwarding the letter to the state. Comm. Slaw also suggested that with gubernatorial campaigns currently underway the commission should prepare questions regarding where candidates stand on disabilities issues and submit those questions in writing seeking written responses from the candidates. He suggested publishing the responses in the Village Newsletter or on the CRD website. Trustee Liaison Glover indicated that village correspondence had an obligation to remain apolitical and that perhaps submitting the candidate's responses to the local newspapers for publication would disseminate the candidate's responses in a more appropriate medium. Comm. Slaw asked the commission to consider questions they believe would be appropriate for the candidates and submit those questions to him. VIL Items for Discussion—None VIIL Staff Liaison Report— Staff Liaison Summers gave the commission a brief overview of the Buffalo Grove Fine Arts Invitational to be held at the Buffalo Grove Town Center July 27th and 28th 2002. He indicated the event was being coordinated by the Arts Commission and that a disabilities preview time was being coordinated in the scheduling. Chairman Kahen stated the commission would like to be involved with the event and would like to look into increased handicapped parking for the event and possibly a golf cart shuttle operation to assist those with disabilities. Staff Liaison Summers indicated the existing center parking would be directly adjacent to the artist tents and that the event, as currently proposed, did not obstruct any handicapped parking availability at the center. The commission asked if any handicapped artists had been invited to participate in the event. IX. Questions form the Audience—None. X. Other Business—None XI Adjournment — Motion to adjourn made by Comm. Sussman and seconded by Comm. Holm. Meeting adjourned at 10:00 P.M. Next Meeting: Wednesday, March 20 at 7:OOpm, lower level conference room, at Village Hall (pending room availability).