HomeMy WebLinkAboutAging Advisory Board Minutes 0210151
ORANGE COUNTY
ADVISORY BOARD ON AGING
Minutes
February 10, 2015
PRESENT: Mary Altpeter, Alex Castro, Peggy Cohn, Keith Cook, Ed Flowers, Winston Liao,
Lorenzo Mejia, Donna Prather, Jeane Suddarth, Jack Vogt, Dick White
EXCUSED: Heather Altman, Virginia Brown
GUEST: Dan Hatley, Ashley Moncado
STAFF: Mary Fraser, Kathie Kearns, Eileen Nilsen, Janice Tyler
The meeting was called to order at the Seymour Center by Vice Chair Alex Castro. The minutes
of the January 13 meeting were approved following the motion made by Keith Cook and the
second provided Ed Flowers.
Planning Department representative Ashley Moncado presented the proposed Orange County
ordinance on temporary health care structures. She stated that State legislation was passed
and each County must adopt as is or further restrict. Discussion followed on details of the
legislation for these dwellings and how they differ from other types of non-permanent
structures. Ms. Moncado concluded with the timeline for public review and the final
consideration by the Board of County Commissioners, scheduled for April 7.
Former Advisory Board member Dan Hatley presented a proposal for a senior and special needs
housing zoning amendment. This request is the result of a restriction in the size of free-
standing structures on residential property in Chapel Hill. If approved the square foot limit
would be increased from 700 to 1,000. After discussion the Advisory Board accepted this as
information and is interested in continuing to follow this issue.
Mobility Manager Eileen Nilsen presented the newly-proposed Orange Public Transportation
(OPT) ADA paratransit plan. She summarized the door-to-door service that will now be
available through OPT for those unable to access public fixed routes outside the Chapel
Hill/Carrboro Transit service area. Residents within ¾ mile of the Hillsborough Circulator and
the North-South Shuttle are now eligible for the service if need is verified by a physician. The
charge is limited to twice the per-trip fee. A public hearing on the service expansion will be
held on February 12. Ed Flowers expressed concern about the length of the ride on the
Circulator from the Central Orange Senior Center to Eno Haven apartments. A change in the
route to accommodate these residents has not yet been implemented. Ms. Nilsen will
investigate. She also announced that she is initiating a volunteer driver program aimed at
meeting the older adults’ needs that cannot be met solely by public transportation.
A summary of the Department on Aging’s proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2105-16 was
distributed and reviewed.
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Mary Fraser noted the following activities for the Master Aging Plan:
• The Aging Well Together Faith Based Community Outreach Symposium will be held on
March 5.
• The UNC School of Public Health -Health Behavior Health Education Capstone Team
proposal for Aging Preparedness was submitted for academic year 2105-16.
• Requests have been submitted for four UNC School of Public Health – Health Behavior
summer internships.
• The Aging Transitions division is reviving its One-Stop Shop for Community Living Clinic
similar to the assessment clinic co-sponsored with UNC in the past.
• The Long Term Care Learning Collaborative is sponsoring Direct Care Worker Awards
with nominations being accepted from February 14 – March 31. Award recipients will be
determined by Project EngAGE volunteers but all nominees will be honored at the May
6 ceremony.
• The Aging In Community series will continue on March 25 with a Tiny Houses
information session at the Seymour Center. The Town of Chapel Hill is hosting three
public meetings on affordable housing: February 10, 24 and March 10. Lauren Clark is
the Town’s designee for this issue.
Due to the time the Acting Chair suggested Committee Progress Reports be distributed with the
monthly Advisory Board meeting notice. If the Director received these reports the week prior
to the meeting it would allow for this distribution. Keith Cook also requested including
information on upcoming events in the mailing.
In her Director’s Report Janice Tyler announced that Orange County has hired Audrey Spencer-
Horsley, as the new Housing, Human Rights and Community Development Director. It was
suggested that she should be invited to meet with the Advisory Board in the near future. Mrs.
Tyler recently attended the Board of County Commissioners annual retreat where the
upcoming bond was discussed. The primary purpose will be funds for school facilities and
affordable housing although senior center expansion has been mentioned by a couple county
commissioners. She stated that the Department is continuing its efforts to redesign its
volunteer services division and will utilize Project EngAGE Coordinator Yvette Missri as staff
support for this effort. The NC Coalition on Aging, an organization representing 40 aging
organizations across the State, is sponsoring an Aging Advocacy Week in late February. One of
the primary legislative goals is to preserving funding for the Home and Community Care Block
Grant. NC State Representative Graig Meyer has been invited to visit the Department on
February 26. Ms. Tyler announced that Triangle J Area Agency on Aging will be monitoring the
Department’s utilization of its Home and Community Care Block Grant funding on February 19
and 20.
Mary Fraser distributed the newly-printed Community Resource Guide for 2015.
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Janice Tyler, Secretary