HomeMy WebLinkAboutSSMinutes5132010West University Senior Services Board Meeting, May 13, 2010
Present: Stan McCandless (Chairman), Joan Johnson, Lyndon McKnight, Mary Lee Gray, Selby Clark, Joe
Mitchell, Janet Vrancken, Pieter Vrancken. Absent: John Neighbors, Cathy Wright, Celia Chipman, Mary Ryerson,
Maureen Beck, Jo Lukens. Resigned: Maureen Graf. Toby Brooks announced that Cathy Wright intends to resign
but had left town earlier today. The Board therefore needs two new members. Guests: Councilman Steven
Segal, Helene Booser. Staff: Tim O'Connor, Toby Brooks. The Meeting was called to order at 2:05PM. The
Minutes of the previous meeting were approved as presented.
APAC (Joan Johnson) The importance of Hurricane Preparedness among seniors was emphasized. The Area
Survey on Aging is proceeding but to date only 650 parties have responded out of 1,500. Additional responses
are needed by the end of May. Toby Brooks undertook to re-send them and to let people without computers
have a hard copy. Since funding of projects may depend on the numbers returning the survey, the importance
of completing this was stressed. A hearing on the needs for the area will be held at LOAM on June 24 at the
Timmons location. A support group within APAC has 16 housing projects that require sponsors. Such sponsors
could be a church group. Selby Clark reported that his company had approached APAC offering their assistance.
APAC never called him back. Joan Johnson will follow up. There is an RSVP program for people aged 55 and
over and retirees, which could represent a volunteer opportunity. There are over 500,000 members nationwide,
1,100 in the Gulf Coast region in 170 different volunteer organizations. They match your talents, skills and
interests with volunteer opportunities. They have a newsletter and provide accident and liability insurance while
going to and from volunteering locations and while actually volunteering Call 713-729-3200 ext 3216 if you are
interested in RSVP. May 20 10AM-1PM is the Older American Month program sponsored by APAC at the Chinese
Community Center. Governor Rick Perry has proclaimed May "Older Texans Month". Jane Bavineau of Care for
Elders emphasized that now is the time to lobby our state representative (Ellen Cohen) and Senator (Joan
Huffman) on issues that we care about. While our representatives are between sessions they have time to listen
to their constituents/public/providers and are holding many hearings on issues at which we can be heard. A
discussion took place regarding the numbers of seniors aging in place and their degree of independence. There
are currently between 1400/1600 seniors in the city. Of these 150 are housebound and need oxygen. These are
in 143 houses containing 170 people. The records are not in a very user friendly order. Selby Clark volunteered
to draw the records up in Excel.
Activities (Toby Brooks): The trip to the Museum of Fine Arts (guided by a docent) was very well received.
The very next day Cinco de Mayo was celebrated in a Mexican restaurant. A presentation on "Forever Young"
was given by a representative of Methodist Hospital. A very successful outing was held to a pecan & herb farm
in Caldwell and twenty people enjoyed a delicious lunch. We are studying ways of helping seniors evaluate their
options on prescription drugs between their Medicare & Medigap plans.
Council Report (Councilman Steven Segal): Another public hearing was held on the Shipley's re-zoning
application to provide residents an opportunity to be heard. The discussion and a possible decision were
postponed until the May 24"' Council Meeting. If the property is re-zoned as "commercial" anything could be
built on the site, not just a restaurant. Several members of the Senior Services Board attended the Council
meeting to receive the proclamation of May as Senior Services Month. The Park Lovers Ball raised $165,000 to
fund the new playground at the West U Rec Center. Star Citizens Awards were presented to Jennifer Gatto,
Daryl Hoover and Kara Samples for co-chairing the ball. A group of Harley Davidson riders accepted a
proclamation stating that May 2010 is Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month. Council approved a
Memorandum of understanding with West University Place Aquatics Club covering the swim team program from
May 3 to July 1, 2010 (300 swimmers are involved). The City Manager was authorized to execute a contract for
the construction of the new Police station. Work is expected to commence on Monday 17"' May. The existing
police station will remain in service until the new station is ready (expected end 2011). A Hurricane awareness
presentation will be given in the George R. Brown Convention center on June 19"'.
Good Neighbor (Mary Lee Gray) The Team will meet on Thursday May 20 at 2PM to plan for the packing
and distribution for July 4"'. The packing meeting was set for June 28"' (note: subsequently changed to June
30"'). Via the voters' list we are trying to assemble a list of residents over 85 to enable the team to make
contact with these residents.
PARD (Tim O'Connor) By the end of the 5"' week of operation at the Rec Center membership stands at 1600.
138 are discounted memberships but only 10% of these are currently being used. Lighting and irrigation
systems installation is under way. There will be 2.1 acres of green space. Landscaping is 95% complete but
since the establishment of turf takes 60-72 days, soccer will not commence until late August. The landscaper
has provided a one year warranty on turf and plants. 40% of O&M costs have been covered to date. The
Opening ceremony for Colonial Park will take place on Thursday May 27"' from 5:30 to 7:30PM. Board members
were urged to visit the new multi-generational facilities. Residents should really not have to have two
memberships (Rec Center & Colonial Park) The possibility of a combined membership is being studied. It is
reported that the YMCA (Weekley) and the Briar Club are losing members to the Rec Center. On a positive note:
residents who were previously opposed to the redevelopments at both locations have complimented Tim on the
end result. The Board members were encouraged to pull other seniors in.
PREVIOUS BUSINESS: All members are encouraged to complete the APAC Survey if they have not already
done so. We need to inform Ellen Cohen and Joan Huffman of what West University does for its Seniors.
NEW BUSINESS: A Board Retreat will be planned for John Neighbor's country place. To complete an effective
Senior Survey we shall need professional help.
MEETINGS: The next meeting will be held on Thursday June 10"' at 2PM. There will be no meetings in July &
August.
The Meeting was adjourned at 3:05PM