HomeMy WebLinkAboutSSMinutes10142010West University Senior Services Board Meeting October 14, 2010
Present: Stan McCandless (Chair), John Neighbors, Mary Lee Gray, Mary Ryerson, Selby Clark, Joan
Johnson, George Baker, Janet Vrancken, Pieter Vrancken. Absent: Celia Chipman, Jo Lukens, Joe Mitchell.
Staff: Toby Brooks, Tim O'Connor. Guests: Councilmen Steven Segal, George Boehme, Barbara Marvin
(prospective Board member). The meeting was called to order at 2:05PM. The minutes of the previous
meeting were approved as presented.
Activities (Toby Brooks) Shangri La, Fall Festival and Ebony Cowgirl have all had a good following.
The Meditation group is fully subscribed and will receive a lecture from a Tibetan monk on Monday
(10/18) at 7PM. The Great Exchange program took place to-day - 11 dropped items off and 7 picked up.
Shoes, jewelry, casual wear and scarves were the main items on offer. Brain Games (offered for the first
time to-day) will continue. The Water Coloring group has attracted 7-10 people. The Bayou Center visit
took place yesterday. A costume party and contest is scheduled for October 26 at 11:30AM. The
handymen cleared up outside the Community Center for 3hrs. We were very grateful for the help.
APAC (Joan Johnson) This report is from AAA (Area Agency on Aging) of Harris County. There is a
waiting list for the Meals on Wheels program. Deliveries are made only on weekdays, not on week-ends
or holidays. The Thanksgiving meals are the responsibility of Interfaith Ministries who would welcome
donations and volunteers for deliveries. Harris County has almost set up a guardianship program - they
are helping needy seniors pay bills. February 8, 2011 is designated SENIOR DAY to be celebrated in
Austin. The possibility of a bus service to Austin from the Jewish Community Center is being examined.
Board Members wishing to attend the Get Ready For Life meeting should plan on going to St. Dominic's
on Saturday January 29, 2011 from 10:30 to 2:30 and should inform Toby nearer the date.
Council (Steven Segal) The repair and repainting of the Water Tower on West Park at Wakeforest has
been completed. The Edloe Deli will not renew its concession contract at Colonial Park for next year. The
Shipley's property on Kirby has been re-zoned as commercial. The remainder of the block remains zoned
for townhouses. The Recycle Board has made a presentation to the Council concerning changes to the
present arrangements to improve efficiency. One extra heavy trash day has been approved making three
in al for 2011. The next heavy trash day is set for Saturday Oct. 30. The Council has authorized further
study particularly in the areas of green waste; one day per week garbage pick-up; use of large rigid
plastic bins. A further report is awaited on the status of improving flood control by the removal of
Houston's restrictor. Budget and Tax rate hearings are scheduled as follows: Oct 18 - Public Hearing on
both; Oct 25 - approval of tax rate for 2011 budget by Council. In 2009 the City's tax rate was 0.35875
per $100. The proposed budget for 2011 applies a rate of 0.37411 necessitated by a reduction in
property values.
Good Neighbor (Mary Lee Gray) The regular meeting is scheduled for 2:OOPM next Tuesday. Some
clean up of seniors' gardens is being undertaken and the need for confidentiality is stressed.
PARD (Tim O'Connor) The Parks Board does not foresee the need for increases in rates to be charged
for next season. There is a need to increase usage of Colonial Park: numbers have dropped off
significantly since schools reopened. It is proposed to eliminate shoulder seasons in the spring and fall.
Week-end labor rates are $80/hr. Attendance of roughly 40 on Saturdays & Sundays is not sufficient to
cover these. Vandalism is proving a problem in the City's parks. It is thought that the culprits are
probably junior high school students resident in West U. Members of the Police force are jogging in an
attempt to apprehend those responsible. Work at the Community Center should be completed by April
2011. The Center may have to close for 4-5 days. Currently 23 groups are making use of the Scout
House without payment - they should be willing to underwrite the cost of renovations. Tri-sports were
organized on October 5 - 150 participated. Toby & Brett have done a fine job of expanding senior
activities but additional attendance is desirable. A special report promoting these is needed in the
quarterly edition of City Currents - this could be an Eagle Scout project. Involvement in the Scout house
refurbishment could provide another such project.
Previous Business: Regarding programs for teens - committees of parents with teens are being formed
the aim being to increase the tens sense of rootedness to West U. West U is zoned for Pershing Middle
School. The Principal of Pershing has approached the Mayor of West U mentioning the need for a
stronger commitment to Pershing.
The Meeting was adjourned at 3:OOPM