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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda -11-06-2008 - 3eORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: November 6, 2008 Action Agenda Item No. 3 - C~ SUBJECT Presentation on Consolidating Service Delivery at the New Central Orange Senior Center, January 2009 DEPARTMENT: Aging PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Consolidation Plan Specifics Jerry Passmore 245-2009 PURPOSE: To present plans underway by the Department on Aging to consolidate County senior services at Cedar Grove, Efland Cheeks, and Hillsborough to the new Central Orange Senior Center when it opens in January 2009. BACKGROUND: The Department on Aging currently offers County-funded services such as exercise/fitness, arts/crafts, group trips, personal services etc. at the historic locations of Cedar Grove-Northern Human Services Center, Efland-Cheeks Community Center and Hillsborough's Central Orange Recreation Center. The Department plans to discontinue service delivery at these sites with the opening of the new Central Orange Senior Center in January 2009. Service delivery would take place "under one roof' at the new Central Orange Senior Center. No services would be eliminated or discontinued; only the venue is expected to change. Consolidating senior services in Central and Northern Orange is a direct response to fiscal realities and the quest for greater organizational efficiencies. Changes are consistent with the strategic operational plan begun in southern Orange with the consolidation of services at Northside and the Chapel Hill Senior Center at the Seymour Center. Service consolidation was successful in creating more services and greater opportunities for all seniors. County facilities at Cedar Grove-Northern and Efland Cheeks, which serve all ages, will continue to provide space and opportunity for recreation, library and leisure services, pubic gatherings and meetings. JOCCA (Joint Orange Chatham Community Action) currently operates the daily luncheon programs at Cedar Grove-Northern, Efland-Cheeks, and the existing Central Orange Senior Center. This program is principally funded by the Home Community Care Block Grant administered by the Triangle J Council of Governments/Area Agency on Aging, with general fund contributions from the County and Towns. The Department on Aging and JOCCA are engaged in talks to transition the daily lunch program management from JOCCA to the Department on Aging effective July 1, 2009 pending BOCC review and approval. For consistency and in full cooperation, JOCCA is preparing to consolidate the daily lunch program from Cedar Grove-Northern and Efland-Cheeks effective with the opening date of the new Center. Department on Aging and JOCCA have scheduled a joint meeting the first of November with site luncheon participants to review the changes proposed for comment and to address any comments or concerns. A preview opportunity prior to the new Center opening is being planned to familiarize seniors with the location and facility to help smooth the transition. The Transportation division (OPT) of the Department is re-designing routes to accommodate senior transport to Hillsborough. The Aging Advisory Board and the Friends of the Central Orange Senior Center have been briefed on the proposed changes in Department operations during September and October. The consensus of both groups was favorable based on the need to conserve and/or utilize County resources more creatively, and goal to inspire seniors everywhere to take full advantage of the two newer Senior Centers as one-stop multi-purpose service centers. The Attachment provides a more detailed summary of the changes involved in consolidation. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with receiving the report as information. Service consolidation can be achieved within existing Departmental resources for FY08-09. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board receive the Presentation. Consolidation Plan Specifics New Central Orange Senior Center 1._ Change in Oaerational Hours at both Centers beainning January, 2009 A. The Seymour Center hours would be reduced to: 8:00 a.m.- 9:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Friday, and 8:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. on Saturday. The Seymour Center would be open on evenings, but with reduced hours. (Note: Evening hours are needed to accommodate over 120 fitness studio participants who attend evenings and to maintain similar hours as the Sportsplex fitness studio that will be available to the Central Orange Senior Center participants on a fee basis.) B. The new Central Orange Senior Center hours would be 8:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. on Monday and Thursday and 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. (Note: Currently, the Center is open only on Monday evening. Once in the new facility, we will evaluate the need for more hours for FY2009-10.) 2. Permanent Center Personnel A. Reassign Senior Citizens Program Coordinator from the Efland/Cheeks and Northern Orange Community Centers to the front desk management operations at the new Central Orange Senior Center, to help cover expanded daily operations. B. The one permanent Evening Facility Manager would rotate between the two Senior Centers when possible, but would require an additional 10 hours a week of anon-permanent position. It is hoped that revenues from classes at the Central Orange Senior Center will cover the staff cost for the evening hours. For building and participant security, volunteers would be needed and recruited through the Friends and RSVP, to open the doors and to assist the one paid employee on evenings when the centers are open. 3. Temporary Center Personnel A.. To compensate for mandated budget reductions, all crafts and exercise instruction that have taken place at various Central/Northern Orange locations would now take place at the new Central Orange Senior Center beginning January 2009. (For example, the four separate exercise classes that operated two days per week at various locations would be combined into two classes, but would offer seniors four days of instruction Monday through Thursday each week.) 4. OPT Senior Citizen Transit Oaerations A. All transportation for senior trips would be merged with the two new Senior Centers which will be connected hubs for transporting out to other necessary services such as weekly shopping, banking, etc., and also periodic medical trips when possible. In January, 2009, OPT would begin senior transportation from community centers to the new Central Orange Senior Center. Since the public Hillsborough to Chapel Hill hourly route would leave from the two Senior Centers between 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. each day, citizens would be encouraged to ride the public bus to hospital clinics if possible. Seniors can travel between centers for different activities and to the new Orange County Durham Tech campus for classes.