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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Leadership Committee For Senior Services - 06/09/2011 RE EIVED Leadership Committee for Senior Services JUL 1 8 2011 Meeting Minutes Oveal Williams Senior Center Thursday,June 9,2011 CRY SECRETARY'S OFFICE ► A quorum of members were present and the meeting was called to order at 3:43 p.m. by Dotson Lewis. ►Roll Call Roll call was conducted by Patricia Byrd. Patricia Byrd, Gloria Gooding, Ida Hobbs, Cecilia Huerta, Dotson Lewis, Esperanza Lopez, Clarissa Lopez,Adelfa Martinez, Henry Savoy, Billy Sayles, Jose Villanueva, and Felix Zavala were all present. Lindsey Edwards and Vicki Garza were absent. ►Attendance Issues: None ►Aoproval of Minutes Mr. Savoy made a motion to approve the minutes as written. Mr. Sayles second the motion and it was unanimously approved. Elsa Munoz pointed out that on page 2 of the minutes; it states" is being asked to participate..."the blank should be"LCSS Advisory Members are being asked to participate...". Mr. Savoy withdrew his motion to approve the minutes as written. Ms. Huerta made a motioned to table the minutes for further review. Ms. Clarissa Lopez seconds the motion and it was unanimously approved. Mr. Lewis stated that he is concerned since Leticia Ochoa is still out and staff is tied up with other things that the comment cards are not getting reviewed properly and that comment cards are not being responded to in a timely manner. Mr. Lewis suggested that the Program Evaluation Subcommittee review the cards and complete the report. Mr. Savoy volunteered to have cards sent to Ethel Eyerly and they will compile all the comment cards from Ethel Eyerly so that this report can be completed. ▪State of the Senior Center Address: None ►New Business: LCSS New Member Endorsements: Mr. Lewis advised that the City Council will not act on this item until after July since the City Council will be reviewing budget proposals. Ms. Martinez and Ms. Hobbs volunteered to call each applicant to verify their interest in the committee and will report the results at next month's meeting. FY '11 Proposed City Budget Reductions impact on Senior Proaram Operations: Ms. Munoz reported that the Parks and Recreation Department has a significant reduction of$1.1 Million. Senior Community Services will have some reductions worth $255,000. Due to this reduction we are proposing to change the hours of operation from 40 hours a week to 19 hours a week at the Broadmoor Senior Center, Zavala Senior Center, Oveal Williams Senior Center and Northwest Senior Center. In addition to the reduction of hours of operations, we will reduce the hours of 4 Senior Center Supervisors which those staff members would be going from 40 hours a week to 19 hours a week and will lose their benefits. These reductions will be based on seniority and the 4 supervisors that will be affected are Sonia Garza, Lindale Senior Center Supervisor, Mary Ann Mondragon, Garden Senior Center Supervisor, Monica Escamilla, Greenwood Senior Center Supervisor, and Tanya Lara, Broadmoor Senior Center Supervisor. Also 2 Staff Assistants will be reduced from 40 hours a week to 19 hours a week which they would also lose their benefits and 2 Staff Assistants will be reduced from 30 hours a week to 19 hours a week. Ms. Munoz also reported that the Meals on Wheels freeze that was implemented on March 1"will also be included in the budget reductions as well. Ms. Munoz stated that the impact of these reductions will be based on the seniors,those seniors who have been very vocal in the proposed cuts will hopefully make a difference. The City Council is in process of reviewing the proposed reductions given by City Staff that they received on Tuesday,June 7, 2011. On Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at the Council Meeting will be the 1 SCANNED first day of public comments regarding the budget reductions. Ms. Munoz mentioned that as LCSS Members they might hear from constituents from the senior centers. Ms. Munoz stated that Lisa Oliver, Michael Morris and she have gone to all the senior centers to review the proposed budget reductions. The City Council can approve the reductions as purposed, add more to the purposed reductions or even ask us to reduce more. Ms. Munoz reported that there are plans in place if we are asked to reduce more from our purposed budget. She explained that these purposed reductions are only reducing the city's contribution to the division. Ms. Munoz mentioned at today's meeting at the Lindale Senior Center was a meeting of solidarity. Many seniors from other senior centers were in attendance along with 3 different media stations which were asking the opinions of seniors on the proposed budget reductions. Ms. Munoz stated that we live and breathe seniors and it is with a very heavy heart that we are proposing these reductions. She does not anticipate that the city council will say that Senior Community Services will not have any reductions. If that $255,000 worth of reductions does not come from Senior Community Services, it will come from somewhere else within the city. Ms. Hobbs asked what criteria were used to determine the sites that would be affected. Ms. Munoz stated that census tracking was collected and the decisions were made from that information.At each site they had sign in sheets that required seniors to sign in and out from each activity at each senior center. Mr. Sayles asked what he is supposed to say if he is approached, and asked if they should get involved. Mr. Lewis stated that he suggest advising the senior to contact their council person if they have any questions or concerns and that Ms. Munoz and Ms. Oliver can be used as resources to get further information if they have questions as well. Mr. Lewis also stated that he, personally,would not voice an opinion to media or make any public comments. Mr. Lewis mentioned that he understands that we don't want to cut nutrition services, but he is glad that we are able to open up as nutritional sites. It might end up being only 2 sites instead of 4. It will be a battle and staff that is left full time will be burden with trying to coverage the other half of the sites. Mr. Lewis concerned as seniority instead of work performance. Ms. Munoz reported that they did meet with HR and the most equitable individuals that will be reduced. Ms. Muerte asked if the employees that are being affected would be covered under the City's RIF Policy. Ms. Munoz stated that the RIF Policy would not apply to these employees, so basically they would have to accept the decrease in hours. Ms. Munoz also stated that HR did not recommend that we base our decision based off performance because it could open up a can of worms so it was suggested that we base our decision off seniority. Some of the employees that are being affected have been with the City for 10 years. Mr. Lewis asked if we have met with the individuals that will be affected. Ms. Munoz stated that we had a general staff meeting and she had briefly met with the individuals who will be affected. At this point no one has made a decision to quit but they expressed that they would not be able to work at 19 hours. Mr. Lewis stated it is tough and that is why we have been trying to push activities at the senior centers. Mr. Lewis mentioned that he was surprised that we were allowed to open the 4 nutrition sites. Mr. Savoy stated that Mr. Morris had mentioned he was cutting his secretary, and Mr. Savoy believes that he should keep his secretary to help alleviate some of the work load. Ms. Munoz stated on a positive note senior voices really echo when they present their stories of senior centers. She mentioned that, we know why we do this job and the impact our jobs have on the seniors. Ms. Munoz stated that we are blessed to have 8 senior centers when other cities only have 1. She also mentioned that the seniors should be grateful that they still have 4 other senior centers that will be open full time.We understand that it is hard but our doors are still open tor our priority which is nutrition, health and fitness. Mr. Lewis asked that we try to find a silver lining in this situation. Mrs. Muerte asked if there would be a demonstration or anything of that nature at city hall. Ms. Munoz mentioned that there is talk of a march at city hall.Also the Greenwood Senior Center did a petition that was presented to Mr. Morris with over 100 signatures. Mr. Savoy stated that seniors are a big issue and a hot issue so of course there will be stories and news. The City Council is aware that seniors are the main voters in this community. Senior Center Site Council Standing Rules Review and Aooroval: Mr. Lewis created a draft of the Senior Center Site Council Standing Rules and sent out a copy to all sites 2 during the Site Council Summit. Mr. Lewis stated that he was not sure when they would be turning in revisions to these rules. He mentioned that no action would be taken at this time. Mr. Lewis encouraged LCSS Members to help out staff as much as they could; given the current situation that staff is in right now due to the budget. Subcommittee Reports: Funding and Resource/Special Events Subcommittee: Ms. Munoz reported that an estimated $10,000 to pay for the Holiday Dinner this year. She mentioned that the subcommittee has already received feedback from companies that they were trying to contact for potential sponsorships that they need at least 6 months to 1 year notice for upcoming sponsoring events. Gloria Gooding, Mary Ann Mondragon and Monica Escamilla are working hard on the Harvest Moon Ball. Ms. Munoz mentioned that Island Home Health would be paying $1,500 which will pay for the cost of the band and some decorations for this event.Also,Adrian will be sponsoring a half page ad and will be the Master of Ceremonies for the event. A local professional artist will be creating the "save the date"cards and will donate an original art work that will be auctioned off at the event as well. Ms. Munoz reminded the LCSS members that they are being asked to sponsor or solicit sponsors for this event. Ms. Munoz reported that tickets will be printed and distributed within the next few weeks. Heavenly Designs will be creating some table decorations for the event. Ms. Munoz stated that each LCSS member will be receiving raffle tickets for the July 4'"Gift Basket. She mentioned that 70 tickets were sold at Senior Day Picnic held at the Ethel Eyerly Senior Center. Ms. Munoz asked everyone to thank Ms. Hope Lopez and Ms.Clarissa Lopez which put together the basket and Ms. Martinez would help get some items for the basket. Ms. Clarissa Lopez and Ms. Hope Lopez would be the committee chairpersons for the Holiday Dinner along with Ninfa Chavera and Tanya Lara. Program Operations Subcommittee: Mr. Lewis reported that the LCSS By-Laws will be reviewed, given that the structure of the committee has changed. Mr. Savoy made motion to have the Program Operations Subcommittee review the current by- laws to change the structure of the committee. Ms. Martinez seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved. Ms. Oliver reported on the Nutrition Services Cancelation Policy. There are still some clarification needed for some seniors and there is also some miss communication that is still going on regarding the policy. Ms. Oliver mentioned that there are some folks that are in total agreement and there some that have stopped attending the center which in part is due to some miss information. Mr. Lewis recommended that seniors should use comment cards to comment on this policy as well as other issues they may have. Ms. Munoz stated that there is a lot of food that is being saved due to the implementation of this policy. Staff has been reminded that they have the authority to make the decision to review on case by case bases. Program Evaluation Subcommittee: Martinez reported in April there were comments on the pot holes at garden. In may 114 comments only regarding too much rosemary on potatoes. Senior Center Satisfied Unsatisfied Total Broadmoor 0 0 Ethel Eyerly 43 0 43 Garden 18 0 18 Greenwood 0 0 0 Lindale 4 0 4 Northwest 0 0 0 Oveal Williams 41 0 41 Zavala 8 0 8 TOTAL 114 0 114 ►SCS Division Program Report: Ms. Munoz reported the "one away"campaign from last month. The next week received a call from Washington which offered us an opportunity to participant in a$20,000 grant. Lisa Oliver and Sonia Garza 3 went to Washington as part of the awarded grant for an intensive training to launch this program which we got state of the art video equipment. Texas Conference on Aging will be coming up on Monday,Tuesday and Wednesday.Although there is$0 budgeted for travel, the Site Councils have been gracious to help sponsor the 8 center supervisors which cost$100.00 per day.This conference will provide the supervisors with some training. Ms. Munoz stated that everyone is probably asking "Why are 4 being sent to conference when they will not be here if they decided to leave?"Ms. Munoz stated that this would also be beneficial to put on their resumes if they do decide to seek employment elsewhere. ►gems to be placed on the next agenda: Mr. Lewis mentioned that he had attended a Texercise event where they handed out free shirts and videos. Mr. Lewis asked if we could consider contacting Texercise to see if they could offer doing this program at each of the senior centers. He picked up a DVD that he got from a conference in Dallas, Texas. Mr. Lewis stressed that he does not want exercise programs to die down. They want at least 400 people enrolled for this program and there are only 40 people registered so far. Ms. Munoz stated that she went to the Lexington for the Torch Relay and they had a representative from Texercise and she mentioned it to them so they will be continuing contact with Texercise. Walk Across Texas program has been introduced here as well. 'Old Business: ►Public Comment: ►Adlournment: 4