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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAging Board minutes 040610ORANGE COUNTY ADVISORY BOARD ON AGING Minutes April 6, 2010 PRESENT: Leo Allison, Heather Altman, Peggy Cohn, Mary Fraser, Steve Lackey, Haryo Marsosudiro, Joan Pellettier, Fred Schroeder, Mike Symons, Jan Wells STAFF: Kathie Kearns, Jerry Passmore The meeting was called to order by Chair Steve Lackey at the Seymour Center. Jerry Passmore informed the Board that Kate Barrett was recently awarded UNC’s Florence Soltys Community Service Award for 2010. He added that he hoped to recognize Ms. Barrett at the April 20 Commissioners meeting. The minutes of the March meeting were approved as mailed. Mr. Passmore informed the Advisory Board that the County Manager has requested that all departments reduce the FY2011 budget by 15% of County dollars. For the Department on Aging and Transportation this equates to $205,000. More information will be reviewed later in the meeting. The Resolution naming the Adult Day Health Program in honor of Florence Soltys is scheduled for the April 20 Board of County Commissioners meeting. Dr. John Soltys will be in attendance. Heather Altman asked if the official name of the Coalition for the Continuity of Care in the Geriatric Community be substituted for the title listed in the Resolution. Mr. Passmore stated that the lettering for the Central Orange Senior Center and Florence Soltys Adult Day Care Program will be added to the building in May. Mary Fraser questioned if the term ‘facility’ in paragraph four should be deleted. All Advisory Board members are encouraged to attend the unveiling of the signage. The next agenda item was review of the Manager’s recommendation to combine some County advisory committees i.e. the Adult Care and Nursing Home Advisory Committees and dissolve others, namely the Advisory Board on Aging. Mr. Passmore has been asked by the Manager to provide feedback on the feasibility of these actions. Members were asked to review the materials distributed for discussion at a future meeting. He proposed that one consideration for the Advisory Board might be to broaden its mission to include the disabled population. Discussion followed on the role of the Friends boards in serving the needs of all older adults. Heather Altman expressed her concern about this Board’s role in light of the Manager’s review of its future. Why gear up when we might go out of business. Fred Schroeder asks what the motivation for dissolving the Aging Board. The consensus was that the motive is purely financial - the saving of staff time. Mr. Passmore noted the accomplishments made through the efforts of the Advisory Board on Aging during the last 30 years. Fred Schroeder asked if the rationale of reducing is the amount of staff and County Commissioner time. The Chair expressed his interest in continuing the Aging Board’s work and asking for appointments to fulfill this mission. Jerry Passmore expressed his commitment to the aging board as the BOCC commitment to the aging population. If anything, the role should be expanded to the disabled. Joan Pellettier added that this board could be designated at the Home and Community Care Block Grant advisory committee with citizen and professional input. Mr. Passmore recommended that this issue be discussed in detail at the May meeting. The Chair asked that the Aging Board review the information concerning the establishment of the Legislation/Advocacy and Planning/Coordination committees. Jerry Passmore referred to the hand-out that included by-laws that established the Advisory Board and the Department on Aging thirty years ago. He gave an overview of the Health and Social Services Boards composition. He also referred to the responsibilities that the subcommittees would undertake that cannot be accomplished at the Aging Board meetings due to time constraints. Heather Altman asked if the subcommittees would have a meeting schedule that would add to already hectic schedules. She referenced previous task force groups that were formed to address a specific issue and then dissolved. The Chair supported the idea of having the committees established to deal with the issues as they arise. Jan Wells added that committees can meet via conference call rather than face-to-face. Heather Altman made the motion to adopt the committee structure as presented. She asked for clarification of ‘response system’ in item 2-b. Peggy Cohn provided the second. Motion carried. Ms. Cohn suggested that members be given a month to consider which committee to serve and have the committee meet to further define its role and function. Following this time the Chair will approach the Board of County Commissioners about the significant role of the Advisory Board on Aging and its standing subcommittees. The board members were asked to indicate their preference for committee membership. (attachment A) The Board was asked to refer to the information in the Board mailing pertaining to the FY2011 budget for the Department on Aging and Transportation. Mr. Passmore reviewed the summary budget presented at the March meeting and the service objectives developed for each division. Mr. Passmore noted that ½ of the approximately $2,500,000 budget comes from outside sources. In conclusion he submitted a listing of the proposed cuts to the department’s operating budget at the County Manager’s instructions to cut County funding requests by 15%. The Manager’s current projection is $13,000,000 county-wide. Heather Altman suggested using this reduction list as the basis for fundraising efforts in the community. Mr. Passmore noted that a similar proposed reduction in senior center hours last year resulted in the Friends of Seymour providing the funds for two evenings per week. The Chair asked Aging Board members to review the list of proposed cuts for further discussion at next month’s meeting. Fred Schroeder asked why the decrease in County funding in light of the property tax increase. Mr. Passmore emphasized that all County departments are being asked to submit this 15% reduction list Peggy Cohn gave a brief report on the 30th Anniversary Celebration committee to be held at the Central Orange Senior Center on October 1. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.