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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJuly 19, 2024 Minutes Deanna S. Sako Managing Director Mitchell D. Roth Mayor Robert H. Command Deputy Managing Director County of Hawai‘i Office of the Mayor 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603  Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720  (808) 961-8211  Fax (808) 961-6553 KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokālole Hwy., Bldg C  Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i 96740 (808) 323-4444  Fax (808) 323-4440 Mayor’s Committee on People with Disabilities Hawai’i County Building Council Chambers and via Zoom 25 Aupuni Street, Room 1401, Hilo Hawai’i 96720 Friday, July 19, 2024 Minutes 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting of the Mayor’s Committee on People with Disabilities was called to order at 12:01 P.M. in the Hawai’i County Building Council Chambers and via Zoom, 25 Aupuni Street, Room 1401, Hilo, Hawai’i 96720, by Chair Michelle Hiraishi. 2. ROLL CALL, QUORUM Committee Members Present: Michelle Hiraishi, Chair Sandra Schuffler, Secretary Robert Efford, Committee Member ReBecca Bennett, Committee Member Committee Members Attending by Zoom: Zahava Zaidoff, Committee Member Committee Members Absent & Excused: Tiffany Dela Cruz, Committee Member Christen Zulli, Vice Chair Julia Althoff, Committee Member Hawaii County Staff Present: Inha Kandatsu Kang, Deputy Corporation Counsel Meredith Catalini, Office of Aging Pomaika’i Bartolome, Mayor’s Office Lori Enomoto, Office of Aging Interpreting Services (ASL) Present: Kaufmann Interpreting Services County of Hawai‘i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. MAYOR’S COMMITTEE ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITES Friday, July 19, 2024 Roll call conducted; members acknowledged by Chair Michelle Hiraishi. A quorum was present. 3. APPROVAL OF THE March 15, 2024 MAYOR’S COMMITTEE ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITES MEETING MINUTES Motion made by Committee Member Zahava Zaidoff to approve the March 15, 2024, meeting minutes. Secretary Sandra Schuffler seconded the motion. No discussion. 5 votes Aye, 0 votes Nay. 4. APPROVAL OF THE May 17, 2024 MAYOR’S COMMITTEE ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITES MEETING MINUTES Motion made by Secretary Sandra Schuffler to move to the next agenda item, and agenda item #4 be continued to a later date. Committee Member ReBecca Bennett seconded the motion. No discussion. 5 votes Aye, 0 votes Nay. 5. PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON AGENDA ITEMS No testimony from members of the public. 6. INTRODUCTION OF INDIVIDUAL MAYOR’S COMMITTEE ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES MEMBERS Chair Michelle Hiraishi explained, in response to a previous request from the public to know more about the committee members, Chair Hiraishi asked each committee member to introduce themselves. Chair Michelle Hiraishi shared about having a special needs son, niece, and nephew, and how working with that population is near and dear to her heart. Chair Hiraishi expressed how the committee gives her an opportunity to have a voice for individuals with disabilities, in Hawai’i County. Secretary Sandra Schuffler shared about her special needs son, and it being near and dear to her heart to advocate and speak for individuals with disabilities. Committee Member Zahava Zaidoff spoke about being disabled and hoping that being on the Committee will help raise awareness about the systemic ableism that exists within Government. Committee Member Robbert Efford shared about being the CEO of the Arc of th Hilo who is celebrating their 70 anniversary this year, and being passionate about opening doors for youth and adults with developmental disabilities. Committee Member Efford shared that the Arc was the perfect landing spot to help rural youth find employment, housing, and community inclusion opportunities. 2 County of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. MAYOR’S COMMITTEE ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITES Friday, July 19, 2024 Committee Member ReBecca Bennett shared about being involved with the Big Island Deaf Club for four years and is an advocate for the d/DEAF/HARD- OF-HEARING for all individuals babies though adulthood. Information and Assistance Clerk Lori Enomoto explained her clerical role with the Mayor’s Committee on People with Disabilities to post the agenda, assist the committee with typing the minutes, and assisting with communication between the committee members and County staff. Executive on Aging William Horace Farr shared his appreciation and support for the Mayor’s Committee on People with Disabilities and thanked everyone for being there. Deputy Corporation Counsel Inha Kandatsu Kang shared about her role as the new Deputy Corporation Counsel to the Mayor’s Committee on People with Disabilities and being excited about working with the committee and for members to reach out at any time. 7. EMPLOYMENT AND REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR EMPLOYEES WITH DISABILITIES PRESENTATION Chair Michelle Hiraishi explained that Committee Member Julia Althoff had done a presentation regarding employment and reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities in a previous meeting, so a copy of the PowerPoint presentation is being provided to all committee members and members of the public at this meeting as well as on the Hawai’i County website. 8. COMMITTEE MEETING AT UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI’I; DISCUSSION Chair Michelle Hiraishi explained there was a request from a member of the public to Corporation Counsel to potentially hold a committee meeting at the University of Hawai’i, and to involve some of the University students with disabilities in civic engagement. Secretary Sandra Shuffler exclaimed the meeting at the University is a great idea and will be in touch with the University and Disability Council in another capacity. Committee Member Zahava Zaidoff asked for clarification as to why a committee meeting would need to be held at the University of Hawai’i campus since the committee meetings that are held in Hilo are relatively close to the campus and there is paratransit for individuals who want to attend the meeting and Zoom. Chair Michelle Hiraishi explained that there will be more clarification at the next meeting regarding this agenda item, then the item will be put to the committee for a vote, if in fact the committee will honor the request for a meeting to be held at the University of Hawai’i. 3 County of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. MAYOR’S COMMITTEE ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITES Friday, July 19, 2024 Committee Member Zahava Zaidoff asked if there will be time for discussion at the next meeting before the vote. Chair Michelle Hiraishi explained the item will be on the next meetings agenda and there will be time for discussion. 9. ANNUAL REPORT TO THE MAYOR; DISCUSSION Chair Michelle Hiraishi informed the committee that the final draft of the Annual Report to the Mayor is due in January, so by November the report must be in draft form for discussion. Chair Hiraishi suggested the committee members start thinking about items to include in the report to the Mayor. 10. ELECTION OF OFFICERS Chair Michelle Hiraishi asked committee members to look at page 10 and 11 of their MCPD Bylaws to view the description and the Duties of Officers. Chair Hiraishi explained the one year commitment to the committee and the three Officer positions being chair, vice-chair, and secretary/treasurer. Corporation Counsel Inha Kandatsu Kang explained under Article IV Section 2 and Section 6 of the MCPD Bylaws states: The term of elected officers (i.e., chair, vice-chair, secretary/treasurer) shall be one fiscal year from July 1st through June 30th. Elected officers shall be limited to two consecutive terms in the same position. Chair Michelle Hiraishi explained that this is the committees first meeting under the new fiscal year for the County, so Chair Hiraishi will continue to run this meeting as the current chairperson, and the new chairperson will run the next meeting. Chair Hiraishi asked if any of the committee members were interested in being the chairperson for the Mayor’s Committee on People with Disabilities. Secretary Sandra Schuffler expressed what an awesome job Chair Hiraishi does, and they love having her as the committee chair. Committee Member ReBecca Bennett seconded the previous statement by Secretary Sandra Schuffler. Chair Michelle Hiraishi accepted the chairperson position for the new fiscal year. Chair Michelle Hiraishi asked the committee and Corporation Counsel if the vote for vice-chair and secretary/treasurer can be tabled, or table the agenda item because there were many committee members that were unable to attend this meeting. 4 County of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. MAYOR’S COMMITTEE ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITES Friday, July 19, 2024 Corporation Counsel Inha Kandatsu Kang explained that it would be up to the committee to table the agenda item. Secretary Sandra Schuffler made a motion to table the election of the remainder of officers aside from the chairperson, due to other committee members expressing interest in being officers. Committee Member ReBecca Bennett seconded the motion. No discussion. 5 votes Aye, 0 votes nay. Motion made by Committee Member ReBecca Bennett for Chair Michelle Hiraishi to continue to assume role as chair. Secretary Sandra Schuffler seconded the motion. No discussion. 5 votes Ayes, 0 votes nay. 11. NEXT MEETING AGENDA ITEMS; DISCUSSION Committee Meeting at University of Hawai’i Election of Officers Annual Report to Mayor Draft Topics 12. ANNOUNCEMENTS Chair Michelle Hiraishi announced the next Mayor’s Committee on People with Disabilities meeting will be: Friday, September 13, 2024 at 11:00 A.M. West Hawaii Civic Center, Council Chambers A 75-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740 13. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Committee Member ReBecca Bennett to adjourn the meeting. Secretary Sandra Schuffler seconded the motion. No discussion. 5 votes Aye, 0 votes Nay. The meeting was adjourned by Chair Michelle Hiraishi at 12:32 PM. 5 County of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.