Orleans Northern Essex Community Partnership

Regional Advisory Group

March 11, 2008

Meeting minutes

 

Welcome

  1. Welcome –

The meeting was called to order at 11:05 am.  The members present: Rever Kennedy, Tin Barton-Caplin, Carla Watson, Bill Crenshaw, Lisa Daigle-Farney, Sharon Henault, Julie Mulroy-Evans, Tom Pristow, Jack Rogers, Kenn Stransky (by phone) and Michelle Tarryk.  Julie Lague was present to take the minutes.

 

  1. ONECP Budget report – Michelle Tarryk, NEKLS

Michelle reported the benefits/salary line item is currently showing as a negative due to the change in Coordinators.  There is enough in the line item to finish out the year with 21 hours per week (and an additional 2 hours per week for the Youth Initiative).  This is close to the 25 originally stated.  The refreshment line item has a surplus, but there will also be an unplanned cost of printing the Report Card.  It is still unclear if printing the Report Card will fall in this fiscal year or next.  Michelle reported that NEKLS has not charged the last of the administrative fees and would be flexible if things get tight towards the end of the year.  Tin suggested using some of the Champs money to aid with the unexpected printing costs.  There have been two awards for the YIG:  IROC and Karen Collman of Lake Region.  Once the award letters are signed and returned, Michelle will be able to cut the checks.  The application process is expected to reopen since the funds need to be expended by June 30, 2008, and only six applications were received.  Bill suggested looking into faith-based groups.

 

Reports from the Partnership

  1. Building Bright Futures (BBF) – Julie discussed the Bridges Out of Poverty training that was scheduled to be offered.  BBF was planning on sponsoring the training, until DCF announced they would be able to offer Bridges Out of Poverty.  BBF then offered to sponsor the second day of training.  Due to unforeseen events, the trainings in March were canceled and it is unclear if the training on April 3rd will happen.  In the meantime BBF has money to sponsor trainings if anyone has ideas/suggestion/interest.  Julie reported the regional planning is underway, and she is trying to make it available online for edits.  This is also due on June 30th.  The next BBF meeting is April 7th, at 1pm in room 250 at the State building.  Dabble Day is April 5th, planning is going well and Julie encouraged everyone to help if they could.  There was a discussion on Moodle and Wikki regarding an online forum to view, edit and save to documents.  Tom thought the ONECP website had space available for this type of activity.  There was a discussion of how to protect the website while still allowing some edits.  Having the documents password protected and allowing the administrator to approve before display were two options discussed.  Sharon asked if the website was accessible to people with disabilities.  Carla said the current website is not.  Jack offered his help to Carla to make the website accessible to people with disabilities.  Sharon also suggested going onto the ADA website for help.
  2. Listserve – Carla had a few emails for distribution that she had some questions on.  Queen of the North East Kingdom (QNEK) puts on shows for the community, but there is a charge for their tickets.  Carla wasn’t sure if it would be acceptable to circulate knowing that it would profit QNEK.  Tom suggested having a protocol written up regarding the standards for circulating information.  It was suggested if there was a charge (like QNEK), having a certain number of tickets available for those who can not afford them.  The information must also be connected to the outcomes and be relevant to the goals.  Kenn suggested a statement - ONECP doesn’t endorse this information, but to pass on all information.  It was the general consensus to have a written set of standards that all information must meet in order to be disseminated.  Carla will work on this and Bill offered to help.  Tom also suggested having the listserve email addresses not listed as a way to protect against viruses.  Carla offered to put the listserve in the Blind Carbon Copy line to make sure the email addresses are not visible. 
  3. Incarcerated Women’s Initiative (IWI) – Rever said Carl gave a wonderful presentation at the ONECP meeting on Monday.  The population count has gone from 10 or 11 down to 3 or 4.  There needs to be an analysis of what worked and where the success was generated.  There was a lengthy discussion regarding the needs of the incarcerated, what is lacking and how to remedy the situation.  Tom would like to see other populations of incarcerated people decrease.  Rever said IWI was a focused effort.  Sharon would like to see the same type of initiative tried on a small group of male inmates.  The successful parts of the IWI could be analyzed and applied to the group of male inmates.  Tin suggested this issue be tabled until Carl would be able to join the conversation.  Tom suggested bringing it to the AHS Manager’s meeting on the 27th.
  4. Community High School – Rever had no new information as the meeting for last month was canceled.
  5. Orleans Northern Essex Wide Open Futures (ONE WOF) – ONE WOF is for substance abuse and prevention.  Tin reported that Katherine has been hired as the Coordinator.  Strategic planning is underway and it’s going well.
  6. Health Communities – Tin announced that Mat Farney has been hired.  Alison has been helping to transition as she has a new position.  The Community Garden is an event that Mat will be helping with; space has been secured for both Newport and Barton.  
  7. Homeless Coalition – There will be a retreat on March 20th from 8:30 – 12 pm at Northeast Kingdom Human Services.  Topics to be discussed include data assessment, the role of the Homelessness Coalition, service provider groups and embracing the Housing Now Initiative.  Housing Now is a coordinated effort to reduce homelessness.  Sharon said people don’t understand what causes homelessness and people have fear surrounding the topic.  Bill said to always be open and get input/feedback from the community.  Tin asked for names of any and all stakeholders to get to Rever before the April 1st meeting.  Sharon suggested faith-based groups.
  8. Other – Tom said Steve Dale came to the area on Friday to discuss the 5 year Strategic Plan.  Economic Services is going through a restructuring.  Family Services is going through a restructuring.  There will be a rather large cutback Statewide, and restructuring is being discussed.  Tom praised Rever for putting her own job on the line.  Rever said it was only fair to look at the AHS Field Services Directors and if they are accomplishing what they set out to do.  Sharon asked about state workers vs contracted employees.  Rever assured her no labor shifting is occurring.  Tom said he can not use his contracted employees for specific State functions.  Tin said Corrections recently carried out a cutback, but eliminated federal-funded positions instead of state-funded positions.  Rever wanted to clarify that Corrections had this cutback in the works for a while, and although it seems like a reaction to the Statewide cutbacks, it is not.  Tom feels he is not getting the information on other departments and it does effect his department.  Rever agreed and stated she didn’t have the information to give to him either.  There was a discussion regarding Economic Services and a web-based model for benefits.  Sharon asked if this is really accessible…lack of IT in the area, lack of money for transportation.  Rever suggested asking about field testing.  Tom suggested having everyone email their questions to Rever by Friday afternoon so she may ask them at the meeting on the 17th. 
  9. Other – An agenda item for next month should be elections.  Nominations will be needed.  According to the procedure, the Vice Chair will become the Chair.  A State employee will be needed for the Vice Chair position.

Coordinator Report

  1. Carla distributed her report of activities.  The website is in process and she did receive the laptop.  Carla asked if it would be appropriate if her home computer (which she uses for ONECP) could be looked at because it is not working in conjunction with the laptop.  Bill thought the request was reasonable.  Tin asked about evaluations for the Coordinator.  Bill said the position is interim and will be evaluated at the end of the fiscal year.  Carla will not be able to attend the next Partnership meeting and needs someone to facilitate.  Tin offered to facilitate but would be unable to coordinate the agenda.  It was decided that Carla would set the agenda and Tin would facilitate.  Tin distributed the outcomes of the strategic planning session.  More information is needed and it is not complete yet. 

Minutes

  1. Tin moved to accept the January minutes.  Carla seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

Adjourn

  1. By unanimous consensus the meeting adjourned at 1pm.