Human
Services Committee
Others Present: Richard VanDonsel, Marilyn Brown, Dennis Whitt, Susan Morgan, Carol Deloff, Kristen Monroe, Judy Davidson, Robin Sandwick, Manny Lann & Corey Preston.
Meeting was called to order by Sandy Price, Chairman at 8:45 AM
The minutes of meeting of May 10, 2007 were unanimously approved.
Suggested Legislative Review
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Agenda Nos. 6 & 7 in bold
RESOLUTIONS:
On motion of
Mr. McKee, second by Mr. Armstrong Agenda No. 1: Accept Bids/Authorize
Purchase/Nutrition Miscellaneous Groceries
and Frozen Food was unanimously approved.
DISCUSSION:
None
On motion of
Ms. Tytler, second by Ms. Breed Agenda No. 2: Accept Bids/Authorize
Purchase/Nutrition Paper Goods and
Maintenance Supplies was unanimously approved.
DISCUSSION:
None
On motion of
Mr. Armstrong, second by Ms Breed Agenda No. 3: Accept Bids/Authorize Purchase Area/Nutrition Milk
and Dairy Products was unanimously
approved.
DISCUSSION:
None
On motion of
Mr. McKee, second by Mr. Armstrong: Agenda No. 4: Amend Budget (AAA Transportation) was unanimously approved.
DISCUSSION:
Ms. Deloff said this is new money that they are putting into the
transportation line item to provide transportation to group activities. It is
geared towards senior who have no other access.
On motion of
Mr. Armstrong, second by Mr. McKee Agenda No. 5: Amend Budget (Title VII Ombudsman) was unanimously approved.
DISCUSSION:
Ms. Deloff said this is also new money to provide for the Ombudsman manager
software program. They also raised the maintenance fee so basically it becomes
a wash.
On motion of
Mr. Spaulding, second by Mr. Armstrong Agenda No. 6: Create Aging Services
Specialist was unanimously approved.
DISCUSSION: Written background was provided to justify the resolution. Ms. Deloff
explained that this is for the New York Connect: Choices for Long Term Care
(Point of Entry). DSS and our office are the lead agencies. We contracted out
to Fingerlakes Health System Agency and they are assisting us in developing
policies and procedures. In
September we will be advertising point of entry for consumers and we will be
looking for someone to do the related tasks. The money is provided by the
State in their 2007-08 budget and we will be starting phase 1. Mr. McKee asked
if it is a part time position. Ms. Deloff replied that it is full time that
goes to December then hopefully be included in 2008 budget.
On motion of Mr. Spaulding, second by Mr. Troy Agenda No. 7: Create
Temporary Caseworkers (2) was unanimously approved.
DISCUSSION:
Written background was provided to justify the resolution. Ms. Monroe said 3
maternity leaves, another medical leave and a vacancy in the department
prompted this request. The concern is maintaining the caseloads. Ms. Tytler
asked how difficult will it be to fill those positions. Ms. Monroe said that
the list has a number of college graduates available and it will give us a
good chance to look at their work to fill future vacancies. Mr. McKee asked
how this will affect our budget. Ms. Monroe said the cost is $29,200. She has
$22,000 in revenue and due to other vacant lines there is money so will not
require additional dollars.
An additional item was agreed to be considered on the agenda for Social
Services. On the motion of
Mr. Troy, second by Mr. Spaulding - new agenda item: Amend Budget, Department
of Social Services was unanimously approved.
DISCUSSION: Ms. Monroe explained that we have funded contracts with the YWCA for
non-residential services as well as for residential services. This is federal
money coming through the state and is extra money. Our current contract is for
$42,000. The residential contract is $64,000 for the shelter. This allocation
is difficult to administer as it can only be spent through September 30th.
The State budget cycle is April but we anticipate another allocation
retroactive to October. It is a risk and we are in new territory with the
YWCA. She said she is proposing to spend that amount of money doing some new
enhanced services to go in the field with child protective workers to get
people out of the shelter quicker. This proposes to amend our current contract
by $7,000. increasing staff time. This is a pilot program and we will look at
it to see if we want to build it into our 2008 budget.
On motion of Mr. Troy, second by Mr. McKee Agenda No. 8: Accept Grant/Amend Budget (Cortland Community Service Club) was unanimously approved.
DISCUSSION: Mr. Lann
said that part of the United Tennis Association Grant was to include 50 kids
into the association at a cost of $18 per youth. That is not affordable for
many of our kids so he wrote to the service club to see if they would pay for
scholarships for membership.
On motion of Mr. Troy, second by Mr. Spaulding Agenda No. 9: Accept Grant/Amend Budget (Cayuga County United Way Donation) was unanimously approved.
DISCUSSION: Mr. Lann said that someone (anonymous) who participates in our program donates this money to the Youth Bureau Summer Program.
Annual
Reports questions Aging and Social Services: Regarding the DSS Annual Report,
Ms. Tytler said she is unable to determine the accomplishments without knowing
the goals set the previous year. Some
items are difficult to discern as to what is routine business. She wanted to
make sure that the Commissioner request support from the County with basic
training assistance described in her report.
Ms.
Sandwick spoke of the partnership between the child support unit and the
career center. She said they have procedures to help DSS get non-custodial
parents to support their children. They are referred to the career center for
employment plans. This is a pilot program where individuals are referred by
judges to pay child support. She distributed the forms used for the process.
Ms. Monroe said they are starting with a limited pool of people receiving
temporary assistance who are in violation. Her new attorney was involved in
child support in Herkimer County and has been instrumental in moving this
forward. This will flush out the number of under-the-counter people who are
not paying as they will be accountable to a plan.
Mr.
Lann reported they are starting the allocation process for 2008 and the summer
program will begin on July 9th
Ms. Monroe said that the security system to upgrade our door system if ready for the go ahead. Simplex Grinell has designed a system to meet our needs. She met with Mr. Schrader and Mr. Corpora to insure that it could be expanded to other areas. It is a key pad system with pin number and cost $13,550, which is under budget. It should be competed in 3 weeks.
Ms.
Davison reported that the $75,000 Disability Program Navigator Grant (DPN) is
ending in June and we have been notified that it will be renewed. She will
report back to the committee with the contracts and how funds will be spent at
the next meeting. She explained that money supports 2 staff members: one at
the Cortland Career Center and one in Auburn. It supports the JM Murray Center
and Unity House in Auburn to help disabled individuals navigate services and
programs to be become trained and/or employed.
Ms. Sandwick said that 160 kids have signed up for summer program and will be starting the after July 4th. We have our staff in place. Ms. Tytler asked how many positions do we have to offer. Ms. Sandwick said there are 90-100 in the TANF funded and 25 in the WIA funded slots working 20-25 hours.
Ms. Tytler told of giving the awards out for the CTC (Communities that Care) Calendar. They are on sale for $5 and benefit the Youth Bureau.
Ms. Price told committee that Juanita Cook from the Veterans Office is retiring this month and there will be a party on June 29th in the afternoon.
Meeting adjourned at 8:20 AM