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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSenior Advisory Board - Minutes - 01/09/1991The regular meeting of the Fort Collins Senior Advisory Board was held on January 9, 1991, at the Parks Maintenance Center. Attending the meeting were: MEMBERS Kathleen Jones Marjorie McTaggart Ron Bergen Margaret Watts Kay Rios ABSENT Ken Stubler Yvonne Myer Vickie Moody GUESTS ADVISORY Stephanie Besser Barbara Schoenberger Yetta Rollin EXCUSED ABSENCES Pat Long Larry Chaussee Billie Higgins Steve Snyder, S. M. Systems & Research Corp. Vice Co -Chair Kathleen Jones called the meeting to order at 2 p.m. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES The minutes of the meeting of December 12, 1990, were approved as presented. OLD BUSINESS A. Retirement Brochure -- Kay and Ron will meet with Ed Stoner on Thursday 1/10/91 regarding the brochure and a marketing campaign. She will keep the Board informed as this progresses. B. County responsibility for senior programs -- Kay told the Board that a copy of the letter had been sent to Bob Winokur. If a response is not received by the middle of January, she will draft a follow-up. C. Friends of the New Center -- Marjorie volunteered to sit on this committee. Vickie initiated the idea and will be contacted to see if she would still like to serve in this position. Barbara will set up a meeting and send out a notice to interested parties. D. Newsletter meeting -- The meeting will be held on January 30 at Kathleen's daughter's home, 412 Del Clair. Kay said that AARP will have a representative there and she will contact United Seniors. The meeting will be a brain -storming session and will start at 1 p.m. E. Resources Network -- Kay introduced Steve Snyder who, in turn, gave his background and area of expertise. He works with clients, interpreting their needs and matching them with the correct systems. He is interested in helping to develop a Senior Resources Network similar to the one in Denver. Barbara gave the history of the last group that attempted this project. The project was taken over by Choice and the outcome was not quite what Board members had hoped. There is currently a software package for sale by Choice, but it is not compatible with a lot of the agency's systems and it is much more expensive than originally planned. The Board would like to see an information system set up through the City, with access points available to seniors through the Utilities Office, Police Department, Senior Center, Library and other public offices. Steve will look into what Denver currently offers and he and Kay will also look at what Choice has put together and see if it is more workable than has been reported. They will report back at the next meeting. NEW BUSINESS A. Senior Council report -- Marjorie reported that the new copier has been installed. The December meeting was canceled so there isn't much to report. They will be meeting next week to complete the Building Committee survey. B. Area Agency on Aging -- Barbara reported that records have been lost and so there isn't a clear idea on how many people should be serving on the board and in what functions. All the sub- committee's have stopped functioning since Susan left. Rita doesn't believe that advocacy should be part of the agency's duties. Some members felt that the older American's Act stipulated this as part of the agency's realm of operation. Kay will check the act and see what specifics are dictated. C. Election of Officers -- Kay nominated Pat Long as Chair. She moved to close the nominations. The motion was seconded and the vote was unanimous. Kathleen nominated Kay Rios as vice -Chair. With no further nominations, the motion was made, seconded and the vote was unanimous to elect her to this position. Kay nominated Marjorie McTaggert as secretary. Nominations were closed, the motion to elect Marjorie was made, seconded and the vote was unanimous. D. Moonlight and Roses Ball -- This celebration of those couples married 50 years and longer will be held on February 13 at the Lincoln Center. The event starts at 6 p.m. Associated Students of Colorado State University will serve dinner. The Northern Colorado Concert Band is donating their time to perform and the Triangle Review is co -sponsoring with the donation of advertising and gifts. Barb encouraged all members to attend and requested that they serve in some capacity such as collecting tickets or serving cake. People who want to help should contact Barb. E. Latchkey program -- Bob Winokur contacted Kay with regard to the letter sent to council requesting funding. He would like a write-up explaining the program more fully and offering a budget. Kay will get together with Pat Long and Yetta and collect the necessary information. F. Senior Center Report -- A tour of several facilities is slated for January 17th. G. Poudre Valley Hospital Report -- There was none at this time. Jill was supposed to attend this meeting, but nothing has transpired. Kay will contact Ken Stubler for an update. OPEN DISCUSSION A. Stephanie reported that the Poudre Fire Authority has 2000 smoke detectors on hand to disperse, free of charge, to seniors and low income persons. They will be dispersed through the Senior Center, Chuck Wagon and several other agencies. The Handy Man program of R.S.V.P. will install them for seniors and the handicapped upon request. She said that the Poudre Fire Authority is preparing to pass a law requiring smoke detectors in every unit in Fort Collins. B. Marjorie reported that the City is taking names of volunteers wanting to have water meters installed. A state law requires that all houses in Fort Collins have them installed within the next 15 years. By volunteering now, the installation fee is waived. Usually this would cost $89 plus the cost of yoke installation if necessary. Homes built before the late 70s usually do not have the yoke already installed and this could be an additional cost in the future. C. Marjorie told the Board about the Soap Troup (Somewhat Older Adult Players) and the play they will perform. Auditions for the play, "Better to Be Censured Than Pitied," will be held January 22 and 23 at 3 p.m. and January 24 at 7 p.m. Call backs will occur on January 25 at 3 p.m. The play will be performed on the third Monday of May at the Student Center. D. Mildred Arnold passed away. A memorial service will be held Tuesday, January 22 at the Trinity Lutheran Church at 2 p.m. E. A meeting to discuss the need for a senior medical clinic will be held Wednesday, January 30, at 11 a.m. Kay will contact Ken Stubler to see if he can attend as the Board's representative. F. Barb asked if Board members would mind moving their general meetings to the Senior Center. With recent moves, and repositioned offices, more space is available. Board members felt that this would be appropriate and, so, future meetings will be held at the Senior Center, with the exception of special Outreach meetings. There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 4:10 p.m. Submitted by: Kay Rios December 12, 1990 Larimer County Commissioners Office 200 West Oak Fort Collins, CO 80521 ATTENTION: Courtlyn Hotchkiss Moe Mekelburg Daryle Klassen Dear Sirs: We are a City Council appointed board, charged with soliciting senior citizen input and making recommendations to City Council on issues of concern to seniors. We write this letter, not as representatives of City Council, but rather as concerned citizens and representing concerns of some of the senior populations of Fort Collins. For the past six months, we have read press reports and heard many concerns from senior citizens in Larimer County and from many agencies involved with seniors. Several things became apparent through all of this review and discussion. Probably the most widely voiced concern is one which deals with the Commissioners' regard for the senior citizens in the area. The general feeling is that you, as a group, do not support this group of citizens, either in philosophy or financially. Whether or not this is based in fact, it appears to be a wide spread consensus among the older members of your constituency. While we are sure that the unfortunate political upheavals with the Area Agency on Aging Office has unfairly colored your image in the community, we also believe that there are valid concerns that have erupted through all of this. We would like to present those concerns and request action on your part: 1) Larimer County, by way of the County Commissioners, should assume philosophical and some financial responsibility for senior citizen services in the county. 2) With all the recent rash of negative publicity in regard to the Area Agency on Aging, it would seem to be in the Commissioners' best political interests to issue a statement of support for this office and a general philosophy statement as to its future and the future of senior citizen services and centers in the county. 3) Along these lines, we feel that the position of the Director of the Area Agency on Aging should be filled immediately with a full time person. We would also request that job descriptions specific to this job and that of Assistant Director be established and published. These descriptions should include specific duty requirements/responsibilities as well as time allocations and specific contact hours that the person(s) should be available. 4) We suggest that specific guidelines and goals be published so that the public has a better idea of the direction of the Area Agency on Aging. This should include funding constraints and the regulations imposed by state and federal agencies. This would probably reduce some of the concerns and eliminate much of the "mystery" that people believe surrounds this agency. While we acknowledge that our area of responsibility, as determined by City Council, is specifically the City of Fort Collins, we also acknowledge that all of the citizens within the City are also residents of the County. This then becomes our concern as well. We ask that you review the above recommendations and we await your written response. Sincerely, Kay Rios On Behalf of the Fort Collins Senior Advisory Board Respond to the Fort Collins Senior Center 145 East Mountain Fort Collins, CO 80524 Board of County Commissioners _ A Commit To Progress • 221-7010 Post Office Box 1190 Fort Collins, Colorado 80522 LARIMER COUNTY COLORADO 11 January 1991 Ms. Kay Rios Fort Collins Senior Center 145 East Mountain Fort Collins, CO 80524 Dear Ms. Rios: Thank you for your letter of December 12th regarding your interest in and concern for our senior citizens' services and centers. First, be assured that the Board of County Commissioners shares your interest and concern and is appreciative of your contributions toward the support of the older members of our constituency. It is unfortunately true that there has been controversy surrounding the Area Agency on Aging and it is regrettable if that controversy has led to a perception of a lack of support for senior citizens on the part of the Commissioners. However, it must be noted that, from the inception of the Office on Aging within Larimer County, the Commissioners have been fully committed to senior programs. In addition to providing administrative services to those programs, the County has also made thousands of dollars available to fund them. The Board of County Commissioners continues to be unwavering, philosophically and financially, in its support of senior citizens and the programs to meet their needs. Rena Mackrill, Director of the County Department of Human Development, is currently serving as acting Director of the Office on Aging and has indicated, to the Board, her plan to appoint an administrator/coordinator to assist in the day to day activities of the Office. This is an interim solution; we expect to be advertising for a permanent director in the not too distant future. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Courtlyn W. Hotchkiss M.J. -Moe- Mekelburg Daryle W. Klassen District I District II District III 221-7001 221-7002 221-7003 In the meantime, the goals and guidelines for the Office on Aging are published annually in a formally adopted Program and Budget Plan. Approved by the Office on Aging Advisory Council and adopted by the Board of County Commissioners, this plan is the working document for the Office. In addition, a Four Year Plan for 1991-1994, recently adopted, has been developed as a long range planning tool and describes, in detail, goals and direction for the Office. Both of these plans are available for public view and arrangements can be made for their examination by contact with Ms. Mackrill at 221-7430. Finally, please be assured that the Board of County Commissioners remains firmly committed to and places a very high priority on the support of the Older Americans and Seniors of Larimer County. Sincerely, 7�ce Moe Mekelburg Chairman