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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-12-17 Council on Aging SummaryCOUNCIL ON AGING December 17, 1996 10AM Agenda Approval Minutes from Prior Meetine Old Business 1..Senior Center Town Meeting/January 18th 2. 3. New Business lo Holiday Openings Board Openings/2 Evening Meal Person Wantin~ to be Heard COUNCIL ON AGING DECEMBER 17, 1996 ***MINUTES*** Members present: Members absent: Others present: Sam Huddleston, Roger Meeks, Betty Nelson, Joyce Billings, Joanna Hollier (arrived late) Al Pease, Georgetta Funk Councilwoman Swarner, Senior Center Director Pat Porter, Administrative Assistant Marilyn Kebschull Quorum not established. Decision to continue with work session. AGENDA APPROVAL: AGENDA APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT. MINUTES FROM PRIOR MEETING: Porter read minutes from last meeting which was held in August. Meeks asked for corrections or changes. None noted. HUDDLESTON MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES. NELSON SECONDED THE MOTION. MINUTES APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT. OLD BUSINESS: 1. Senior Center Town Meeting/January 1 8th Porter advised she had gotten together with Meeks and decided to wait to hold the town meeting in January. Porter stated they had set the date for January 18t~. Porter shared a poster she had made. Porter advised they would begin advertising the first of January. Porter asked for comments on the poster. Agreement that it was eye-catching. Porter noted that it was created at no cost using the office computer and printed on a friend's color copier. Porter noted a problem with attendance at the center adding she felt it was time to do a questionnaire. Porter shared copies of a questionnaire she and her assistant had prepared. Porter advised the Longevity Bonus Office has COUNCIL ON AGING December 1 7, 1 996 Page 2 provided the center with names and addresses of everyone who lives in this service area. Porter advised this information was received on a disk and could be printed adding it had cost only $10. Porter read the questionnaire to the group. Porter stated that they plan to advertise the Town Meeting at the same time with the questionnaire mailing. Porter noted they will have to put a return stamp on the questionnaire to ensure they are returned. Porter asked how they would respond to the questionnaire if it was sent to them. Meeks and Huddleston agreed that they felt it looked good. Swarner asked if they should specify Kenai Senior Center in the first question. Porter asked if they should mail the January newsletter with the mailing since it was going to cost $.32 to mail it anyway. Group consensus that that would be a good idea. Nelson asked how many they would be sending. Porter stated she felt it would cost at least $500 to mail the questionnaire and newsletter. Nelson asked if Porter was concerned about Iow attendance at meals. Porter advised she is very concerned. Porter stated she doesn't think the meals are terrible adding she feels it is a part of her responsibility to run the center and a reflection on her. Porter commented that it is a national trend that as the population ages and more and more people are frail in the center, healthier seniors choose not to associate with those who are frail. Meeks commented he doesn't notice individuals in wheelchairs or walkers. Porter stated she doesn't either but it does bother some folks. Meeks advised he has been talking to folks and received two comments: They serve too much food; and, the food is seasoned too much or not enough. Porter stated the comment that they serve too much is not an excuse as those who receive the meal is has every control and individuals can ask for half servings. Porter noted that at least people are not saying the center is rude. Meeks noted that no one has ever said that. Meeks added that he has had comments when prices were raised that the center is like every other place and out to make money. Swarner clarified the price for seniors and was advised $3.00. Porter asked if anyone felt it was a hardship and was advised no. Porter stated they will need help at the Town Meeting to greet folks and ask what services people want. Porter clarified that the meeting was scheduled for Saturday, January 1 8t~. Porter advised she and Meeks had decided to hold the meeting in the day because then people wouldn't have to drive at night. Porter noted they would serve salad bar and halibut. Nelson asked if they had enough halibut. Porter advised she has had to purchase it in the past. Porter noted that they need additional volunteers. COUNCIL ON AGING December 1 7, 1 996 Page 3 Porter noted there are two board vacancies adding that Gene Seay and Lu¢ille Billings are no longer with the Board. Porter noted they will have an evening meal on New Year's eve. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m. Porter stated they had decided to see how it would go and perhaps do it more often. Porter asked how many of the group watched the electric parade and commented on how wonderful it was. Porter stated she hoped that perhaps the center could come up with a float for next year and asked Huddleston if he could help them put it up. Porter noted that Huddleston is a retired electrician. Porter explained to the group how floats had been created with lights. 10:30 a.m.--Joanna Hollier arrived. Quorum established. Porter reiterated she felt they needed to think about taking part of the light parade in the future. Porter stated if they needed to take any official action they could do so now since Hollier had arrived. OLD BUSINESS TOWN MEETING: Meeks stated they should discuss the Senior Town Meeting again. Hollier asked what the meeting was and Meeks explained it was to acquaint others with services the center provides. The poster was shared with Hollier. HUDDLESTON MOVED TO HOLD TOWN MEETING ON JANUARY 18TM. HOLLIER SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUS. QUESTIONNAIRE: Meeks stated they should have a motion to send out the questionnaire and to pay for the postage for the mailing. Meeks explained it was an attempt to find out what is wrong with the center. Comments from the group included too many centers, too many churches, too many bars. Question was asked if the lack of attendance would affect their funding. Porter explained how funding is figured adding that it could in fact affect their funding. COUNCIL ON AGING December 1 7, 1 996 Page 4 HUDDLESTON MOVED TO MAIL THE QUESTIONNAIRE BEFORE THE 18TM. MOTION SECONDED BY HOLLIER. UNANIMOUS. NEW BUSINESS' BOARD OPENINGS: Swarner questioned if there were applicants for the board openings. Porter explained she had one from Sylvia Johnson and Stanley Lang. Porter explained that the Mayor appoints the individual to the Board. Porter added the Board could recommend an applicant to the Mayor. Huddleston stated he felt it would be wise to make a recommendation to the Mayor. Hollier advised they didn't know if there were applicants on file at city hall. Porter recessed and contact Clerk Freas. Porter noted there were four people on file at city hall. Porter stated they are' Arlene Enfield, Sylvia Johnson, Stanley Lang, and Pauline Gross. Hollier suggested recommending Arlene Enfield who is a line dancer, and very interested in the center. Hollier noted she had moved from Anchorage but felt she would be very supportive of the center. Meeks stated he would suggest Sylvia Johnson adding she had been a past director. Huddleston stated there was one name that he would not recommend noting he had been outside part of last year, is living in a mobile home, and it is unclear what he will be doing next year. Huddleston noted this was Lang. Huddlest°n stated he is on the negative side of things. Hollier stated they could teach him. Porter stated they need to determine as a group if they want to make a recommendation to council. Meeks asked if the group was in agreement on those two names. Agreement to recommend Enfield and Johnson. Porter stated that she and her assistant (Kelly) had talked about having a "bring a friend to lunch" in January. If you bring someone who has not been to the center in a month or who has never been here will both get a free lunch. Porter asked if the group thought that was a good idea. Group agreed they felt it was a good idea. Porter advised she will be gone from Friday until the 6th of January. Porter advised that Kelly (her assistant) will be in charge during her absence. EVENING MEAL' COUNCIL ON AGING December 1 7, 1 996 Page 5 Nelson asked if on New Year's Eve day the center would be open normal hours. Porter clarified the 31 st of December is the day of the dinner. Nelson requested that Georgetta be allowed to come through the doors from the housing to the center. Porter noted it is a senior function and it will be open for seniors. Sylvia Johnson asked what would happen if someone showed up for lunch. Porter advised they are noting the change of hours in the newsletter. Discussion on what it would mean if the center was closed on that day. Porter advised they could work out access to the center. Hollier advised they had planned to play cards that day at the center. Swarner asked if the center would be open at noon. Porter stated she had to work it out because she had no money for overtime. Porter noted that anyone who wants to can volunteer to open the doors. Hollier stated she wouldn't mind being here for lunch and have soup or frozen meals. Hollier volunteered to be at the center for lunch on the 31st. Porter noted that the center belongs to the seniors and anytime the center is not rented they can use it. It just requires that someone take responsibility for the center. Meeks asked for anything additional that needs to be discussed. Nothing noted. Nelson moved to adjourn. Motion seconded by Huddleston. Meeting adjourned at approximately 11 a.m. al M ull Administrative Assistant