HomeMy WebLinkAboutGRAAC - 2004-01-29
GRAND RIVER ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Thursday January 29, 2004 CITY OF KITCHENER
PRESENT: Gail Brunsden, Grace Niezen, Jay Oswald, Laura Fiorilla, Dan
LaJoie, Carol Moogk-Soulis, Sharon Ward-Zeller, Kathy Glasser, Susan Harkins, Taposhi
Batabyal, Brad Ullner, James Hunsberger Karen Panchaud (Interpreter), Deb Bergey, Lori Fioze,
Christine Broughton, Bart Toby, Valrie Hummel, Mayor Strauss, Councillor Ron Hackett,
Councillor Jane Mitchell, Kelly Steiss, Jo-Ann Hutchison, Lori Ludwig, Margaret Sanderson,
Linda Pretty (Recorder)
REGRETS: Barbara Martin, Councillor Christina Weylie, Gerald Moore, Councillor Susan Foxton,
Councillor Ruby, Councillor Ian McLean Weber
1. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS – Lori Ludwig
Prior to reviewing the agenda, Lori Ludwig welcomed everyone to the meeting and noted
that six municipalities were represented at this first meeting of GRAAC. Lori invited
committee members to introduce themselves and give a brief comment on their
background. Lori reminded members to be sensitive to the Interpreter’s need to have
only one person speak at a time.
Members were asked to advise Linda if they required any form of accommodation or
alternate formats of written materials.
2.REVIEW OF TERMS OF REFERENCE – Deb Bergey
An orientation/resource binder was distributed to each member of GRAAC. Included in
the binder was copy of the GRAAC Terms of Reference, a document that was drafted by
the Interim Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) Executive Committee of which James
Hunsberger and Brad Ullner took part. Deb reviewed and clarified the Terms of
Reference and highlighted that:
?One of the mandates of GRAAC is to act in an advisory capacity to municipalities
regarding the ODA.
?Budget dollars will be set aside each year and will need to be authorized by all
Councils involved with GRAAC.
?GRAAC will be comprised of 11-15 voting volunteer members appointed by the
municipal Councils. The majority of the members must be persons with a disability.
Currently, the committee has 13 voting members (staffs will not be able to vote).
?Conflict of Interest Policy: GRAAC will use the policy adopted by the Region for now.
The policy can be changed at any time, if necessary.
?Members will be reimbursed for parking at City Hall and for Mobility Plus
transportation. When necessary, tokens/tickets, etc., will be provided at the
meetings.
3.ASSIGNING TERMS OF APPOINTMENT TO COMMITTEE – M. Sanderson
It is common practice for members of Committees of Council to be assigned a term for
their appointment to said committee. The terms of the initial committee are staggered,
(ie. 1, 2 and 3 years) to avoid expiry of terms for all members at the same time.
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GRAND RIVER ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Thursday January 29, 2004
The maximum amount of time for initial appointees should not be more than eight
continuous years. Therefore, staff felt that a “lottery” process to determine length of
term for current GRAAC members would be the most equitable way to allot a term.
Members were asked to randomly choose a slip of paper on which was written a length
of term (there were four three-year terms; four two-year terms and five one-year terms).
?Grace Neizen asked for a one-year term. Following is a list of the members and the
term they selected:
One-Year Term Two-Year Term Three-Year Term
Sharon Ward-Zeller Gail Brunsdon Brad Ullner
Carol Moogk-Soulis Jay Oswald Dan LaJoie
Grace Neizen Taposhi Batabyal Laura Fiorilla
Susan Harkins Barbara Martin Kathy Glasser
James Hunsberger
?If a position becomes vacant, the committee can advertise for new members.
?The minimum number of members required is eleven.
?The names of GRAAC members and their length of term will be sent to the respective
Clerk’s Department in their municipality.
4.ROLE/DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES OF CHAIRPERSON – Margaret Sanderson
?Margaret circulated a copy of “Committee Chair – Description of Duties” and
suggested that this document be kept in mind when appointing a Chair for the new
committee.
?A Chair will be elected annually at the first meeting of the new year.
?Explanation referring to #10: The Chair is unable to put motions forward. Rather,
the Chair will need to negotiate with Co-Chair/Vice-Chair when a motion is to be put
forward on their behalf.
?A suggestion was made to have a Vice-Chair or two Co-Chairs.
?Members were asked to send regrets to Linda if they cannot attend a meeting. In
Linda’s absence, members will contact the Chair of the committee.
?If a committee member is absent for three consecutive meetings without notice or
justifiable reason, their membership will be reviewed by the Committee.
?As noted in agenda Item #2, GRAAC will refer to the existing Conflict of Interest
policy, which can be modified for this committee as determined by the municipalities
involved.
?There was no specific number of cross-disabilities requested for the AAC; GRAAC is an
advisory body across the Region. Staff and Councils feel the GRAAC has appropriate
cross-disability representation and having the joint membership will ensure we
collaborate efforts across all participating municipalities.
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GRAND RIVER ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Thursday January 29, 2004
ACTION:
(i)Members were asked to submit their names, resumes, and why they want
to be Chair, to Linda if they are interested in the position of Chair of
GRAAC.
(ii)Members were asked to consider whether, in their opinion, it would be
advisable for GRAAC to have a Chair and a Vice-Chair or Co-Chairs.
5. DETERMINING DATE, TIME AND LOCATION OF MEETINGS – Bart Toby
Bart circulated a questionnaire that he asked members to fill out and return to him with
the intention to determine a preference of day, time and location of GRAAC meeting.
The information will be compiled and a day, time and location will be chosen based on
the requests of the majority of members.
ACTION:
GRAAC members were asked to return the questionnaires to Bart by February
10.
6. REVIEW OF RESOURCE BINDER – Deb Bergey
Deb reviewed the information in the Resource Binder that had been distributed to
members earlier in the meeting. The binder can be used to store minutes from
meetings, etc. Materials in the binder are available in alternate format, if so required.
7. OTHER BUSINESS
The Region is holding an Open House on February 3 in Waterloo and on February 10 in
Cambridge, to present the Accessibility Plan to the public and ask for feedback on the
direction for the coming year.
8. NEXT MEETING
No further meetings have been scheduled. Bart will compile the information and
members will be advised of the outcome.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
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