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Minutes 03-01-99 MINUTES OF SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD MEETING HELD IN CONFERENCE ROOM A, CITY HALL BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA ON MONDAY, MARCH 1, 1999, AT 3:30 P.M. PRESENT Amelia “Terry” Benell Hank Ackermann, Neighborhood Betty Collins, Chairperson Project Specialist Mary Coma Elizabeth Jenkins, Alternate Bernice Joyce Helen Schwartzenberg, Alternate Esther “Peggy” Stranahan Christine T. Wilson ABSENT Olive Field 1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG, MOMENT OF SILENT PRAYER Chairperson Collins called the meeting to order at 3:33 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was recited, followed by a moment of silent prayer for all the seniors in the City that may be in need. 2. ROLL CALL Chairperson Collins asked the Recording Secretary to call the roll. A quorum was declared present. Chairperson Collins welcomed the guests to the meeting. 3.APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chairperson Collins wished to add to the Agenda a report by Ms. Joyce on the Board Forum. Also, Ms. Stranahan requested the addition of “Meet the Candidates Night”. Chairperson Collins requested these two items be added as A and B under Item 7 (New Business). Ms. Schwartzenberg said she would like to have a discussion on a larger Civic Center and said the current one is not large enough. MEETING MINUTES SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MARCH 1, 1999 Chairperson Collins inquired if there were any more additions, and hearing none asked for a motion to approve the Agenda, as amended. Motion Ms. Schwartzenberg moved that the Agenda, as amended be approved. Motion seconded by Ms. Stranahan. Motion carried unanimously. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – FEBRUARY 1, 1999 Ms. Stranahan said she would like to comment on the minutes of the Community Relations Board and the statements made by Vice Chair Currier in those minutes. Ms. Stranahan said in those minutes Vice Chair Currier inquired when the Senior Center would be opening. Vice Chair Currier came up with the idea that she would like to be the first person to give a party for the senior citizens and would like all board members to be servers at the party. Ms. Stranahan said that the Senior Advisory Board would be giving the first party and if Vice Chair Currier would like to do something after that it would be fine. However, Ms. Stranahan said that this Board has worked very hard on the Senior Center and it is anticipated that the Senior Advisory Board would do something for the opening of the Center. Motion Ms. Benell moved that the minutes of the February 1, 1999 meeting be approved. Motion seconded by Ms. Schwartzenberg and carried unanimously. Chairperson Collins raised concerns that some people may not know that the meeting was changed from the City Hall in the Mall to City Hall. 5. REPORT ON SENIOR CENTER Chairperson Collins noted that throughout the Country a great many senior centers that have computers perform work for the community, as well as for City Hall. Seniors prepare posters and flyers and this is a great volunteer effort that saves the City money. Chairperson Collins said a computer group approached her at her office with a proposal for computers. Chairperson Collins said they did go to the Recreation Department to determine the location of the computer rooms at the Senior Center and the Recreation Department informed them that there would be no computers for perhaps a year. 2 MEETING MINUTES SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MARCH 1, 1999 Chairperson Collins said that this computer group prepared a logo for the canvas bags and presented it to the members for their review. However, the people making the bags said the colors did not copy well. Therefore, the City seal will be used on the bags with the words “Senior Center” underneath. Chairperson Collins presented what the bags would look like and stated there would be blue handles on a natural color bag. Chairperson Collins informed the computer group representatives that they liked the design, but the bag manufacturer said the design didn’t copy well. Chairperson Collins noted that there would be a new Mayor and two new Commissioners and it is important that they realize the need for the Senior Center. A. G.A.L.A. PARTICIPATION Chairperson Collins said that the seniors would need a covered table for the G.A.L.A. Mr. Ackermann said that the four boards would be in two 10’ x 20’ tents and would be undercover. Chairperson Collins said that the table needs to be set up at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday. Ms. Stranahan said she was available for Saturday at 8:00 a.m. Chairperson Collins asked each member to pick a time that they can work at the table and the shifts would be two-hour shifts. The hours on Saturday and Sunday are between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Chairperson Collins said that pictures of the Senior Center will be displayed and a donation of $5.00 will be requested for the bags. Also, the pins will be sold. Chairperson Collins asked if any non-board members would like to volunteer to help with the booth and recorded their names. Chairperson Collins handed out sign up sheets for the members to choose a time. Ms. Jenkins said that Ms. Judy Maaske, is interested in securing a job at the Senior Center and she asked Ms. Jenkins to present this information to this Board. Ms. Maaske is the current Meal Site Manager at the Mae Volen Center and is responsible for the meals and nutrition program. Chairperson Collins said that this Board does not become involved in hiring staff, but Chairperson Collins said that it will be insisted as time goes by that a Professional Director be hired. Chairperson Collins said currently the Senior Center would operate under the Recreation Department, but that is not permanent. The Senior Center must be a multi-purpose Senior Center and has to have a Professional Director and someone who can help get funding. This is what is done at the Mae Volen Center and the Director of Mae Volen is Helen Rice, who has been in that position for several years. Ms. Rice has been successful in securing funds for the Mae Volen Center. Chairperson Collins stated this is the direction that the Boynton Beach Senior Center would take and would become an 3 MEETING MINUTES SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MARCH 1, 1999 independent function of the City. Chairperson Collins noted that Mae Volen has at least 10 staff members. The question was asked if these were volunteer jobs. Chairperson Collins said they were paid positions. Chairperson Collins urged members to visit the Mae Volen Center to see how large an operation it is. Chairperson Collins said it is anticipated that the Boynton Senior Center will get some of the funds that have been going to the Mae Volen Center. A question was asked if the Senior Center would eventually have a daycare. Chairperson Collins said it is anticipated, but not in the beginning. Chairperson Collins said that the daycare does not necessarily have to be in the same building. There are public health nurses available and these agencies could sign a contract to provide the daycare and it could be at another location. Sometimes it is better to keep this separate from the main Senior Center as it can be upsetting for other people to observe. Chairperson Collins said she is very much in favor of the daycare, but would prefer to have it separate. Also this type of service can provide a needed break for caretakers. Ms. Jenkins stated that Mae Volen picks up seniors all the way north to Gateway. Chairperson Collins said that Mae Volen goes as far as Lake Worth. Chairperson Collins said it is the intent that the Senior Center be a multi-purpose senior center. Currently there is one in north and south County, as well as Lake Worth. Boynton Beach will be the fourth one. 6. REPORT FROM HANK ACKERMANN, City Liaison Mr. Ackermann stated that a pre-construction meeting has been scheduled and hopefully construction will begin next week on the Center. Mr. Ackermann said that the renovations would take at least 60 days, if not more. The anticipated opening is still slated for late spring, but all the programs would not be in place. Chairperson Collins said it might be prudent to start getting the volunteers involved sometime in late May or early June. 7. NEW BUSINESS A. MEET THE CANDIDATES’ NIGHT Chairperson Collins asked members if any of them had an opportunity to attend any meet the candidates’ night. Chairperson Collins said it is important to know which candidates support the Senior Center. Ms. Stranahan stated that Mr. Broening was definitely in favor of the Senior Center, as well as Ron Weiland, Bill Sherman, and Anne 4 MEETING MINUTES SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MARCH 1, 1999 Centi. It was noted that Ms. Centi has made prior contributions to the Senior Center. Ms. Stranahan said that Art House was totally against the Senior Center and was very negative about the building itself and the whole concept of the Senior Center. Chairperson Collins said it is very important to know how the candidates feel on certain issues before voting. Ms. Joyce said that she was disappointed that many of the candidates didn’t know as much about money matters as they should have and they should have done their homework on these issues. Mr. Joyce also pointed out that many of the candidates never attended a City Commission meeting. Chairperson Collins noted there was going to be a big change with a new Mayor and two new Commissioners. B. ADVISORY BOARD FORUM Ms. Joyce reported on the Board Forum that she recently attended. Ms. Joyce said the Boards were very much in favor of the Senior Center and were particularly concerned about the meals. Also it was suggested that some of the seniors could assist with some of the students at the Library. Mr. Ackermann said that this was the topic at a later meeting trying to determine what to do with the Library situation. Mr. Ackermann said that the teenagers that are utilizing the Library do not have enough computers or things to work with and there is idle time that has created some problems. Also at the Forum there was discussion about seniors that were homebound, but Ms. Joyce said she did not have much information on this subject. Ms. Stranahan said that it was noted that the high school students in order to graduate have to put in some community hours. It was suggested that these students could assist homebound seniors with certain chores. Chairperson Collins thought the schools were a good place to get volunteers. Also volunteers can read to the children at the Library. Chairperson Collins noted that seniors are the ones to volunteer because most young mothers have to work. Chairperson Collins said as the City continues to grow a Teen Center would be needed. Chairperson Collins said that former City Manager Willis stated she wanted to come back to Boynton for the grand opening of the Senior Center. Chairperson Collins stated it is important to get the funding for the Senior Center, which is the purpose of having grant writers on the City staff. Chairperson Collins stated that the RSVP is very successful today and Palm Beach County has the largest group of volunteers in the United States. 5 MEETING MINUTES SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MARCH 1, 1999 The schedule of the workers for the table at the G.A.L.A. was reviewed. Chairperson Collins said she would come down in the evening at 6:00 p.m. to pick up the remaining items. Ms. Stranahan asked where the G.A.L.A. would be located. Mr. Ackermann said it would be from Federal Highway west to Seacrest and part of Seacrest will be closed off. Mr. Ackermann did not know the exact location of the booth, but said in all probability it would be somewhere around the Civic Center. There was discussion about parking for the G.A.L.A. Mr. Ackermann said that there would be displays in the police parking lot and it would not be available. Mr. Ackermann also said there would be some shuttles from the old Winn-Dixie shopping center, Boynton Plaza and other places as well. 8. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting properly adjourned at 4:20 p.m. Respectfully submitted, _____________________________ Barbara M. Madden Recording Secretary (one tape) 6