HomeMy WebLinkAboutSSMinutes111209West University Senior Services Board Meeting November 12, 2009
Present: Stan McCandless, Mary Ryerson, Mary Lee Gray, Joe Mitchell, Jon Neighbors, Cathy Wright,
Lyndon McKnight, Celia Chipman, Janet & Pieter Vrancken. Absent: Maureen Beck, Maureen Graf, Joan
Johnson, Jo Lukens. In Attendance; Staff: Toby Brooks, Tim O'Connor. Guests: Councilmen Chuck Guffey
and Steven Segal, Angel Grant (reporter). The Meeting was called to order at 2:00pm. The Minutes of the
previous meeting were approved as presented.
Activities & Previews (Toby Brooks) The newsletter will be mailed next week. Maureen Beck may not
continue as a Board Member as she has taken a full-time job.
APAC (Cathy Wright) Volunteers are needed for delivering meals to seniors on Thanksgiving Day. Last
year 3,000 were delivered. 4,000 are anticipated this year (so far). Delivery takes place between 9am and
Noon. The Better Business Bureau reports that Houston is #3 in the country for Medicare fraud (behind
Miami & Detroit). Real Social Security numbers are being sold to the mafia (Nigerians, Russians and
Colombians). The Adopt a Senior Housing project has attracted 22 seniors and 10 companies. $500,000 is
available in stimulus money for congregate meals but only for one year. Because of this lack of continuity
the Houston Parks Board is unwilling to support this initiative. More can be learned from Beverly
Brownlow at the main line of AAA.
City Council Report (Councilman Chuck Guffey) Upon a proposal from Councilman Steven Segal a
ban on texting while driving has been passed and should get final approval next week. A financial deal is
in the works to reopen JMH as a branch of Texas Citizen Bank using the site of the former store and that
of Amegy Bank next door. Door to door solicitors will be more strictly controlled in the future (on a
proposal from Councilman Segal). The control will be exercised by the issuance of permits or time limits.
West University has nominated Ed Heathcott to continue on the Harris County Appraisal District Board as
the small cities representative. The new Police Station (costing an estimated $6.5 million) will be a two
storey structure located between the present Police Station and the Fire Station. Construction time is an
anticipated 8 to 10 months. A sub-committee is being formed to consider zoning changes. Setback along
75 yards of Weslayan is under consideration. The Chevron Marathon has been approved for early next
year. Public notices will appear in the Examiner and the Village News at a cost of 35 cents per word.
Nothing new to report on the leasing of the parking area adjoining the recycling center to Molinas.
Good Neighbor Team (Mary Lee Gray) Thanksgiving cards will be addressed by volunteers next
Thursday (11/19) at 2pm. Poinsettias for Christmas will be delivered on December 16 from the Scout
House. Mary Lee Gray is resigning from her post as co-chair after 10 years service but will continue as a
volunteer. Dorothy Zink will continue and a new co-chair will be appointed.
Activity Report (Toby Brooks) A successful visit was made to Arborgate Nursery in Tomball followed
by lunch. This nursery has a fine selection of plants herbs and fall-flowering trees. A lecture on the
difference between Alzheimer and Dementia was well received. A demonstration on Bonsai cultivation
was planned. The Woodlands boat ride had to be rescheduled to next Thursday. Tickets to all the plays
have sold out. Thirty people attended the defensive driving course. A review of Medicare benefits will
take place next Tuesday. The Zumba class will become available next summer when building work is
complete and there is space to put the class.
Parks & Recreation Department (Tim O'Connor) The recreation center is ahead of schedule and
should open on April 1. Colonial Park pool was three weeks behind schedule but has caught up two
weeks. The slabs for the pool and pool house will be poured next week. Renovation of the Senior Center
is moving ahead with quotes for the work coming in. The new Boards (PARD and Friends) are working
enthusiastically and there are three very active sub-committees chaired by Janine Schupert, Kevin Boyle
and Russ Schultz. The Fees sub-committee has met twice and a proposal will be made to the full
committee by early January. Stan McCandless stressed that fees should not discourage use of the new
facilities. Efforts are being made by the Friends' Board to sell naming rights to foundations and
corporations. Dedication of parklands and funds from developers will be passed on to residents for land
acquisition and/or new facilities. Stan McCandless asked how effective the new boards were being. Tim
O'Connor said that it was too early to say but that everybody is very keen. It will be necessary to keep
this momentum going.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:55pm