Minutes

Bexar Senior Advisory Committee

Friday, October 11, 2002 – 10:00 a.m.

Present:

Sue Ackerman                                      Chris Alderete                                 Julia Castellano-Hoyt

Laura Cisneros                                     Barb Dampman                                              Elsa Davis

Johnnie Davis                                       Ray Foley                                      Oscar Garcia

Santos Hernandez rep by                 Suzanne Huber                                     Ida Kenny

    Mary Will                                          Pastor Ernie Lantz                            Hon. Ruth Jones McClendon

Lewis Marshall                                     Winn Murnin                                     Bill Heinemann

Sterling Neuman                                   Nancy Rheams                                  Alicia Rodriguez

Rev. Gene Sheppard                               Katherine Schwesinger                      Jimmy Toubin

Bonnie Truax                                        Dorothy Whitenack

Ambassador at Large:  Steve Saldana

1.       Call to Order  - The meeting was called to order by the Pastor Ernie Lantz, Chairman.

2.        Roll Call  - Roll call was taken as reflected.

3.       Consider and act upon approval of the Minutes of September 13, 2002 – Upon correction to include Ida Kenny as present and to reflect Barb Dampman abstaining from the vote taken regarding Item. #7A. paragraph 2, regarding consideration of funds awarded to Catholic Charities,  motion was made by Gene Sheppard and seconded by Lewis Marshall to approve the minutes as presented.  Motion passed.

4.       Citizens to be Heard (Limit to Three Minutes) – BSAC members were provided with information on the ProBono Wills Clinic which will be held on Saturday, October 26^th – 9 am – 2 pm at St. Mary’s University.

5.       Staff Report – Tina Richards, Access & Assistance Coordinator reported that Ms. Zernial was at a conference in D.C. and will be providing legislative updates upon her return.  Ms. Richards further pointed out that there were Policy papers on housing issues, health issues received from the Texas Department on Aging.  An article was also received from John Willis, the State Ombudsman from TDoA on Nursing Home financing.  Ms. Richards provided an update on the airing of the recent program, And Thou Shalt Honor.

6.       Chairperson’s Report – Pastor Ernie Lantz -

7.       Subcommittee Status Reports

A.      Access & Assistance – Ms. Suzanne Huber reported that they had discussed the possible co-pay system for some of the clients receiving services and this will be on a donation basis.  Ms. Huber further stated that they had also discussed the possibility of encouraging clients receiving Caregiving and Access services to also make a donation.   There is now a $4500 cap on residential repair as opposed to the $1500 cap.  A request for proposal will be released this weekend for contractors to perform assessments.

B.      Allocations and Monitoring

§         Review of FY02 Vendor Expenditures – Mr. Sterling Neuman informed the committee reviewed the FY02 Vendor Expenditures for services provided and how they were being utilized.

C.      Family Caregiver Support Program – Mr. Steve Saldana asked for approval on the following vendors: 

§         Domestic Agency for in home respite; Continum Home Health  and Terra Health and are recommending approval for them for individual home office and home visit of mental health counseling.  The committee is reserving judgment at this time, since Terra Health requested telephone approval for telephone assessments and will withhold approval on this pending clarification from the Texas Department.  Motion passed.

Mr. Saldana further reported that they had received a request from the Alzheimer’s Association to extend their grant into FY03 and recommend approval to extend the grant to March 2003.   Motion passed.  There was one abstention, Ms. Nancy Rheams.

D.      Information, Special Events and VISTA – Ms. Elsa Davis reported that the committee is meeting to prepare for the Seniors Advocacy Day in Austin.

E.       Nominations/Bylaws and Legislative – Mr. Marshall Lewis reported that the committee had discussed and needed clarification regarding term membership and the fact that should a member serve in the capacity of an elected position, whether this will count towards the three year term.  Discussion ensued and Ms. Castellano-Hoyt suggested that a possible Ad-Hoc committee could be set up to review and discuss the BSAC term limitation.  BSAC members were invited to attend on November 6^th,  9:00 am and the committee will only consider the term limitation issue.

§         Bylaws Revision – Article II – Activities, Item E. – read into the minutes and will be voted upon at the next meeting.

§         Bylaws Revision – Article III – Officers, Item E. – read into the minutes and will be voted upon at the next meeting.

§         Membership – 3 year term for Alex Davila to commence January 1, 2003.

10.        Informational Items -  BSAC Membership applications were distributed to committee members.

11.       Adjournment – There being no further business, the committee adjourned.