Senior Citizens Advisory Committee

Hampton Senior Citizens Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes 5 April 2021, 10am Rupert Sargent Building Conference Room Present Board members: Linda Kindred-Chair; Doris Farmer, Acting Vice Chair; Martha Clark; Yvonne Gaynor; George Gwynn; C’Faison Harris; Angela Leary; and Sandra Waldo Lead Agency members: Dave McCauley-HPRLS; Susan Elswick-HPRLS Senior Center; Shaeron King-HPRLS Therapeutic Center; Dorran White-HPRLS Westhampton CC Guests: Councilman Chris Bowman; Joann Bishop; and Vergie McLaurin Call to Order and Welcome Ms. Kindred called the meeting to order with prayer and welcomed newly reappointed board members and guests. Roll call Ms. Farmer conducted roll call; a quorum was present. Old Business Ms. Kindred reviewed the process for submitting names for the Renaming Senior Center Contest. Some patrons of the center desired to change the name from Senior to something else. Ms. Kindred advised members to use the cards that were distributed to submit up to three names and submit to her or Director McCauley. One all names have been submitted, Senior Center patrons would be able to vote on their name choice. The Chair asked if there were any questions; there was none. Ms. Elswick reported on Senior Center renovations, stating that the interior of the building is finished and currently the patio is being worked on. Equipment upgrades and painting have the building looking great. A question was asked about virtual tours of the Senior Center. Director McCauley stated this is something that can be done in the near future. C’Faison Harris extended a reminder to members regarding subcommittee activities and member participation, encouraging newly appointed board members to sign up for at least one committee. A sign-up form was distributed. Ms Kindred next addressed the newly-reappointed board members with an eloquent welcome and opened the floor to the new and returning board members: Ms. Leary stated that she was honored and thankful for being reappointed. She also asked about the HSCAC mission statement. Mr. McCauley asked that each subcommittee provide information about what it is they do at the May 3 Committee meeting. Ms. Kindred inquired if all those who wanted the vaccine had been vaccinated. All present indicated they received their shots. Ms. Kindred then addressed senior living issues such as shut-in and immobility as hindrances to getting vaccine and extended an invitation to any who needed help in getting the vaccine to contact her personally. Presentation Ms. Kindred introduced and welcomed guest speaker Mr. Steve Bond Assistant City Manager. Mr. Bond provided a brief acknowledgement of the issues the senior population faces especially during this pandemic. Mr. Bond also addressed COVID response and vaccine inquiries stating that the Virginia Department of Health regulated the response and the vaccine while city staff stepped assisted in staffing vaccination clinics. Additional pop-up clinics can’t or won’t open due to the large staffing effort taking place at the Convention Center, and that is one reason why there’s been a delay in the opening of the city’s recreation centers. The Convention Center was determined to be the best location to administer the vaccine on a large scale. Mr. Bond encouraged everyone present to sign up for the vaccine through VDH if they had not already done so. Mr. Bond then opened the floor for questions. Ms. Leary asked what plans are there to set up pop-up clinics for issuing vaccine to seniors without putting them at risk in the future? Mr. Bond stated that unforeseen occurrences made mobile or closer pop-up clinics a no go; but with first responder agencies participating, there are plans in place but the issue is not an ready supply of vaccines. Mr. Gwynn issued a thank you to Congressman Bobby Scott for helping his community get the vaccine. Mr. Bond stated that as soon as more vaccines become available more clinics will be held, adding that, ”We need to get back to communities and we need each other.” Mr. McCauley stated that Mr. Bond was instrumental in keeping the city on top of the vaccines being administered. Mr. Bond noted that per the Governor’s recent press conference, 30% of the population has been vaccinated. Mr. Bond then invited Ms. Sara Snowden, Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator at Hampton Office of Emergency Management to say a few words. Ms. Snowden greeted the attendees and commended City Manager Mary Bunting and Assistant City Manager Bond for being on top of setting up vaccine centers and being ahead of the crowd in the VA region. She talked about how communication has improved because of the Peninsula’s involvement, giving kudos top management for working together and sharing information. Ms. Snowden asked about the online pre-registration, who got a call, who didn’t and who got multiple calls. She explained that the multiple calls were due to no available option to get off the list if a person had had the vaccine. Another question she asked was how to reach out and who to reach out to via community members. Some suggestions offered were to o Have the 311Customer Call Center help sign up people. Ms. Clark extended kudos to 311 for providing that service to her. o Utilize the school system to contact parents and seniors in the community, o Have the City’s Channel 47 inform and reach the community. Ms. Snowden worked proactively with the Hampton Convention Center Vaccine clinic location for the seniors by diligently monitoring the vaccine process to make sure it improved with each event. Staffing was the main challenge and currently what she is working on to be prepared for any senior citizen complications. Ms. Kindred thanked both Mr. Bond and Ms. Snowden for providing such insight to members and guests on the vaccination process and for being transparent about the process. Mr. McCauley also thanked Mr. Bond and Ms. Snowden for the information they provided and gave kudos to the work they are doing. He added that the Senior Center and community centers may be possible locations for pop-up clinics. He then invited Councilman Bowman to speak. Councilman Bowman stated it was good to be back meeting once again and spoke briefly about the City Manager and the city budget and new HPRLS recreational phases now in place or soon to be developed, such as the bike path, the James T. Wilson Fishing Pier and the Aquatic Center. Approval of November Meeting Minutes Ms. Kindred requested a motion be made to accept the November minutes as written. C’Faison Harris motioned to accept; the motion was seconded by Ms. Farmer. All were in favor and the motion carried. New Business Voting Matters Ms. Farmer made a presentation to the newly appointed board members. Elections for Chair and Vice Chair position to be tabled until May 3 meeting. Public Comment Ms. Kindred opened the floor to any other issues. Mr. George Gwynn gave an update on the replacement of the post office boxes in the Riverdale shopping center, giving kudos to Senator Bobby Scott’s team for handling the issue and replacing the boxes. Ms. Clark asked about volunteering to help HPRLS employees at the convention center Closing Remarks Ms. Kindred closed with a thank you to members for attending and for keeping themselves safe. They were reminded contact her if they needed any type of assistance. Closing prayer was offered. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 11:15am Minutes submitted 4/19/2021 by Dorran White, HSCAC Recording Secretary