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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSenior Advisory Board - Minutes - 10/10/1973M I N U T E S COORDINATING CWAIISSION FOR SENIOR CITIZENS October 10, 1973 The regular meeting of the Commission was held in the City Council Chambers at 3:30 p.m., October 10, 1973. Members present: C. E. Hommon, Vice Chairman Charles N. Shepardson, Secretary IV. J. Boggs Rev. Frances Biglow J. F. Conlon Fern Douglas E. R. Martin Members absent: W. B. Peterson, Chairman W. R. Deitloff Others present: Margaret DlcPherson,-Salvation Army Virginia Dunford, Salvation Army Shelley Aust, First United Methodist Church Robert Brunton, City Manager John McGraw, Administrative Assistant Jan Reynolds, Director of Care -A -Van Ray Kite In the absence of Chairman Peterson, Vice Chairman Hommon presided. Minutes of the meeting of September 12, 1973, were approved as mailed. Rev. Frances Biglow of the First United Methodist Church was intro- duced as a new member of the Commission replacing F. N. Jordan. Her term will expire July 1, 1976. Ad Hoc Committee to study senior citizens' problems: At the September meeting, Mrs. Douglas had reported on the existence of an Ad Hoc Committee to study senior citizens problems and asked permission to appear before the Commission at its November meeting. After some discussion of the Committee and its intended functions together with an explanation of the Commission and the various service agencies and senior citizens' groups in the city, Mrs. Douglas withdrew her request to appear in November, but agreed that her group would be present from time to time as they have matters of interest to present. Mrs. Douglas resigns: Mrs. Douglas then reported that she was moving from the city, tendered her resignation from the Commission, and asked to be excused. Her resignation was accepted with regret, and the Commission thanked her for her service. Transportation: This subject had been scheduled as the principle item of business fotr he day. In previous discussions, the Commission had reviewed the problem as two -fold: (1) a general transportation system for the city, and (2) a door-to-door system for grounded senior citizens and other incapacitated individuals who could not afford regular taxi service or who needed wheelchair or other assistance not provided by the taxi service. Jan Reynolds explained the Care -A -Van service which is now serving about 135 clients regularly with three buses, two of which are equipped to handle wheelchairs. This operation is funded by a $3,000 grant from Unit,,^d Way which is augmented on a three for one basis through the Department of Institutions and the Larimer County Community Center Board. She reported that there is a great unmet need for this t,.­)e of service and that her Board is submitting a request to the City Council for funds to augment this service. Incidentally, it was reported that Care -A -Van was one of the first projects undertaken and sponsored by the Commission. City Project: Mr. Brunton reported that the City is currently engaged in a study of a city-wide system. Since implemention of such a system is one to two years in the future, they are also considering what may be done in the interim. ti October 10, 1973 Page 2 One proprosal is to include in the 1974 budget an item for a large limousine that would be made available for door-to-door service. Another possibility is that of contracting with Care -A -Van to provide the service on a cost basis. Recommendation: After extensive discussion, the Commission voted unanimously to recommend the following: (1) that the City Council in consid- ering the immediate transportation needs of elderly and incapacitated citizens, and in the interest of efficiency and the avoidance of overlapping or duplicating services, contract with Care -A -Van for such service along the line to be pro- posed by the Care -A -Van Board; (2) that such added service be provided so far as possible on a self-supporting basis; (3) that this be accomplished by the City selling tickets on a sliding scale based on ability to pay with Care -A -Van to be reimbursed on the basis of actual cost of services rendered. In making this recommendation, it was the sense of the Commission that (1) there is a real need for such service, (2) that, while there are many operational details to be worked out, the Director and Board of Care -A -Van have the expertise and experience to be of real assistance to the City in developing such a plan. The Secretary was instructed to convey this recommendation to the City Council. The meeting adjourned at 5:15 p.m. The next meeting will be on Wednesday, November 14, 1973, at 3:30 in the City Council Chambers. Respectfully submitted, Charles N. Shepardson, Secretary 0