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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJanuary 15 2020 Minutes Harry Kim William H. Farr Mayor Acting Executive on Aging County of Hawai‘i OFFICE OF AGING Mayor’s Committee on People with Disabilities Minutes January 15, 2020 Aging and Disability Resource Center, 1055 Kino‘ole Street, Suite 101, Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720-3872 Phone (808) 961-8600 ⬥ Fax (808) 961-8603 ⬥ Email: hcoa@hawaiiantel.net West Hawai‘i Civic Center, 74-5044 Ane Keohokālole Highway, Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi 96740 Phone (808) 323-4390 ⬥ Fax (808) 323-4398 Call to Order: (Secretary/Treasurer) Susan Shirachi called the meeting to start at 10:12 a.m. Members Present: (Secretary/Treasurer) Susan Shirachi, Penny Alcoran, Linda Gonzales, Byron Yogi Members Excused: Pamela Punihaole, Patricia Walters Members Unexcused: Laina Torres County Staff: Jay Yoshimoto (Corporate Counsel), Christina Raine (Office of Aging) Guests Present: William Horace Farr Topic/Agenda Item Discussion Action Roll call conducted, members 1. Welcome and acknowledged their presence. introductions. Quorum met. Motion made to approve minutes 2 Approval of the July Approval of the January 15, 2020 Meeting by Member Gonzales, and 17, 2019, 2019 Minutes Member Yogi seconded. Motion Meeting Minutes passed (4 ayes, 0 nays). Mr. Farr provided the historical 3. Public Testimony context of the Committee, and his on Agenda Items. personal and professional understanding of persons with disabilities. Hawai`i County is an equal opportunity provider and employer. An Area Agency on Aging Letters to Mayor were sent out at 4. Old Business Annual Report to the Mayor, via the the close of 2019 year. Members Office of Aging may request a copy from Ms. Raines. Chair Walters’ letter of 6. New Business Resignation of Chair Patricia Walters and resignation was received on Laina Torres January 14, 2020 by the Mayor’s office and the committee expressed their thanks for her efforts to help fulfill the mission of the residents with disabilities in the County of Hawaii. Member Torres’ membership termination was put into effect due to lack of committee attendance, as per committee by- laws, Article III (5)(D). Initial discussion centered on Nomination and Election of New Officers possible recruitment of new – Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary/Treasurer members which might offer greater opportunities for candidates to fill the two open committee positions. Legal counsel Yoshimoto indicated that should there be no elected leaders for the two vacated positions, the committee members can decide on a temporary measure to create the agenda and write the minutes. The committee efforts should be a collaborative effort and that the voice of the committee is heard. As of January 31, 2020, there was C. Budget Report a balance of $ 2442.61 in the committee budget. Ms. Gonzalez approved the budget, Ms. Alcorn seconded. All in favor (4 ayes, 0 nays. . Committee meetings of the 2019 D. Goal Setting for 2020 term were discussed and the possible options were discussed to address the members concerns of the number of meetings that were postponed or cancelled. 2 Matter will be brought up for discussion at the February 2020 meeting. Ms. Raines to check on the committee meetings for November and December 2020 meeting places and dates. Mr. Farr will be provided a courtesy notice in his capacity of the Interim Director of the Office of Aging. The option to have emergency meetings with appropriate advance public notice is also a possible option for the Executive Committee to consider. In addition that the public within the member’s local vicinities or region, be possibly approached for committee input. The goal and charge of the committee was reviewed. There was a brief review of the subcommittee membership and last actions taken. Although the charge is to advise the Mayor, the amount of feedback may not be substantive enough, relevant, or be articulated succinctly so that it may addressed at the County administrative level. It is more than just listing problem to the Mayor, but to offer reasonable solutions Different communication options were shared as a possible model for gathering community input (e.g., Kupuna caucus). The community model offered by the Department of Heath Developmental Disabilities Council was mentioned because of their focus on specific topic areas (e.g., Health, Aging, Employment, transportation, Housing, Education) taking into consideration of both the East and West sides of Hawaii. The concept of coordination between 3 County and States is a possible way to increase outreach to the public and for the public to provide to the committee. Informal connections that is unique to the “local” style of the Big Island residents appears to be occurring, rather than the formal meeting and information gathering process. The members recognize that it is the human connection between the members and the public (based on familiarity of contact) that will increase the information gathering processes on behalf of the committee. A prior recommendation from his prior Office of Aging Director was mentioned by Member Yogi in which a macro list could be created of all county residents with vendor collection supports to gather the resident information. The possible consideration is to consider the larger issue of what to do with the information that are being gathered on behalf of the committee. Members reflected both an informal process of resolving the issues within the membership, as a form of shared community service. Other members felt that such matters should be included as part of the information that is shared with the Mayor as County matters that have come up and can be collectively addressed as larger issues at the macro level by the Mayor. It was suggested that the communications to the Mayor be consolidated to 1 page and contain consolidated concerns with recommendation. It is recommended that the Executive Committee draft the letters, or to 4 have the Committee collectively draft the letter. It was also suggested that each person comes to the Committee each month with one problem or concern, and possible solution. The members were suggested to be the field agents to gather these concerns from the community. It was suggested that Ms. Bautista be invited to the Committee. As an information for the committee, Corporate Counsel Yoshimoto indicated that Ms. Bautista has resigned. Mr. Yoshimoto also mentioned that another Mayor’s Advisory Committee. That committee made a recommendation to the Mayor’s office to request that the description and the duties of their committee be changed in the County Code. The change was succinct with rationale provided. The Chair then presented the proposal to the County Council and within months the Code was changed to reflect their requested changes. It was proposed that the letter to the Mayor for the month should be crafted at the time of the meeting and be ready for forwarding for Mayoral consideration by the end of the meeting. No announcements shared. 7. Announcements No member of the public present. 8. Vox Populi (Voice of the People) 5 9. Next Meeting February 19, 2020, 10 am to 12 pm at the West Civic Center, Hale G, Kailua Kona, HI 96740 Member Gonzales made a motion 10. Adjournment to adjourn, Member Alcoran seconded the motion. Motion passed (4 ayes, 0 nays). The meeting adjourned at 11:53 am. 6