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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAging Board Minutes 061411 1 ORANGE COUNTY ADVISORY BOARD ON AGING Minutes June 14, 2011 PRESENT: Leo Allison, Heather Altman, Peggy Cohn, Ed Flowers, Mary Fraser, Katherine Leith, Haryo Marsosudiro, Jean Suddarth, Janice Wells EXCUSED: Alex Castro, Steve Lackey, Thelma Perkins, Mike Symons STAFF: Kathie Kearns, Janice Tyler The meeting was called to order by Chair Heather Altman at the Seymour Center. The minutes of the May 17 meeting were approved following the motion made by Ed Flowers and the second provided by Leo Allison. In her Director’s Report Janice Tyler informed the Advisory Board that the Emergency Management Department (EMD) is in the process of updating the Orange County Emergency Response Plan, with a simulation to occur in late July. This Plan will include the operation of the special needs shelter. There will also be review of the emergency contact lists maintained by several County departments, including the Department on Aging. Ms. Tyler reported that all of the fans and air conditioners purchased through the Duke Energy Project Heat Relief have been distributed. This funding plus private donations received totaled $3,000. Ed Flowers asked if Piedmont Electric had contributed to Project Heat Relief and offered to contact that utility company about their possible participation in the future. The Chair commented on the Board of County Commissioners budget work session held the previous Thursday. Ms. Tyler added that the final work session will be held tonight and budget adoption is scheduled for June 21. The Chair announced that three of the current Advisory Board members are completing their first term in June. Both Leo Allison and Thelma Perkins have agreed to be nominated for a second term on the Board. Steve Lackey has notified her that other commitments prevent him from continuing, although he still wants to be involved in the MAP Update process. The Advisory Board expressed its deep appreciation for Mr. Lackey’s hard work and dedication to Orange County and a letter will be sent to formally thank him. Janice Tyler will notify the Commissioners’ Office of this vacancy and ask about applicants on file. 2 Master Aging Plan Co-Chair Mary Fraser informed the Advisory Board that five of the ten scheduled MAP Focus Groups have been held throughout Orange County. The comments have been diverse. Also, the first of the Orange County Department Head interviews was held earlier in the day. The EMD Director was enthusiastic in his responses and welcomed the opportunity to be involved in the planning process. Janice Tyler announced that the County Commissioners approved the Community Assessment questionnaire and it will be distributed to the senior center listserv and all Orange County Government employees. It will also be available through the next Senior Times issue. Ed Flowers requested that the Advisory Board be given a copy of the survey results. He also asked how the Focus Group sessions were being advertised. Ms. Fraser replied that attendees are being asked how they received notification for use in future advertising efforts. Mary Fraser summarized the MAP Planning Committee meeting held on May 26. She reviewed the Plan Participant Structure that distinguishes between the roles of the Steering Committee, the Management Group, the Work Groups, the Resource Panel, and the Community Meeting participants. Appointments to the Steering Committee will be pursued during the month of July. She stated that Focus Group attendees are being invited to attend the Community Meeting scheduled for October. It was suggested that the leaders of Orange County’s Towns be involved in the process along with the County officials. Ms. Fraser reviewed the Master Aging Plan timeline that charts all of the events planned from the Focus Groups in June through the presentation to the Board of County Commissioners in May 2012. The Chair asked at what point the current MAP finding and recommendations will be addressed in the new process. Jan Wells suggested that August would be a good time to review the 2006 Update and acknowledge the accomplishments or unaddressed needs. She also urged that the persons responsible for community disaster preparedness be appointed to the Steering Committee. Janice Tyler stated that she has already met with EMD Director Frank Montes de Oca and he would also like to be involved in the Long Term Care Roundtable discussions recently initiated by the Department on Aging. It was suggested that the topic of disaster preparedness be revisited by this Advisory Board quarterly. In the Committee Progress Reports Leo Allison stated that the Friends of Central Orange have met with the Senior Center staff to review the ‘wish list’ for the coming fiscal year and will bring suggestions to the Friends Board meeting on June 20. Upcoming activities include establishing a legacy wall and sponsoring the annual Harvest Ball in October. The Friends are also working on their website. The Friends of the Seymour Center are holding their first community yard sale since moving to the new facility on October 1. Chatham-Orange Community Resource Connections (CRC) has now entered into cooperative agreements with 21 service agencies. The emphasis is on reducing avoidable hospital re-admissions by improving community service coordination with hospital discharge. This CRC is one of three pilot projects in North Carolina. 3 Jean Suddarth and Jan Wells reported on the Senior Tar Legislature (STHL) meeting currently being held in Raleigh. State Division of Aging Director Dennis Streets has informed the delegates that the Senior Center General Purpose funding has been preserved in the new fiscal year budget. In the State’s proposed Home and Community Care Block Grant budget the only reduction is support for Project Care. Mr. Streets’ summary of the 2011 Legislative Money Report can be found on the Dept of Health and Human Services website. Other human services funding cuts were reviewed. Ms. Wells also reported that the STHL was given new population statistics based upon the 2010 census. Discussion followed on these figures and their impact on the MAP planning process. The Chair announced that the Advisory Board’s next meeting will be held in August at the Seymour Center. Jan Wells volunteered to head up a subcommittee that includes Leo Allison and Alex Castro to conduct a cross-walk from the last MAP Update to the new process. Also, the MAP Planning Subcommittee (MAP Management Committee) agreed to meet on July 12 to review the Steering Committee appointments and data analysis. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. Respectfully submitted, Janice Tyler, Secretary.