HomeMy WebLinkAboutSSMinutes10132011West University Senior Services Board Meeting October 13, 2011
Present: John Neighbors (Chair), Selby Clark, Virginia Lootens, Chuck Guffey, George Baker, Michelle
Moore, Mary Ryerson, Lyndon McKnight, Joe Mitchell, Janet Vrancken , Pieter Vrancken. Absent: Stan
McCandless, Sarah Ballanfant. Staff: Tim O'Connor, Toby Brooks. Guest: Councilwoman Joan Johnson.
The Meeting was called to order at 2:1OPM. The Minutes of the previous meeting were approved.
Activities (Toby Brooks) All four activity rooms in the Community Center are being used. The Water
aerobics class at the Rec Center is at capacity and more capacity will be added. Evening classes in Tai
Chi, Meditation, and Line Dancing are all proving popular. Field trips have attracted a low turnout and it is
hoped to be linked to the hot weather.
APAC (Virginia Lootens) The transportation grant is no longer available (restricted to Houston city
limits) AAA reports that all budget items were completed. All services are being provided with a reduced
amount of funding. There continues to be a waiting list for the dental program. A very informative talk
was given on the topic of Volunteer Burnout including suggestions on how to structure time commitments
and how to say "no". Open enrolment for Medicare plans begins October 15 and ends December 7.
Benefit counselors are available at AAA for seniors needing help with choices.
Council (Joan Johnson) All Chairs and Members for the various Boards and Committees were
approved. An Ordinance that each structure or proposed structure must be located upon a legally
conforming building site in order to obtain a building permit was approved. Following a Budget Workshop
these items were added: adding 2 police officers; 1% cost of living increase to salaries and 1.5% Merit
Increases on Employee anniversary dates; 2 summer interns; $200,000 for Phase 1 of upgrading our
Emergency Radio System; a Zoning Study. It is anticipated that the Budget will be approved.
Good Neighbor Team (Michelle Moore) There are now 168 "seniors" as compared with 134 last year.
These are defined as people over 85 or disabled or widowed. Nightlights have been a big hit in the past
and 2 will be provided to each of the 168. Those aged over 62 represent 19% of the total population of
the City. Michelle Moore, Celeste Mead and Becky Arnold have assumed responsibility for the GNT (with
assistance from Dorothy Zink & Mary Lee Gray) The next meeting is scheduled for October 20 at 2PM.
PARD (Tim O'Connor) As of September 30 PARD has a total revenue of $985,148 and anticipates
exceeding $1 MM by the end of 2011 (as against a projected $928,900). Fee Schedule Amendments have
been approved as follows: 1) for Colonial Park daily walk-in fee for a resident is $3 and $6 for the guest
of a resident; House Guest Fees are $50 per month or $150 per season; 2) for the Recreation Center
daily walk in for a resident is $6 and for the guest of a resident $10; Weekly Resident House Guest fee is
$30 and monthly is $90. There are no changes to rates for seniors at either location. No non-residents
who are not guests of residents will be admitted or permitted to purchase memberships. Funds needed
by the PARD for the next year have been agreed.
Any Other Business The Depression Support Group for Seniors which meets every Wednesday at 2PM
is dwindling in size. Mayor Bob Fry is held a lunch for the chairs of all Boards in West University. Changes
to the arrangements for garbage pick-up and for recycling methods were discussed in general terms.
Chuck Guffey commended Councilwoman Joan Johnson for keeping the Senior Services Board informed
of the City Council's business.
The Meeting was adjourned at 3:05PM