Public Meeting Notice  MCB Statutory Advisory Board (SAB) Meeting

SAB Attendees: Brian MacDonald, Blair Wong, Nancy Rumbolt-Trzcinski, Kathy Petkauskos, and Kerlyne Pacombe

MCB Staff Attendees: John Oliveira, Justine Muir, Nathan Skrocki, Lucy Evangelidis

Meeting held via Zoom, recording available to the public on the MCB YouTube channel

Public invited to participate through Q&A at the end of the meeting

Minutes

Once a quorum was reached, Kathy made a motion to approve the May minutes. The motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner Update - John Oliveira

• The MCB office has officially transitioned to remote operations. Remote services will continue through mid-July, and the move to 40 Broad Street is progressing on schedule.
• New phone system is in development, including functionality to route calls to staff cell phones.
• Staff began orientation and mobility training at the new office location to familiarize themselves with the area.
• The new office building is mixed-use, with both private and public sector tenants, offering potential networking opportunities for job placements.

Programs & Services Update – Justine Muir

• White Cane Day 2025: Scheduled for Friday, October 24 at the State House. Planning committee meets bi-weekly.
• Internship Program:
     - Opening ceremony held June 4.
     - 36 interns placed as of May 29.
     - Goal: 70 interns for 2025.
• Other fall programs like the Reverse Job Fair and upcoming webinars are in the planning stages.

Dashboard Update – Nathan Skrocki

• SR Services:
     - 894 children and 3,235 adults receiving services
     - 37 children and ~1,200 adults closed so far in 2025
• VR Services (Fiscal Year):
     - 211 youth and 764 adults receiving services
     - 161 successful and 102 unsuccessful closures to date
• Other Metrics:
     - 3,400 Certificates of Blindness issued YTD
     - 519 MCB IDs issued
     - 755 new registrations
• A surge in Certificate of Blindness requests is expected in July–August due to tax abatement deadlines. MCB is fully prepared to meet this demand.

Questions from the SAB & the Public

Board members raised the importance of conducting regular outreach or wellness checks for consumers who may not be aware of the services available or who may need renewed support. Commissioner Oliveira and staff acknowledged the value of the idea and noted ongoing discussions about ways to re-engage consumers, particularly those who declined services initially or have changing needs.

• Concerns were raised regarding the Glide Mobility Device Demo Day held at MCB:
  Issues included lack of clear check-in procedures, miscommunication about scheduling, and staff   shortages.
• MCB committed to tighter logistics and better control over attendance in future events.
  Feedback was provided regarding White Cane Day security and the experience for visually impaired attendees. Suggestions included a separate entrance or additional guidance from trained staff. MCB noted the feedback and will coordinate further with the State House for future improvements.

Several public participants echoed the need for continued outreach to blind consumers to ensure awareness of evolving services and technologies. MCB leadership acknowledged this and indicated plans to explore structured follow-up systems post-move.

The board agreed to hold its next meeting on July 1, 2025, and to cancel the August 2025 meeting in consideration of vacation schedules and quorum challenges.

• Several participants asked questions and offered feedback related to outreach efforts, event logistics, and collaboration opportunities.

A proposal from Debbie McCauley to share an educational document with board member Blair Wong for his student training efforts.

Meeting adjourned.

1. Opening requirements:   
   1. Notification and Confirmation: This meeting is being held via Zoom under a law signed by Governor Baker on July 16^th, 2022 granting authority for virtual meetings. It was extended by Governor Healey through June 30, 2027.
   2. Confirmation that MCB records SAB meetings, allows for local recordings and makes such recordings available to the public.
   3. Welcome to members of the public attending the meeting and instruction about Q&A period.
2. Vote to accept minutes of the SAB meeting: May 6, 2025
3. Commissioner Report :  John Oliveira
4. Deputy Commissioner Update: Justine Muir
5. Program Updates: Nathan Skrocki
   1. Review of Dashboard on Registrations, Process, and Outcomes.
6. SAB Members additional questions or comments.
7. Comments or Questions from the public
8. Public Meeting Adjournment