EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Thursday, February 19, 2026, 3:00 – 4:40PM
By Zoom Videoconference
DRAFT MINUTES
Members Present: David Klotz (Governmental Co-chair), David Martin (Community Co-chair), Billy Fields (Finance Officer), Paul Carr, LaShonda Cyrus,Joan Edwards, Rasheed Ford, Marya Gilborn, Charmaine Graham, Steve Hemraj, Emma Kaywin, Freddy Molano MD, Jeff Natt, Julian Palmer, Guadalupe Dominguez Plummer (ex-officio), Marcelo Maia Soares, John Schoepp
Members Absent: Brooke Montes
Staff Present: NYC DOHMH: Michael Navejas, Doienne Saab, Laura Moya Adames, Renee James, Jimmy Jaramillo; Public Health Solutions: Arya Shahi
Agenda Item #1: Welcome/Introductions/Minutes/Public Comment
Mr. Martin and Mr. Klotz opened the meeting followed by a roll call and a moment of silence. The minutes from the January 22, 2026 meeting were approved with no changes.
Agenda Item #2: GY 2025 3rd Quarter Expenditure Report
Mr. Fields introduced the GY 2025 3rd quarter expenditure report, noting that spending is mostly on target for the Ryan White portfolio with some exceptions. GY 2025 was an unusual year because the EMA did not receive its full award until late July, almost 5 months into the grant year. This caused uncertainty about spending among the contractors, which the Recipient will describe. He expressed confidence that underspending will remain low after reprogramming is completed.
Ms. Plummer reviewed the details of the report. ADAP has received significant enhancements through reprogramming resulting in over 100% spent. Underspending in several Base NYC categories is a result of multiple submissions for notice of awards by HRSA. Our jurisdiction received two partials and then a full notice of award arriving much later than usual. Many subrecipients were taking a very conservative approach to managing their programs as federal funding was uncertain with some programs pausing hiring new staff which impacted spenddown. The same issue affected MAI programs and Tri-County Medical Case Management.
This was also the same year that new behavioral services were implemented post RFP/rebid process. As all new programs, there is always a six-month startup period that may demonstrate some underspending which then levels out by end of the fiscal year. Early Intervention Services is low at 17% because of the late execution of the contract given the late submission by HRSA for the full notice of award. The program is currently working on full spenddown. Ambulatory Outpatient Services is at low at 48% because this is a DOHMH internal managed contract and invoicing is almost always processed with delays. The program is on target to fully spend by the end of the fiscal year. Overall expenditure is 68%, which while not significantly low, is still below target.
Agenda Item #3: GY 2026 Spending Scenario Planning
Ms. Gilborn introduced the GY 2026 spending scenario plan approved by the Priority Setting & Resource Allocation Committee (PSRA). The plan is a methodology for implementing a possible reduction in the 2026 grant award. The Labor & Health and Human Services (LHHS) bill signed into law maintains FY 2025 funding levels for: HIV prevention and surveillance and the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. initiative (EHE) at the CDC, and Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Parts A, B, C, D, and F, and EHE at HRSA. There is a $4 million (or 7%) cut to the Minority HIV/AIDS Fund. While it is not known how the MAI reduction will be implemented, PSRA assumed a prorated reduction of 7% in the EMA’s MAI award, which would result in a loss of $542K. The plan also accounts for up to a 2.5% reduction to the Base award, although this is unlikely given the appropriations and the change in formula funding from address at diagnosis to current address, which HRSA estimates would result in a 2% increase in the formula award over five years.
There is $652K in savings in the NYC portfolio from the Care Coordination contracts that start in March (out of a total $21M allocation), which can be used to offset a potential reduction to the award and pay for the FNS enhancement. The Tri-County region also has $226K in uncommitted funds from rescinded contracts in two categories (Early Intervention and Legal). If the award is reduced more than $652K, half of their uncommitted funds will be used to offset the reduction. Any available uncommitted funds will be allocated to TC Food & Nutrition services.
PSRA recommends permanently enhancing the allocation for Food & Nutrition Services (FNS) to expand capacity and address the rising demand and the cost of food. Current programs have been consistently spending their full allocation, plus enhancements from carryover, and food costs in NYC have risen 56% from 2012-2023.
If any additional funds are needed to cover a reduction to the award and the FNS enhancement, the plan reduces the lowest ranked program, NYC Early Intervention Services (EIS). EIS is currently funded at $3.7M and provided solely by the NYC DOHMH Sexual Health Clinics. DOHMH can provide the same level of service with a smaller allocation. Given that EIS is the lowest ranked category and testing is widely available in the EMA, PSRA will look in depth at the EIS allocation for the GY 2027 spending plan.
Mr. Klotz reviewed the spreadsheets showing the plan as described above.
A motion was made on behalf of the PSRA to accept the GY 2026 Spending Scenario Plan as presented. The motion was adopted 16Y-0N.
Mr. Klotz thanked the PSRA chairs and members for their hard work and thoughtful deliberations.
Agenda Item #4: Revised NYC Legal Service Directive
Mr. Natt and Mr. Hemraj introduced the revised Legal Service directive approved by the Integration of Care Committee (IOC) on January 21st. The service will be re-RFPed for new programs starting March 1, 2027, which gives the Council an opportunity to align the service with HRSA requirements, provide up-to-date evidence and community-informed guidance and resources, ensure that updates reflect the needs of PWH and address barriers to care, and integrate innovative service delivery strategies and tools to mitigate access barriers to meet the needs of clients. The TCSC reviewed the current service directive for updates, conducted literature review and scan of best practices, received presentations and data from the Recipient, assessed service utilization, client outcomes, and emerging needs, and incorporated findings from needs assessments and community feedback.
Ms. Saab explained that key updates made to all directives included: Apply the NY HIV Planning Council Framing Directive; add trust and estate planning as an available service, broaden the types of benefits coordination (e.g., incl. SNAP, HOPWA), add closed-loop referrals for non-RWPA allowable immigration services, add succession rights to housing assistance, expand anti-discrimination representation, expand family law to include guardianship, allow legal advocacy for debit and bankruptcy, allow tele-legal and home-based services, add outreach and education components, and encourage development of medical-legal partnerships.
There was a discussion on the parameters of allowable services related to immigration. It was noted that the upcoming Needs Assessment Committee recommendations will address the need for providers to take measures to protect the safety of clients.
A motion was made on behalf of the IOC to accept the Revised Legal Service Directive as presented. The motion was adopted 15Y-0N.
Mr. Klotz thanked Ms. Saab for her exemplary work on the directive and thanked the IOC chairs and members for their outstanding work.
Mr. Martin noted the passing of Jesse Jackson, who led the effort for testing in the Black community.
There being no further comment, the meeting was adjourned.
