HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Ad Hoc May 4 1993WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
AD HOC COMMITTEE
May 4, 1993
The meeting was called to order at 4 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 1000 N. Forest St.,
2nd floor, by Ken Henderson, Chair.
Also present: Absent:
Dan Warner
Dennis Vander Yacht
1. CONSIDERATION OF RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL ON
AMENDMENTS TO NORTHWEST REGIONAL COUNCIL
INTERLOCAL. AGREEMENT (AB93 -138)
Topics discussed: Summary from NWRC; Winslow's memo; purpose of meeting;
background of the agreement; presentation of agreement to all four counties today;
imbalance of Whatcom County's representation; explanation of representation; reduction
in strictures on the organization; purpose and mission under the interlocal agreement;
flexibility in the program; primary function of the NWRC; NWRC's bylaws; NWRC has
no non - senior services; NWRC designated as the Area Agency on Agency.
Persons speaking: Henderson; Dewey Desler, Executive Director, NWRC;
Warner.
Frank Winslow, 433 17th St.: Addressed and discussed: Whatcom County's
representation on NWRC; lack of representation for those disabled under age 60; limits
of Older Americans Act; advocacy questions; options in 3/23/93 letter; County
administrator serving on the NWRC; four part mission statement; relationship of bylaws
with mission statement; separating the NWRC administration from the functions; naming
specifically the functions to be supported; disability services performed by NWRC;
following the rules and laws; service to seniors and disabled; fund allocation; services
branching out into other areas; publishing of meeting schedules.
Glenn Hallman, 1510 40th St.: Addressed and discussed with Committee
members: Older Americans Act; NWRC logical organization to handle requirements of
the Older Americans Act; representation on the NWRC; claim never made by NWRC to
represent all disabled; services provided to younger disabled; long -term care services;
compliments to Desler on his record keeping; inappropriateness for NWRC to be
advocates for all disabled; involvement of local elected officials; separation of
governance from operation; compliance with ADA and Older Americans Act verified.
Josselyn Winslow, 433 17th St.: Spoke to representation on the NWRC; concerned
that the disability dollars are not separate from the aging dollars; problems with
disabilities programs being tied to senior programs.
Kurt Dessauer, 2690 Alderwood, #6: Spoke from experience about the problems
of finding help as a junior disabled going to a senior program; recommended having
separate senior and disability boards; suggested having a board which would cover all
disabilities, mental and physical; compliance with American with Disabilities Act.
Frank M. Shelton, 3630 Alabama: Said he hated to see a wedge driven between
the disabled and the seniors; disagrees with the dissatisfaction expressed earlier; no need
for another level of bureaucracy; recommended passing revised Interlocal Agreement as
proposed.
Dessler answered questions from Henderson and Warner. He will be willing to
send meeting notices, agendas, and minutes to the Council. Questions concerned
evaluation of NWRC's programs, which Desler will send copies of to Council; budget for
NWRC; funding for Boundary Review Board; NWRC and BRB financial agreement with
Whatcom County; potential amendment "F. Other items as may be determined by
mutual agreement "; provision for local funding of NWRC; efforts to promote NWRC
programs to non - seniors; no disadvantage to Whatcom County on representation issue.
Bob Woods, Budget Analyst, said he does not customarily review these individual
budgets, relying on the recommendations of the Executive, thanks to time limitations.
Henderson expressed the desire to hold this in Committee for further discussion
among the Committee members. He will write up his amendments and positions for a
later meeting. The next Committee meeting will be scheduled on the same day as this
item is scheduled for Council decision.
Kurt Dessauer requested that Vander Yacht excuse himself because he is a
member of the NWRC and. has already expressed support for the interlocal agreement.
Henderson indicated he would need to check with legal counsel.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:51 p.m.
ATTEST:
AD HOC COMMITTEE
e el,
NancyAKhn, Assistant Clerk en Henderson, Chair
Ad Hoc Minutes, 514193, Page 2