Active Adult Advisory Board Meeting

Regular Meeting Active Adult Center Advisory Board September 19, 2023 A Regular Meeting of the Madison Heights Active Adult Center Advisory Board was called to order by Chair Salley, September 19, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. at the Active Adult Center Municipal Building at 260 W. 13 Mile Rd., Madison Heights, MI 48071. Present: Bessler, Leuffgen, Patton, Ratliff, Salley, Smith, Topping and Quigley. Also Present: Center Supervisor Cowan, DPS Director Ballantine, Councilor Wright, and Councilman Fleming. Absent: Juska-Svoba. An invocation was led by Ms. Cowan. 19-01. Minutes. Motion by Ms. Mowry seconded by Ms. Ratliff to adopt the minutes from the Regular Meeting of June 20, 2023. Yeas: Bessler, Leuffgen, Patton, Ratliff, Salley, Smith, Topping and Quigley. Nays: None. Absent: Juska-Svoba. 19-02. Meeting Open to the Public. None. 19-03. Staff Report. Ms. Cowan updated the Board on programs currently happening and upcoming at the Center, including a bake sale on October 12 and the second annual Thanksgiving luncheon on Thanksgiving day. 19-04. Maintenance Requests None. 19-05. Budget Requests None. 19-06. Unfinished Business. Mr. Ballantine stated staff is getting settled in the new building and working out any kinks. He gave a shout out to AAC staff and the DPS staff for all the work they did to pack up, move, unpack and host the Grand Openings. 1 9-19-23 AACAB Regular Meeting Active Adult Center Advisory Board September 19, 2023 Ms. Cowan updated the Board on the AARP Age-Friendly Community Program. There was a discussion and all Board members agreed the program sounded like it was too involved. No Board member or other AAC volunteer was interested in taking on the work, and Ms. Cowan stated staff felt the same. She stated she will most likely cancel the program, but didn’t want to make a quick decision during the move. She asked AARP if they could put us on hold until February so staff can make a decision whether to continue with the program or not then. 19-07. New Business. Ms. Cowan stated that the Board needs to elect officers for the new year. She asked the current Board officers if they would like to continue and they all stated yes. She then asked the other Board members if anyone would like to run for either the Chair, Vice Chair or Secretary positions and no one did. Ms. Cowan thanked Mr. Salley for continuing as Chair, Ms. Patton for continuing as Vice Chair, and Ms. Bessler for continuing as Secretary. Ms. Cowan stated since not all Board members are in attendance today, we will take the new Board photo at the October meeting. She asked all Board members to wear a Madison Heights shirt. There was a discussion on getting Board members the same shirt staff wore at the Grand Opening. Ms. Cowan stated City staff could order them and asked if Board members would like to purchase them on their own, or if they would like to take monies out of the escrow account. Motion by Ms. Mowry seconded by Ms. Quigley to purchase shirts for the Board members out of the escrow account. Yeas: Bessler, Leuffgen, Patton, Ratliff, Salley, Smith, Topping and Quigley. Nays: None. Absent: Juska-Svoba. 19-08. Treasurer’s Report. Motion by Ms. Patton seconded by Ms. Mowry to approve June, July and August’s Treasurer’s reports. Yeas: Bessler, Leuffgen, Patton, Ratliff, Salley, Smith, Topping and Quigley. Nays: None. Absent: Juska-Svoba. 19-09. Council & Administration Updates. Mr. Ballantine stated construction at the complex is nearing a close. Staff will be going over punch list items before signing off on the buildings and sending final payment. 2 9-19-23 AACAB Regular Meeting Active Adult Center Advisory Board September 19, 2023 Mr. Ballantine reported DPS is doing interviews for an equipment operator. Mr. Ballantine stated construction in the City is winding down. Mr. Ballantine reported the Citizen’s Academy program is in full swing and will be at the AAC and DPS tonight. Mr. Ballantine stated he wanted to publicly thank Ms. Cowan and the entire AAC staff for all the work they have done to move the building’s contents, open in the new building and host two openings. Councilor Wright reported that the old facility is in the process of being sold and will be a car wash and restaurant. The owners have stated they will save as many trees as possible. There was a discussion regarding the memorial plaques and the trees. Ms. Mowry and Ms. Bessler stated they would like to see the memorial tree program continue. Mr. Ballantine stated when the program began in 1983 there was no end put in place. With the cost of upkeep on the plaques, the City is looking to honor the memorials in place already, but also phase out the program. Councilor Wright agreed and stated the City is trying to make as delicate a decision as possible. Councilor Wright stated the proposed expansion of BP at Dartmouth and John R did not go through at this time, and is something that is not going to happen as of right now. Councilor Wright reported the HREC will host a Motorama and Smoke event at Madison High School on October 14. People can sign up to bring their classic cars, and there will be people judging BBQ categories of ribs, chicken and hamburgers for kids. Councilman Fleming stated the AAC newsletter was brought up at an HREC meeting and was reported “nobody’s getting it”. He reported he wants to go to Council to ask the City to pay to mail it to any resident 50 and over. There was discussion on this topic, including Ms. Cowan stating that anyone who would like the newsletter for free can pick it up at the AAC, pick one up on the bus, go online to view it or subscribe to a free monthly email. Ms. Cowan also reported that staff looked into mailing it just once a year to any resident 50 and over and the cost for just one month (about one year ago) would cost around $8,000. She stated she is sure the cost has gone up since then. She relayed if we mailed 12 issues a year it would cost the City more than $93,000. In addition staff would need to order and pay for more newsletters for the non- residents who visit and support the AAC. Ms. Cowan stated that staff works very hard to keep costs low and many other things free, such as our transportation, exercise equipment, billiards room, computer lab, and many events. We also do not charge a membership or drop in fee like most other senior centers do. Considering all this, she stated she doesn’t see why we need 3 9-19-23 AACAB Regular Meeting Active Adult Center Advisory Board September 19, 2023 to do this. However, she will contact the City Manager and give her this info, as Councilman Fleming requested. A few Board members brought up why the new bathrooms were not handicap accessible, and stated they had difficulty getting in and out of the stalls, and using the facilities without handrails. Councilor Wright stated the bathrooms were not part of the renovation project, and that would be something for future budget requests. Ms. Patton stated that at the Oakland County Senior Advisory Council meeting the Oakland County Health Nurse wanted to encourage everyone to get up to date on their vaccinations. She also stated the County is testing waste waters for polio with the influx of refugees in the area. Ms. Ratliff stated the Grand Opening event was so much fun. She said it was fabulous to visit the new AAC, the Heritage Room and the Library’s 3D printing space. Ms. Quigley stated the John R. Grill is offering free Thanksgiving meals to seniors. 19-10. Adjournment. The meeting was adjourned at 2:10 pm. Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 1:00 pm. Jennifer Cowan Active Adult Supervisor 4 9-19-23 AACAB