HomeMy WebLinkAboutWUSSB minutes 1-12-2012West University Senior Services Board Meeting January 12, 2012
Present: John Neighbors (Chair), Stan McCandless, Joe Mitchell, Michelle Moore, Sarah Ballanfant, Mary
Ryerson, Selby Clark, George Baker, Virginia Lootens, Janet Vrancken, Pieter Vrancken. Absent: Lyndon
McKnight, Jo Lukens. Guests: Councilwoman Joan Johnson, Nabila Kinghorn. Staff: Toby Brooks. The
Meeting was called to order at 2:02PM. The minutes were approved with minor amendments.
Activities (Toby Brooks) Attendances at the classes have been as follows: Line Dancing 22, Tai Chi 4
but 8 have subscribed, Meditation 6, Water Aerobics 10, Water Colors 12. A hula class is being added. An
excursion to the Shiner Brewery and Museum was planned.
APAC (Virginia Lootens) Lalita Sen of Houston Complete Streets program reported that Metro and
Metro Lift are working to help the elderly with their transportation problems (see minutes of previous
meeting). Public transportation is likely to grow due to the increased population density of areas served
by Metro, resulting from vacant lots being developed with condos. The Complete Streets project currently
has participants within the City of Houston. APAC is also interested in expanding to Harris County,
Sugarland and Katy. Thelma Samuel from the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) commented that funding has
declined by 11% (previously 3%) and DADS has instituted a freeze on services. Accordingly AAA is
entering partnerships with new entities for funding: CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid) has $1
billion available for care needs and transportation grants. Programs applying must have a good track
record and be viable in the future. Faith-based entities that are outside APAC are being contacted. CMA
has funding available for work with patients suffering from three specific illnesses, in order to prevent
such patients returning to hospital. As part of the HoME project, planning is in hand for a March for Meals
event. The committee feels that it is better to have a single large event than to request donations every
month. Along those lines a "Mayors for Meals" event is being prepared for May. This would encourage the
support of all our local mayors and solicitation letters will be sent out in February.
Council (Joan Johnson) December 12 City Council Meeting: Council approved a policy (under Texas
law) providing the City the ability to cancel an election if a candidate is unopposed. The unopposed
candidate would be declared the winner. By approving this policy, the City would avoid costly
preclearance submissions to the US Department of Justice as well as election costs. First reading of the
Town Center Zoning ordinance was approved by 4 votes to 1. January 9 City Council Meeting: at a Public
Hearing relating to the Town Center Zoning Ordinance 8 residents and a group of 5"' graders from West
University Elementary School spoke in opposition to the Ordinance. Additionally the Mayor and City
Council received over 130 a-mails opposing the proposed zoning changes. No vote was therefore held on
this Ordinance. Four residents expressed their concerns at the flooding of streets. The City is waiting for
the City of Houston to sell detention land to West U before the restrictor can be removed. Information
was presented on traffic congestion on some streets with a suggestion that parking be limited to one side
of such streets. The matter of noise from leaf blowers was also raised.
Good Neighbor Team (Michelle Moore) The poinsettia deliveries went well. The vendor used was of
lower cost than last year but the quality was high. An additional 15 volunteers are needed. One senior
was referred to protective services for being disoriented, not taking prescribed medication and neglecting
personal hygiene. Four seniors died in the last six months reducing the number registered with the GNT
to 164. The next GNT meeting will be on January 19 to prepare Valentine Cards.
PARD (Toby Brooks) Board Members are kept informed through the Weekly Operations Summary
transmitted to them by e-mail. (Items of particular interest to the Board are contained in the reports
covering December17-30 and January 7-13). Xavier Education Academy expressed interest in community
projects for their 41 seniors. 100 residents have accepted the invitation to the Mayor's breakfast on the
occasion of the Chevron Houston Marathon. West U residents participating will be identified and
acknowledged. The Art Exhibits displayed in the Rec Center received very poor attendance (only 12).
A new exhibit is scheduled to begin on February 3rd at 6:30PM under the patronage of Lester Marks. A
new ordinance on alcohol is to be submitted to the Council. At present no alcohol is permitted on
municipal premises. This is in part the result of a State rule denying the right to serve alcohol within 600
feet of school premises. The Edloe deli is exempted as its right to serve alcohol was grandfathered.
Any Other Business The lecture on Suicide Prevention was hindered by the failure of a ceiling bulb
which will cost $500 to replace. Meals on Wheels does not need our services yet.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:OOPM