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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAging Board minutes 021109ORANGE COUNTY ADVISORY BOARD ON AGING Minutes February 11, 2009 PRESENT: Leo Allison, Alice Gordon, Kathie Kearns, Jerry Kruter, Steve Lackey, Haryo Marsosudiro, Jerry Passmore, Thelma Perkins, Fred Schroeder EXCUSED: Heather Altman, Peggy Cohn, Jan Wassel The meeting was called to order at the Seymour Center by Chair Steve Lackey. Jerry Passmore asked the Board’s feedback for changing the current meeting schedule. Several members are currently unable to attend on Wednesday. The members present were agreeable to moving the date to Tuesday or Thursday. After speaking by phone with Jan Wassel, Mr. Passmore reported that her only available dates for meeting were the first or second Tuesday of the month. Leo Allison offered the motion that the Board move its meeting to the second Tuesday of the month, effective with the February meeting. Thelma Perkins provided the second. The Board will evaluate this change and its effect on attendance after several months. The change will take effect with the March meeting. Mr. Passmore indicated that Ellen Ozier-Hayes has several absences and Peggy Cohn’s indicated that she will likely be absence for four or more months due to family issues. Mr. Passmore will communicate with each, indicating the importance of attendance and the board policy allowing only three absences in a year. He will inform them of the change in meeting day. Jerry Kruter made a motion that the Board accommodate Peggy Cohn’s request for a leave of absence. Leo Allison suggested that Ms. Cohn resign her seat on the Board and reapply at a later time. Mr. Kruter rescinded his motion. The minutes of the January 14 meeting were approved upon the motion provided by Fred Schroeder and the second by Leo Allison. The Chairman called for feedback on the January 29 grand opening of the new Central Orange Senior Center and Adult Day Health Program. Leo Allison announced that most participants from the Efland Community Center lunch program have made the transition to the new location. He added that this Friday the Friends of Central Orange will be hosting the Las Vegas Night fundraiser at the new facility. The Friends of COSC are revisiting their mission now that they are no longer responsible for paying utilities for the Center. Discussion followed about feedback on the new building. Thelma Perkins informed the Board the Carol Woods recently held a training session on preventing falls in the home. Jerry Passmore added that the Department’s staff person, Vibeke Talley, is an expert in the field of mobility and home adaptation. Mr. Passmore reported that the MAP Annual Report for FY 207-08 and Priorities for 2009 are on the Board of County Commissioners agenda for the February 17 meeting. The Chair stated that he plans to attend the meeting. The Chair asked for a report on the upcoming Legislative Forum, scheduled for February 23. Jerry Passmore stated that the Legislative Workgroup met the previous Monday and are recommending the Forum be postponed to a later date. Alice Gordon asks for clarification on the purpose of the Forum. She suggested that the issues be divided into two categories: critical services for continued funding and expansion items. In considering changing the date it was noted that no publicity has been arranged for the event outside of the notice placed in the Senior Times. The alternate date suggested by the Legislative Work Group for the Forum is March 23. A motion was made by the Leo Allison to ask the Work Group to set a new date. The second was made by Fred Schroeder. Motion carried. Thelma Perkins announced that the Friends of the Seymour Center are sponsoring a Valentine party this Saturday featuring the Savoyards. The Prime Time Players are also scheduled to perform. An interest survey is being developed for Center participants. The Chair added that the Friends have submitted an application to the Outside Agency Funding process for continued funding for Seymour Center programming. Leo Allison raised a question about the possibility of obtaining automatic doors for the Central Orange Senior Center. Alice Gordon informed the Advisory Board that funding is uncertain. Mr. Passmore announced that OPT has proposed cutting its current operations budget by $16,800 to provide the local match for two new NCDOT vehicles. The Board voiced its support of obtaining the new vehicles by providing 10% match from existing OPT budget funds. Jerry Passmore reported on the opening of the Central Orange Adult Day Health Program in its new location next to the Central Orange Senior Center. He informed the Advisory Board that there are some changes that need to be made to the kitchen in order to receive a license for 29 participants. He also shared his plans for using electronic tracking devises to allow appropriate day care participants to take advantage of Senior Center programming in the future. The Chair announced that the next meeting of the Food Service Innovations Committee will be held on February 18. Mr. Passmore distributed the Senior Tar Heel Legislature priority listing, the Governor’s Advisory Council’s priority listing, the Long Term Care (LTC) Ombudsman listing, the Friends of Residents of LTC priority issues, and a listing from AARP. The Division of Aging prepared a comparative chart representing all of these special interest groups that he also distributed. The Legislative Work Group reviewed all of these documents and created a priority list of Orange County issues. The Workgroup endorsed all of the Senior Tar Heel Legislative priorities except the homeowner tax exemption. Mr. Passmore recommended that the Board review the distributed information and the Legislative Work Group’s priority list and take action at the March meeting. He will also distribute the information to other relevant Orange County organizations such as the Nursing Home and Adult Care Home Advisory Committees. Kathie Kearns reported that the Department is preparing a budget reflecting $75,000 reduction to submit on Monday, February 16. Jerry Passmore promised further details on the budget at the March 10 meeting. Jerry Kruter asked if there is direct communication with local legislators about the proposed cuts and their impact. The Department submitted applications for RSVP, recreational services and the senior lunch program to the Outside Agency Funding organizations of Orange County, and the Towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. Respectfully submitted, Jerry M. Passmore, Secretary