HomeMy WebLinkAboutSSMinutes021209Minutes of West University Senior Services Board Meeting - Thursday 2/12/2009
The Meeting was called to order at 2:00 PM
Present: Stan McCandless, Jo Lukens, Maureen Graf, Lyndon McKnight, Celia Chipman, Selby Clark, Mary Lee Gray,
Cathy Wright, Janet & Pieter Vrancken. Absent: Elizabeth Young, John Neighbors, Joan Johnson, Mary Ryerson,
Maureen Beck.Councilman Present: Chuck Guffey Staff Members Present: Toby Brooks, Tim O'Connor Guest Present:
Former Councilman Steven Segal Previous minutes approved. Preview and Sneak Previews were reviewed.
Activities: The Board was pleased to learn that Board Member Elizabeth Young was home after surgery. A plant &
card were to be sent to her, with the Board's good wishes. Copies of the Flood/Mould leaflet were distributed. The
Newsletter is 85% complete. The Board was shown a photograph of 5 raised beds (situated off the kitchen) which the
Eagle Scouts had created and were filling with plants. The Board was very appreciative of the Scouts' efforts. PGAL:
Kitchen, 2 new restrooms, a new roof, added storage and re-roofing of the Library.
Activities for the Elderly: Although some activities were cancelled there were successful outings to Livingston, Gonzalez
and to "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and to "Putting on the Glitz".
APAC: The Senior Expo has been cancelled for this year but will be held every second year hereafter. Other activities
will take its place in May. Fundraising was organized for Meals on Wheels for Thanksgiving. There remains money from
the State for appliance replacement, tree removal, etc. 550 packages were distributed on 2/10/2009 (Senior Day). A
resolution was passed to establish rules for rental property and to have emergency generators installed for seniors in
high rise buildings. A further resolution for Meals on Wheels or Mail Order Meals (MOMS) for $5 was passed. A copy of a
report on Care for Elders was distributed covering experiences during & after IKE. A terrific report by Jane Bavenaugh of
Sheltering Arms will be available. Also to be included are experiences from Florida. On Feb 19 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm in
Brighton Gardens there will be a presentation on the financial exploitation of elderly adults. There is a need to get
committees up & running. Mary Lee Gray offered to replace Cathy at the next APAC meeting on the first Thursday in
March (3/5/09).
Council Report: the Council is considering restrictions on the use of leaf blowers. The scope of the examination ranges
from further limiting the hours of usage to a complete ban. The Council is considering restrictions on street parking
similar to the ban imposed by Southside Place on overnight parking. Action is probably unlikely due to anticipated public
protest. Limitations on hedges blocking front yards are to be considered by ZPC. Also being considered are restrictions
on the use of front yard turnarounds on Buffalo in the interest of ensuring safer entrance to the main road. A Veterans
memorial honoring air raid wardens in WW II in West U will be installed in the City Hall. At a meeting called by Mayor
White future electricity coverage was discussed. Hurricane Ike was a tree event: only 1% of poles went down and no
live oaks. We shall be planning for a quicker power return in future aided by smart meters which can identify from a
central point where power is out and where poles are down. At present there is nothing to prevent a re-occurrence of
the outages experienced during IKE.
Good Neighbor: Valentine Cards were addressed and mailed by a group of 12 volunteers. More volunteers are needed
to make frequent calls on the elderly. The spring bag delivery will be organized in the Scout House on March 31't
starting at 8:30AM.
Parks & Recreation Department: Asbestos removal is complete. Demolition is due to begin on Mon 2/16. Lead is to
be abated during demolition. Within 5 weeks, a weekly report will be prepared and hard copies distributed. This will be
followed by a personal presentation. Although the pool use schedule by the St. John's Swim team was not always
adhered to, usage of the facilities was increased. An extra heater has been installed to help maintain water
temperature. Pool maintenance will be carried out from Sun 2/15 to Sun 2/22. Weekly Family YMCA facilities will be
used during this period, but solely for lap swimming. The new pool at the former Bellaire YMCA facility will be
operational by this summer.
Old Business/ New Business: Nothing to report. NEXT MEETING: Thursday March 12 at 2 PM in the Council
Chamber as usual. The meeting was adjourned at 2:45 PM