HomeMy WebLinkAboutSSMINUTES091307WEST UNIVERSITY SENIOR SERVICES BOARD MEETING MINUTES
September 13, 2007
Meeting called to order at 2:00 PM.
Attendees: Stan McCandless, Mary Lee Gray, Betty Aillet, Elizabeth Young, Jo Lukens, Lyndon McKnight, Cathy Wright,
Joe Graf, Selby Clark, and Maureen Beck. Absent were John Neighbors, Mary Ryerson, Joan Johnson, and Craft Hughes
Staff member present was Toby Dykema. Guests present were Police Chief, Ken Walker, and Village News Reporter, Kate
Bolin. City Council present was Councilman Chuck Guffie. Carolyn Sacchi has resigned from the Board and Selby Clark
is newly appointed to the Board. Stan McCandless and John Neighbors are re-appointed Co-Chairmen, and Elizabeth
Young was re-elected as Secretary. Board members will receive official appointment letters.
Previous meetings minutes were approved.
Previews and Sneak Previews were referred to the Newsletter.
REPORTS
APAC: Out of sixty-six issues of concern raised by the Texas Silvered Haired Legislators and presented to the Texas
Legislature, twenty-one were enacted into law. Houston City Councilman Peter Brown spoke at the September meeting and
offered some interesting facts, such as 500,000 residents of Houston live in poverty. Houston concerns include such
universal issues as safe neighborhoods, flooding, crime and violence and efficient government. The caregiver education
program has made arrangements with an Alzheimer's organization (and similar groups) to assimilate their information into
their program. There is an Interfaith Care group that assists caregivers, as well as the Bellaire Methodist Respite Care
program.
COUNCIL MEETING REPORT: New street lights are a month or two away from initial installation. There will be
nearly twice the amount of lights than we presently have. They will be lower in order to operate with less blockage by
trees. The main streets of the City will be recipients of the initial installations. Drainage improvements on College will
commence in the near future. Councilman Guffie gave City Council a presentation about Senior Services that was well
received. Although hoped for park land purchases on Tangley and Nottingham failed (primarily due to neighbor
opposition), a smaller lot (off of Sewanee) is available and being investigated by Council. The re-do of the Ruskin Street
speed bump will be paid for by Ruskin's residents at a cost of approximately $3,500. The new budget is coming up for
consideration soon. It is hoped that the large new home growth will keep the tax rate down.
GOOD NEIGHBOR TEAM: Next meeting is next Thursday at 2:00 PM. The meeting will be an orientation for the
benefit of the many new members and for those interested in participating. The Board is invited to attend.
HI NEIGHBOR NEWSLETTER: No report
ACTIVITY REPORT: Activities included a great trip to Navasota, Chapel Hill, Martha's Bloomers, the Alpaca Farm,
the Weather Museum, Art Park Players, the Theme Meals, Thia's Tea Store presentation, Mike Burton, the Titanic musical,
the West University private art house (400 works of art), the Johnson Presidential Library and the State Capital. The Tea
Dance netted about seventy-five attendees. Activities are at all time capacity.
PREVIOUS BUSINESS: Police Chief, Ken Walker, reported that the ID bracelets for Seniors are just about ready to go.
They will be attractive, bear the police badge, and be worn on the left arm in order to be readily visible to officers and
emergency personnel Twenty have been ordered and it is time for Staff to begin registering citizens. The importance of
our Senior's confidentiality by Police, Fire and Senior Services was stressed. The Silver Alert (as in Amber Alert) went
into effect September l't.
NEW BUSINESS: A new law in effect requires citizens seventy-five years old to be re-tested for their driver's licenses.
No licenses are valid after age ninety (grandfathering unknown). A program is being developed that will allow those
unable to drive to donate their vehicles to an organization that will credit them with so many dollars worth of free
transportation. A Policies and Procedures Manual for Board members, volunteers, staff, etc. is "under construction" and
Board input will be forthcoming. Board members are encouraged to write letters to their government representatives
regarding the Elder Justice Act. Area Agency on Aging handout to Board suggests a procedure for best accomplishing this.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Toby will attend the Elder Abuse Seminar at the University of Houston
Meeting Adjourned at 3:00 PM