Terry R. Farmer Jon Fisher President & CEO Board ... - Florida ARF
Terry R. Farmer Jon Fisher President & CEO Board ... - Florida ARF
Terry R. Farmer Jon Fisher President & CEO Board ... - Florida ARF
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
<strong>Terry</strong> R. <strong>Farmer</strong><br />
<strong>President</strong> & <strong>CEO</strong><br />
<strong>Jon</strong> <strong>Fisher</strong><br />
<strong>Board</strong> Chair<br />
<strong>Florida</strong> <strong>ARF</strong> <strong>Board</strong> Meeting<br />
April 20, 2007<br />
10:45 a.m. – 11:21 a.m.<br />
April Fly-In Meeting<br />
Tallahassee, <strong>Florida</strong><br />
Call to Order:<br />
Roll Call:<br />
The meeting was called to order by Chair <strong>Jon</strong> <strong>Fisher</strong> who welcomed<br />
members to the April Fly-In <strong>Florida</strong> <strong>ARF</strong> <strong>Board</strong> Meeting.<br />
Roll call was taken by <strong>Florida</strong> <strong>ARF</strong> Human Resources Director John<br />
Bruntlett. Attendance was as follows:<br />
Attendance: Present: Absent:<br />
<strong>Jon</strong> <strong>Fisher</strong>, Chair,<br />
Barry Pollack, Secretary<br />
<strong>Jon</strong> May, Treasurer<br />
Dennis Haas, Parliamentarian<br />
Joe Aniello,<br />
Sherry White, Past Chair<br />
Rich Gilmartin<br />
Peggy Connell<br />
Nadine Johnson<br />
Jim McGuire<br />
Jean-Marie Moore<br />
Keith Muniz<br />
Katie Porta<br />
Holly Peters<br />
Jim Weeks<br />
Tina Philips<br />
Troy Strawder<br />
Following roll call, <strong>President</strong> & <strong>CEO</strong> <strong>Terry</strong> <strong>Farmer</strong> announced a quorum<br />
was present.<br />
Agenda<br />
Minutes<br />
Chair John <strong>Fisher</strong> asked for additions or changes to the agenda. Hearing<br />
none, the agenda was accepted following the motion to accept from Joe<br />
Aniello. The motion was seconded by Jean-Marie Moore.<br />
<strong>Fisher</strong> presented the February 8, 2007, <strong>Florida</strong> <strong>ARF</strong> <strong>Board</strong> minutes for<br />
approval. A motion was made by Katie Porta to accept the minutes as<br />
written and was seconded by Nadine Johnson. The <strong>Board</strong> minutes were<br />
accepted as written.<br />
Chair’s Report <strong>Jon</strong> <strong>Fisher</strong> then provided the Chair’s report. <strong>Fisher</strong> thanked the staff for<br />
their hard work during the session and for keeping members informed.<br />
He encouraged staff and members to stay the course and to continue<br />
fighting for more money for APD and no proviso to limit or cut services.<br />
<strong>President</strong>’s Report <strong>Terry</strong> <strong>Farmer</strong> reported that Jane Johnson has been appointed APD<br />
Director and that she began her official duties this week.
Legislative Session: <strong>Farmer</strong> informed <strong>Board</strong> members that <strong>Florida</strong> <strong>ARF</strong><br />
has been actively working to accomplish priorities on its legislative<br />
platform and has had members participate in these priorities. <strong>Farmer</strong><br />
acknowledged that a Cost of Living Adjustment will not be accomplished<br />
for the year due to the Agency for Persons with Disabilities projected<br />
deficit.<br />
<strong>Farmer</strong> announced that we will need members to come to Tallahassee<br />
next week for conference and to continue making contacts with local<br />
legislators to educate them about the need to fund the deficit.<br />
RESPECT of <strong>Florida</strong>: Scott Gaedtke reported on the progress of the<br />
RESPECT program. Gaedtke indicated that efforts continue to seek a<br />
resolution of the District 2 Department of Transportation (DOT) contract<br />
dispute. RESPECT of <strong>Florida</strong> has successfully negotiated with DOT for<br />
a minimum wage increase in the contract, which will amount to a<br />
$270,000 increase each year. RESPECT continues to work with<br />
Infrastructure Corporation of America (ICA). Sales for RESPECT are<br />
ahead of sales at this time last year. RESPECT successfully secured the<br />
SunPass transponder contract and a contract that will generate around<br />
$250-300,000 per year with the <strong>Florida</strong> Lottery to make t-shirts. Gaedtke<br />
reported that AXON continues to open doors to new opportunities.<br />
RESPECT has also added one new member (Gateway Community<br />
Services) and awaits applications from two potential new members.<br />
Membership: Suzanne Sewell reported that the overall membership is<br />
stable. No members have been terminated for lack of payment of dues,<br />
but we are working with some members on dues owed.<br />
<strong>Terry</strong> <strong>Farmer</strong> attended the UCP Conference last week which will likely<br />
result in the addition of two new members. Adam’s Acres in St.<br />
Augustine is also a potential member we are working with. Mitchell &<br />
Company has two staff that have become Professional Members.<br />
Dialogue is ongoing with other potential members including other<br />
Goodwill affiliates and independent organizations.<br />
Treasurer’s Report <strong>Jon</strong> May, Treasurer, provided the Treasurer’s report and updated<br />
members on the fiscal status of <strong>Florida</strong> <strong>ARF</strong> for January 2007 and<br />
through February 2007. May stated that, overall, the findings are<br />
positive. He reviewed the Explanation of Variances within the financial<br />
report and pointed out the following for the month of February:<br />
• February revenues increased over the prior year by more than<br />
$44,000 due to an increase in membership dues, meeting<br />
registration, and RESPECT service sales. These increases have<br />
contributed to placing the overall revenues over 7% higher than<br />
this same period in the prior year and the year-to-date revenues<br />
are 4% higher than the previous year.<br />
<strong>Florida</strong> <strong>ARF</strong> <strong>Board</strong> Meeting – Spring<br />
April 20, 2007<br />
Tallahassee, FL<br />
2
• Year-to-date revenues are less than expected (down by 7%);<br />
however, the total operating expenses are more than 10% lower<br />
than budgeted, allowing for a net income of $137,000 which is<br />
$104,000 greater than expected.<br />
May reviewed several variances noted within the report and asked for<br />
questions or discussion. Following discussion, he asked for approval of<br />
the financial report. Katie Porta moved to accept the report as presented<br />
and Nadine Johnson seconded. The report was adopted unanimously.<br />
Regarding the Audit status, the audit was completed in January but is<br />
being held pending distribution of District 2 funds.<br />
Forum Reports:<br />
Children’s<br />
Community<br />
Supports<br />
Suzanne Sewell reported in the absence of Chair Holly Peters that the<br />
Children’s Forum had not met. Staff members continue to monitor<br />
legislation with language to “fix” the Jessica Lunsford Act to eliminate<br />
duplicate screenings and staff is tracking “Kidcare” amendments.<br />
Suzanne Sewell reported in the absence of Chair Tina Phillips that the<br />
Community Supports Forum hosted three sessions during the <strong>Florida</strong><br />
<strong>ARF</strong> 2007 Fly-In including: An Agency for Persons with Disabilities Open<br />
Forum with Lucy Mohs, Legislative Affairs Director; Mental Health<br />
Systems Experiences with Managed Care by Dr. Kate Lyon; and, an<br />
Update from CMS on Managed Care by Randy Wilcox.<br />
In Session 1, Lucy Mohs, Legislative Affairs Director for APD, updated<br />
members on Jane Johnson the new APD Director and the agency’s plan<br />
to make changes to the program to fix the deficit. Mohs had a very open<br />
dialogue with members and asked that we work with and support the<br />
agency in our legislative efforts.<br />
Session 2 featured a presentation from the <strong>Florida</strong> Council for Community<br />
Mental Health by Katharine Lyon, Ph.D. The presenter reviewed<br />
experiences from the mental health system being moved into managed<br />
care. Lyon shared that MCO take costs off the top that cut services to<br />
clients. Their association is looking to form a PSN to try and bypass this<br />
problem.<br />
For Session 3, Randy Wilcox from Children’s Medical Services spoke to<br />
members on Medicaid Reform for CMS in Broward and Duval Counties.<br />
Wilcox gave an informative presentation about the realities of forming<br />
provider service networks.<br />
<strong>Florida</strong> <strong>ARF</strong> staff announced that members who are interested in learning<br />
more about Managed Care are encouraged to attend the <strong>Florida</strong> <strong>ARF</strong><br />
training May 10-11, 2007, in Tampa, <strong>Florida</strong>. Staff was encouraged to<br />
invite other stakeholders to attend the training.<br />
<strong>Florida</strong> <strong>ARF</strong> <strong>Board</strong> Meeting – Spring<br />
April 20, 2007<br />
Tallahassee, FL<br />
3
Employment<br />
Chair Rich Gilmartin reported that <strong>Florida</strong> <strong>ARF</strong> is hosting an Employment<br />
Futures Forum scheduled for July 10 th at the Renaissance Vinoy in<br />
conjunction with.the annual Arc of <strong>Florida</strong> Convention that is being hosted<br />
by PARC.<br />
Gilmartin reported that Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Director<br />
Bill Palmer discussed provider report cards and the website they are<br />
developing where providers can list their services. More information on<br />
the website will be forthcoming.<br />
Palmer discussed what counts as a successful employment outcome for<br />
VR and what constitutes an integrated work setting. He stated that VR is<br />
looking at issues on a case-by-case basis and that they are treating each<br />
case individually. After reviewing the TSA by RSA, Bill reported that most<br />
previously disallowed placements have been overturned and are now<br />
considered placements. <strong>Florida</strong> <strong>ARF</strong> staff will continue to follow up on<br />
the Supported Employment payback issue.<br />
ICFDD<br />
Jim Weeks reported, in the absence of Chair Jim McGuire, that Kim<br />
Smoak had presented on the ICFDD rule and the Emergency Status<br />
System.<br />
Joe Aniello discussed assessments for legal fees from F<strong>ARF</strong> 1 litigation.<br />
<strong>Florida</strong> <strong>ARF</strong> still owes about $13,000 to attorneys. Members decided to<br />
assess ICFDD members to pay this final bill for litigation.<br />
Members reviewed and provided input on the proposed ICFDD brochure<br />
developed by <strong>Florida</strong> <strong>ARF</strong>. Staff were asked to work with APD on central<br />
referral for ICFDD’s.<br />
The ICFDD Forum also discussed ICFDD Interim Rates and learned<br />
<strong>Florida</strong> <strong>ARF</strong> representatives met with AHCA earlier in the week to follow<br />
up on requested amendments to the reimbursement plan that would allow<br />
lower occupancy rates for smaller ICFDDs. A proposed position paper on<br />
Interim Vacancy Rates was developed to seek AHCA approval to allow<br />
smaller facilities the opportunity to seek interim vacancy rates when<br />
occupancy levels fall below 95%. From the meeting, AHCA staff agreed<br />
for us to work with the legislature to make our plan happen, but a few<br />
hours after the meeting AHCA staff emailed Suzanne Sewell with a<br />
position change on this task. Staff will continue to work on this issue.<br />
Legal Advocacy<br />
Government<br />
Relations<br />
Chair Joe Aniello reported that the Legal Advocacy Forum had not met<br />
and had no activity to report.<br />
Government Relations Chair Katie Porta reported that the Government<br />
Relations Forum met earlier in the day and discussed strategy for the<br />
remainder of the 2007 Legislative Session. Members and staff are<br />
encouraged to continue efforts to get the deficit funded, support no<br />
proviso for APD, and get Governor Crist’s budget funded.<br />
<strong>Florida</strong> <strong>ARF</strong> <strong>Board</strong> Meeting – Spring<br />
April 20, 2007<br />
Tallahassee, FL<br />
4
RESPECT<br />
Oversight<br />
Women’s<br />
Leadership<br />
New Business<br />
Old Business<br />
Adjournment<br />
Signature:<br />
Scott Gaedtke reported that the RESPECT Oversight committee had no<br />
activity to report. Members discussed Wage & Hour Audits by the<br />
Department of Labor and asked for a conference call to share<br />
experiences with audits.<br />
Suzanne Sewell reported in the absence of Sylvia Goldsmith that the<br />
Women’s Leadership Forum had no activity to report.<br />
No new business was reported.<br />
No old business was reported.<br />
Hearing no other business, the Chair asked for a motion to adjourn. Katie<br />
Porta moved to adjourn the meeting and the motion was seconded by<br />
Nadine Johnson. The meeting was adjourned at 11:21 a.m.<br />
______________________________<br />
Barry Pollack, Secretary<br />
______________________________<br />
Date Approved<br />
<strong>Florida</strong> <strong>ARF</strong> <strong>Board</strong> Meeting – Spring<br />
April 20, 2007<br />
Tallahassee, FL<br />
5