HomeMy WebLinkAboutAging Board Minutes 110811 1
ORANGE COUNTY
ADVISORY BOARD ON AGING
Minutes
November 8, 2011
PRESENT: Heather Altman, Alex Castro, Peggy Cohn, Ed Flowers, Mary Fraser, Haryo
Marsosudiro, Thelma Perkins, Jeane Suddarth, Mike Symons, Janice Wells
ABSENT: Leo Allison
STAFF: Kathie Kearns, Janice Tyler
The meeting was called to order by Chair Heather Altman at the Seymour Center. Following
introductions Jeane Suddarth invited those present to the upcoming presentation by author Jonell
Kirby Cash. The minutes of the October 11 meeting were approved following the motion
offered by Ed Flowers and the second made by Peggy Cohn.
In her Director’s Report Janice Tyler noted the passing of Pearl Seymour for whom this facility
was named. The Department on Aging staff plans to make a contribution to the Legacy Wall in
her memory. She suggested that the Friends of Seymour consider establishing a music series at
the Center in tribute.
Ms. Tyler announced that the two Aging Transitions division job vacancies were posted by
Human Resources. She summarized the restructuring of that Division’s positions following
Vibeke Tally’s retirement. An offer for the ¾ time Eldercare Manager position has been made.
Internal candidate interviews were conducted for the Eldercare Services Administrator with no
success. The position is now being advertised externally and applications accepted through
November 17. The occupational therapist services will be provided through a contract with the
University of North Carolina.
Ms. Tyler also announced that Public Works has permanently assigned a staff person to the
Department on Aging to perform routine facility maintenance and repairs at the senior centers.
The November Department Head meeting was held at the Seymour Center where the MAP
Update presentation was given by the summer intern team. Ms. Tyler is representing Orange
County’s Southern Human Services Campus on the Town of Chapel Hill’s Good Neighbor
Committee. Discussion followed on the concerns surrounding the placement of the IFC
transitional housing facility on the United Church of Chapel Hill campus. She announced that
the Seymour Center was the most-utilized location for early voting in this Fall’s election.
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Mike Symons reported that the majority of the traffic at the previous Saturday’s Seymour Center
Open House were voters. Ms. Tyler concluded her Report by stating that the Herald Sun along
with the Orange County Visitors’ Bureau were planning on featuring the Department in one of
their 52 ads highlighting why it is so great to live in Orange County.
Kathie Kearns announced that the candidates for the Advisory Board on Aging vacancies had
declined the nominations. The applications of two new candidates were distributed. The
consensus of the Board was that these individuals should be invited to the next meeting, which
will be held in January 2012.
Mary Fraser provided a progress report on the MAP Update planning process. The Capstone
students have established a standard agenda to be used with all Workgroups. The students will
use this set agenda as they chair each workgroup. Each workgroup plans to hold two meetings
in 2011 and three meetings in early 2012 and the MAP Update will be drafted by March. A
master Workgroup schedule will be distributed to all Advisory Board members.
The Board began review of the draft input form for the County Commissioners’ annual planning
retreat. Accomplishments that need to be added or embellished included:
• Secured funding for the summer interns who assisted with the MAP community forums
• List the quantifiers for the MAP work done to date, such as number of forums, number of
attendees, geographic spread, number of department head interviews, number of
attendees at the Community Kick-Off and what townships they reside
• When discussing the LTC Roundtable, list the number of facilities represented and the
number who responded to the survey
• Emphasize that this is a community-driven process, not just a plan developed by staff
• Include the number of attendees at the Community Resource Fair
• List the number of CRC agreements and that Chatham/Orange is a pilot site for the State
for the hospital-transition model
• Mention the Advisory Board’s support of Senior Care’s financial struggles and corrective
actions to improve its financial status
• In the 2012 activities, describe the plans to implement MAP and monitor its progress.
• For emerging issues identified state that” the Advisory Board on Aging continues to
study ways and means to maximize or reallocate available resources to meet the
emerging magnitude of the needs of an increasing percentage of county residents that are
seniors.”
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During Committee reports Haryo Marsosudiro announced that the new dishes purchased by the
Friends of Central Orange had arrived. Mike Symons reported on the Friends of Seymour open
house the previous Saturday and the dedication of the courtyard bench in honor of retired
Director Jerry Passmore. He also announced the launch of a car donation program as a new
fundraising effort. He noted that the October 1 Seymour yard sale was both profitable and
enjoyable, thanks to the tireless work of Cydnee Sims. The annual fundraising letter will be
mailed out soon. It was stated that a list should be developed of all of the community activities
that are held in the centers in addition to services for seniors.
Heather Altman reported that the Community Resource Connections now has 24 organizations
involved. Both the Nursing Home and Adult Care Home committees have vacancies at this time.
The Senior Tar Heel Legislature continues to lobby for senior issues. Janice Wells has been
appointed to the Governor’s Fraud Task Force.
The Advisory Board approved by consensus the meeting schedule distributed for calendar year
2012. The Board will not meet in December 2011.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Janice Tyler, Secretary