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Minutes 04-07-14 MINUTES OF THE SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD REGULAR MEETING HELD AT THE SENIOR CENTER, 1021 S. FEDERAL HIGHWAY, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA, ON MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014, AT 3:00 P.M. PRESENT: Katherine Lynch, Chair Nancy Molina, City Liaison Denise Chamberlain Ginny Shea, Sr. Recreation Manager Beverly Ward Jean Young Tony LaRiccia ABSENT: Lillian Bruzzese 1. Call to order Chair Lynch called the meeting to order at 3:06 p.m. II. Pledge of Allegiance The members recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Ill. Roll Call Chair Lynch commented Stuart Preston was not on the Board and would reapply, and Betty Spinelli had missed several meetings. IV. Approval of Minutes of January 6, 2014 There were no changes to the minutes and the minutes were approved. V. Approval of Agenda A. Introductions of: 1. New Member Ginny Shea, Senior Recreation Manager, was introduced. She and Mary DeGraffenreidt switched work locations and Ms. Shea would now be working at the Senior Center. Ms. Shea appreciated the opportunity to get to know the patrons and to work with Ms. Molina and others. Meeting Minutes Senior Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida April 7, 2013 New member, Floyd Zonenstein was introduced. There was discussion Lillian Bruzesse should be removed since she has not attended the meetings and Judy Pyle, Deputy City Clerk, should be contacted in reference to warnings and removals. Stuart Preston submitted an application and Chair Lynch suggested he be made a regular member. Janet Harris applied for membership and was appointed as an alternate, but wanted to be a regular member. It was explained she would have to submit an application requesting an appointment as a regular Board member as long as a position was available. 2. Guest — Police Department Chair Lynch introduced Rita Swan, Boynton Beach Police Officer, from the Crime Prevention Unit. Officer Swan spoke about the Vial of Life program. A pre - printed form for the recipient is kept which contains the individual's personal information, medications, past and present medical history, if the individual has a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order, and health insurance and emergency contact information. The program requires a decal to be posted on or near the window by the front door. The information is very helpful if the person is unconscious. Ms. Chamberlain suggested filling out the form in pencil because medications can change. Officer Swan recommended contacting her if new or additional forms were needed. Another nationally recognized program was the Combat Auto Theft (CAT) program. This program went into effect in the 90s and Boynton Beach implemented it in 1994/1995. During that time, there were over 700 auto thefts, most of which occurred during the evenings. A registration and consent form is completed and a sticker is placed on the inside of the rear, driver's -side window to prevent it from being removed. If the sticker is on the vehicle and the vehicle is being driven between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m., the consent form allows Police to pull the vehicle over. If the vehicle is parked between those hours, they will run the tag to ensure the vehicle is parked at the registered location. The program also serves as another mechanism to locate stolen vehicles. The Police Department recently implemented a bicycle registration program. Officer Swan explained bicycle theft is a huge issue and bicycles can be registered online at bbpd.org. She encouraged all to take five minutes to enter the serial number of the bicycle, the color, make and model, and the owner's name, address and phone number. She commented this was also implemented for generators since generators were a hot commodity during the last hurricane. The 211 Sunshine Program is a program that can be used by residents and snowbirds. Participants select a time when a volunteer will call them each day and provide contact 2 Meeting Minutes Senior Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida April 7, 2013 information for family and friends. When the volunteer calls, if there is no answer, a call back message is left. If, after the second call is made, there is still no answer, a second message is left and the volunteer contacts family and friends. If family and friends cannot reach the person, police are dispatched. It is a great program for seniors and housebound individuals, and many lives have been saved. Participants can also use the program on a temporary basis while recovering from surgery and /or for well visits. Chair Lynch explained she had requested Officer Swan come to the meeting so members could share the information with their communities. VI. Old Business 1. Postponement of Car Fit until Fall Chair Lynch called the Automobile Club of America twice to schedule this event and was disconnected. The program will be scheduled for the next season. 2. One free event before July for all seniors at Center. Ms. Molina explained the anniversary party was an annual event. Per the Board's suggestion, she budgeted next year for the anniversary party to be a free event. 3. Police and Fire Chief will present program some morning in April — date under discussion. Chair Lynch scheduled both Chiefs to make a presentation the morning of April 19 2014, since afternoons at the Center are not well attended. 4. Discussion still needed on extension of HealthCare Act. Chair Lynch contacted Tim Brennan from Humana to speak at the Center about the Health Care Act extension, but a date has not yet been set. 5. Need explanation of new grant money uses — where and when i.e. parking lot. Ms. Molina originally planned to use grant funds to improve the Center's parking lot, but wound up funding a new computer technology course instead. She explained there were two components to the grant program. One component was to provide free computer classes for low- income seniors that make less than $28K, and the second component was to provide free, one -hour long, one -on -one consultations for tablets, cell phones and computers contingent on the recipient's needs. Chair Lynch explained she attended one session for her cell phone. Ms. Molina clarified the free computer course was open to anyone residing in Palm Beach County. The one -on -one consultation was only for Senior Center members. 3 Meeting Minutes Senior Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida April 7, 2013 Ms. Molina explained she would have to find a grant to fund parking lot improvements because accidents were occurring and three patrons fell and broke their noses on parking stops. The matter was discussed with Wally Majors, Mary DeGraffenreidt and Risk Management. Ms. Molina wanted to install uniform parking stops; however, Ms. Shea did not think rubber parking stops would be possible and did not recall seeing anything in the Capital Improvement Plan regarding resurfacing the Senior Center lot. Ms. Shea did agree to request funds be put in a future budget to do so and further commented the Capital Improvement budget was stretched extraordinarily thin. There are 28 parks that need to be serviced, and the same issues were occurring in other facilities, bridges and roads. Ms. Shea agreed to let Mr. Majors know of the need for the stops and to add them on the list of repairs. On a different note, Ms. Molina explained the next improvement at the Center was to upgrade the bathrooms. 6. "We Care" program cannot function without a rider from insurance company. This program was discussed at the prior meeting. It was similar to a good neighbor program where someone volunteered to drive another senior citizen to an appointment. Chair Lynch explained they checked with an insurance carrier and a special insurance rider was needed, otherwise they will not cover an accident should one occur. Ms. Chamberlain explained years ago, the Good Samaritan law covered the driver from any liability. VII. New Business 1. Discussion of Sunshine Daily phone call by Rita Swan — Boynton Beach Police Department. This item was discussed earlier in the meeting. 2. Minutes of Advisory meetings need to be sent one month before next scheduled meeting to all Advisory Members. Chair Lynch requested the minutes of the meetings be distributed one month prior to the next meeting. Ms. Chamberlain noted the meetings will be held in January, March, May and November. 3. Members should be alert during summer break for any new senior issues. The members were asked to be alert during the summer months about senior issues that arise. Ms. Chamberlain noted individuals unhappy with a matter often go to the press. If there is an article about an issue affecting seniors, it should be brought to the meeting. 4 Meeting Minutes Senior Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida April 7, 2013 Discussion turned to transportation for seniors. Kings Point had volunteers and their own buses, so a transportation program worked for them. Ms. Chamberlain explained they tried to implement a transportation program at the Center and her community, but no one wanted to volunteer. Ms. Harris conveyed her experience using Palm Tran. She had to take a several buses and sit in the sun, sometimes up to 45 minutes between buses, to reach her destination. In this instance, the trip took 2.5 hours as opposed to it being a 10-minute ride by car. Further, she noted no one was on the bus. Ms. Chamberlain explained in the past, trolley service and a Senior Center bus provided door-to-door service for patrons. Currently, the City pays Mae Volen to provide bus service to pick up patrons, but it has been problematic for some time. A suggestion was made to obtain 6 grant to provide transportation for seniors since trolley service was no longer available. Ms. Shea explained Recreation and Parks did not have a transportation department and Ms. DeGraffenreidt schedules the buses for after school programs. Previously, there was a designated supervisor to handle all the transportation issues, but that position was eliminated. Mr. Zonenstein inquired why the City did away with free handicap parking at the beach and commented handicapped residents now have to pay $40. Ms. Shea responded she would request Mr. Majors provide the details. 4. Report from Senior Center — Nancy Molina Ms. Molina advised the biggest news was the grant they previously discussed and also the Center has a new newsletter detailing the Center's activities and parties. She also announced the front porch area will be upgraded with flowers and rocking chairs, be painted and cleaned to create an upscale look. Ms. Harris explained she surveyed patrons for their comments and heard the following: ➢ Mice and rats were nesting in the porch area due to the picnicking that occurs there. Ms. Molina noted Terminex treats once a month and traps are used. ➢ Most individuals felt having the coffee bar available in the afternoon may be helpful. ➢ Patrons were concerned there was too much information on one flyer. ➢ Patrons would like to see more interaction with paid staff who would greet patrons when they arrived. It was noted WalMart has a greeter. 5 Meeting Minutes Senior Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida April 7, 2013 ➢ Some patrons preferred Bingo be held in the afternoon. Ms. Molina commented the majority wanted it to remain in the mornings. Ms. Molina explained afternoon Karaoke draws 18 to 20 patrons, and she tried implementing line dancing and boogie western, but attendance was poor. While the Senior Center can offer programs, if they are not attended, there was no sense in continuing them. She anticipated when the Civic Center classes were finished, participation in Senior Center activities would increase. Only free food drew patrons and Ms. Molina was trying to obtain donations. Discussion followed that potluck events were fun and one individual who owns a farm suggested, if the Center had a vehicle, they drive to the farm and take as many fruits and vegetables as the Center needed; however, this particular individual wanted the City to donate land to him for a community garden. Ms. Molina commented there was no land for a community garden, and in the past, community gardens were not maintained. Other comments received about the Center were as follows: ➢ The bathrooms were dark. ➢ The computer rooms are used so often for classes that patrons wanting to use them could not gain access. Ms. Molina explained the computer classes take priority; however, the Center has WiFi. ➢ More men were needed for dancing. Chair Lynch announced the next meeting will be held on November 3, 2014. There was also agreement to change the meeting time from 3:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. so the meetings would adjourn when the Center closed. VIII. Adjournment Motion There being no further business to discuss, Ms. Chamberlain moved to adjourn. Ms. Young seconded the motion that unanimously passed. The meeting was adjourned at 4:13 p.m. Catherine Cherry Minutes Specialist 940414 6