HUMAN SERVICES

May 20, 2009

 

** NOT APPROVED **


Committee Members Present

R. Truax, B. Reynolds, D. Burdick, W. Dibble

 

Others Present

C. Crandall, J. Margeson, T. Hull, P. Schmelzer, K. Toot, T. Hopkins, D. Fanton

 

Minutes

The minutes of April 22, 2009 were approved with motions from Legislators Dibble and Reynolds.  Motions carried.

 

Office for the Aging

This Office requests a RESOLUTION for a transfer from A6787.101 to A6787.806 totaling $3000.00 to cover unbudgeted 2009 health insurance premiums.  Legislator Reynolds moved to approve the transfer, with Legislator Burdick seconding.  Motions carried.

 

The department’s monthly report was presented and approved with motions from Legislators Reynolds and Dibble.  Motions carried.

 

A summary of responses to the Office for the Aging’s public hearing questions on April 17, 2009 was presented.  One hundred thirty eight surveys were returned with responses to questions such as; if the county has to cut funding to specific programs, where should they cut; which programs would you identify as essential for the county to provide; etc.

 

 The Office for the Aging would like to institute a program where the agency would look at senior’s vehicles to check mirrors and general condition of their vehicles; check response time of individuals, etc.  So many times seniors are told they can’t drive anymore, but are not told why, or do not understand why.   

 

The Chairman of the Board would like to appoint William Emrick as a member of the Citizen Advisory Council to the Office for the Aging for a three year term commencing immediately and expiring December 31, 2011.   Legislators Reynolds and Dibble moved to prepare a RESOLUTION for this appointment.  Motions carried.

 

Social Services

The Department’s monthly report was presented for committee information.

 

Due to a resignation, Commissioner Schmelzer requested approval to fill a Social Welfare Examiner position and any vacancies that may occur by filling this position.  The position is responsible for approximately 375 Medicaid, Food Stamp and Public Assistance cases and is funded 75% State and Federal monies, and 25% local.   Legislator Reynolds moved to fill the position, with Legislator Dibble seconding.  Motions carried.  WAYS AND MEANS

 

New York State Office of Children and Family Services has made funding available for Family Assessment Response workers.  Permission to create and fill a Caseworker position and any vacancies that may occur by filling the position was requested.    Legislator Dibble moved to approve the creation and filling of the position, stipulating when funding is no longer provided the position is also gone.  Legislator Reynolds seconded this motion.  The motions carried.    A RESOLUTION is needed to create the position; and the requested to fill needs to be presented to WAYS AND MEANS for approval.

 

Health Department

Thomas Hull stated that the Health Department is in support of a resolution endorsing the position of Cattaraugus County for the site wide removal alternative in revised draft environmental impact statement for decommissioning at West Valley Demonstration Project and Western New York Nuclear Service Center.   Allegany County agrees with Cattaraugus County that the proposed decommissioning plan of 64 years is absurd and that a ten year plan need to be properly funded by the state and federal government to provide a reasonable timeframe to address the concerns.  Legislators Reynolds and Dibble moved to support the RESOLUTION.  Motions carried. 

 

Adjournment

There being no further business to come before this committee, the meeting was adjourned at 3:30 pm.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Teresa Claypool