Minutes

Committee Present: Sandy Price, Chairperson; Carol Tytler, Vice Chairperson, Merwin Armstrong, Mike McKee, Don Spaulding, John Troy – Absent: Kay Breed

Others Present: Scott Schrader, Marilyn Brown, Angie Wyatt, Kristen Monroe, Carol Deloff, Ric VanDonsel, Manny Lann, Dennis Whitt, Carl Bullock, Corey Preston, Eric Mulvihill, Katelynn Price (Sandy Price’s granddaughter), Members of M.I.C.A.H (Moving in Congregations, Acting in Hope), Norma Rhodes and Mary Lee Martens

The meeting was called to order at 8:30am by Chairperson Sandy Price

MOTION BY MR. TROY – 2^ND BY MR. SPAULDING TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE JULY 12, 2007 MEETING – ALL PRESENT VOTING IN FAVOR – MINUTES APPROVED

Suggested Legislative Review:

E - Children’s Health Care

Medicaid/Sales Tax Intercept

Stewart Place Resolution

RESOLUTIONS:

Area Agency on Aging

Amend Budget (Community Services for the Elderly Program - Services) – MOTION BY MR. MCKEE – 2^ND BY MR. TROY – ALL PRESENT VOTING IN FAVOR – MOTION PASSES

Discussion: Office of the Aging Director, Carol Deloff explained that this is a cost of living increase. This is the portable handicap ramp program. CHAC (Cortland Housing Assistance Council) do the assessments of the ramps. There are 2 people on the waiting list.

Amend Budget (Expanded In-Home Services for the Elderly Program - EISEP) – MOTION BY MR. SPAULDING – 2^ND BY MR. TROY – ALL PRESENT VOTING IN FAVOR – MOTION PASSES

Discussion: Ms. Deloff indicated that this is new money in the amount of $10,000. Of this money $5,000 of will be used for the administration of EISEP and the other $5,000 will be used for services. This program provides for personal care needs for the elderly and helps to keep people at home rather than to be institutionalized.

Employment & Training – No Resolutions

Social Services – No Resolutions

Youth Bureau – No Resolutions

Veterans – No Resolutions

DISCUSSION/ PRESENTATIONS:

Children’s Health Care – Norma Rhodes and Mary Lee Martens spoke about the MICAH Program. After talking one-on-one to over 230 families, children’s health care and youth employment and recreation were MICAH’s top priorities. 20% of the children in this county do not have health insurance. Their goal in the next 2 years is that all children have health insurance. Some of the obstacles they encounter is that the enrollment process is cumbersome. Both the mother and father have to be on application for the child. If a single mom doesn’t want anything to do with the father of the child she will not enroll her child. If taxes were not filed they would not eligible for the program. There are 10 partner churches and 4 more coming on board. Ms. Price asked everyone present to comment on this program. Everyone present were all basically in agreement that is a great program and that they support it. A Public Information meeting is planned for October 28, 2007. The location will be announced at a later date. This will again be discussed at next month’s Human Services meeting. A fact sheet of M.I.C.A.H. will be available in the Legislators’ mailboxes.

Update JD/PINS matters- County Attorney-POSTPONED

Medicaid/Sales Tax Intercept – County Administrator, Scott Schrader explained that Medicaid increases 3% every year. Counties can opt to pay Medicaid by a sales tax intercept. If the County goes with this program, it would impact all municipalities. Mr. Schrader anticipates that sales tax will increase more than the 3% increase for Medicaid. The only risk would be if sales tax did not increase as fast as the 3% Medicaid increase. With the Super Wal-Mart and Lowes coming to the County Mr. Schrader does not believe that there will be a risk. Once the County goes with the sales tax intercept, you have to use this paying method forever. It is not in the best interest of the County to use the sales tax intercept payment method. MOTION NOT TO USE THE SALES TAX INTERCEPT METHOD OF PAYING THE 3% INCREASE FOR MEDICAID MADE BY MR. ARMSTRONG – 2^ND BY MR. SPAULDING – ALL PRESENT VOTING IN FAVOR – MOTION PASSES

Medicaid/ Temp. Asst. Liens – DSS Commissioner, Kristen Monroe provided a written summary of the department’s Bond and Mortgage Liens and a list of properties with liens. Ms. Monroe explained that the current policy has existed for 20 years. The policy is not to foreclose on properties but to enforce the liens at the time of the property transfer. Ms. Monroe commented that she does not recommend changing the policy. Ms. Price suggested that they leave the policy as it is.

Stewart Place Resolution – A resolution authorizing Legislative Chairman Brown to execute a Satisfaction of Mortgage for a property at 17 Stewart Place in the City of Cortland. Chairman Brown indicated that the resolution was pulled at the July Legislative session. Chairman Brown wonders how this issue is to where it is now. Chairman Brown inquired who gutted the inside of the house. Chairman Brown indicated that she would like fact-finding completed. Chairman Brown indicated that more documents will be distributed to all Legislators. A letter from Kathie Wilcox was distributed indicating that it is not in the County’s best interest to execute a Satisfaction of Mortgage. Chairman Brown indicated that Sandy Aloi has already made a purchase offer on the property, even though DSS still has a mortgage lien on it. Mr. Schrader advised the Committee that he was contacted by Mr. VanDee and asked him if he could expedite the Satisfaction of Mortgage. Mr. Troy said that he doesn’t think Mr. VanDee did anything wrong and it looks like he was linked to this.

Area Agency on Aging

Senior Centers/Staffing – Ms. Deloff indicated that there are Center Managers vacancies in Truxton and Scott.
They are having a picnic for the seniors on Friday but because of the weather predictions, they are going to split the 165 seniors that had sign up.

Social Services

Caseload Statistics-POSTPONED

The meeting was adjourned at 9:34a.m.

Minutes taken and prepared by Angie Wyatt, Secretary to the County Administrator

BACK