Present:
Agenda:
At the next Expo, we should have a sign up sheet for people coming into the building
H. Bitzer: xerox failed to provide their promised equipment. H. Bitzer did much copying and needs reimbursement for this and stamps. Some vendors did not pay their fee. H. Bitzer read a good example from a survey.
Expo was well received by the public, said H. Bitzer, G. Katz, S. Wood. Y2K was covered by Sun/Journal/Radio Station/Mayor
G. Katz: Ithaca Journal's Gary Stewards is not responding to Y2K enough.
- Y2K is in 425 days. Cowles wrote to us about our Y2K Group and thanked us for doing this activity. He is an expert on the electric industry. He asked us about coming here to speak.
His book is on Electric Utilities & Y2K. It is available to us at 60% cost if we want. His fee is $1,000. Chamber of Commerce & City Hall could pay Ed Bardinin $10, 000 for speaking. G. Katz: we should try to get Cornell to support his speech.
K. Lilly: We could get Cornell involved through the Ethics of Social Policy Group (CRESP). CRESP could sponsor the Ad Hoc group. The Generating Community Project. Citizens Network Group, a branch of CRESP, could sponsor. G. Katz will contact J. Boaker, sponsor of Eco Village. R. Messing will contact Rick Cowles and indicate interest pending. K. Lilly, R. Messing, & G. Katz will work on CRESP & Rick Cowles project.
Rick Cowles' web site on electric and utilities Y2K is at: http://www.euy2k.com
S. Calkins - order copy of Rick Cowles' book.
5-6 members of the Ad Hoc Committee were present.
The panel was unable to answer questions about food shortage. FDIC representative, Frank Hand, said that the Ithaca community was the most open and informed community that he's seen.
M. Labbe: Clinton passed a bill stating that businesses not liable for statements made after Dec. 3, 1998. Freedom Disclosure Act.
G. Katz: the forum was set up poorly. FDIC will cut of other counties if not compliant, including utilities. Many other countries are not taking care of the problem. International banking may not work.
Greg Potter is the computer person for Tompkins County.
Charles Evan is the County Representative in charge of Y2K.
G. Katz: The County has no contingency plan for Citizens. Pat Vaughn is the head of the Ithaca Y2K Task Force. There is no joint county & city meeting about Y2K planned.
H. Bitzer: The county is in the ID phase of the Y2K problem. 80% of the time is needed for remediation. The county has set August 1, 1999 as the date to begin remediation. Therefore the county will not be ready by January 1, 2000.
At the New York State Teleconference, it was stated that money due to the county by the state and visa versa will not be transferred if the systems are not ready by the state compliancy date, which is April 1, 1999, the date of the state's fiscal year 2000.
R. Zaman: Reverse date sequences used by the Federal and State governments (ie: Fed-2000/1/1, State-1/1/2000) is a problem.
Pat Vaughan is sending a mailing to City of Ithaca residents to begin emergency preparation.
M. Labbe: The Ithaca Journal did not cover the forum
R. Messing: NYSEG cannot cut from the power grid if it is unstable.
NYSEG's Jack Bodkin was asked by R. Messing him about simulation prior to Y2K. This will not be happening. NY Power Pool created after last brownout. Bodkin said if brownouts happen Power administrations will make decisions but power pool will be maintained.
NYSEG cannot/isn't going to guarantee that there won't be outages.
M. Richards: Re: Electric deregulation - How is purchase of our electric service going to work? From whom? We should find out from the County.
G. Katz will contact Charles Evans (the county Y2K head) and Pat Vaughn (the City Y2K head) - these two should be in contact with each other and do critical planning for food, water, sanitation, medical planning, etc.
H. Bitzer suggested that the core group meet with Pat Vaughn and Charles Evans. G. Katz said that he will make a phone call.
H. Bitzer: Disaster Coordinators Office and Red Cross need to be included in this meeting.
We should send a written presentation to Jack Miller, Pat Vaughn, Charles Evans, and Lee Swartwood.
G. Katz: Jack won't come. Cooperative Extension's
directive, "time is running out", is not being passed on. The web address
for Cooperative Extension is:
http://www.USDA.gov/
Click on "Y2K" for information.
M. Richards: We should create a structure ourselves and draw people in as we continue.
R. Zaman told the Red Cross that we could create new shelters. The Red Cross would come in later. They won't initiate this on their own.
H. Bitzer: Team of 3 to spearhead next expo.
Team of 3 to spearhead presentations.
Team of 3 to spearhead spokespersons to liaison with City/County
G. Katz set date for meeting of Presentation Group for Monday, November 30 at 6:00 pm at the Alternative Community School.
H. Bitzer: Focalize next Expo - last week in February. G. Katz, H. Bitzer R. Zaman, S. Calkins: Friday, December 4th at 6:00 pm at the Alternative Community School.
M. Labbe: FEMA has the power for taking our food if we hoard it.
H. Bitzer: we need a liason group. G. Katz, M. Labbe, R. Messing, and C. Cox. R. Messing will set up a meeting after December 2.
P. Louise: We need to stay connected to City/County work with County/City Red Cross Disaster Coordination Office.
H. Bitzer suggested creating a liason group, then contact the County, City, and the Red Cross Disaster Coordinator's Office.
R. Zaman: meeting with City/County needs be a 2 way dialogue. The approach should be with the idea of sharing.
G. Katz: no planning for possible civic disorder os being done by the County or the City.
S. Caukins asked for donations for mailings and received $15.00.
H. Bitzer: work with the Human Service Group to create contingencies (put on hold for now).
We are unsure if the Red Cross and the Office of Disaster Preparedness (ODP) would let us help them. Information from the ODP meeting will be forthcoming.
G. Katz: USDA model program is doing this. G. Katz will set up a recording, if the Red Cross/Cooperative Extension will sponsor it
Discussion ensued on this topic. P. Louise: The Gardner Group assists Small Businesses (the Ag. Business, for example, is in trouble). We need an overview of the food supply issue.
December 13th 1:00-4:00 pm. at the Alternative Community School
Minutes taken by Steve Calkins and transcribed by Bob Yavits