August 19, 2008 Region of Peel Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC)

 

REGION OF PEEL

ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE (AAC)


REPORT FROM THE CLERK


AAC-2008-7

 

Regarding the Region of Peel Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting scheduled for August 19, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. in the 5th floor Boardroom, Region of Peel Administrative Headquarters, 10 Peel Centre Drive, Brampton.

William Goursky, Committee Chair, called the meeting to order at 1:20 p.m. However, quorum was not achieved in accordance with the Terms of Reference of the Committee.

Members Present: H. Bajwa; G. Barnes; W. Goursky; S. McFadden
Members Absent: S. Hames; J. Hardman, due to vacation; E. Kolb; N. Husain; R. Paterak, due to vacation; J. Spry; M. Tymkow, due to vacation
Also Present:

R.K. Gillespie, Commissioner of Corporate Services and Regional Solicitor; M. Sikand, Accessibility Planning Specialist, Corporate Services; S. Fisher, Coordinator, Regulatory Compliance, M. Gardiner, Committee Clerk

_____________________________________
*See text for arrivals
¨See text for departures

In accordance with section III 4 (d) of Region of Peel Procedural By-law 57-2006, no quorum was present 30 minutes after the time approved for the meeting (1:30 p.m.) at which time the Committee Clerk recorded the names of the members present as:

H. Bajwa
G. Barnes
W. Goursky
S. McFadden

In accordance with section III 4 (g) of the Procedural By-law, the members present received information. The following are summary notes of the information presented.

Anubha Mehta, Specialist, Employee and Business Services, Region of Peel, provided a brief update on the upcoming Diversity Forum that will be held on October 8, 2008. Anubha Mehta advised that there are two external speakers invited and the forum venue is still to be confirmed. She noted that the purpose of the forum is to bring staff together to discuss solutions relating to diversity issues. She encouraged the Region of Peel Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) and the Accessibility Planning Team (AP) to share their accessibility information handouts during the booth display.

William Goursky, Committee Chair, confirmed that the AAC and AP will participate during the booth display. William Goursky, Committee Chair suggested that Anubha Mehta provide a brief presentation on the strategy and communication plans for the Diversity Network to Regional staff and other stakeholders at the November 18, 2008 Region of Peel Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting.

Kent Gillespie, Commissioner of Corporate Services and Regional Solicitor suggested that an accessibility sub-group be established as part of the Diversity Network to allow and encourage members to address and voice their unique needs. William Goursky suggested that Meenu Sikand, Accessibility Planning Specialist or the AAC Chair represent the Accessibility Committee on the Diversity Network.

Susan Fisher, Coordinator, Regulatory Compliance presented the draft 2008 Region of Peel Annual Accessibility Plan. The members provided their individual feedback regarding the draft accessibility plan. Susan Fisher undertook to solicit feedback from the absent members. Feedback received from members will be incorporated into the proposed plan. The report will be presented to the September 11, 2008 General Committee meeting of Regional Council.

It was suggested that a communication strategy be developed which would include tactics for increasing public awareness with respect to accessibility in Peel.

Having regard a quorum of voting members was not achieved, in accordance with section III 4 (f) of the Procedural By-law 57-2006, items not dealt with during this meeting will be placed on the agenda of the next scheduled Region of Peel Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting, with the exception of Item 5b which will be placed on the September 11, 2008 General Committee meeting agenda.