Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-DAC-2010-07-07DISABILITY ADVISORY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Regular Meeting 12:15 p.m. July 7, 2010 PRESENT: DAC Chair — Roberts DAC Vice Chair - Gizewski DAC Members: David McElrath George Eberhardt Erin Sember Andrew Rappaport Alderperson Rooker Tompkins County 2 -1 -1 Human Coalition Representative — Ed Swayze Information Management Specialist — Myers OTHERS PRESENT: Director of Human Resources — Schelley Michell -Nunn EXCUSED: Otis Jackson Jason Anderson Allen Walters Siobhan Whalen APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approval of the June 2, 2010 Disability Advisory Council Meeting Minutes — Resolution By DAC Member Gizewski: Seconded by DAC Member McElrath RESOLVED, That the minutes of the June 2, 2010 Disability Advisory Council meeting be approved with noted corrections. Carried Unanimously Updates: Chair Roberts updated the Council on the following items: Accessibility Map — he is working with City Clerk Holcomb and Vicki Taylor from the Downtown Ithaca Alliance who is interested in an accessibility map as well to see what information is already available to coordinate efforts to create the map. Parking Committee — he and Marcia Lynch met with representatives from Cornell University, Ithaca College, and TC3 about implementing an education campaign on handicap parking on those campuses and it looks very good. He noted that those representatives would prefer that the campaign be done through e -mail and electronic format rather than paper. Chair Roberts announced a special meeting of Common Council, the Board of Public Works, and other city boards that would take place today at 7:00 p.m. in Common Council Chambers on the bridge barriers. He encouraged members to attend the meeting. He noted that if given an opportunity he would speak on behalf of the DAC in support of the working to find a solution that would include means restriction on the bridges. Department of Human Resources Overview: Director of Human Resources Schelley Michell -Nunn provided an overview of the department to the Council as follows: The Human Resources department works closely with all city employees. They also work on recruitment, retention, employee relations, labor negotiations, civil service administration, and provide support to the Workforce Diversity Advisory Committee. In 2004, Common Council renamed the affirmative action committee to the current Workforce Diversity Advisory Committee. She distributed a copy of the Workforce Diversity Plan to Council members for their information. July 7, 2010 Director of Human Resources Michell -Nunn explained that Mayor Peterson instructed all departments to determine a diversity competency goal and based on that the department would look at itself for any weaknesses and needs for development. She further explained that all city departments have submitted a key component for diversity and some departments are progressing better than others and some not as fast as the Workforce Diversity Committee would like to see. She reviewed the attributes of the diversity plan in more detail and why the City needs these attributes in order to meet its diversity goals. She stated that all city departments have rotated through the Workforce Diversity Advisory Committee to set their goals and the committee now needs them to come back through to see how they are progressing. She further stated that all departments also need to rotate through the City Administration Committee to provide regular updates as well. Chair Roberts stated that regarding the disability attribute that most departments have a consciousness for accessibilities. He knows that there are also special accommodations that need to be made under civil service rules as well. He knows that employees are appreciative of these special accommodations. He noted that the City Clerk's office has worked with the DAC to incorporate accommodations for accessibility on their special event permit applications. He further explained that part of the surcharge for handicap parking violations goes to the County for education purposes and a small amount goes to police departments for education for employees as they interact with the public to educate them on handicap parking rules. He also noted that it is nice to hear the good response that people get when they ask for special accommodations. He stated that he considers disability as part of people's personalities. He noted that it is important to him that the most updated language be used for educational and day to day interactions as well. Director of Human Resources Michell -Nunn stated that various representatives come to speak at senior staff meetings about how to work with people with disabilities. There are often "Brain Teaser" trainings on diversity offered for all city staff and some departments will bring in special speakers to perform trainings. Vice Chair Gizewski stated that he works at Challenge where there are mandatory trainings for staff on incident reporting, updated language, etc. and he wondered whether the City has any written polices in place for these types of training. Director of Human Resources Michell -Nunn responded that the city does not have a lot of training taking place yet, but it is on the radar to do city -wide diversity training. She noted that because of the way the budget is there is not a mandatory comprehensive training program in place for city employees. Discussion followed on the floor regarding the types of trainings offered, who is able to attend them, and budget constraints. Several members offered to assist the human resources department in developing training and to provide updated information as needed. DAC Member Sember expressed her interest in serving on the Workforce Diversity Advisory Council. Further discussion followed on the floor regarding providing training to administrative staff on the telephone relay system. Chair Roberts noted that representatives from Finger Lakes Independence Center would be happy to assist the city in providing that training, as well as others if needed. Discussion also followed on the floor regarding recruitment efforts to reach the most diverse candidates as possible as well as the most qualified and how hiring decisions are made. Several Council members offered suggestions for the city's website such as pictures of employees in wheelchairs, employees of color, and so forth to help attract more diverse candidates as well. It would also be helpful to show or describe what accommodations the city provides to employees with disabilities on the website as well. DAC member Sember noted that her office provides training and does have materials as well that might be used as resources for the city at low cost. July 7, 2010 NEW BUSINESS: Tompkins County Office for the Aging: Danielle Conte, from Tompkins County Office for the Aging, explained to the Council that the goal of her office is to keep people in their homes for as long as possible. She explained that her office provides employment resources to train seniors who are interested in re- entering the workforce. She stated that many times seniors feel that they may not be welcome to apply for various positions, and they try to offer support to them as they work to build on or enhance their work skills. Chair Roberts stated that the DAC is very interested in accessibility issues that seniors may have especially as they relate to pedestrian issues. ADJOURNMENT: On a motion the meeting adjourned at 1:30 p.m. Sarah L. Myers Larry Roberts City Clerk Chair, DAC V