The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2-24-2016 MinutesWilliam P. Kenoi Mayor C. Kimo Alameda, Ph.D. Executive on Aging HAWAI'I COUNTY OFFICE OF AGING 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 Hawaii Civic Center, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i 96740 Phone (808) 323-4390 Fax (808) 323-4398 Mayor's Committee on People with Disabilities Minutes February 24, 2016 The County of Hawai'i Mayor's Committee on People with Disabilities met at 10:09 a.m. at the Aging and Disability Resource Center at 1055 Kino'ole Street, Hilo, Hawai'i. The meeting was chaired by Laura Tobosa. MEMBERS PRESENT: Laura Tobosa, Chair; Pauline Aughe, Vice Chair; Janice Mancini, Secretary; Sam Nagasawa, Richard Dinges, and Susan Shirachi. ABSENT: Pamela Punihaole, Joshua Pratt, Teri Spinola-Campbell, and Alisa Mitchener. OTHERS PRESENT AND GUESTS: Dr. Kimo Alameda, Aging; J Yoshimoto, Corporation Counsel; Kalen Koga, Aging; Shawon (Syed) Rahman, Associates Professor of Computer Science, Dr. Carl Oguss, Hawaii Dog Psychology Center; Lynise Tarring, Gregg Hummer, and Joel Caplan. CALL TO ORDER Laura Tobosa called the meeting to order at 10:09 a.m. L. Tobosa welcomes both Susan and Richard as new members. Introduction of Committee Members and Guests APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE November 18, 2015, MEETING L. Tobosa called for motion to approve the minutes for November 18, 2015. Pauline. Aughe made a motion to approve the minutes. It was seconded by Richard Dinges. All were in favor. Motion passed. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC (Agenda Items) Lynise Tarring presented a letter to Committee regarding transportation and services for prescription pick-up (see attachment) Kimo Alameda referred Ms. Tarring to Coordinated Services for the Elderly. Sam Nagasawa suggested that some pharmacies provide home delivery. (REVISED on page 3, see underscore) Gregg Hummer had a question about a hotline where people can call for services. K. Alameda- Our call center at 961-8600 would be able to tie you into other potential services. S. Nagasawa expressed concern over people not know what ADRC stands for and Pauline ask about where events are advertised. K. Alameda — ADRC and events are advertised through a tv show on channel 54 every Monday and Tuesday nights 7:30-8:00, through a monthly newsletter called The Silver Bulletin that talks about our services as well as contact numbers. S. Nagasawa asked if there could be extended operating hours for Coordinated Services? K. Alameda explained that there was an issue which had something to do with the Union and liability. Gregg Hummer- Could there be volunteers? K. Alameda responded that we have a great volunteer program with1200 volunteers in our RSVP program. Susan Shirachi wanted to know if there could be integration between approved prescription pickup and delivery to home that they are going to anyway? K. Alameda — Suggested that the Office of Aging could check on that. Pauline Aughe made comment for clarification that L. Tarring currently uses Coordinated Services through ADRC. Her complaint is that the program is too impacted to serve the increasing demand. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Report on the Recreation Ad Hoc Committee. S. Nagasawa read the Mayor's letter dated November 23, 2015 which was in response to the Committee's letter to him on October 21, 2015 requesting improvement of beach access from parking lot to water's edge at Richardson Ocean Park (see attachment) K. Alameda relayed a conversation with a Lifeguard who indicated that the shoreline shifts over the years and that beach access modification is an ongoing issue. R. Dinges- Is there a lot of disabled people trying to access Richardson's? 2 P. Aughe responded that there are a lot of activities that are being held there and so by law they have to make sure those activities are accessible to all people. But if you can't access those activities that are made for those specific people then there is a problem. NEW BUSINESS Swearing in of new members L. Tobosa explained new member roles: • Only an advisory committee to the Mayor • We hope you both will be fully committed. R. Dinges would like to know if it is a requirement to have the meetings posted on the County Calendar. Or posted online 5 days prior to the meeting? J Yoshimoto replied that the posted requirement is required at the Clerk's office and at the meeting sites when feasible. As far as additional postings online, it is up to committee's discretion. I believe R. Dinges requested that these agendas also be posted online as it had been in the past before staffing changes were made. Kalen said he'd look into doing that. R. Dinges wanted to thank the County and himself for assisting with obtaining more handicapped parking spots near the Moho'uli bus terminal. R. Dinges was bothered about some documents (please be specific here: the newspaper article that cites his complaint regarding the effectiveness of the Mayor's Committee for People with Disabilities) that were left at the sign in table. In regards to the newspaper article that was written previously to becoming a Committee member. "Richard's concern "is not a reflection of the committee but of the lengthy process". K. Alameda believed the committee wanted to discuss this prior to the meeting. L. Tobosa- Yes, but we're not allowed to according to J because of the sunshine law. J Yoshimoto explains that the agenda here today does have executive session but that does not satisfy the sunshine law requirements in term of informing the public what we're going to talk about. So my advice to Laura, is that we cannot discuss this because it was not properly agendized, so what Dr. Alameda is saying is those letters that you have there, that everyone has there was part of that discussion that was done in anticipation of having that discussion. Through my advice they decided not to have that discussion because they wanted to be in compliance. R. Dinges- "Put it in the minutes that it stifles people from writing letters to the editor and the first amendment right to speak up and then you speak up and then you come to a meeting and you see it there for you to interpret what it's all about." 3 K. Alameda made a suggestion that the Committee structure should play more of an active role. P. Aughe agreed and suggested that as Committee members, they would like to be kept in the loop, when it comes to emailing everyone. She also suggested that there be a standard operating procedure detailed so that issues relevant to the Mayor's Committee for People with Disabilities are handled appropriately. J Yoshimoto mentioned, when doing group emails, make sure it's not board business being discussed outside of the board meeting because that is another sunshine law issue. All of that should happen here in a meeting where the public is noticed. Dr. Carl Oguss wanted to know what is the process for becoming a member of the committee? L. Tobosa explained the process. L. Tobosa thanked K. Alameda for his information and agreed that the committee should take more responsibility. REPORT OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII EQUAL OPPORTUNITY OFFICER AND ADA COORDINATOR, TERI SPINOLA-CAMPBELL L. Tobosa — No report from Teri Spinola-Campbell. REPORT FROM COUNTY OF HAWAII RECREATION SPECIALIST, ALISA MITCHENER L. Tobosa- The report from Alisa Mitchener was sent along with the minutes. ANNOUNCEMENTS R. Dinges said that he will look into several pharmacies and see what their policies are on deliveries and pickups and report back to everyone next month. P. Aughe mentioned that Miss Wheelchair America is coming April 19 -24th and would like to have her as a guest speaker on April 20tH P. Aughe made a motion to make Miss Wheelchair America as a guest speaker on the April 20th meeting. R. Dinges seconds. All in favor, Motion carried. 4 K. Alameda asks the other public members to speak Joel Caplan introduces himself and explains that he is looking for some resources for his dear friend who is moving into a stage of being disabled. K. Alameda informed Joel that we have an options counselor who can hear your story and can help find some resources for you. Dr. Carl Oguss wants to get the issue of doing vocational training in providing pet related services on the agenda of future meetings. He would like to do a future presentation regarding working with and training dogs. Dr. Shawon Rahman, who is a computer scientist, offered his services. as a tech guy. Per request Dr. Shawon's information is attached R. Dinges questioned about having the meeting on the Westside also, possibly car pooling? K. Alameda responded that we would need wheelchair accessible vans J Yoshimoto mentioned video conferencing might be a possibility. P. Aughe added that Skype would work as well as done in the past. NEXT MEETING The next meeting will be on March 23`d. Kalen will do a follow up on the room availability. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned 11:05. Respectfully submitted, Kalen Koga Transcriber 5