Indiana SILC: Official Request Submitted Again - Fifth Time

After the June 13 ICOIL council 'fiasco' I sent this letter not only to
the council, but to the Feds.  I am sure that the video of this meeting
will soon be up online (if it is not already) at
http://www.everybodycounts.org/icoil.htm


Dee Ann and Council,

As I informed Dee Ann yesterday after you guys refused to awknowledge not
only my request, but my existance, I am sending you for the fifth time a
copy of my official request regarding specific concerns I hav about IL
funding. You can download a copy of my official request at
http://www.onecandream.com/ICOIL/documents/officialrequestHB1001.doc where
it is and has been available to the public and you for about a month. 

I am also officially requesting that you please stop ignoring myself and
other people that are asking you to stop ignoring federal law. 

I must point out to you and the federal government that the plan you voted
to approve was not developed at meetings that were open to the public, and
that I did not even get a chance to see it, until Jodi James sent me a
copy a day or so before yesterdays meeting.... because despite my having
requested multiple times to be kept informed.... you are not doing that. 

Unlike several council members who are financially gaining from HB1001 and
potentially benefit from the state plan that was developed not with the
people's input, but behind closed doors... I stand to gain nothing
financially. 

Please realize that many of the council members who are advising and
supporting ignoring of the laws, official requests they don't wish to
address, and the public are the same council members that are gaining
access to substantial sums of money.  (This includes the current secretary
who shown a willingness to write minutes not in accordance to what
actually happened, but in accordance with what the controlling faction of
the council would like to say happened - this faction is largely center
directors - who of course have obvious direct fiscal conflicts.)

Dee Ann and any well intentioned council members, I don't really think it
is good policy to ignore the federal laws, while trusting that people who
stand to recieve their share of 2.5 million dollars to give you sound
advice. 

My official request is below.  Please add it to the agenda of the next
meeting without quickly modifying it out of the agenda... and please
address these concerns openly and honestly to the public.  Also, I know
that you have the meeting room for 4 hours, so if you could please stay
and talk with the public and allow public comment... instead of leaving
after like 10 or so minutes, I and many others who are not being
reimbursed mileage to attend would greatly appreciate it. 

Thank you in advance for placing my request on the agenda for next month.

Ramona Harvey
Resident of Indiana with a disability

P.S. 

I would have gotten this too you sooner, but when I got back to Evansville
(a 175 mile three hour trip) it was rather late, and I was tired.  I know
your probably thinking... but we only met for 10 minutes she could have
gotten back relatively early... and while I won't deny this is true,
having gotten up very early in the morning to get to your meeting in the
first place, I just did not feel like rushing home. 

Official request to the Indiana SILC (ICOIL) May 9, 2007
 
Indiana SILC Council,
 
Below are a list of questions and concerns I have with regards to HB 1001
and the recent allocation of state funds.  While I think it is great the
state allocated some funding, I have some concerns I hope the council
shares.  I officially request and appreciate the council answering these
questions, and addressing these concerns. 
 
1) Why did 2.5 million go directly to certain centers and not to the IL
program as a whole to be allocated out?  Does anyone on the council have a
problem with this? 
 
2) How can money be equally apportioned to nearly all centers, including
state centers (which are state centers because they have not met federal
guidelines) while two federally recognized centers in the statewide
network of centers are actively prohibited from even applying for funds? 
Thus negatively impacting people with disabilities in an entire region of
Indiana. 
 
3) Why couldn't all the money be equally allocated among all centers? Even
if one says that state centers deserve equal funding even though they are
not approved by the feds, that does not seem like a reasonable enough
reason to directly exclude to federal centers even if of their advocacy
style is not liked.  Does anyone see it problematic that several members
of this council have conflict of interest because their centers directly
benefit? 
 
4) Is there a legitimate legal reason for the exclusion of these centers? 
And if there is, or if the council is truly trying to change things and
council members are not trying further your own personal agenda then why
is it that everything was done privately behind closed doors so that
nobody who might be impacted could have input? 
 
5) What sort of assurances do people with disabilities, not just in NWI
have, that the named centers are going to use these funds in ways that
really help improve the situation in IN for people with disabilities? 

The money was allocated specifically to specific CIL's not to the program
as a whole...and there is nothing that says that those centers have to
actually do a good job in order to keep the money.  There are no real
protections for anything it is just the state giveth, which means the
state can take away. 
 
I would appreciate your addressing my concerns,
 
Ramona Harvey
Resident of Indiana with a disability.