GOVERNOR S COUNCIL ON REHABILITATION AND EMPLOYMENT OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AUDIO VISUAL MEETING MINUTES Grant Sawyer Bldg., 555 E. Washington, Room 4412, Las Vegas, NV State Legislature, Room 3143, Carson City, NV MEMBERS PRESENT Barbara Cegavske Gary Cottino Bill Murphy Elaine Kochevar Karla McComb Margaret Moroun-Ferri Charlott Serline Dr. Tom Venardos Myrn Wiebe GUESTS PRESENT Robin Renshaw, NV PEP EXHIBITS Meeting Minutes, Nov. 14, 2003 Draft Annual Report to RSA MEMBERS ABSENT Bruce Berman Kathryn Cordell Robert Desruisseaux John Giefer Ed Guthrie Denyse Lizer Jean Peyton Jim Skaggs Gillian Wells Veronica Wilson STAFF PRESENT Kitti Barth, Chief, ODEP Libby Jones, Deputy Director Donna Sanders, Admin. Asst. III Cecilia Colling, Chief, Operations CALL TO ORDER, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND ROLL CALL Karla McComb, Chair, called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m. After the reading of the roll call, it was noted there were not enough members in attendance to have a quorum. VERIFICATION OF POSTING Kitti Barth verified that the notices had been posted on the web site and sent to all of the relevant agencies. INTRODUCTIONS AND WELCOME Karla McComb stated for the record, according to the bylaws, if anyone has missed two meetings in a row without a valid excuse, they are to be removed unless the excuse can be
clarified. Ms. McComb said upon reviewing the list of attendees, it had been determined that Bill Murphy had missed two consecutive meetings. A letter was sent to Mr. Murphy Governor s Council on Rehabilitation and Employment of People with Disabilities Page Two and the issue was discussed. Karla McComb remarked Mr. Murphy provided to Kitti Barth an explanation of the absences and Ms. McComb declared the absences to be valid. Karla McComb stated she was happy to have Mr. Murphy continue as a member of the GCREPD Council. Mr. Murphy thanked Ms. McComb. Robin Renshaw of NV Pep came into the meeting and stated he was subbing for Gillian Wells. Ms. McComb informed the Council Gillian Wells was on her honeymoon and expressed good wishes for Ms. Wells. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 14, 2003 Due to not having a quorum, the minutes were not reviewed or approved. PUBLIC COMMENTS There were no public comments. ANNUAL REPORT TO RSA DRAFT REVIEW Karla McComb asked the Council members if there were any comments or questions. There were none. Libby Jones remarked she was not sure whether the report required a vote. Ms McComb stated if there should be a quorum, the Council would go ahead and have a vote for the record. FOLLOW-UP TO RURAL TRANSPORTATION ISSUES Elaine Kochevar said she had been in a meeting with Sandi McGrew and members of the Transportation Council, and at the previous Council meeting, it had been reported there were no federal funds available. That report was incorrect. Ms. Kochevar stated the federal funds have come through, however, the problem is with the matching funds, as there are no state dollars allocated for transportation in Nevada. Specifically, there is no budget line item. Ms. Kochevar stated when Sandi McGrew was back in Washington, D.C., Sandi was offered $5 million, but there were no matching funds. Elaine Kochevar indicated the focus of the Council and all other groups that are supporting this effort need to be developing a request to submit in July for the next Legislative session to include transportation dollars for the State of Nevada.
Continuing, Ms. Kochevar stated Humboldt County has been able to come up with a match from several different organizations, primarily because in-kind can be considered. Governor s Council on Rehabilitation and Employment of People with Disabilities Page Three Rural Transportation Issues: (Continued) However, there are several other rural communities that have not been as fortunate and still are in distress. Kitti Barth remarked she had contacted Sandi McGrew Stanio. Ms. Stanio had moved from the Transit Planning portion of the NDOT and moved into program development. Mr. Jim Mallery will be taking Sandi s place. The financial person at NDOT is Sydney Schlachta. Ms. Barth asked Elaine to bring Sandi or whomever she thinks is the appropriate person to the next Council meeting. Karla McComb asked Barbara Cegavske if there was anything she could help with from a legislative standpoint. Ms. Cegavske stated she would call her staff since she was in the legislative building and have someone contact Kitti Barth. Barbara Cegavske then excused herself to contact the legislative staff. Libby Jones indicated the transportation issue could be placed on the agenda for the February meeting. Karla McComb agreed and asked if this would work for Elaine Kochevar. Ms. Kochevar answered in the affirmative. Elaine Kochevar remarked the state match is usually requested at 20 percent, and since 87 percent of the land in the State of Nevada is owned by the federal government the request for the percentage for matching funds in the State of Nevada could possibly be 10 percent or even lower due to the high percentage of federal land. UPDATE ON JANUARY 13, 2004 ORIENTATION Libby Jones introduced Margaret Moroun the new Administrator for the Client Assistance Program (CAP). Ms. Moroun will be located in southern Nevada. Karla McComb requested Margaret Moroun to explain her position. Ms. Moroun replied the Client Assistance Program is mandated through the Rehabilitation Act that requires assistance and advocacy for people who are eligible for or participating in Vocational Rehabilitation Services.
Libby Jones announced Dr. Mick Coleman would be joining DETR on Monday, December 8, 2003 as the new Rehabilitation Administrator. Ms. Jones remarked the Council Orientation will be on Tuesday, January 13, 2004 in the Rehabilitation Office on Belrose Street. In addition, there will be a potluck lunch in order to have exchange of information and get to know one another and the rehabilitation staff. Governor s Council on Rehabilitation and Employment of People with Disabilities Page Four Libby Jones said if there are any agenda items you would like to see on the Orientation agenda, please contact Kitti Barth. Dr. Mick Coleman will be in attendance and the Orientation meeting will start at 9:30 AM. Karla McComb thanked Libby Jones for her contributions. Ms. McComb asked Barbara Cegavske if she had any information for the Council. Ms. Cegavske replied she had contacted Susan Scholley, Sr. Research Analyst, who staffs the disability interim study. After the Council meeting, Ms. Scholley would meet with Kitti Barth. NEXT MEETING ITEMS AND DATE (FEBRUARY 13, 2004) Karla McComb asked if there were any agenda items for the next meeting to please contact her. Elaine Kochevar said she would like to have the Transportation issue on the agenda for the February 13, 2004 meeting. Ms. Kochevar also requested that the awards program be on the agenda, per Jim Skaggs request. Kitti Barth remarked the awards program had been withdrawn, but will be addressed in the Orientation meeting and on February 13, 2004. Ms. McComb stated due to there not being a quorum, minutes of the November 14, 2003 meeting be placed on the February 13, 2004 agenda. Barbara Cegavske asked Karla McComb about being in contact with Dina Titus, the interim Chair of Disabilities. Ms. Cegavske asked whether the Council reports on a regular basis to the legislative committee on disabilities. Ms. McComb replied she had not been contacted on this subject. Barbara Cegavske asked if she could have her staff prepare a report for the February meeting. Ms. McComb said she would like to be made aware of the meetings on disabilities as she would like to attend. Barbara Cegavske said when Susan Scholley comes to visit Kitti Barth, please inform Susan the Chair of the GCREPD Council would appreciate being included in the dates, agendas etc., for the interim legislative meetings on disabilities.
Libby Jones remarked that to her knowledge, the Council has not been asked to do a presentation. Ms. Jones indicated if time permitted, it would be good for the Council to present some information. Barbara Cegavske answered she will talk to Dina Titus in regard to giving a presentation. Karla McComb indicated it would be great to have the two groups interact. Governor s Council on Rehabilitation And Employment of People with Disabilities Page Five NEXT MEETING ITEMS AND DATE (FEBRUARY 13, 2004) Ms McComb stated she also would like to see the Council interact with the Workforce Investment Subcommittee on Disabilities. Libby Jones remarked that at the last Workforce Investment meeting, Senator Chowning requested they be involved. Ms. Jones said the Council could double back to them to have a presentation. Barbara Cegavske requested Kitti Barth to continue the partnership. Karla McComb thanked Barbara Cegavske and stated it is a matter of keeping the areas of information open to everyone. ADJOURNMENT Karla McComb asked for a motion to adjourn. The motion was made by Elaine Kochevar, seconded by Gary Cottino and passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:35 AM. Recorded by: Denise Phipps, Captions Unlimited of Nevada Edited by: Kitti Barth, Chief, Office of Disability Employment Policy Approved by:
Karla McComb, Chair Gary Cottino, Vice Chair