DRAFT MINUTES

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

Others Present: Legislative Chairman, Marilyn Brown; Angie Wyatt, Secretary to County Administrator; Kristen Monroe, DSS Commissioner; Carol Deloff, Office of the Aging Director; Judy Davison, Director of E & T Grant Administration; Robin Sandwick, Director of Employment & Training; Manny Lann, Youth Bureau Director; Ric Van Donsel, County Attorney; Evan Geibel, Cortland Standard; Eric Mulvihill, WXHC News Director

The meeting was called to order at 8:35a.m. by Chairperson Sandy Price

MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 11, 2007 MADE BY MR. ARMSTRONG - 2^ND BY MR. SPAULDING – ALL PRESENT VOTING IN FAVOR – MINUTES APPROVED

RESOLUTIONS:

Area Agency on Aging

1. Authorize Agreements Area Agency on Aging (Several Agencies, Departments, Etc.) – MOTION MADE BY MR. SPAULDING – 2^ND BY MS. TYTLER – ALL PRESENT VOTING IN FAVOR – MOTION PASSES

Discussion: None

Employment & Training

Authorize Execution of Agreement between New York State Department of Labor and Cortland County - MOTION MADE BY MR. SPAULDING - 2ND BY MR. ARMSTRONG - ALL PRESENT VOTING IN FAVOR - MOTION PASSES

Discussion: Ms. Davison explained that they sent a check in the amount of $3,021.15 to the State in May regarding the cost allocation plan and the State cannot cash the check without a contract.

Social Services

Authorize Agreements (Day Care Services) – MOTION MADE BY MR. SPAULDING – 2^ND BY JOHN TROY – ALL PRESENT VOTING IN FAVOR – MOTION PASSES

Discussion: None

Authorize Agreements (Foster Care) – MOTION MADE BY MR. TROY – 2^ND BY MR. SPAULDING – ALL PRESENT VOTING IN FAVOR – MOTION PASSES

Discussion: Ms. Tytler is happy that the amount that foster parents get paid was increased but she feels that they still are not being paid enough. Ms. Tytler would like to see more money provided for enrichment activities for families. Mr. McKee asked if outcome was determined. Ms. Monroe indicated that determining outcome is difficult. Chairman Brown added that enrichment activities would also benefit low-income children who are not in foster care. Ms. Monroe said that one of the best ways to measure success is by talking to the foster parent(s). Mr. Spaulding and Mr. Armstrong shared their own experiences of being foster parents and both indicated that the money was not the reason for being foster parents. Mr. Armstrong further added that dealing with Cortland County was the easiest.

Authorize Agreements (Several Agencies, Departments, Etc.) – MOTION BY MR. SPAULDING – 2^ND BY MR. TROY – ALL PRESENT VOTING IN FAVOR – MOTION PASSES

Discussion: None

Authorize Agreements (Work Experience Work Sites) – MOTION BY MR. TROY – 2^ND BY MR. ARMSTRONG – ALL PRESENT VOTING IN FAVOR – MOTION PASSES

Discussion: None

Youth Bureau

7. Accept Grant/Amend Budget/Authorize Agreement Youth Bureau (A Partnership for Youth- WIA Grant Award) – MOTION BY MR. ARMSTRONG – 2^ND BY MR. TROY – NO VOTE………

MOTION BY MR. TROY – 2^ND BY MR. ARMSTRONG – TO ALLOW ONLY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE LEGISLATURE TO SIGN STATE CONTRACTS ELECTRONICALLY – ALL PRESENT VOTING IN FAVOR – MOTION PASSES

Discussion: Mr. Lann, Youth Bureau Director requested that Mr. Schrader be permitted to electronically sign state contracts. Mr. VanDonsel advised the Committee that it wouldn’t be permissible. The Chairman of the Legislature is the only one authorized to sign anything on behalf of the County.

DISCUSSION/ PRESENTATIONS:

Departmental Reports

Aging

Transportation – Ms. Deloff advised the Committee that the Office of the Aging received additional funding in the amount of $10,000. Part of the money was used to purchase bus tokens for the seniors. 700 bus tokens have been given out. The seniors can receive $10.00 a month worth of tokens. The tokens can also be used for “dial-a-ride”.
Building – Ms. Tytler met with a great cross section of people regarding moving Office of the Aging to the Building on South Main Street. Ms. Tytler and Ms. Price are working with a Focus Group to explore the possibilities. Parking is the biggest issue.
Needs Assessment – Ms. Deloff informed the Committee that the Office of the Aging conducted a needs assessment. 5000 surveys were sent out. The biggest issue that came up was senior housing
Medicare – Ms. Deloff advised the Committee that opening day of Medicare Part D is soon approaching and they already have 100 appointments set.

Employment & Training

E & T Lease - The NYS Department of Labor will no longer be leasing the property at 99 Main Street for Employment & Training One Stop Career Center. The County will be leasing the property as of December 1, 2007. Mr. Schrader is working with the owner’s attorney to get the lease completed.

Social Services

DSS Caseload Statistics – Ms. Monroe provided a detailed summary of the caseload statistics. She indicated that the Temporary Assistance went down and Managed Care went up.

Ms. Monroe advised the Committee that State Review Report of the Child Protective Services came out and there is a great deal of improvement.

The Department of Social Services owns a house on Ellwood Avenue in the City and would like to sell it online through Haroff Realty Auction. It could be completed by November 29, 2007. Ms. Monroe needs the authority from this Committee to move forward with this. Ms. Monroe further indicated that they won’t have to pay Haroff a fee because Haroff tacks on a 10% Buyer’s fee. Ms. Tytler indicated that Ellwood Avenue is in her district and that the property has been vacant for some time and that the neighbors will be very happy to see the property sold. COMMITTEE MOTION MADE BY MR. TROY TO SELL THE PROPERTY ON ELLWOOD AVENUE THROUGH HAROFF REALTY AUCTION – 2^ND BY MR. ARMSTRONG – ALL PRESENT VOTING IN FAVOR – MOTION PASSES.

Ms. Tytler informed the Committee that she had been approached by the YWCA regarding funding for them. Mr. Schrader took the funding out of the budget because unsecured grant funds are not in the budget. That is no reflection on the YWCA – it is a County policy. Ms. Monroe inquired why they couldn’t get funding directly from the state. Ms. Price would like a meeting set up with members of the YWCA.

Youth Bureau

Mr. Lann advised the Committee that they will be receiving a grant in the amount of $175,000 from the NYS Department of Health to service the population that is in need of support and advocacy.

The Coalition for Caring Community held their annual breakfast and recognized a student from Marathon.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:16a.m.

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