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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 02-16-2016 - 4-b - Re-naming of the Central Orange Senior Center to the Jerry M. Passmore Center 1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: February 16, 2016 Action Agenda Item No. 4-b SUBJECT: Re-naming of the Central Orange Senior Center to the Jerry M. Passmore Center DEPARTMENT: County Manager PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: 1) Letter from Friends of Central Bonnie Hammersley, 919-245-2300 Orange Senior Center (September 20, 2010) 2) Memo from Friends of Central Orange Senior Center (May 8, 2014) 3) Response from BOCC Chair (October 21, 2014) 4) Letter from Chair of Friends of Central Orange Senior Center (March 17, 2015) 5) Resolution PURPOSE: To consider the re-naming of the Central Orange Senior Center to the Jerry M. Passmore Center and consider a resolution approving the renaming. BACKGROUND: Jerry Passmore was the Director of the Orange County Department on Aging from 1977 to 2010. The Friends of the Central Orange Senior Center (COSC) have requested that the Board of Orange County Commissioners (BOCC) rename the Central Orange Senior Center to the Jerry M. Passmore Center because of Mr. Passmore's many contributions to improving the lives of older adults in Orange County. These contributions include: • Jerry Passmore provided executive oversight of the merger of the Chapel Hill Council on Aging with the Orange County Council on Aging into a unified county- wide system. (1976) • Jerry Passmore proposed, in coordination with the County Council on Aging (COA), to the Board of Orange County Commissioners (BOCC) the Orange County ordinance establishing the first county Department on Aging and Advisory Board on Aging. (1980) • Jerry Passmore promoted the development of public-private partnerships in serving older adults, by involving the entire community and provided leadership as well as developing bylaws for: 1 2 o Friends of Robert and Pearl Seymour Center (1991) o Friends of Central Orange Senior Center (2000) o Senior Care of Orange County, Inc. (2004) • Jerry Passmore developed and implemented, in coordination with a BOCC appointed committee of over 100+ citizens, two five-year Master Aging Plans (MAP), the first in North Carolina. (2000 and 2006) • Jerry Passmore provided executive oversight to the BOCC appointed senior planning committees that led to the construction and opening of two (2) Orange County Senior Centers: o Robert and Pearl Seymour Center (May 2007) o Central Orange Senior Center (February 2009) Jerry Passmore was a visionary in the planning, coordinating and establishing needed senior services in Orange County. Additional contributions by Mr. Passmore are detailed in the attachments for your review. In recognition and appreciation of Jerry Passmore's efforts, the proposal to rename the Central Orange Senior Center to the Jerry M. Passmore Center is presented to the Board of Orange County Commissioners for consideration. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no immediate financial impact related to this discussion. SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goal is applicable to this agenda item: • GOAL: ENABLE FULL CIVIC PARTICIPATION Ensure that Orange County residents are able to engage government through voting and volunteering by eliminating disparities in participation and barriers to participation. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board consider approving the attached resolution re-naming the Central Orange Senior Center to the Jerry M. Passmore Center, and if approved, authorize the Chair to sign the resolution. 2 Attachment 1 0 g(j FRIENDS of the SENIOR CENTER for CENTRAL ORANGE, INC. 103 Nleadowland'Drive, P.O. Box 3181 Hillsborough,NO 27278 September 20,2010 ATTENTION: Mr.Frank Clifton, Orange County Manager RE: Renaming the Central Orange Senior Center Dear Mr.Clifton: The Friends of the Central Orange Senior Center,Inc.and the Department on Aging Advisory Board wish to recognize the many historic achievements made by Jerry Passmore,past Director of the Department on Aging,,in developing and implementing pro rams that improve the 'quality of life for older adults in Orange County. We are proposing that the recently completed Central Orange Senior Center in Hillsborough, North Carolina,be renamed the".ferry Passmore Senior Center". Jerry Passmore has been a visionary and pioneer in his quest to establish Older Adult Programs in Orange County and is known throughout the state of North Carolina for his vision and accomplishments relating to his work to enable Older Adults,from the"well fit"to the"frail", to live out their lives in peace. Historically,Jerry Passmore has spent the last thirty years building the Orange County Department on Aging Program to be one of the best in North Carolina and has received both North Carolina and Federal awards on behalf Of Orange County Department on Aging for his efforts. Because the older adult population was growing rapidly and they were living longer,Jerry adopted a plan to develop and improve the infrastructure and services in Orange County to meet their needs. Jerry developed the Orange County Master Aging Plan and directed and coordinated the work of the Master Aging Plan Task Force during their planning and implementation of programs for the current and future needs of older adults. His vision of Senior Centers was to provide a place where older adult can meet others who have similar interests,and have access to a variety of services and information on resources available to meet their needs as they age. Jerry's efforts resulted in the establishment of two senior centers to serve all older adults and an adult day care facility that provides services for the "frail"population in Orange County. (continued) is 4 r � Page 2 ATTENTION: Mr..Frank Clifton,Orange County Manager September 20, 2010 Jerry Passsmore has served as a major advisor and contributor to the Orange County Nursing Home and Adult Care Home Community Advisory Committees,the Community Coalition on Continuity of Care,the Triangle J Agency on Aging Advisory Council,and the N.C.Study Commission on Aging. The Board of Directors of the Friends of the Senior Center for Central Orange, Inc. in July 2010 and September 2010 and the Florence Gray Soltys Adult Day Health Program in September 2010 and the Orange County Department on Aging Advisory Board in September 2010 voted unanimously to rename the Central Orange Senior Center"The Jerry Passmore Senior Center" to recognize Jerry Passmore for his many achievements. We request that you proceed in this matter at your earliest convenience. Thank you for your consideration in this matter. 4, ter age_44;11.-, Leo L.Allison,Chair • ackhestnut,Chair Friends of the Senior Center Florence Gray Soltys Adult Day Health for Central Orange,Inc.Board Program Board �+ 4 Heather Altman,Chair Orange County Advisory Board on Aging • Attachment 2 5 • n{ttie Seta r t-C 1/4 FRIENDS of the SENIOR CENTER l for CENTRAL ORANGE, INC. •a. • 103 Meadowlands Drive P_O.Box 8181 S ,; Hillsborough NC 27278 h ar c4 919-245-2015 orange 't` 1 May a,2014 A'T`ThNfON: Orange County Board of Commissioners RE: Renaming the Central Orange Senior Center Deaf Members of the Board of Coney Commissioners: At the April 16,2014 meeting of the Friends of the Senior Center for Central Orange,the Board unanimously voted to once again bring forth our request to rename the Central Orange Senior Center the Jerry Passmore Center. The Board is requesting that a waiver be made to your policy } for naming buildings and to move ahead with naming the Central Orange Senior Center the Sorry Passmore Center. Thank you for your consideration in this matter. Rebecca.Walker,President Friends of the Senior Center for Central Orange,Ina. Attachments: 2 43 131;ardlVieinbms: liAmeaWalbkr(Prosident),Rita lvf Ivey(4Tk),13everlyDlythe(Seorearh,MarielvfrAdoo(Asst.Soctistary),Helen IVI/Eer(Tr asinr), LYorn'7ri I7nccalI tit T Mikan(Pilo Pmfiif7Prnt lawn Coroor[3ritT/Ale Crows.'Knox MM.Sam Traa&}larva M osudito..S'.harlenePflkt I". 6 z Jerry Passmore's Contributions to Orange County:A Brief Summary ferry Passnnore has been a major force for improving the lives of older adults in Orange County and across.North Carolina for over forty years.He began his career as a sociologist with a specialty in far-WV/community gerontology,by teaching at Greensboro College.He then started the Guilford County Council on Aging as their first Executive Director in 1973. • ..� Jerry moved.to Orange County in 1976,and has since been a visionary/pioneer in the planning.coordinating and establishing of needed senior services in Orange County. Some of Jerry's pioneering efforts are listed below, 1,Jerry oversaw(as Executive Director)the merger-of the Chapel Hill Council on Aging with the newly formed Orange County Council on Aging(COA)into a unified county-wide system of programs/services.(1976) 2.He prepared/presented with the COA to the BOCC for approval,the Orange County ordinance establishing the first county Department on Aging and Advisory Board on Aging. (1980) • 3.He promoted the development of public-private partnerships in serving older adults,with the goal of involving•the entire community,and initiated efforts/provided leadership in incorporating nonprofiit groups and developing bylaws for: a Friends of the Central Orange Senior Center(2000) o Friends of the Robert&Pearl Seymour Center(1991) and a Senior Care of Orange County,Inc. (20Q4),that operates the Soltys Adult Day Health Program 4. He developed,prepared and implemented,with a BOCC-appointed committee of over 100+citizens,two five-year Master Aging Plans (MAP),the first of their kind in 1V.C.,that provided a comprehensive&coordinated delivery of community services to senior citizens over the life span,that focused on different levels.of functional • capacity;well fit,moderately impaired/disabled and the severely impaired/ institutionalized. (2000 and 2006) 5. He engaged all departments of Orange County Government,towns,service agencies and the broader conununfty,in the process-of improving the infrastructure and services to meet the needs of older adults who desire to age In place,especially those with functional disabilities and impairments. . 6.He was instrumental (with an MSW intern)in the research,planning and start-up of the firstAdult Day Health program in Orange County,that opened in February,2004, before transferring operations to tthe.nonprofit Senior Care of Orange,Inc,which then named the center the Florence Gray Soltys Adult Day Health Center. 7.Jerry advocated,educated and prepared key reports for elected officials and the community that pointed out the benefits/unpartance of highly visible, , . 4 i • 7 multifunctional senior centers in meeting the needs of older adults,which led to a Senior Center Bond approval in November,2001. i 8.He provided hands-on supervision and stiff support to the BOCC°appointed senior ■ center planning committees that.led to the construction and opening of two beautiful Orange County senior centers: O The Robert gr.Pearl Seymour Center(May,2007)and A The Central Orange Senior Center(February,2009) 3 . t 9.He advocated for tile mobility needs and rights of all elderly and special populations,especially the low income and those with physical disabilities,and 9 Established/administered,;as a division of the Department on Aging,the Orange County Coordinated Agency Transportation(CAT)and its Advisory Board(1985) Q Administered/planned/obtained grants(several million dollars for vehicles/operations) as CAT expanded into public service provided by Orange is Public Transportation(OPT). ' - . • 10.He established the Department on Aging's free functional screen program in 2005,later partnering wi€th-UNC-CH and the Triangle SportsPlex. . ® The program's goal is to keep seniors Hying independently,by promoting healthy - behaviors'and providing evidence-based wellness programming at the County's multipurpose"wellness"Senior Centers. A With a focus on functionality,falls prevention,and physical activity,individuals f receive a standardized Senior Fitness Test and Falls Risk Screen.Written test results provide feedback on comparative normative data for one's age and gender, recommendations for exercise and/or physical activity programs and - • --encouragement to join one of a variety of appropriate exercise/movement classes. 11.Jerry has been a role model for civic involvement for over 30 years in Orange County,with membership hi or acting as support staff to the following organizations, . among others: Co-founder and first President,North Carolina Association on Aging,formerly the . North Carolina Association of Local Offices on Aging(1974). g Secretary,Orange County.A:dvisory.Board on Aging(1980-2010) O Secretary,Orange County Transportation Advisory Board (1985-2010) - 9 Member,North Carolina Public Transportation Association(1990-2010) . Member,Friends of the Chapel Hill Senior'Center/Robert&Pearl Seymour Center(1991-2010) O Member,Orange County Healthy Carolinians Advisory Council(1998-2010) O Member,Triangle UnitedWay Orange County Investment Planning Committee (2007-2008) O Board Member,The Peopleq Channel (Public Access TV),Chapel HiII,N.C.(2000- r • 2004) , 9 Member,Friends of the Senior Center for Central Orange(2000-2005) O Secretary,Friends of the Senior Center for Central Orange (2000-2002) l 'x. 8 © Assistant Treasurer,Friends of the Senior Center for Central Orange(2002- • 2005) . e Producer,"In Praise ofAga1TV show,Peoples Channel,Chapel Hill,N.C.,shown weekly in Orange,Durham and Chatham Counties (2001-Present) • Board Member,Senior Care;of Orange County,Inc.(2004-2013) e Secretary,Senior Care of Orange County,Inc. C2004-2012) • Member,State Employees Credit Union Local Advisory Board,Hillsborough,N.C. (2007-2009) e Orange County Staff Rep/Member,Triangle J Area Agency on Aging Advisory • Council(1980-2012) - e Member,Chatham-Orange Community Resource Connections(CRC) (2008- 2012) e Chair,Orange County Government Combined Giving Program,raising over $150,000 for community agencies (20022008) 12. Jerry has received xnany professional honors and awards over the years,some of which include: ® 2012:North Carolina Association on Aging's"Executive of the Year"Award 2010:Southern Gerontological Society's Best Practices Award for promoting and maintaining optimal fdinctionality,through the: o Functionality Screen and Movement Clinic o Wellness Screening Clinic:Mood,Memory,and Mobility and a Preventive Home Visit Program e 2010:WCI-IL Media's Village,Pride Award as a"Home Town Hero" (Aug 3) '2000-1985:Recipient of 7 National Achievement Awards for aging-services = from the National Association of Counties(NACo): > 2000:Friend to Friend Volunteer Program,coordinated by the .Department's Eldercare Aging Transitions Division > 1995:Senior Times Newspaper:A Public-Private Partnership between the Department on Aging.and the Durham&Xeraid-Sun newspaper - > 1990: Coordinated Agency Transportation (CAT)Program > 1987:Volunteer Income Tax Assistance(VITA)Program,coordinated by the Department's Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) Division > 1996:Cooperative Sponsorship of Senior Citizen Activities with the Orange County Recreation and'Parks > 1986:Saturday School for Seniors:Innovative Educational Experience (with Durham Technical Community College and Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools) - 1985;Coordinated Leisure Programming for Senior Citizens * 2009 &2004:N.C.Division of Aging's Ernest B.Messer Award,which recognized Orange County for"creatively establishing a Master Aging Plan(M.A.P.)that excelled . ( in addressing the needs of its older citizens".(Orange County is the only county in N.C.to receive this award twice.) 9 • 1991:N.C.Association on Aging's Nathan B.Yeiton Award for Outstanding Service in North Carolina in the Field of Aging Q 190:National Caucus and Center on BlackAged,Inc.'s Senior Employment Program Older Worker Employer Award O 1977:Originator/Creator of the North.Carolina Senior Tar Heel Card,adopted by the Governor's Office and3.C.Division of Aging from the local Guilford and Orange County Council on Aging's Discount Card programs. 1.3.Jerry Passmore retired July 2010 as Director of the Orange County Department on Aging,but has continued to volunteer his time and talents. Ie; • Produces the weekly In Praise of Age TV show, 4. Served as a board member of the Chatham Orange Community Resource Connections(CRC) (until 2012). O Served as secretary,then as a board member,of Senior Care of Orange County, Inc. (until 2014), O Organizes/coordinates/leads an annual (or biannual)fundraising cruise trip for the Friends of the Central Orange Senior Center,that raises between$3,000 and$4,500 each year(2004 to present); ® Coordinates/recruits dealers for the Friends of the Central Orange Senior Center's Las Vegas Night fundraiser,originally known as Country-Western Night. (2001 to present) Jerry has provided vision and inspiration,which resulted in many outstanding services for Orange County's older adults,improving their`quality of life:He continues to impact the lives of seniors as a volunteer advocate,partnering with - - others to h.elp make Orange County the best place to.live and grow oldin the United- States. • - Y { . 10 Attachment 3 Orange County Board of Commissioners BARRYVACORS.CHAIR EARG MCKEe- CHAIR Post Office Box 8181 MARK DoROSIN ALICE M.GORDON 200 South Cameron Street BERNAD 77Ii PELlSSlER 4O 5W 4 tz�NE�PRIC� Hillsborough,North Carolina 27278 rtfi teutis. PDvNYRICK October 21,2014 Friends of the Senior Center for Central Orange County,Inc. 103 Meadowland Drive Hillsborough,N.C.27278 Dear Mr.Allison, I am responding to the request of the Friends of the Senior Center for Central Orange County in reference to renaming the Central Orange Senior Center as the Jerry Passmore Senior Center. The Orange County Board of Commissioners is very proud of both of our senior centers. We understand the passion the Friends have for promoting the well-being of your members and Center staff,as well as looking out for the best interests of residents who frequent this center. We are most appreciative of the efforts Mr.Passmore has made on behalf of Orange County's seniors across many years and in many ways. However, as you may know the County adopted an Orange County Property Naming Policy in 2009 (policy attached). Based on this policy, and after consultation with the vice chair and manager, with all due respect we will not be making a change at this time,and will continue to use the current name, Central Orange Senior Center,for our senior facility. ._ . . -- The Board and I-greatly appreciate the support-and-contributions the.Friends have made and continue to make to_. _ the COSC and the entire Orange County community. I hope this information is helpful and nottoo disappointing. Best Barry Jacobs Chai Orange C., my Bo. d of Commissioners www.oranq paoun tvnc.oov Protecting and preserving—People,Resources,Quality of Life f)rnnrro Cnunfv North Carolina--You Count! I H' Attachment 4 11 r �,ai the Schur i�„fib 'z c�F FRIENDS of the SENIOR CENTER .f<vii ,..x .) for CENTRAL ORANGE, INC. 103 Meadowlands Drive P.Q. Box 8181 e, � Hillsborough, NC 27278 'hd�ar-,.-, `''`p ig�' 99.9-243-2015 bran„e 1' I March 17,2015 Orange County Board of Commissioners P.O. Box 8181 Hillsborough,NC 27278 1�f , ' Dear Co C r+ t -' •iS; The Friends of the Senior Center for Central Orange,Inc.authorized me to respond to a letter from Barry Jacobs dated October 21,2014. 1 have included background information for the Commissioners who are new and may not be aware of our efforts and the desire of the people to rename the Senior Center of Central Orange the Jerry Passmoxe Center. I am a former employee of Orange County serving as Clerk to the Board for nearly 20 years. When I was hired the Board requested that my main priority be to change the image of what people thought about County Government. 1 took this very serious and embarked on a customer service campaign. I worked with a small committee and came h a,:. up with the slogan"You Count in Orange County",We then put action to these words. We worked with citizens who called with complaints with the goat of helping them in any way we could. We sometimes had to put aside rules,regulations and ordinances because they did not fit the particular situation. We helped citizens by doing what was right and best for them. I was also hired because I was teaching word processing at a community college. I started using word processing and this new technology was quickly followed by the Planning Dept.and the Manager's office and it grew from there. We were the first County in the State to have election results on line for our citizens,At that time it was necessary to contract everything out because we still had a mainframe person in our Information Services Dept I was so fortunate to have a Board who supported my C efforts to improve the image of County Government and to help the citizens. We developed a training program and the County Manager made it mandatory that every County employee take this training. The Manager was not a computer person but gave me permission to launch the intranet which took about a year but we did it. 1 was allowed to do the first Report to the People which was distributed countywide and had all kinds of useful information in it for our citizens. I did this a second year and then funding was not available to continue. I could go on and on with how we helped our citizens by doing the right thing but I know your time is limited. F Beard Members: Beverly Blythe(President),iota McIver(1T?),Marie McAdoo(Secretary), HelenMiller(Treasurer),Harold Russell(Asst.Treasurer), Rebecca Walker(Past President),Myra Crawford,Leslie Crews Donna Cantrell,Charlie Foote,lriviau Hemden-Lata,A.lioiaRek,Donna Rose,Vicki Tilley, Tracey Boley&Jerry Passmore, Ex-Officio: Carroll Hawkins,Leo Allison,Sam Truax,Haryo Marsosudira&Deletes Simpson. 12 Orange County Board of Commissioners Page 2 My purpose in writing this and giving you background information is to again ask you to consider renaming the Central Orange Senior Center the Jerry Passmore Center. If you ask anyone who knows Jerry and about our request,they will agree that this is the right thing to do. Please read the summary which is attached of his contributions to Orange County. There is not,nor will there ever be another person who has given and is still giving his heart and soul to this Center. Please read the justification I have included and please do what is right,not what is written in some rules and regulations but what is right and what the people—both in the northern and in the southern part of the County want. On behalf of the Friends'Board of Directors and the wonderful people who use our Senior Center every day,I want to thank you and just ask you to think about what I have said and to do what is right. I am available at any time to meet with any of you who want additional information. I can be reached at 919-732-8315 or bblythe4l @gmail,com. May this be a great year for the Board of Commissioners and for the citizens in this wonderful County of Orange. I look forward to your response. Sincerely a /Por, Beverly A. Bl he,President Friends of the Senior Center for Central Orange,Inc. Cc: County Manager RES-2016-011 Attachment 5 13 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS RESOLUTION RE-NAMING THE CENTRAL ORANGE SENIOR CENTER FOR JERRY M. PASSMORE WHEREAS, Jerry Passmore provided executive oversight of the merger of the Chapel Hill Council on Aging with the Orange County Council on Aging into a unified county-wide system; and, WHEREAS, Mr. Passmore proposed, in coordination with the County Council on Aging, the Orange County ordinance establishing the first County Department on Aging; and, WHEREAS, Mr. Passmore promoted the development of public-private partnerships in serving older adults, by involving the entire community; and, WHEREAS, Jerry Passmore provided executive oversight to the BOCC appointed senior planning committees that led to the construction and opening of the Robert and Pearl Seymour Center and the Central Orange Senior Center; NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that the Orange County Board of Commissioners does hereby recognize Jerry M. Passmore for his visionary planning and establishing and coordinating needed senior services in Orange County by re-naming the Central Orange Senior Center to the Jerry M. Passmore Center. This the sixteenth day of February 2016. Earl McKee, Chair Orange County Board of Commissioners