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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAging Board minutes 091008 1 ORANGE COUNTY ADVISORY BOARD ON AGING Minutes September 10, 2008 PRESENT: Leo Allison, Heather Altman, Alvonia Baldwin, Peggy Cohn, Alice Gordon, Diane Henderson, Jerry Kruter, Steve Lackey, Ellen Ozier-Hayes, Thelma Perkins, Fred Schroeder, Miriam Settle, Don Wilhoitt EXCUSED: Jan Wassel STAFF: Myra Austin, Kate Barrett, Kathie Kearns, Jerry Passmore, Kathy Porter, Al Terry, Janice Tyler Meeting was called to order by Vice-Chair Fred Schroeder at the Seymour Center. Following introductions it was announced that Leo Allison, Steve Lackey, Thelma Perkins, and Miriam Settle were appointed to this Board by the County Commissioners during their work session the previous evening. Jerry Passmore informed the Board that the tape of the June 16 Legislative Update held at the Seymour Center will be aired on In Praise of Age on September 13 and 20. Plans are being made for a similar session to be held in late 2008. Mr. Passmore also announced that an Aging and Disabilities Resource Connection grant has been awarded to the Orange/Chatham project. He expressed his appreciation to Miriam Settle, Heather Altman and Kate Barrett for their work on the grant application. At this time Al Terry was asked to present an overview to the Board of the Orange Public Transportation (OPT) program. Mr. Terry began with a description of the public shuttle that connects Hillsborough to Chapel Hill. He reviewed the new proposal from Triangle Transit Authority (TTA) that Chapel Hill Transit would operate the peak hour shuttle service, using a larger bus to accommodate the increased ridership. OPT would continue to run the off-peak hour route with a shuttle stop added at the new Durham Tech campus. Mr. Terry also noted the new, copper-colored OPT bus that began service in May of this year. Alice Gordon commented that the OPT Hillsborough/Chapel Hill shuttle has been successful since its first day of operation. She cautioned that OPT might not be recouping the total cost of operation since its rates are significantly lower than surrounding systems. Mr. Terry added that the proposed restructuring of the public shuttle operation could result in a $60,000 reduction in revenue. Jerry Passmore stated that the change in the public route operation will be included in the Manager’s Memo to the Board of County Commissioners on Friday. The minutes of the June 11 meeting were approved upon the motion offered by Diane Henderson and a second by Peggy Cohn. 2 New members Leo Allison and Thelma Perkins were asked to give reports on the Friends of the Central Orange Senior Center and the Seymour Center respectively. Mr. Allison stated that the Central Orange Friends have postponed their annual ‘Las Vegas Night’ fundraiser until after the move into the new facility. Ms. Perkins informed the Board that the dates for the Distinguished Artist series may have to be changed since there is no funding for temporary staff to open the facility on Sunday afternoons. A meeting is scheduled to resolve this issue. Central Orange Adult Day Health Program Director Alvonia Baldwin reported that the Center currently has five full-time and three part-time participants, with two additional persons planning to attend once the move is made to the larger facility. She announced National Adult Day Services Week starting September 21. The move to the new location will be completed by January 5 and the day health center will be licensed for 25-30 participants. She also stated that a part-time Activity Coordinator has been hired. Janice Tyler was asked to provide an update on the new Central Orange Senior Center. She stated that $50,000 is included in the project budget to purchase furnishings. There is space designated for expansion of the Senior Net program to this location and volunteers are currently being recruited. The Ballroom will be large enough to accommodate the programs previously held at The Big Barn. No new positions were funded to staff the expanded facility. The Senior Citizens Program Coordinator previously assigned to the Efland and Cedar Grove community centers (Lisa Berley) will become the Front Desk Manager at the new Central Orange Center. Staff has requested additional temporary personnel funds to expand the hours of operation to include two evenings per week through June 30. Mr. Passmore and Ms. Tyler presented this request in their meeting with the County Manager where they discussed merging the programs at Efland and Cedar Grove into the new Central Orange facility when it opens January 5. Transportation will be provided from both communities to the Central Orange Center. Discussion followed on the projected revenue deficit for the coming fiscal year. Jerry Kruter asked about parking availability at the new center. Plans are tentative and may include designated parking for the senior center. Ms. Tyler concluded by announcing that the grand opening for the new senior center facility is planned for January 14, 2009. A list of current Advisory Board on Aging members and a list of individuals who have applied for appointment were distributed. Mr. Schroeder stated that the election of officers will be held at the October 8 meeting at the new Central Orange Senior Center. Following a short break Jerry Passmore began an orientation of board members by stating that two-thirds of Orange County’s older adults reside in the Chapel Hill/Carrboro area. He reviewed the Master Aging Plan process for identifying needs. Kate Barrett spoke about the community resources available in Orange County and the potential for ‘referral fatigue’ in seeking service. Mr. Passmore distributed an organizational chart of the Department on Aging staff and gave a brief history, beginning with the Chapel Hill Council on Aging. He concluded by saying that the new Central Orange Senior Center is a ‘center of the future’ with the inclusion of an adult day care program. 3 In reviewing the Department’s program divisions Jerry Passmore stated that the overall planning and fiscal administration functions were the responsibility of Administration. Janice Tyler distributed an organizational chart of the Community Based Services division and summarized the impact that the budget cut in temporary personnel funding is having on senior center operations. She stated that 28,000 copies of the Senior Times are distributed quarterly (22,000 inserted in the Herald-Sun newspaper; 6,000 mailed). Currently the Seymour Center is not rented out for private functions. Scholarships are available for classes. And Orange County is looking into the possibility of preparing the noon meals at the Seymour Center in the next fiscal year. In her review of wellness activities Program Coordinator Myra Austin included the UNC Geriatric Assessment Clinic which began last January at the Seymour Center and the functional fitness screening required for each person prior to using the Fitness Center. Kathy Porter summarized the RSVP program activities and distributed copies of last year’s Recognition Luncheon program. She stated that RSVP has started several programs in the community to address unmet needs, including Brown Bag Your Medicine, English as a Second Language, Friend To Friend, Read A Story To A Tot, and the VITA Tax Preparation programs. Kate Barrett began her presentation by stating that the services provided by Aging Transitions (formerly Eldercare) are not based upon income eligibility. The newly- developed services provided by this division include a dementia outreach program targeting Afro-American churches, a group respite day at the Seymour Center, involvement in the UNC Preventive Home Visit project and the Mood, Memory and Mobility clinic sponsored by the UNC Program on Aging. Aging Transitions staff made more than 950 home visits during the last fiscal year. Jerry Passmore concluded the orientation by distributing a statement of key issues for the future. Thelma Perkins suggested that good public relations is an issue for consideration in planning for the future. The Vice-Chair recommended placing this on the October agenda for further discussion. Miriam Settle added that she attended a meeting whose purpose was to foster better use of campus resources by the community. This subject was also proposed for discussion at next month’s meeting. There being no further business the meeting was adjourned. Respectfully submitted, Jerry M. Passmore Secretary 4