HUMAN SERVICES

July 7, 2010

 

** NOT APPROVED **

Committee Members Attending:

Douglas Burdick, Donald Cady, Kevin  LaForge, and Fred Sinclair.

 

Committee Members Absent:

Daniel Russo

 

Also Attending:

Dwight Fanton, Kim Toot, Lori Ballengee, Pat Schmelzer, Deb Button, Brenda Riehle, Mitch Alger, Ellen Ruckle, Mike Healy,  and Terri Ross.

 

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 10:02am by Chairman Douglas Burdick.

 

Approval of Minutes

The minutes from the June 2, 2010 meeting were approved with a motion from Kevin LaForge and  seconded by Fred Sinclair.  Motion carried.

 

Office for the Aging

 

Kim Toot, Director of the Office for the Aging expressed her satisfaction in being moved to their new facility located at 6085 Route 19 North in Belmont from the Court St. location.  She indicated the move went smoothly and computers were up and running.  They have limited telephone lines at this time.  Currently they have only 6 telephone lines working but work is being done to complete the installation of all telephone lines in their new facility.  The new front doors are being installed today.  Kim Toot expressed her gratitude to Public Works and Information Technology for making the move so smooth and efficient.   Customers were able to walk in the new Office for the Aging building on Tuesday July 6th and conduct business with office employees in a spacious and confidential setting.   Social Services are in the process of moving 3 employees who specialize in homecare for seniors to this site as well.  This will create a collaboration and expansion of services for seniors.  The building which formerly housed Office for the Aging will be demolished on July 17, 2010.  Public Works needs to obtain a permit before beginning demolition. This site will become an access for the back of the County Office Building.  Kim Toot reported an Open House for their new facility will be held sometime in August.

 

Kim Toot asked the committee to fill the position of Substitute Meals -on- Wheels Driver.  Currently Office for the Aging does not have anyone in this position.  This person would only work when another driver was on vacation or unavailable to drive.  The hourly rate of pay for this position is $7.50 an hour.  A motion was made by Fred Sinclair and seconded by Kevin LaForge to fill the position of Substitute Meals -on- Wheels Driver.   Motion Carried.  This motion will be referred to Ways and Means.

 

Kim provided the committee members with the monthly report for May for the Office for the Aging and noted 52,531 meals were served. 

 

Kim reminded everyone about the upcoming Senior Picnic to be held on July 29, 2010 (rain date July 30) at the County Fairgrounds in Angelica from 11:00am until 3:00pm. 

The cost is $7.00 and reservations may be made by calling the Office for the Aging at 585-268-9390 by July 23rd.  Kim noted they still need volunteers to carry out lunches to picnic guests.  Sponsors rent a table for $200.00.  This money is used to offset the cost of the tent rentals. 

 

Social Services

 

Pat Schmelzer, Commissioner of Social Services reviewed the monthly report for the month of May with the Committee Members.   She noted an increase in the size of the caseloads from April to May. 

 

Pat reported her department is working on the local budget.

 

 The flexible fund allocation was reduced by $15,000.00.  New York State wants to take over Medicaid Administration. The state needs to come up with a five-year plan.   This could possibly make some of the positions currently held in the Social Services department state positions.  Medicaid weekly shares haven’t changed. 

 

There is a steady increase in Family Health Plus. 

 

PACE ( Program of all inclusive care for the elderly also known as Total Senior Care is expanding into certain townships in Allegany County and one of the Social Services staff will be involved in this project. 

 

Public assistant grants have been increased as of July 1, 2010.

 

Health Department

 

Lori Ballengee, Director of the Health Department gave an overview of the Corporate Compliance Plan to the Committee members.  Lori indicated a resolution needs to be made by the legislators to adopt the corporate compliance plan for the county.  Lori reported the Health Department and Mental Health are the only two agencies who bill Medicaid.  The Corporate Compliance Plan is in essence a whistle-blower policy against retaliation.  Don Cady asked if Lori would email the legislators copies of the Corporate Compliance Plan for their reference again.  Lori indicated the Health Department staff has had Corporate Compliance Training.  Don Cady made a motion to adopt the Corporate Compliance Plan for the County.  This motion was seconded by Kevin LaForge.  Motion carried.  This motion will be referred to the full board for approval. 

 

Old Business

 

Fred Sinclair discussed the recommendation by Altreya to hire a Public Health Educator.  Fred mentioned several situations regarding medications, vaccinations, gardisil for females and now males in which the public should be given education regarding these and other topics.  Fred indicated he felt the position of Public Health Educator should be filled.  This position was approved and has been vacant for three years.  The public health educator position has been budgeted.  Lori reported she would like to implement a new Wellness program but cannot do so until the public health educator position is filled.  The public health educator would do press releases, health fairs, and provide public awareness on current programs and information.  Fred Sinclair would like to move towards filling the public health educator position  and this was seconded by Kevin LaForge.  Three committee members voted to move forward towards filling the position and one voted against it.  Lori Ballengee will provide more information at the next Human Services Committee meeting for further discussion on this issue.

 

 

New Business

 

There was no new business brought before this committee.

 

There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 10:50am. 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Janet Norris