Senior Services Commission

Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the Senior Services Commission Village of Northbrook September 12, 2013 The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Development and Planning Services conference room at the Northbrook Village Hall, 1225 Cedar Lane. Present were Chairman Wax and Members Bachrach, Moore, Forde, Louis, and Stern. Members Ganitopoulos, Nevin, and Rosenberg were absent. Also present were Village Trustee Israel, Liaison Kiraly, Realty and Mortgage (R&M) representatives Crane and Jaworski, and Recorder Martin. Review and Approval of Minutes from the June 27, 2013, Rescheduled Meeting Member Stern, seconded by Member Forde, moved to approve the minutes of the June 27, 2013, rescheduled meeting. On voice vote, the minutes were approved. Chairman’s Report Chairman Wax asked Member Moore, who was attending a commission meeting for the first time, to introduce herself. Commissioner Moore said that she is a 20-year resident of Northbrook who works for Covenant Retirement Communities as its Director of Wellness. The others present also introduced themselves. 1) Report from Commissioners on Senior Needs in Northbrook Chairman Wax said that at the last meeting he had asked members to solicit ideas from seniors and others as to what services seniors need in Northbrook. Member Louis said that she had talked to a 90-year-old woman who was able to stay in her home because church members drove her to medical appointments and helped with housekeeping. Member Bachrach said that the village might consider contacting Pace to see it can arrange for free or low-cost bus service to shopping centers, the public library, and other public facilities. Not everyone can afford bus fare or Dial-a-Ride service. Chairman Wax said that Member Rosenberg sent him a full page of ideas, which would be made available to commission members. Manager’s Report Manager Crane said that $15,000 was budgeted to replace the carpet in the common area and that the low bid had come from Custom Carpet at $12,481.85. Custom Carpet has done work for Crestwood before and has proven to be reliable and satisfactory. The commission then discussed whether a local firm (Lewis Floor) should be given the opportunity to match or beat the low bid. The general consensus was that the low bid should be accepted. Member Louis moved, seconded by Member Forde, to recommend to the village board that it award the contract to Custom Carpet. The motion passed by voice vote. Crestwood Place is 100 percent occupied. Three vacancies recently arose, and replacement tenants have been found. Liaison Kiraly reported that the village has installed two additional computers in the Crestwood community room, which makes for a total of three. A wireless router allows users to print from all Page 1 of 3 three. All three computers are on the Internet. In the future, an additional computer also may be installed on an upper floor. Liaison Kiraly also reported that the generator at Crestwood failed during a power outage that lasted approximately one hour on September 9. This is the second time in two years that the generator has failed on a day when it was especially needed due to weather conditions. He recommended that R&M review the need to repair the generator much sooner than anticipated. Park District Programs Update—Frank Lamberti No report was given. Budget and Finance 1) Review of Revised April 2013 Financial Report Chairman Wax reviewed the report, which had been deferred from consideration at the last meeting on June 27, 2013, because it was incomplete. The missing debt figures have now been supplied. Member Bachrach moved, seconded by Member Louis, to approve the revised April 2013 financial report. On voice vote, the motion passed. 2) Review of June 2013 Financial Report Chairman Wax said that this report shows that Crestwood’s fund balance will meet requirements. Member Forde, seconded by Member Stern, moved to approve the June 2013 financial report. On voice vote, the motion passed. 3) Review of July 2013 Financial Report Chairman Wax reviewed the July financial report. Member Stern, seconded by Member Louis, moved to approve the July financial report. On voice vote, the motion passed. Trustee Israel asked if the monthly financial statements unduly emphasize keeping expenditures low over the wisdom of setting aside money to pay for maintenance work that eventually will be required at Crestwood. He said that timely maintenance is important to maintain the value of the asset that the Village owns in Crestwood. Liaison Kiraly said that the village has a capital improvement plan for Crestwood, but that it has been a decade or so since the last building assessment was done. Kiraly said that paying for a thorough assessment of the building’s mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems in the next fiscal year may be the first step in developing a sound capital improvement plan. He said that it may be wise for the village to conduct a building assessment every five years or so. Chairman Wax said that the village’s directive to the Commission is that it break even on the operating budget for Crestwood, but that the capital improvement budget is outside the operating budget and can be used for building maintenance or major capital improvements. Old Business 1) Further Discussion of Management Services Contract Chairman Wax said that the last contract with Realty and Mortgage was written in May 2010 and extended in 2012 without changes. The village negotiates the contract. The commission does not. But the commission has an opportunity to make recommendations to the village board and will see the contract before it is signed. Chairman Wax said that he had received no suggestions from commission members regarding proposed provisions in the contract. Member Stern suggested that a two-year contract is too short and that a Page 2 of 3  three-year term may be better in that it avoids having to renegotiate the contract so soon after it is signed. Member Stern, seconded by Member Bachrach, moved to suggest that the village board consider a three-year contract. The motion passed by a voice vote. Commission members then discussed whether a pension plan for R & M employees could be required under the terms of the contract. Member Louis said that the company that held the contract before R & M was hired (Metroplex) offered its employees a pension and charged the village for it. The overall consensus was that the village could not require a pension plan as part of the contract. New Business Liaison Kiraly asked the commission to review a flier that will be inserted into the village’s October newsletter. It highlights Northbrook senior resources. Member Moore suggested that the flier be edited to include a survey of readers as to what is missing from the list of resources—or what more they would like to see. Other commission members said that they had edits and would forward them to village staff. A second flier may be developed in coming months that highlights resources that help seniors age in place. This may be popular since helping seniors remain in their homes is a primary concern for seniors and their families. Hear from the Audience None. Next Regular Meeting Date: November 14, 2013 The meeting will be held at Crestwood Place. Adjourn Member Stern moved, seconded by Member Bachrach, to adjourn the meeting at 8:35 p.m. The motion passed by voice vote. /s/ C. Martin Recorder Page 3 of 3