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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAging Board minutes 051110 1 ORANGE COUNTY ADVISORY BOARD ON AGING Minutes May 11, 2010 PRESENT: Leo Allison, Heather Altman, Peggy Cohn, Mary Fraser, Steve Lackey, Haryo Marsosudiro, Joan Pellettier, Thelma Perkins, Jan Wells, Steve Yuhasz STAFF: Kathie Kearns, Jerry Passmore The meeting was called to order by Chair Steve Lackey at the Central Orange Senior Center. He announced that the Older Americans Act Month Proclamation was adopted by the Board of County Commissioners at their last meeting. Fred Schroeder received the Proclamation on behalf of the Advisory Board on Aging and 99 year old Ella Carver represented Orange County senior residents. Mr. Lackey also announced the May 27 reception honoring the naming of Senior Care’s Adult Day Health Program for Florence Soltys. The minutes of the April 6 meeting were approved upon the motion of Heather Altman and the second provided by Haryo Marsosudiro. Motion carried. Joan Pellettier asked about the status of new member appointments for Orange County advisory committees. Commissioner Yuhaz responded that no new appointments (except when mandated) will be made by the Board of County Commissioners until September. Jerry Passmore stated that updated Community Resource Guides are being given to each Advisory Board member. He referenced the Community Resource Fair held at the Seymour Center on May 1. He also stated that a proposal is being developed to transfer the Orange Public Transportation division of the Department on Aging to the Orange County Planning Department, effective July 1. Jan Wells invited those interested to a forum this evening on the I-40/Hwy 54 corridor at the Friday Center. Commissioner Yuhaz asked how to assure that Orange Public Transportation will continue to serve older adults in its new administrative location. Mr. Passmore responded that the federal grants that fund the OPT system require representation on advisory committees of the populations to be served. Jerry Passmore informed the Advisory Board that the County Manager is in the process of making a recommendation for an Acting Director for the Department on Aging following his retirement June 30. The Chair reminded the Advisory Board of the previous meeting’s sign-ups for Legislation/Advocacy and Planning/Coordination Committees. Based upon the current moratorium on new advisory board appointments the Chair invited the current members to continue to serve until new members can be appointed. 2 Mr. Passmore reviewed the recommended Home and Community Care Block Grant funding allocations, for Fiscal Year 2011. He noted that the additional Block Grant funding available for Orange County has been recommended for the Charles House and Senior Care adult day programs. Peggy Cohn questioned the amount of funds recommended for the congregate meal program in light of the increased demand. Mary Fraser asked how the funding is distributed among the counties. Joan Pellettier stated that a formula is established for distribution among the counties for the local determination of services to be funded. Mr. Passmore outlined the Department’s transfer of Block Grant support from In-Home Aide services to Case Assistance and the establishment of a more flexible Aging-In-Place fund that can provide an array of services or adaptive devices. The Chair asked if the Block Grant transportation funding will move with Orange Public Transportation to the Planning Department. Jerry Passmore responded that the funding will remain with the Department on Aging and will be used to purchase senior center fixed route transportation from Orange Public Transportation. Mary Fraser asked if the new funding for Charles House was an attempt for equity in adult day care service across Orange County. Haryo Marsosudiro asked about the impact of the 2010 Census on the funding formula. A motion was made by Jan Wells and seconded by Peggy Cohn to accept the recommended Home and Community Care Block Grant funding with the typing edits and mathematical corrections suggested by Steve Yuhasz. Motion carried. Jerry Passmore reviewed a chart that compared the advisory boards and committees that are the responsibility of the Department on Aging. He also reviewed the recommendation options presented by the County Manager. He asked for comments from those present. Jan Wells expressed her gratitude to Mr. Passmore for his work in compiling this comparative information. Mr. Passmore’s recommendations included: 1. enlarge the Advisory Board on Aging to 15-18 members to provide needed leadership for the many issues facing the growing older population 2. expand the mission of the Advisory Board on Aging to include persons with disabilities 3. expand the mission of the Advisory Board on Aging to assume the role of the RSVP advisory council Heather Altman asked if there was currently a Commissioner-appointed advocacy committee for the disabled population. Mary Frazer responded that OPC-LME serves the Orange County disability community. Steve Lackey expressed concern about expanding the role of this advisory board to include oversight of RSVP. Mary Fraser suggested the Wellness Board as a possible home for the RSVP Council responsibilities. Commissioner Yuhaz asked if there were non-profit organizations in this county who could take on the Advisory Board on Aging’s responsibilities. Discussion followed on the community agencies that advocate for the aging population. Due to time, Mr. Passmore summarized the discussion by stating that the Aging Advisory Board will pursue expanding its existing membership (including the newly-formed subcommittees) and studying further the RSVP oversight committee responsibilities to be in its mission since it is division of the Dept. on Aging. The other issue of expanding the 3 disabled in its service population mission was postponed indefinitely. Joan Pellettier and Jan Wells cautioned that the national trend is to include this population in aging services planning. A motion was made by Peggy Cohn and seconded by Thelma Perkins that the Board of County Commissioners continues its public commitment to having a County Advisory Board on Aging and expand its membership. Motion carried. Following announcements the meeting was adjourned. The next meeting will be held on June 8 at the Seymour Center. Respectfully submitted, Jerry M. Passmore, Secretary