HomeMy WebLinkAboutAccessibility Advisory Committee Minutes October 19, 2021
Cape Breton Regional Municipality
Accessibility Advisory Committee
Meeting
Tuesday,
October 19, 2021
4:32 p.m.
Via Videoconference
The Municipal Clerk called the meeting to order.
Present: Councillor Cyril MacDonald, Chair
Councillor Steve Gillespie
Citizen Louise Gillis
Citizen Douglas Foster, Vice-Chair
Citizen Sarah MacPherson
Citizen Veronica Merryfield
Citizen Linda Murray
Citizen Elaine Swartz
Staff: Kirk Durning, CBRM Accessibility Coordinator and
Manager of Recreation
Deborah Campbell Ryan, Municipal Clerk
Paul Burt, Manager of Building, Planning and Licensing
Laws
Sharon MacSween, Recording Secretary
Absent: Citizen Jenny-Rachel Lind
Citizen Marcie Shwery-Stanley (Regrets)
Accessibility Advisory
Committee Minutes
October 19, 2021 Approved January 20, 2022 Page - 1
Summary of Decisions
1. Call to Order:
The Municipal Clerk called the meeting to order.
2. Election/Selection of Chair:
Councillor Cyril MacDonald was acclaimed Chair of the Accessibility
Advisory Committee.
3. Roll Call
4. Election/Selection of Vice Chair
Citizen Douglas Foster was acclaimed Vice-Chair of the Accessibility
Advisory Committee.
5. Approval of Agenda
Motion to approve the October 19, 2021 Accessibility Advisory Committee
agenda as circulated. Carried.
6. Citizen Vacancy – Jenny-Rachel Lind:
The Clerk advised that Jenny-Rachel Lind has moved to Newfoundland
for employment purposes and therefore is no longer eligible to serve on a
CBRM Committee. The Nominating Committee will be advised of this
vacancy.
For information only.
Accessibility Advisory
Committee Minutes
October 19, 2021 Approved January 20, 2022 Page - 2
Summary of Decisions (Cont’d)
7. Request for Proposals (RFP) – CBRM Accessibility Plan:
The Accessibility Coordinator advised that the RFP has been completed
and will be submitted to the Purchasing Department for advertising before
the end of October.
For information only.
Accessibility Advisory
Committee Minutes
October 19, 2021 Approved January 20, 2022 Page - 3
1. Call to Order:
Deborah Campbell Ryan, Municipal Clerk, called the inaugural meeting of
the Accessibility Advisory Committee to order.
2. Election/Selection of Chair:
The Municipal Clerk advised that before calling for nominations for the
position of Chair, the Committee Terms of Reference state that the term of
the Chair will be for two years. Further as recommended during
Committee Orientation, that the Chairperson position be filled by a Council
Member for staff liaison and continuity purposes. Once the Chair is
selected, the Chair will preside over the meeting and then call for
Nominations for Vice-Chair. The Vice-Chair position is for a term of one
year.
The Clerk then called for nominations for Chair of the Accessibility
Advisory Committee.
Councillor Steve Gillespie nominated Councillor Cyril MacDonald for Chair
of the Accessibility Advisory Committee. Councillor Cyril MacDonald
accepted the nomination.
The Clerk asked if there were any further nominations for Chair. Hearing
none, Councillor Cyril MacDonald was acclaimed as Chair of the
Accessibility Advisory Committee.
Councillor Cyril MacDonald then assumed the Chair.
Councillor Cyril MacDonald expressed thanks and appreciation to
Committee Members with entrusting him in the role as Chair of the
Accessibility Advisory Committee.
3. Roll Call
Accessibility Advisory
Committee Minutes
October 19, 2021 Approved January 20, 2022 Page - 4
4. Election/Selection of Vice Chair
Councillor Cyril MacDonald called for Nominations for Vice-Chair of the
Accessibility Advisory Committee.
Councillor Steve Gillespie nominated Citizen Elaine Swartz for Vice-Chair
of the Committee. Citizen Swartz declined the nomination.
Citizen Louise Gillis nominated Citizen Douglas Foster for Vice-Chair of
the Committee. Citizen Foster accepted nomination for Vice-Chair.
A third and final call for Nominations for Vice-Chair of the Committee was
made. Hearing none, Citizen Douglas Foster was acclaimed as Vice-Chair
of the Accessibility Advisory Committee.
5. Approval of Agenda
Motion:
Moved by Citizen Gillis, seconded by Citizen Swartz, approval of the
October 19, 2021 Accessibility Advisory Committee agenda as circulated.
Motion Carried.
6. Citizen Vacancy – Jenny-Rachel Lind:
Deborah Campbell Ryan, Municipal Clerk, reviewed her Memo included in
the agenda package, and advised that Citizen Jenny-Rachel Lind recently
moved to Newfoundland for employment purposes. As a per Council
policy, citizen appointees on CBRM Committees must be residents of the
Municipality and therefore Ms. Lind is no longer eligible to serve on the
Accessibility Advisory Committee. It was also noted that the Nominating
Committee will address the vacant seat.
Continued…
Accessibility Advisory
Committee Minutes
October 19, 2021 Approved January 20, 2022 Page - 5
Citizen Vacancy – Jenny-Rachel Lind (Cont’d):
At this point in the meeting, the Chair reminded the Committee of the
Terms of Reference and Rules of Order, noting that all Committee
Members will have an opportunity to speak for 5 minutes on each issue,
with a second opportunity for 2 minutes. The Chair asked that Committee
Members either raise their hand or use the chat feature to request to
speak, and that the Chair will respond to the speaking requests in the
other that they are received.
Following the staff report, discussion took place regarding:
Current committee representation and composition in accordance
with legislation
Committee Members’ discretion to disclose personal information i.e.
disability
Nomination and appointment process for citizens to CBRM
Committees and Boards
“First voice” knowledge, specific to disabilities including disabilities
that are not visible, i.e. hearing, vision, etc.
For information only.
7. Request for Proposals (RFP) – CBRM Accessibility Plan:
Kirk Durning, CBRM Accessibility Coordinator,
reviewed his Memo
the Request for Proposals
included in the agenda package. He advised
(RFP) for the CBRM Accessibility Plan was complete and the
document was prepared using a similar format as other municipalities
in the province and current best practice for meeting accessibility
plan requirements under the .
Nova Scotia Accessibility Act
Mr. Durning advised that the RFP will be submitted to the Purchasing
Department for advertisement before the end of October. With the
timeline, it is anticipated that a consultant will be selected for the
project in December 2021.
Continued…
Accessibility Advisory
Committee Minutes
October 19, 2021 Approved January 20, 2022 Page - 6
Request for Proposals – CBRM Accessibility Plan (Cont’d):
Following the staff report, discussion took place regarding:
Accessibility is a relatively new consulting field
Individuals with “first voice” should provide opinion in concert with a
consultant on any assessments.
Hiring a consultant to facilitate development of the Plan is a best
practice across the province.
The consultant will be working with the Accessibility Advisory
Committee (AAC) and the supplemental staff committee, as well as
citizens in CBRM.
Staffing, municipality size and comparisons to Halifax Regional
Municipality, Wolfville and Kentville
The Rick Hansen Standards are a “gold standard”, however it was
pointed out that the Rick Hansen Standards lack consideration of
Amended:
January
individuals living with sight challenges, as well as mobility, chronic
20, 2022
pain, respiratory, and mental health disabilities.
In response to questions, the Accessibility Coordinator advised that he will
share the RFP document with the Committee once it is publicly available.
There is a budget of $50,000 for the RFP award for the Accessibility Plan
and this was based on other RFP awards and the size of the Municipality
was considered.
Inquiries were made regarding Committee Member involvement in the
evaluation and awarding of the RFP. The Accessibility Coordinator
advised that he will check with Finance regarding the process.
At this point in the meeting, the Committee agreed to allow Citizen Foster
an additional 2 minutes to speak on the issue.
Citizen Foster advised that speaking time limits are too restrictive. He
further suggested that a “first voice” individual participate in the scoring
and awarding of the RFP.
Continued…
Accessibility Advisory
Committee Minutes
October 19, 2021 Approved January 20, 2022 Page - 7
Request for Proposals – CBRM Accessibility Plan (Cont’d):
The Chair noted that the speaking times in the Rules of Order are
important for the Committee to stay on task, however if the Committee
decision is to relax the rules, it can be done but noted the importance to
give all Members an opportunity to speak.
Councillor Gillespie noted that in the selection of a consulting firm from the
RPF process, CBRM as a municipality must follow a rigid process, and
although understanding the selection and whether individuals have certain
criteria and training, clarifications on those items can be obtained. The
RPF evaluation process may not be something that the Committee will be
permitted to be involved in under the purchasing and tending policy.
For information only.
The Chair thanked the Committee and staff for their involvement and great
discussion during the meeting.
Adjournment at 5:14 p.m.
_________________________ _________________________
Councillor Cyril MacDonald Deborah Campbell Ryan
Chair Municipal Clerk
/slm