HomeMy WebLinkAboutAging Board minutes 091306 1
ORANGE COUNTY
ADVISORY BOARD ON AGING
Minutes
September 13, 2006
PRESENT: Jack Chestnut, Peggy Cohn, Alice Gordon, Diane Henderson, Bob Jones,
Kathie Kearns, Jerry Kruter, Arthrell Sanders, Florence Soltys
The meeting was called to order by Chair Jack Chestnut at the Northside Senior Center.
The Chair welcomed Peggy Cohn and Diane Henderson who have applied for
appointment to the Aging Board. Jerry Passmore gave an overview of the Department on
Aging and the Advisory Board’s role and responsibilities.
Chairman Chestnut announced the Human Services Advisory Commission’s annual
forum will be held on September 20 at the Chapel Hill Bible Church. This year’s theme
of “Responding to an Aging Society” will include review of the Master Aging Plan
Update. Alice Gordon stated that the County Commissioners’ involvement in the
program would be limited due to a schedule conflict with the county manager candidate
interviews. Proceeds from the registration fees will be donated to Senior Care, Inc. Mr.
Passmore distributed registration forms for the Orange County Women’s Agenda
Assembly on October 12. He also announced that the second annual ‘Aging In Stride’
fundraiser for the Wellness Program will be held on UNC campus on September 30.
The minutes of the August 9 meeting were approved upon the motion by Florence Soltys
and the second by Arthrell Sanders.
Jack Chestnut reported that the recent Friends of the Chapel Hill Senior Center Yard Sale
cleared over $5,000 that will be used for programming and scholarships at the new
Seymour Center. The Friends of the Central Orange Senior Center’s Las Vegas Night
fundraiser will be held in two days. He expressed concern about the opening of the new
Orange County senior centers in light of the negative publicity currently circulating about
the new Durham Senior Center and not having a kitchen. Mr. Passmore assured the
Board that the Orange County senior centers will have fully-equipped kitchens and
activity rooms. He and Senior Centers Administrator Janice Tyler have met with Project
Manager Jeff Thompson. The projected occupancy date for the Seymour Center is
approximately March, 2007. He added that transportation is key to the success of the
Central Orange Center. He outlined plans for expansion of the OPT public routes.
Commissioner Gordon gave a summary of the TTA shuttle development and added that
co-location with the Sportsplex and the adult day health center should expand
involvement in Central Orange. She shared her hope that this facility will be completed
shortly after the Seymour Center.
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Florence Soltys reported that the Central Orange Adult Day Health Program is operating close
to capacity on many days. She explained that Piedmont Health has applied for PACE, an all-
inclusive program for Medicare/Medicaid clients at risk of institutionalization, and that adult
day health is key to this service delivery system. Carol Woods has committed $175,000 over
three years to Orange County in support of the construction of the day health care program
space at the Sportsplex. Discussion followed on the specifics of the PACE program. Jerry
Passmore commended Ms. Soltys on her work with the Aging Study Commission to promote
regulation changes that now require all CAP applicants to be assessed for adult day health care.
He also informed the Board that retired nurses are now being employed for four hours each
day, replacing the nursing contract with the UNC School of Nursing.
Florence Soltys reviewed the Master Aging Plan Update process that culminated in the
final draft document being distributed. This draft will be presented to the Board of
County Commissioners at the September 19 meeting. She stated that the four issues that
transcend the three planning subgroups are transportation, information and access,
housing, and transitional care. The timeframe for the Plan Update is 2007-2011.
The next order of business was election of officers. Arthrell Sanders made the motion
that the current Chair and Vice-Chair, Jack Chestnut and Jan Wassel, be elected to
another one-year term. Florence Soltys provided the second. Motion carried. The Chair
announced that Jerry Kruter has been appointed to the newly-formed Sportsplex
Community Advisory Committee.
Mr. Kruter informed the Board of his research on property tax reform for senior citizens.
He and Jerry Passmore hope to meet with Interim County Manager Rod Visser to discuss
the Aging Board’s role in the Orange County movement to explore this issue and present
a report to the Board of Commissioners. Discussion followed on the research done to
date and the complexity of tax laws.
Chairman Chestnut polled today’s guests about their interest in being recommended for
appointment to the Advisory Board on Aging. Receiving a favorable response from both,
he proposed that their names be submitted in nomination. Mr. Passmore distributed a
survey from the Human Relations Commission and urged those present to complete and
return it.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned
Respectfully submitted,
Jerry M. Passmore, Secretary