Committee for Seniors & Citizens in Need

MINUTES Commitee on the Elderly and Needy Ci�zens May 22, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. The Commitee on the Elderly and Needy Ci�zens (ENCC) met on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. in the Bel Air Police Department Community Room, 39 N. Hickory Avenue, Bel Air, MD. IN ATTENDANCE: David Anderson, Public Informa�on Officer, Town of Bel Air Liaison Vickie Bands, RN, Director, Upper Chesapeake Community Outreach; Vice-Chair of ENCC Chip Carter, Bel Air Police Department, LEED Coordinator Mary Chance, Town Commissioner Debra Hanley, Brightview Assisted Living Franklin Jones, Resident, Bel Air Bari Klein, Resident, Bel Air, Chair of ENCC Charles Moore, Chief of Police, Town of Bel Air Pam Moore, Recording Secretary, Town of Bel Air Ronya Nassar, Harford County Health Department Kris�ne Reinhardt, Administra�ve Secretar, Town of Bel Air Stephanie Zahn, Grants Coordinator, Town of Bel Air ABSENT: Marcy Aus�n, Health Officer, Harford County Health Department Greg LaCour, Bel Air United Methodist Church Food Ministry Kate Ledford, Captain, Harford County EMS Marge McCreesh, EXP Realty, Bel Air Downtown Alliance Jasmine Stock, LCSW-C, Upper Chesapeake CTO Karen Winkowski, Administrator, Harford County Office on Aging 1. Welcome and Introduc�ons Ms. Klein called the mee�ng to order at 8:36 a.m. 2. Review the Agenda Today’s agenda was distributed and discussed. 3. Vote and Approval of the Minutes – March 27, 2024 Ms. Nassar moved and Ms. Bands seconded the mo�on to approve the minutes of the March 27, 2024, mee�ng. The mo�on carried. 1 4. Old Business a. Name Change - Review of proposed changes to Town Code to reflect name change and updated language about Commitee’s mission and purpose Regarding the previously suggested name, “Bel Air Livability Commitee, Serving Seniors and Ci�zens in Need,” Commissioner Chance said the Commissioners felt people looking for help with their elderly parents would not understand the term “Livability” and know that it applied to their situa�on. The Commissioners suggested the name “Commitee for Seniors and Ci�zens in Need (CSCN).” Commissioner Chance believes this name is simple and concise and hopes the ENCC approves it. All Commitee members approved this new name, Commitee for Seniors and Ci�zens in Need. Commissioner Chance would appreciate Ms. Hanley and Ms. Bands atending the next Town Board mee�ng when this name change will be addressed. Ms. Hanley’s term will soon end, and she is willing to serve again. Commissioner Chance explained the interview process for future members. If there are more applicants than there are slots, the Commissioners would like to interview each applicant to see who is the best for the Commitee If the number of applicants does not exceed the number of slots, no interviews will be required. At this �me, there are currently five (5) vo�ng members on the ENCC. It will be proposed to the Board of Town Commissioners, that this number increase to nine (9) vo�ng Board Members. Ms. Reinhardt explained the ENCC’s rela�onship with the Economic & Community Development Commission (ECDC). Commitees and Commissions do not share dra� minutes; however, once the minutes are approved, they are posted online, and anyone can read them. Ms. Klein would like to have someone from ECDC present at an upcoming mee�ng to communicate what the Economic & Community Development Commission is working on. The ENCC planned to meet ten (10) out of twelve (12) months and there was discussion as to whether the off months will be July and August, or August and December. This decision was tabled. Ms. Klein asked what other en��es should be represented on this Commitee. Previous sugges�ons were the Harford County Public Library (HCPL) and the Department of Social Services (DSS). Ms. Nassar suggested Dr. Marlon Tilghman from Ames United to represent the faith community; she will reach out to Dr. Tilghman to ask if he is interested in serving on the ENCC. 5. New Business Ms. Nassar discussed two new ini�a�ves for seniors at the Bel Air Health Department: • Mental health support group for women ages 60+, available regardless of insurance status. • Geriatric program for all adults, male and female – This includes a comprehensive, neurocogni�ve screening for any geriatric individuals, regardless of insurance status. 2  Ms. Nassar and Mr. Anderson have worked together to post informa�on about these programs on the Town of Bel Air website. Dr. Julie Stancliff ini�ated these programs a�er she no�ced the need for a support group for senior women. The response from the community has been very posi�ve. Mr. Anderson will share an ar�cle about ending the s�gma surrounding mental health and addic�on that was posted on the Town’s “Spotlight” sec�on with ENCC members. Mr. Carter remarked on the rise of older (60/65+), homeless women. Some of these women live out of their cars or in unheated or aircondi�oned garages. He men�oned circumstances where Zoning and the police have goten involved. 6. Stakeholder Comments Ms. Reinhardt stated people constantly call the Town of Bel Air inquiring about the availability of free or reduced cost ood. She would like to have a list available to provide to callers. Ms. Klein noted there is an updated list of food pantries available on Healthy Harford’s website (www.healthyharford.org). A printed version is available for download, lis�ng pantries by day of the week, and the online version lists pantry by geographic area. If someone is looking for resources in the Bel Air area, it is best they access the online version. Local resources include Harford Community Ac�on Agency (HCAA) also hosts pop-up food pantries at the Bel Air Library. Pop up food pantries at Calvary Church and LASOS, and the ongoing food pantry at Bel Air United Methodist Church. As always, transporta�on can be a barrier to access for some. Ms. Klein notes that at noon on Wednesdays Bel Air United Methodist Church has a congregant meal. Senior meal packaging is in the morning, and then around noon, the community comes in for a meal that is cooked onsite. This is primarily atended by people from the ARC, the Harford Center, and many homeless people. It is not always a need-based meal – some people just want to have a meal and connect with others. Occasionally, Upper Chesapeake sends nurses to these Wednesday meals for health screenings and consults. The nurses will refer people to doctors if necessary. Mr. Carter suggested building a limited stay campground where homeless people can live temporarily, maybe three (3) weeks or so. Mr. Carter discussed different places around Town where homeless people camp and suggested possibly building a limited stay campground at the triangle area at the end of the bypass and charging them a minimal fee to stay there. There are currently about nine (9) homeless people in the Town of Bel Air. He also suggested beginning an emergency fund to send people to a motel. Though Chief Moore admires Mr. Carter’s forward thinking, he has concerns about having a homeless encampment in Town. He knows that some sort of accommoda�ons for the homeless is necessary, but there is not the poli�cal will now for a homeless encampment. 3  Chief Moore noted that the camera system on the Ma & Pa Trail is opera�onal though they are s�ll in a pilot phase It is a very sensi�ve system and DES is figuring out how to priori�ze and handle calls. The Bel Air Police Department (BAPD) now has an ATV and a UTV to respond to calls on the Trail. BAPD is only responsible for a small part of the Ma & Pa Trail near Williams Street even though they do respond to calls on a much larger area of the Trail. Ms. Nassar men�oned at Car Fit event at on June 10th St. Mary Magdelene Mission, Churchville Road. Registra�on is required. The Car Fit program helps adjust ones vehicle to eliminate blind spots and ensure that Senior drivers feel safe and secure in their vehicles. The intent is for Senior drivers to drive safer longer. 7. Confirm tenta�ve mee�ng date June 26, 2024 The next mee�ng will be Wednesday, June 26, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. in the Bel Air Police Department Community Room. 8. Adjournment The mee�ng adjourned at 9:31 a.m. Signature on file _______________________________________ Mary Chance, Commissioner Signature on file _______________________________________ Kris�ne Reinhardt, Town Administra�ve Secretary 4