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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAging Board minutes 100808 1 ORANGE COUNTY ADVISORY BOARD ON AGING Minutes October 8, 2008 PRESENT: Leo Allison, Jerry Kruter, Thelma Perkins, Fred Schroeder EXCUSED: Peggy Cohn, Alice Gordon, Diane Henderson, Jan Wassel GUESTS: Heather Altman, Alvonia Baldwin, Haryo Marsosudiro, Bernadette Pelissier STAFF: Kathie Kearns, Terry Colville, Bob Jones, Jerry Passmore The meeting was called to order by Vice-Chair Fred Schroeder. Following introductions, the Vice-Chair announced that Miriam Settle has resigned her seat on the Advisory Board on Aging. Jerry Passmore announced that he has arranged a tour of the new Central Orange Senior Center for interested Board members on Tuesday, October 14 @ 4:00 p.m. Heather Altman informed the Board that the name of the ‘Aging and Disabilities Resource Connection’ project has been changed to ‘Community Resource Connections’. She gave a brief history of the development of the project and announced that Carol Woods has designated $10,000 of its Duke Endowment funding to expand this effort. She announced that NC CARES will be conducting a two-day meeting on transitional care services and invited all present to attend. Mr. Passmore stated that the RSVP Volunteer Recognition Luncheon will be held on Thursday, October 23 at the UNC Friday Center. He stated that the County Manager has requested that all departments reduce their operations spending by 2% during the next six month in response to the decrease in property and sales tax revenues. He also informed the Board of the proposed changes in the public shuttle between the towns of Hillsborough and Chapel Hill. The changes, effective November 1, include adding stops at the new Durham Tech-Hillsborough campus with a park-n-ride lot and possibly moving the Hillsborough park-n-ride lot from the Maxway Shopping Center. Chapel Hill Transit will operate the route during peak hours, using a 45- passenger bus to accommodate the demand. The cost per ride will continue to be $2.00 per trip ($1 for senior citizens). The new route brochures will be available at the November Board meeting. Jerry Passmore announced that the dedication of the new UNC Hospitals Geriatric Resource Center in honor of Florence Soltys will be held on Friday, October 10 at 11:00 am. 2 The approval of the September 10 meeting was deferred to November due to the lack of a quorum. Thelma Perkins reported on behalf of the Friends of the Seymour Center that the new Friends President is Ms. Bobbie Lubker. The first performance in the Sunday Afternoons at the Seymour Center concert series will be held on October 26. The artists will be Kevin Van Sant and the Bolin Creek Harmony Boys. Leo Allison reported for the Friends of the Central Orange Senior Center (COSC) that the Center will open in its new location on January 5, 2009. Last Monday the Friends Board met with staff to determine the items that the Friends will purchase for the Center. Board members will also volunteer. Mr. Allison expressed the importance of having a transportation plan in place to bring seniors from the Efland and Cedar Grove communities into the new Senior Center. Jerry Passmore will present the plan at upcoming meetings. The recruitment of evening volunteers and the use of the Sportsplex exercise equipment are two issues that still need to be resolved. Mr. Passmore reviewed the staffing plan for COSC, including the reassignment of a Program Coordinator to Front Desk Manager and expanding evening hours to Thursday nights. Central Orange Adult Day Health Center Director Alvonia Baldwin gave an update on the Center’s activities. There are currently seven participants. The license for the new location at the Sportsplex should allow for 25-30 participants per day. Jerry Passmore expressed his frustration with the current day care regulation that prohibits clients from participating in activities at the adjacent senior center without a staff member accompanying them. Heather Altman stated that Carol Woods has a ‘companion corps’ of volunteers that accompany residents to activities. Other suggestions for volunteers to accompany clients included high school students and APPLES students from UNC. Ms. Baldwin will investigate the use of volunteers in this capacity. Heather Altman reported on her first meeting as the new delegate to the Triangle J Area Agency on Aging from Orange County. She participated in the Tar Heel Legislature subcommittee which focuses on the impact of recent legislation. The full Council was given information on the Chronic Disease Self Management program. Leo Allison is also a representative to the Sportsplex Community Advisory Committee. He stated that the purpose of the last meeting was to review the budget and plans for the new fiscal year. Jerry Passmore added that a meeting will be held next week between the Sportsplex staff and the Department on Aging to establish a fee schedule for senior center participants who want to utilize the Sportsplex exercise equipment. He will report to the Board at the next meeting. The election of a new Chair and Vice-Chair was postponed until the November meeting due to the lack of a quorum. Mr. Passmore distributed a list of the Department on Aging- affiliated committees and their Aging Board representatives. Members were asked to consider filling one of the vacancies listed. 3 Jerry Passmore distributed a Senior Meal Service Improvement Plan that would be a Master Aging Plan priority for fiscal year 2008-09. In this proposal the Department on Aging will use the Seymour Center kitchen to prepare noon meals for both Orange County senior centers, effective July 2009. He stated that a business plan will be prepared and submitted to the Board of County Commissioners for their approval in early 2009. A ten-member advisory committee will be formed to assist in the development of this plan. Discussion followed on the composition of this advisory committee. The review of the MAP annual report for FY2008 and the priorities for FY 2009 were postponed until the November meeting. Jerry Passmore distributed a copy of the MAP Legislative/Advocacy Work Plan: FY2008-09 for the Board’s review. The first objective proposed convening a coalition of identified advocacy groups to develop a legislative platform for consideration by the Board of County Commissioners. The second objective proposed holding another legislative forum to educate the community about issues related to aging. Mr. Passmore informed the Board that the proposal to expand the Wellness Program space at the Seymour Center was not included in the Manager’s three-year Capital Improvement Plan recommendation. Any expansion in the near future likely would have to be paid for by private funds. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. Respectfully submitted, Jerry M. Passmore Secretary