HomeMy WebLinkAboutSSMinutes051409Minutes of West University Senior Services Board Meeting
Council Chamber May 14, 2009
Present: Joan Johnson (Acting Chair), Lyndon McKnight, Mary Ryerson, Mary Lee Gray, Jo Lukens, Selby Clark, Cathy Wright,
Maureen Graf, Janet & Pieter Vrancken. Absent: John Neighbors, Stan McCandless, Celia Chipman, Maureen Beck, Elizabeth
Young. Staff: Toby Brooks. Guests: Councilman Chuck Guffey, Councilman Candidate Steven Segal.
The meeting was called to order at 2:07PM and upon a motion by Pieter Vrancken seconded by Mary Lee Gray the minutes of
the previous meeting were approved.
Activities/ Previews (Toby Brooks): Work on the roof of the Community Center will begin soon, with a radiant barrier
insulation system. The roof needs to be tackled first since there are still leaks. Going by the work carried out at the library, the
roof renewal should not take more than two days. Activities are not expected to be interrupted during this work. In honor of
Older Americans' Month the Houston Garden Center (Zoo) is planned for May 21't from LOAM to 3PM. Art supplies will be
available so that seniors can paint in the shade. The outing will also include music, entertainment, a free lunch and door prizes.
APAC (Cathy Wright): An excellent presentation was made by the webmaster of the new United Way website which connects
up to 211. As an alternate to calling 211 one can access referrals.uwtgc.org and put in one's zip code and age and the website
will pull up topics like "basic needs" sub-divided into "shelter", "food" and "transportation". The website will direct one to the
appropriate agency that can provide the service needed. Outside normal business hours 211 calls are directed to United Way.
The Texas Silver-haired Legislature sends representatives to the National Silver-haired Congress in Washington D.C. A list was
distributed of the five principal resolutions that the Texas group will work for in Washington: Silver Alert Notification, Elder
Justice Act basically about elder abuse, National Background Check and Registry for Health Care Givers, Increased Funding for
Home and Community- based Services, Mandatory Geriatric Education. Disaster Preparedness will be part of Cathy's sub-
committee. The Board were asked to look at a report just issued particularly section 3.3 which deals with seniors in high-rise
and/or assisted living facilities to see if there are any obvious omissions. Most important is that some person or entity (not
directly attached to the residential facility itself) be the contact point for all seniors living there for dealing with services needed
before, during and after the Disaster. We should approach in the first instance churches in the neighborhood to ask whether
they would monitor seniors living in a community building as described. Toby & Mary Lee Gray explained what they had in the
way of personal data (from the Good Neighbor and Recreation data) but added that not everyone was willing to release
personal information. Cathy then said that West University had more & better information than most areas within Houston but
that this only served to underline the greater need in the city at large.
Council Meeting Report (Chuck Guffey) The ordinance for front yard turnarounds on Buffalo Speedway, to allow safer
entrance to the street, has been passed. Additionally, new houses will be required to have sprinkler systems for fire prevention.
The Council has authorized the purchase of two lots adjacent to the recreation center as additional parking and green space. Six
candidates ran and four were elected to Council positions (Fry, Boehme, Segal, Guffey). The New Council will be sworn in on
June 1. The design of Colonial Park as a family fun pool has been finalized and approved by the Council. The disputed right-of-
way easement on Weslayan, that was part of the Marlowe house lawsuit, is being studied to allow larger houses to be built on
the 70 lots along the street. The easement is being converted to a utility easement. Consideration is being given to whether the
present police station is appropriate for its purposes.
Good Neighbor Team (Mary Lee Gray) A meeting will be held on May 26 to plan the delivery on June 22 for July 4.
Currently 150 people are being served and the team has 30 volunteers. Krogers and Walgreens have been approached for
donations. Selby Clark will work with Stephen Segal re tax deductibility for such gifts.
Activity Report (Jo Lukens & Toby Brooks) The play "Little Women" was well attended and an excellent meal was served.
An Italian meal was prepared for a Texas Home Help Lunch. The Opera, Shakespeare and Yoga classes are all being well
attended. An excursion to visit the miniature horses in Brenham was delightful.
Announcement: It is Jeremy Veld's birthday on May 21.
Adjournment: There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 2:50PM.
The next Senior Board Meeting is scheduled for June 11 at 2 pm in the City Hall Conference Room at 3800
University Boulevard.