SENIOR ADVISORY COMMITTEE (SAC) MEETING Le Club de l'amitie, Immaculate Conception Church Hall, 24152 Winterline Rd, Pain Court Wednesday, January 6 th, 2015, 9:30 a.m. Centre Pres Primary Member Pres First Alternate CHATHAM-KENT MEMBER Pres Name Blenheim X Gaele Mifflin R Bobbi Jo Ferren Councilor X Karen Herman MEMBERS AT LARGE Bothwell R Walter Matt Leroy Carther R Joe Nagle Chatham R Sue Williams Chatham, St. Clair College X Tammy Gehl Merlin X George Darnley (P) Marg Darnley Chatham(Harwich) X Florence Kelley Susan Drew Morpeth R Bill Mardling George Prins District 33 Representative - Retired Teachers of Ontario ADMINISTRATION/GUESTS/RESOURCE ADVISORS X Carol Ann Belanger Pain Court X Francois Caron Paul Laprise Haslip General Manager, Health & Family Services X Lucy Brown Ridgetown X Helen Spence Wayne Balmer Director of Senior Services-Riverview Gardens X Tami Gillier Tilbury R Bunnie DeJong Millie Nussey Age Friendly Coordinator X Devin Andrews Wallaceburg X Cheryl Burrage X Cindy Mussio St. Andrew s Residence R Jessica Smith Ontario Senior Games X Don Hector Thamesville Frank Trainor R Joanne Kemp Public Health X Laurel Cammaart Wheatley R Linda Wigfield Alma Edsall Family Services Kent X Diane Lozon Minute Recorder X Irene Spisar
1 & 2. Call to Order/Introduction of Guests Chair George Darnley opened the meeting, welcoming all. A round table introduction of all participants in attendance was initiated. 3. Regrets Regrets noted from: Bunnie DeJong Bobbi Jo Ferren Joanne Kemp Jessica Smith Bill Mardling Walter Matt 4. Approval of the Agenda 5. Conflict of Interest Declaration 6. Approval of SAC Minutes of December 3 rd, 2014 Additions to the Agenda: Item 8.2 Transportation Grant Proposal Item 8.3 Voluntary Snow Removal Service for Senior Citizens and People with Disabilities Motion: Moved by Helen Spence, seconded by Carol Ann Belanger to approve the agenda as amended. Carried. None noted at this time. Motion: Moved by Francois Caron, seconded by Florence Kelley to approve minutes of Wednesday, December 3 rd, 2014 as circulated. Carried. 7. Business Arising from the Minutes Motion 8. New Business 8.1 Election for A brief discussion developed around the table regarding the Vice President election of a new Vice President for the Senior Advisory Committee. 2 SENIOR ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING, JANUARY 6, 2015
8.2 Transportation Grant Proposal As an outcome of the discussion the committee suggested that Sue Williams to be contacted to obtain information on whether she would like to remain on the committee as a representative of the Chatham Active Lifestyle Centre and her current role as the vice president of the Senior Advisory Committee. Diane Lozon, CHAP Manager, Family Service Kent delivered an information report on a new Transportation Grant Proposal stating that the Ontario Ministry of Transportation has designated $1,000,000 over the next two years (end of fiscal year in 2017) to improve community transportation services. Implementing effective rural transportation systems can increase accessibility to essential services, make personal travel easier, and increase the quality of life for residents in rural communities. CHAP Services, the Municipality and others have collaborated to produce a viable application. CHAP is the lead agency as they are the only not for profit organization with a transportation program in the Chatham Kent area. Representatives from CHAP have met with other community partners to discuss: What are the expectations outlined by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation What are the demands in the C-K Community Two primary needs were selected as most important: i. To provide transportation in rural areas to assist people to travel from their homes to the actual pick up points in the municipal public transportation system. ii. Expending wheelchair accessible drives to children, adolescents and other individuals that are not necessarily seniors. 3 SENIOR ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING, JANUARY 6, 2015
The plan is to utilize and expand already existing volunteer base and existing services to improve transportation in rural areas. Objectives outlined by the Ministry of transportation: Improve mobility options for individuals that do not have access to their own transportation. Improve mobility options for individuals with disabilities and seniors to make tasks such as grocery shopping, regular pharmacy visits, dentist appointments, visits with family and friends, attending activities and after hour events less difficult. *Under the LHIN mandate CHAP services are obligated to predominantly provide transportation to medical appointments for seniors and individuals with disabilities. To build capacity to better meet local transportation demands particularly where it s challenging or not feasible to provide conventional or specialized transportation services due to population size or density. To create a plan that leverages existing services and pool resources to provide more value to more individuals and more destinations. Diane mentioned that this project is considered time sensitive as there has been a slight delay in submission dates. The original date for the information to go out was scheduled for November 2014 but was not released until mid-december 2014. The SAC members were asked to draft a letter of support for CHAP s application for the grant to show that there is both a 4 SENIOR ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING, JANUARY 6, 2015
need and wide support in the community to have this proposal funded. A target date to complete the application is January 20 th, 2015 and CHAP would appreciate if the letters of support be submitted by that date. Devin offered to draft the letter and circulate the template among all senior centres via email. Signed copies will be returned back to Devin. Motion: Moved by Karen Herman, seconded by Francois Caron that Senior Advisory Committee is in support of the letter regarding the Transportation Grant issued by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation. Carried. Action Motion Devin is to draft a letter of support and circulate the template electronically among all senior centers. 8.3 Voluntary Snow Removal Service for Senior Citizens and People with Limited Mobility Snow Angels of Chatham-Kent To increase awareness of this program and further opportunities for volunteerism, Diane suggested to schedule informative presentations regarding the Transportation Grant Proposal in each of the senior centres and to have volunteers from all centres participate in this project. Don Hector shared updated information on snow removal services in Chatham. Tom Curtin has stepped forward to manage a voluntary snow removal service for senior citizens and people with limited mobility in Chatham. The program matches volunteer snow shovelers with registered clients in Chatham, which is the only area the program is being offered at this time. The Chatham Snow Angels are currently in search of additional members to join their team. Volunteers will be responsible for clearing snow from the sidewalk in front of a home and a walkway to the door within 24 hours of any snowfall exceeding 5 SENIOR ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING, JANUARY 6, 2015
Other Business 2 inches (or 5cm). Residents who need help clearing snow from their properties are encouraged to register for the service. Anyone interested to volunteer as a snow angel or to register for assistance from the program can contact Tom Curtin at 519-354- 9546 or e-mail cksnowangels@outlook.com. Copy with additional information has been circulated among all attendees with brief discussion developing afterwards. Trillium Grant Devin offered brief update on the Ontario Age Friendly Grant. Similar to the Transportation grant discussed earlier the Grant was released at the beginning of December and is due at the end of January. It is felt at this time that the Age Friendly Grant could provide funding to continue the SAC s Age Friendly project after the conclusion of the Trillium grant. Start date for the new grant would be July 1, 2015, and the end of the current project is June 30, 2015. This money can potentially be utilized as bridge funding that can extend the work and keep Devin employed with the Project beyond this year until a new Trillium grant of other funding source can be secured. The application is in progress. Devin is working on the outline of the grant but a discrepancy in the information released by the Ontario Senior Secretariat (who is offering the grant) makes it difficult to confirm what activities qualify for funding and what is ineligible. Once clarified, we could qualify for $50,000 in funding over a maximum two year period. What is clear is that the grant will not fund implementation of specific Age Friendly initiatives arising from the Action Plan but Motion 6 SENIOR ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING, JANUARY 6, 2015
can fund expenses related to establishing the means to implement the Action Plan as a whole such as founding a permanent Age Friendly Committee, spreading public awareness and engagement and promoting the Action Plan to the agencies and stakeholders who will implement the specific recommendations. Other options for funding during this time period are still being explored. A Letter of Support from the Municipality will be needed as well. Motion: Moved by Francois Carron, seconded by Helen Spence to approve that Devin Andrews has the authorization to forward the application regarding the Ontario Age Friendly grant on behalf of Senior Advisory Committee. Carried. Municipal Budget Open House Council and administration of Chatham Kent will be holding Community Open Houses to gather input from the public on the recommendations and any other budget matter. Times, dates and locations were shared on the C-K 2015 Municipal Budget Open House: Tuesday, January 27, 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm Dresden Arena, 1212 North Street, Dresden Wednesday, January 28, 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm St. Michael's Parish Hall, 26 George Street, Ridgetown Thursday, January 29, 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm Active Lifestyle Centre, 20 Merritt Avenue, Chatham 7 SENIOR ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING, JANUARY 6, 2015
Arrangement of the sessions is planned to be as follows: open house with one on one discussions with administration and Council from 4:30 to 5:00 brief presentation & question and answer period as a group from 5:00 to 6:00 Lucy Brown will confirm the renewal due date for Senior Games and SAC grant. 9. Round Table Each Centre presented a brief update on events and accomplishments taking place at their locations, many of them consisting of birthday parties and other social gatherings, fundraising events and day trips. Verbal invitations including dates and times were shared among all committee members. Don Hector offered verbal report on Seniors Information and Active Living Fair event noting that this event is a public education initiative, developed in partnership between the Older Adult Centres Association of Ontario (OACAO) and the Ontario Seniors Secretariat with a purpose to increase seniors awareness about the programs and services available to them, knowledge on healthy aging and lifestyles and recognition of seniors contributions. This event is free of charge and is scheduled to take place on Feb 13, 2015 at Maple City Centre for Older Adults, 20 Merritt Avenue, Chatham, ON. Laurel Cammaart had materials for Resource booklet Staying on your Feet, a Guide to Fall Prevention for Older Adults Living in Chatham-Kent available to all attendees. 9. Date & Location Date and location of the next meeting is : 8 SENIOR ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING, JANUARY 6, 2015
of Next Meeting Wednesday, February 4 th, 2015 at 1:30 p.m. at the Merlin Friendship Club 13 Erie Street South Merlin, Ontario N0P 1W0 Wednesday, March 4 th, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. at the Thamesville Happy Club 96 London Rd Thamesville, Ontario N0P 2K0 10. Adjournment Motion: Moved by Cheryl Burrage to adjourn the meeting. Motion 9 SENIOR ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING, JANUARY 6, 2015