Bruno seeks ‘reasonable accommodation’
SOMERS POINT — After working for part of her career helping people with disabilities find work, Councilwoman Karen Bruno finds herself in need of assistance.
The former social worker underwent surgery in December on her shoulder and was immobilized for four weeks, preventing her from driving. She took part in two City Council meetings this year via speaker phone, but said it was inadequate and requested the city resume using Zoom so that she could participate more directly.
Despite her difficulties, she was able to make it to the meeting Jan. 26 in person after being able to remove her immobilizer and get behind the wheel again.
Bruno, who was elected in 2020 to represent Somers Point’s Ward II, said she broke her shoulder in 1999 and did not receive proper medical treatment at the time.
“For decades I struggled with pain and limitation and last April, I began to lose the use of my hand,” Bruno said.
She underwent nerve surgery in July and returned to work within a few days, but immediately began preparing for a shoulder replacement and exploring ways she could continue to work during what was expected to be a long recovery.
That was the first time she had inquired about the city resuming the use of Zoom so she could participate from home, but said she was able to make the meetings because it was only once a month in the summer.
Bruno then had surgery in December but it did not go well.
“My shoulder broke during surgery, so I was not able to receive a shoulder replacement,” she said. “I have been told that my recovery will be longer and harder than if I had received the shoulder replacement.”
Bruno said she was able to stop wearing an immobilizer after only four weeks when it was expected to be six to 16 weeks, something she hopes bodes well for her recovery.
“I have no way of knowing what I will have to deal with in the future. I will do all my jobs to the best of my ability and it would be nice to know that all my employers will support me in doing this,” Bruno said.
Like numerous municipalities throughout the state and around the country, Somers Point started using Zoom during the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to continue conducting business.
It quickly grew into a popular platform, letting people tune in and comment from the comfort of their homes, and boosted transparency.
But City Council President Janice Johnston said last week that using Zoom “was not productive when we did it before.” She said it was disruptive and made it difficult to keep control of a meeting.
Johnston also said participation had fallen dramatically and it was no longer necessary since in-person meetings had resumed.
The final meeting broadcast via Zoom was held June 24, 2021. During that meeting, Bruno and city residents Dan Meyers and Natalie Bailey all asked that the city continue the service.
Johnston said Bruno has been participating by telephone and could continue to do so if necessary.
“It’s worked out fine,” she said.
‘Reasonable accommodation’
Bruno said she worked for many years helping people with disabilities find jobs.
“I worked with many local businesses to help my clients get reasonable accommodations so that they were able to work successfully in their jobs,” she said. “Most employers were open to this and eager to do whatever it took to help people get back in the workforce.”
She said she was “stunned to learn that when I needed a reasonable accommodation, I was denied. I wasn’t asking for anything that was too expensive to consider or too difficult to obtain. I was asking to be able to do my job via Zoom.”
Bruno said she is not in danger of being removed from her position because a council member with a physical problem can stay out as long as he or she needs to with a doctor’s note.
“But I didn’t want to not work. I wanted to do the job that I was elected to do,” she said. “Though I couldn’t physically return to work, I could easily participate through Zoom.”
She said City Council met entirely via Zoom when she was elected.
“There were no in-person meetings; I was even sworn in on Zoom,” she said.
Now, however, she said she was told that Zoom is no longer an option. She said City Council has accommodated her using an antiquated speaker phone.
“I can’t see what is going on and sometimes I can’t hear what is going on,” she said.
Like others in the bayside town, she would like to see meetings conducted via Zoom as well as in person.
“It’s embarrassing to think that my town is so behind in technology that we don’t use Zoom on a regular basis,” she said. “Zoom meetings make it possible for people to be a part of the process who wouldn’t be able to attend. Parents with young children, people with disabilities, seniors who don’t drive at night can join the Zoom meeting and keep track of what is going on in city government.”
City resident Theresa Dougherty spoke about the issue during the City Council meeting Jan. 12.
“I commend Karen for calling in tonight. She has significant health concerns right now,” Dougherty said. “She’s going through a really difficult time and it was really challenging for her to call in tonight.”
She said she and others have been advocating for Bruno via email, social media and public comment but to no avail.
“I wanted to urge you again to use the Zoom function that you have to make it a little bit easier for her to be able to be here with you all,” Dougherty said.
Johnston said those wishing to tune in can do so live via YouTube.
“You can watch, hear everything we say and talk about,” she said, noting the videos consistently generate multiple views.
Editor’s note: One of Bruno’s jobs is a freelance writer. As such, she contributes the “A Look Back” column on local history that appears on the opinion pages of the Sentinels.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
