Active Adult Advisory Board Meeting

Regular Meeting Active Adult Center Advisory Board September 17, 2024 A Regular Meeting of the Madison Heights Active Adult Center Advisory Board was called to order by Chair Salley, September 17, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. at the Madison Heights City Hall Building at 300 W. 13 Mile Rd., Madison Heights, MI 48071. Present: Bessler, Juska-Svoba, Mowry, Patton, Ratliff, Salley, Smith Topping and Quigley. Also Present: Center Supervisor Cowan, Councilor Wright. Excused: DPS Director Ballantine 19-01. Minutes. Motion by Ms. Mowry seconded by Ms. Juska-Svoba to adopt the minutes from the Regular Meeting of June 18, 2024. Yeas: Bessler, Juska-Svoba, Mowry, Patton, Ratliff, Salley, Smith, Topping and Quigley. Nays: None. Excused: None. 19-02. Meeting Open to the Public. None. 19-03. Staff Report. Ms. Cowan updated the Board on trips and programs that are coming up including lunch and learns, a new Game Day, a housing event, a driver safety class and some evening open hours. 19-04. Maintenance Requests None. The City is still working with the contractor on punch list items. 19-05. Budget Requests Ms. Cowan reported she has not heard back yet from the SMART Mobility and Service Expansion Grant, but hopes to hear something before October’s meeting. 19-06. Unfinished Business. Ms. Cowan reported that the City has a couple grants that can help residents with minor home repairs and snow removal. If anyone knows someone who is low income and might qualify, they should call the AAC. 1 9-17-24 AACAB Regular Meeting Active Adult Center Advisory Board September 17, 2024 Ms. Cowan stated City staff is still training on the new recreation software. Anyone can create an account in the system to be used for sign ups for the AAC, the Library and the Recreation Department. The AAC hopes to start with online sign ups in November. Ms. Cowan reported the congregate meal program is going well. She stated that due to an oven issue staff would most likely not have a Thanksgiving luncheon this year; however Western Oakland Meals on Wheels will be doing a luncheon prior to Thanksgiving, and to watch the November newsletter for more info. Ms. Cowan stated the City Manager told her there are many times a Madison Heights senior is in need and unable to pay their water bill. Ms. Cowan asked the Board if they would be interested in donating funds for a Madison Heights senior in this situation, in place sometimes of donating to a local charity. Each donation would be decided on a case by case basis. The Board agreed it was a good idea. Members are going to think about the parameters and will discuss again at the October meeting. 19-07. New Business. Ms. Cowan thanked everyone who came to the City Council meeting to support the AAC and the proclamation for National Senior Center Month. She reported it was great to see the slideshow for the summer beautification awards and be there when the winners were announced and given awards. She also let the Board know the Holiday Lights dinner and drive around would be on Tuesday, December 17. Everyone should meet at the AAC at 4 pm. We will go to dinner at Madhouse Grill first and then drive around to judge the lights. Spouses are welcome to attend as well. Ms. Cowan reminded the Board that we need to elect officers for the Board. Mr. Salley reported he would like to continue as chair, and no one else was interested in running. Motion by Ms. Mowry seconded by Ms. Juska-Svoba to reelect Mr. Salley as Chair. Yeas: Bessler, Juska-Svoba, Mowry, Patton, Ratliff, Salley, Smith, Topping and Quigley. Nays: None. Excused: None. Ms. Patton stated she would like to continue as co-chair, and no one else was interested in running. Motion by Ms. Juska-Svoba seconded by Ms. Ratliff to reelect Ms. Patton as Co-Chair. 2 9-17-24 AACAB Regular Meeting Active Adult Center Advisory Board September 17, 2024 Yeas: Bessler, Juska-Svoba, Mowry, Patton, Ratliff, Salley, Smith, Topping and Quigley. Nays: None. Excused: None. Ms. Bessler reported that she would like to continue as secretary, and no one else was interested in running. Motion by Ms. Quigley seconded by Ms. Ratliff to reelect Ms. Bessler as Secretary. Yeas: Bessler, Juska-Svoba, Mowry, Patton, Ratliff, Salley, Smith, Topping and Quigley. Nays: None. Excused: None. Ms. Smith spoke and said she was upset that at Thursday bingo last week her group of four was asked to move their items over to make room for another bingo player who came in late. She stated there wasn’t enough room at her table due to the four players playing quite a few cards, but other tables had only one person at their table and had room. There was discussion by all Board members, especially those who regularly play and help run bingo. All agreed it was difficult sometimes to accommodate late comers. They also agreed it would be difficult to try to make any rules on how many are at each table since different people play different amounts of cards, and some can fit in more people due to less cards, and some less people due to more cards. Ms. Cowan stated since there are 20 tables and we typically have 55-75 people playing, with four people per table, that would accommodate 80 people. She also stated she will talk to volunteers who run bingo to come up with a solution, most likely reminding people to come earlier so they have time to find a seat, and to maybe using the microphone to ask the entire group where room is available instead of going over to one table to ask them to make room. Then bingo can’t proceed until someone speaks up, and it’s on the whole group to figure it out. 19-08. Treasurer’s Report. Motion by Ms. Bessler seconded by Ms. Smith to approve the June, July and August’s Treasurers’ reports. Yeas: Bessler, Juska-Svoba, Mowry, Patton, Ratliff, Salley, Smith, Topping and Quigley. Nays: None. Excused: None. 19-09. Council & Administration Updates. Councilor Wright thanked the Board members who came to the City Council meeting for the National Senior Center month proclamation. 3 9-17-24 AACAB Regular Meeting Active Adult Center Advisory Board September 17, 2024 Councilor Wright reported the Rev’n in the Heights event went well. He thought it shined a light on Madison Heights and was a good free community event. Councilor Wright stated that there are no big projects Council is working on. Board members mentioned the old AAC site and how it looks like no one is working on it and he reported that they are working, however there is more ground work that needs to be done due to contamination of the soil Councilor Wright reported on some businesses that recently opened or will be coming to the City. Councilor Wright stated the new band shell in Civic Center Park would have a ribbon cutting during Trail Tunes this Saturday. Ms. Ratliff stated she loves the compost bucket that was recently installed for residents to use at DPS. Ms. Quigley reported that Credit Union One would have a community shredding day on Saturday, October 5. Ms. Cowan stated that MSGCU would also have one on Saturday, October 19. Ms. Bessler stated one of our regular seniors passed, Mr. Regis Welsh and that visitation would be this Friday. 19-10. Adjournment. The meeting was adjourned at 2:05 pm. Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 at 1:00 pm. Jennifer Cowan Active Adult Supervisor 4 9-17-24 AACAB