HomeMy WebLinkAboutAging Board Minutes 041211ORANGE COUNTY
ADVISORY BOARD ON AGING
Minutes
April 12, 2011
PRESENT: Leo Allison, Heather Altman, Alex Castro, Peggy Cohn, Ed Flowers, Mary Fraser,
Steve Lackey, Haryo Marsosudiro, Mike Symons, Jan Wells
STAFF: Kathie Kearns, Janice Tyler
The meeting was called to order at the Seymour Center by Chair Heather Altman. She requested
that the March 15 minutes be changed to reflect that Pat Sprigg was Co-Chair of both the initial
Master Aging Plan Steering Committee and its 2006 Update. With that change, the minutes
were approved upon the motion offered by Alex Castro and the second provided by Jan Wells.
The Chair announced that Thelma Perkins was unable to attend today’s meeting but wishes to
continue serving on the Board. Ms. Altman requested that the meeting begin with the
Committee Progress Reports.
Haryo Marsosudiro reported that the Friends of the Central Orange Senior Center Board of
Directors is preparing for its annual membership meeting in May. The Harvest Moon Ball,
monthly contra dances, and a fundraising cruise are in the planning stages. Leo Allison added
that the Board has adopted the philosophy that all sponsored events do not have to make money
in order to be considered a success.
Mike Symons reported for the Friends of the Seymour Center that the Chapel Hill Parks and
Recreation Department did not include Friends funding in its operations budget proposal for FY
2012. The Friends Board will appear before the Towns of Chapel Hill/Carrboro Human Services
Advisory Boards within the next month. The Friends of Seymour will co-sponsor a men’s night
out with a ‘wild west’ theme on Wednesday. There have been discussions about bringing back
the yard sale fundraisers that were held when the senior center was located on Elliott Road. The
Friends Board has included funding for the Johnson Intern and night/weekend staff at the
Seymour Center in its Fiscal Year 2011-12 budget.
Heather Altman summarized the recent activities of the Chatham-Orange Community Resource
Connections (CRC). She stated that 18 agencies have entered into formal agreements of
information-sharing and cooperation. The availability of new Community Based Care
Transitions funding has just been announced. Janice Tyler added that OPC Area Programs, one
of the CRC partners, is co-sponsoring a mental health workshop at the Seymour Center on May
20.
Ms. Tyler informed the Board that Vibeke Talley resigned her position with the Aging
Transitions Division to return to community occupational therapy through Duke University. An
interim division director position has been approved by the Assistant County Manager and the
candidate will be announced shortly. A new employee, Mary Ann Weston, has been hired to fill
the social work position vacated in December. In conclusion she stated that Information and
Assistance Specialist Latonya Brown is scheduled to begin maternity leave next week and retired
I&A Specialist Katherine Leith has agreed to work in her absence.
Janice Tyler announced that two UNC Health Behavior/Health Education practicum students
will be working at the Department on Aging this summer. Also the Department was awarded a
Capstone team consisting of six students and two faculty members for academic year 2011-12.
Ms. Tyler updated the Advisory Board on the status of the Senior Care Adult Day Health
Program. The Senior Care Board met the previous week. The daily census has increased,
including the number of VA clients. Discussion followed on the future of funding from Orange
County Government and the outside agency application process. Treasurer Ed Flowers
cautioned that the only way to continue the sliding-scale fee system is with the support of
foundation funding. He is recommending that the business model be changed. The consensus
was that the program is in need of additional backing to become financially stable. Other options
proposed included shifting from a medical to a social model or identifying a larger organization
that could assume management of the program.
In her Director’s report Janice Tyler announced that the Department had entered into an
agreement with Triangle Sportsplex whereby the Central Orange hours of operation will be
extended so that the Sportsplex can utilize some rooms for classes. In return, the Sportsplex will
reimburse the Department for the facility staff.
Ms. Tyler distributed Executive Order #85which transfers the State housing and homelessness
program to the NC Division of Aging and Adult Services. Mary Fraser requested that another
candidate for appointment to the Triangle J Area Agency on Aging Advisory Board be recruited.
Ms. Fraser reported that the MAP Update subcommittee has continued to meet. She asked that
the Advisory Board review that section of the summary that outlines its responsibilities during
the summer months and the draft of the mission statement. Alex Castro suggested that each
Advisory Board member bring recommendation for the MAP Steering Committee to the May
Board meeting. The goal is to have the Committee established by July. Ms. Fraser added that
the subcommittee is recommending that the Update follow the structure of the State Division of
Aging’s Plan, focusing on issues rather than population groups.
Discussion followed on the Steering Committee composition. Janice Tyler added that the focus
group schedule needs to be finalized so that the dates can be advertised in the next Senior Times.
Mary Fraser announced that she has agreed to co-chair the MAP Update Steering Committee.
Katherine Leith has also been asked to co-chair. All Advisory Board members were invited to
join the subcommittee.
Ms. Tyler reported that the budget meeting with the Orange County Manager went well. The
Home and Community Care Block Grant allocations for next fiscal have not been finalized and
the budget is progressing based upon last year’s funding levels. She also announced that the
Long Term Care Task Force, recommended in the last MAP Update, will be reconvened on May
13. Invitations have been extended to all Orange County LTC facility operators and two
additional staff members.
Alex Castro suggested items such as mission statements be sent out electronically instead of
discussing them during the monthly meeting. Ed Flowers offered to set up a listserv for this
purpose.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Janice Tyler, Secretary