Human Services Committee
November 23, 2005 - 7:30 am
DRAFT MINUTES
Members: Marilyn Brown, Chairperson; Dr. Paul DiGiovanni, Dan Tagliente, Ron VanDee, Tom Williams
Others Present: Scott Steve, Chairman of the Legislature; Scott Schrader, County Administrator; Katrina Spicer, John Troy, Carol Deloff, Kristen Monroe
Absent: Newel Willcox, Vice Chairman; Kurt Behrenfeld,
Mrs. Brown called the meeting to order at 7:32.
Dr. DiGiovanni made the motion to adoption of the minutes of the November 2, 2005 meeting and seconded by Mr. Williams.
All
members voting in favor, minutes approved as corrected.
RESOLUTIONS:
Area Agency on Aging
1.
Accept Bids/Authorize Purchase, Area Agency on Aging, Nutrition,
Miscellaneous Groceries and Frozen Foods – Dr. DiGiovanni moved
adoption; second by Mr. VanDee. Ms.
Deloff explained that accepting bids/authorizing purchases for miscellaneous
groceries and frozen foods is done quarterly.
All members voting in favor; none
opposed; resolution adopted.
2.
Accept Bids/Authorize Purchase, Area Agency on Aging, Nutrition, Paper Goods
and Maintenance Supplies – Mr. VanDee moved
adoption; second by Dr. DiGiovanni. Ms.
Deloff explained that accepting bids/authorizing purchases for paper goods and
maintenance supplies is done every six months.
All members voting in favor; none
opposed; resolution adopted.
Social Services
3.
Authorize Agreements, Department of Social Services (Day Care Services) –
Mr. VanDee moved adoption; second by
Dr. DiGiovanni. Ms. Monroe
discussed that this resolution allows Department of Social Services to enter
into agreements with Day Care Centers at a rate that pays up to the State rate. All
members voting in favor; none opposed; resolution adopted.
4.
Authorize Agreements, Department of Social Services (Foster Care) –
Dr. DiGiovanni moved adoption; second by Mr. Tagliente.
Ms. Monroe explained that this will allow Department of Social
Services to enter in agreements for Foster Care Services.
Ms. Monroe stated that the department has 15 to 20 contracts at a time.
She added that this will allow children that are currently placed to
continue with their placement. All
members voting in favor; none opposed; resolution adopted.
5.
Authorize Agreements, Department of Social Services (Several Agencies,
Departments, Etc.) – Dr.
DiGiovanni moved adoption; second by Mr. VanDee.
Ms. Monroe explained to the committee that the funding amount required by
this resolution is driven by client need. She
added that many do not require monetary funding.
She discussed some specifics regarding this resolution.
All members voting in favor; none
opposed; resolution adopted.
6.
Authorize Agreements, Department of Social Services (Work Experience Work Sites)
– Dr. DiGiovanni moved adoption; second by Mr. Tagliente.
Ms. Monroe stated that this is similar to item Agenda No. 5 and these
agencies were not included in that. She
added that there is no money involved in this resolution.
The program places people currently on public assistance. Mr. VanDee asked if the SPCA has anyone placed at their
facility. Ms. Monroe explained that
the SPCA has not pursued an agreement. Ms.
Monroe stated that 30 people a month are involved. Ms. Brown questioned Ms. Monroe to the effectiveness of the
program. Ms. Monroe stated that the
program is effective and added that two people who were placed at the Recycling
Center were hired. Ms. Deloff added
that Nutrition sites have people placed and in the past some were hired.
Ms. Deloff stated that she has given references to individuals placed
within here department. All
members voting in favor; none opposed; resolution adopted.
DISCUSSIONS/PRESENTATIONS:
Ms. Monroe provided the committee with statistics regarding the See America Program, which provides individuals with one-way tickets in lieu of assistance.
From: Monroe,
Kristen (DFA3)
Sent: Wednesday,
November 02, 2005 8:04 AM
To:
'Daniel Tagliente'; 'Dr. DiGiovanni'; 'Kurt Behrenfeld';
'Marilyn Brown'; 'Newell Willcox'; 'Ron VanDee'; 'Scott Schrader'; 'Scott
Steve'; 'Tom Williams'
Subject: See America numbers
There were 3 people issued bus tickets in lieu of assistance in September. There have been a total of 29 issued to date in 2005.
Kristen Monroe
Commissioner
Cortland County Department of Social
Services
(607)753-5305
This e-mail, including any attachments, may be confidential, privileged or otherwise legally protected. It is intended only for the addressee. If you received this e-mail in error or from someone who was not authorized to send it to you, do not disseminate, copy or otherwise use this e-mail or its attachments. Please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail and delete the e-mail from your system.
Ms. Monroe additionally provided the committee with information regarding the Average Cost Per Caseload. Committee members had requested this information at the November 2, 2005, meeting. She further discussed this information.
1. Medicare Part D – Area Agency of Aging, Carol Deloff - Ms. Deloff stated that the Area Agency of Aging Office currently has scheduled 233 appointments beginning last week and continuing through January 2006 regarding Medicare Prescription Drug Plans. She added that Aging Agency is overwhelmed with these appointments. The appointments are a lengthy and involved. Ms. Deloff’s staff is targeting those individuals who have been assigned programs to ensure that they are in the best program for them. Ms. Deloff distributed The Facts About Medicare Prescription Drug Plans. Ms. Deloff further discussed Medicare Part D.
2.
2006 Contract – Area Agency of Aging, Carol Deloff
- Ms. Deloff asked what she is to do about contracts that run out
January 1, 2006. The committee
discussed that the process should not change.
Mr. Schrader stated that currently there is no approved Budget for 2006
and the County Attorney, who needs to review contracts, has not been appointed.
The committee continued discussion relating to contracts that run out the
first of the year and how to handle these situations.
The historical process as it relates to the renewal of contracts running
on a calendar year was discussed. Mr.
VanDee recommended a meeting to cover this issue the first part of January.
Mr. Williams questioned why the committee just passed resolutions for
Social Services that are the same situations.
Mr. Schrader stated that a prior Legislature cannot bind a new
Legislature. Discussion surrounded around the committee doing their part
by passing the resolution and allowing the new County Attorney review the
contract. Mr. Schrader addressed
his concerns as they relate to the passing of resolutions for contracts in 2006
without an approved budget and a County Attorney.
Concerns were raised as to why the committee looked at items on today’s
agenda. Ms. Brown questioned Ms.
Deloff as to how many contracts are involved for Area Agency of Aging. Ms. Deloff stated that eleven contracts are involved.
She further discussed in more detail these contracts.
The committee discussed the process in which a contract is approved.
Chairman Steve recommended that a resolution is passed which allows for
continuation of payments of current contracts for another month.
Discussion further involved the idea of writing the contracts to include
a statement regarding this continued payment for one month.
The committee discussed the first priority of the new County Attorney
should be review of contracts. Mr.
Williams made a motion to approve a resolution that Ms. Deloff will draft,
seconded by Mr. Tagliente. All members voting
in favor; none opposed; resolution adopted.
Dr. DiGiovanni discussed
resolutions that were passed during the last Budget and Finance Committee
meeting regarding contract for 2006. Mr.
Schrader explained the differences with these resolutions.
Laws regarding the approval of contracts were discussed.
The committee discussed the idea of the law not intending to stifle the
County Legislature. Conflicting
laws and the possibilities of creating a new law were discussed.
The fact that resolutions can be approved and amended by the new
legislature and the fact that the new County Attorney can pull contracts if he
does not approve them was discussed. Discussion
of a blanket resolution being presented to the Budget and Finance Committee
concerning the extension of contracts to February 1, 2006 and payment continued
for one month for all contracts with the approval of the County Administrator
was discussed.
The meeting adjourned at 8:11 a.m.