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Minutes 01-09-17MINUTES OF THE SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD REGULAR MEETING HELD AT THE SENIOR CENTER, 1021 S. FEDERAL HIGHWAY, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA, ON MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017, AT 2:00 P.M. Present: Janet Harris, Chair Terry liam, Vice Chair Michael Brevda Marsha Bionta Jean Young Andrew Richardson I. Call to order Chair Harris called the meeting to order at 2:16 p.m. IL Pledge of Allegiance Brent Rolle, Recreation Supervisor Amy Blackman, Board Liaison The members recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. III. Attendance A quorum was present. Chair Harris acknowledged Brent Rolle, Recreation Supervisor and Amy Blackman, Board Liaison. Self -introductions were made. IV. Approval of Agenda None. 1. Additions, Deletions, Corrections 2. Adoption The agenda was approved by consensus. V. Approval of minutes October 3, 2016, meeting The minutes were approved by consensus. Meeting Minutes Senior Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida January 9, 2017 V!. Unfinished Business A. Trial run of Holiday (not main) to keep center open & supply lunch (not thru Mae Volen) possible outside resource. The members had discussed having a trial run to keep the Center open on certain holidays when Mae Volen is closed and using a third party to supply a meal for patrons that normally would have received one from Mae Volen. In the past, the Center had ordered pizza. Mr. Rolle clarified staff decided to keep the Center open on several holidays from 8 a.m. to 12 noon, and noted attendance was 20 to 25 people. The patrons that came to the Center came for the activity and not the meal. Staff did say they could connect with a resource to order a low cost meal, but there was no real interest. The consensus is the Center will continue to be open on most days when the Volen Center is closed, but meals will not be supplied or patrons can order in or bring their own food for that day. Ms. Blackman was present at the Center on Veterans Day and commented the attendees were grateful the building was open. Vice Chair liam explained many people do not have a place to go on holidays. Ms. Blackman advised staff will list the days when the Center is open and put it in Funfare magazine in the future. Ms. Bionta agreed as people get into a routine and it would be understood on those days, there would be no lunch. B. Low Income Resources (brochures) Chair Harris distributed brochures that contained resources for those looking for assistance. One local resource in the area was the Community Caring Center and another was the My Money program from the State of Florida Financial Services for the Elderly. Chair Harris explained the program is about guardianship and issues of that nature, basic spending plans which she also distributed. There were also low income brochures. Chair Harris finds information for seniors at places she frequents and it is to raise awareness. The 2017 Guide to Services from Palm Beach County also contains information useful to seniors. Mr. Brevda explained if there is enough interest regarding issues such as guardianship, Medicaid compliance or qualifying individuals for long-term care facilities, a friend of his would speak for free and give out forms. Chair Harris requested Mr. Brevda speak with Mr. Rolle. C. Renewal of Board Members membership (not too late) Chair Harris noted when membership terminates, the City will send a letter advising the member their time was up and to send an application to renew or not. Tony LaRiccia had dropped off the Board and had served on the Board for some time. There are two open positions and Jean Young and Andy Richardson both applied for renewal. They should receive letters from the City. E Meeting Minutes Senior Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida January 9, 2017 D. Q & A of Brent: 1) Info on Handbook code of conduct Mr. Rolle had previously discussed a Code of Conduct handbook and advised it was completed. He was trying to determine the best way to distribute it as he did not want to make 100 copies. The handbook, which is nine pages, is brand new to the Center for members, users and those in the food program. Discussion followed and suggestions were made that it be sent to anyone renewing their membership; staff make an announcement; it be posted on a board or poster and anyone wanting a copy of it could ask Mr. Rolle; have a binder for new members to read it or send it via email; and/or enlarge it and put it on the wall like a banner or poster. Mr. Rolle explained the issue is the total cost. He was also concerned with an acknowledgement form. Mr. Rolle explained he was not concerned so much about an individual going line for line in the handbook as he was about what is expected from everyone regarding behavior. Ms. Bionta inquired how people who come to the Center as guests for dancing and the bands would be handled. It was thought staff could print an abridged version and guests that come just for dance sign a sign -in sheet. Ms. Blackman noted the City was doing the same at the Tennis Center. It would be a one page document to read and then sign. It was important for staff to know who to contact if someone falls. Chair Harris requested the members be given a copy. Mr. Rolle explained the Center has sign -in sheets for everything, although it was noted when the bands are here, attendees just come in and pay. 2) Police on trespassing homeless Chair Harris commented the homeless issue was not resolved although the police conduct an extra sweep of the premises. Additionally, the Police will not arrest them and staff cannot remove their items. Ms. Blackman advised the Center can call Public Works to bag and tag their items and take it to a holding stop. She also suggested removing the patio hose and furniture as the more comfortable they make it, the more difficult it will be to address homelessness. She noted this problem also exists at the Civic Center and at other City facilities. 3) Location of smoking Mr. Rolle explained the Center does not have a designated smoking area. He commented smoking can occur anywhere outside or on public streets and staff cannot stop them; however, patrons and guests are requested to not smoke in the patio area. VI. New Business 1. Having more meetings from our sponsors, and showing their presence on introductions 3 Meeting Minutes Senior Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida January 9, 2017 Chair Harris commented she preferred to have more sponsors showing their presence at the Center and asked if that was continuing or only at special occasions. Mr. Rolle explained being a focused group, they do a lot of the same thing and staff sought to avoid repetition. They have them at gatherings, the Senior Formal and Health Fair to provide information. On January 19th, the Senior Medicare Patrol was coming to the Center at 10:30 and will make a short presentation on Medicare fraud. The SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) organization will be present on February 2nd to make a presentation and there is a possibility they may set up a regular monthly SHINE representative to take appointments for those that need certain services. SHINE is also a link to referral services. In the past, the Center offered hearing testing, audiology, and sight. In one instance, a patron contested the revocation of her driver's license and the patron did not agree with the decision and needed help to appeal the decision made by her doctor. Chair Harris noted sponsors used to come to events and setup tables and gave giveaways and learned there are about four or five of them. They pass out their cards. Attorney Kevin LaMontage comes to the Center fairly regularly as a service. It was noted February through April is tax returns at the Center. Mr. Brevda explained the Solkoff Legal firm in Delray Beach holds lunch and learn seminars called Senior Survival. They serve as middleman and get other sponsors and put on a nice presentation. He thought the Center venue would be ideal. He thought it would be good to gather various sub -specialties, everyone is allowed a five-minute presentation and he commented the presentations answer many questions. Mr. Brevda could provide the contact information to Mr. Rolle. Mr. Brevda suggested holding a function under the umbrella of Surviving your Senior Years, with a Certified Public Accountant, another is an elder law attorney to deal with financial literacy, Mr. Brevda could speak about elder abuse, another could speak about long-term care to discuss assisted living facilities and independent living. He thought there would be people interested in those topics. Mr. Rolle could handle this and would work with Mr. Brevda. Mr. Role explained staff was trying to obtain more sponsors, but was short staff. Ms. Blackman thought the City does well with sponsors. B. Wasted use of space and rooms for games Chair Harris asked if the Center was utilizing the room spaces. She sought to avoid splitting activities up. Mr. Rolle explained every room in the Center has to be a multi- purpose room. This morning 40 or more people attended for the chair exercise class, and they could not put it in another room. He explained Bridge and Canasta, were isolated more so they can have a quiet environment. The pool room and cafeteria have specific functions, but the cafeteria can be used for bingo and karaoke. Staff repurposes Center rooms as best as they can and they need to be flexible for situations when the air conditioner went down. Activities were moved. Chair Harris explained this has been evaluated and studied. 4 Meeting Minutes Senior Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida January 9, 2017 Mr. Brevda had not been to the Center in the past, but numerous clients told him about it. He thought it was nice. Chair Harris summarized the Center hoped for more and better sponsors and anyone with new ideas should bring them to Mr. Rolle or Ms. Blackman. VII. Amy Blackman — to discuss the inquires and also Q & A Chair Harris opened the floor to questions for Ms. Blackman. Ms. Blackman explained Mr. Rolle is working on Boynton Beach being designated an Age -Friendly City through AARP. It is a combination of efforts from numerous departments and it is a work in progress. She thought it was a great idea and pointed out it was being implemented in Cutler Bay. Mr. Rolle had spoken with the Cutler Bay Center and learned it was a very detailed effort. Vice Chair liams had asked why, when she signed up on the Board, she did not get an appointment letter, but two or three other members did. Mr. Rolle explained the terms are staggered so the Board members will not be replaced all at once. When Vice Chair liam was appointed to the Board, she was appointed to fill someone else's position. Her appointment did not start the clock on a new term, if it was for the remainder of the vacated position. Vice Chair liams asked Ms. Blackman what half days the Center would be open. Ms. Blackman advised they will publish they would be Presidents Day, Veterans Day, MLK, and Columbus Day. It would not be Thanksgiving or the day after, Christmas, or the 4th of July. Ms. Blackman noted there was some pushback regarding Veterans Day, but commented veterans should be free to celebrate however they want. If they want to come to the Center and shoot pool with their other veteran friends, they should be able. Others said the Center should not be open because there is no food service. Ms. Blackman explained the Center is not an extension of the Mae Volen Center. The Senior Center is a City facility. Opening those days will show them the Center is a totally different entity. What is good for Center patrons may not be the same as for Mae Volen. A suggestion was also made to plan something veteran related. Ms. Blackman explained the Senior Center will get another employee and interviews are being scheduled. The new position would be a 20 -hour a week position. Vice Chair liams asked about healthier food coming into the Center and learned staff hit a brick wall trying to obtain fruits and better options. Staff will purchase them out of the Center's budget and noted currently all food is donated. The Center now offers unsweetened tea in addition to sweet tea in containers as snacks. Ms. Blackman commented it was taken off the shopping list. Ms. Bionta recalled a discussion about using a vending machine. The products were protein bars and not compatible for all to consume. Additionally there were concerns regarding the prices they would charge and the breakdown of the machine. Ms. Blackman discussed this at length with vendors as well as products and pricing and thought the Center could do better on their own. 5 Meeting Minutes Senior Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida January 9, 2017 VIII. Next Meeting: Monday, April 3, 2017 Chair Harris announced the next meeting and discussion turned to the Center's air conditioning. Ms. Blackman commented the building has a few different commercial air conditioning units which do not work like residential air conditioning units. Residential units can be adjusted; however, Mr. Rolle is not allowed to adjust the temperature. It is a Facilities issue. The last time someone adjusted the temperature, the air conditioner broke. Staff will speak with Facilities and had considered preemptively requesting adjustments for pending cold fronts, but by the time adjustment are made, the weather changes. The thermostat is set at 72 which is standard for a government building. It is an appropriate setting for when people fill the room. IX. Adjournment Motion Chair Harris moved to adjourn. Vice Chair liams seconded the motion that unanimously passed. The meeting was adjourned at 3:10 p.m. LU Catherine Cherry Minutes Specialist FP