HomeMy Public PortalAboutA 2007-11-07 SENIOR CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARDCITY OF LYNWOOD
SENIOR CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD
GENERAL MEETING
LYNWOOD SENIOR CITIZENS CENTER
11329 ERNESTINE AVENUE
LYNWOOD, CA 90262
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CITY OF LYNWOOD
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AGENDA
Wednesday, November 7, 2007 2:30 p.m. — 3:30 p.m.
12:30 p.m. Call to Order President Lorene Reed
Pledge of Allegiance
Invocation
Roll Call
Certification of Agenda Posting
Approval of Minutes 10103/07
12:40 p.m. New Business
President's Report
Bylaws Committee Report — Final Reading of Articles 16 & 17
Bet Tzedek Legal Services — Velinda Mackey
Parking Plan — JD Whitaker
Senior Center Membership Fees
Senior Volunteer Group
Senior Center — Rules & Regulations
Discussion December and January Meetings
1 p.m. Public Comments (2 minutes)
1 15 p.m. Board Orals (2 minutes)
1 30 p.m. Adjournment
Next General Meeting on Wednesday, December 5, 2007
The Recreation Department, Senior Services Division does not discriminate on the basis of
disability Persons with disabilities may request accommodation services by calling (310)
886 -0425 two -weeks in advance of the meeting. The facility providing this service is
wheelchair accessible
Senior Citizens Advisory Board
Meeting Minutes
October 03, 2007
The meeting was called to order at 12:36 p.m. by President Lorene Reed. The agenda was duly
posted as prescribed by the Brown Act.
Pledge of Allegiance: Member Margaret Araujo
Invocation: Member D Joyce Edner
Roll Call: Cecilia Amezquita — Minutes Clerk
Present:
Absent:
Willie McGill
Irene Garcia Melziner H. Pierce
Marie Lindsey
Alfred Kilts
Julio Mendoza
Cecelia Dove
Lien Stringfield
Lorene Reed
Margaret Araujo
D Joyce Edner
President Report:
President Lorene Reed — We had an election last week and four of the Council Members were
unseated. We have four new Council Members. We as a Senior Advisory Board should support
whoever is in council. Elected we have Ram6n Rodriguez, Alfredo Flores, J Antonio Martinez
and Jim Morton to replace the outgoing Council Members. We still work under the City Council
as a board so we will be making our recommendations through staff to the new Council
Members. We received a question from the Veterans Administration regarding the role that the
Area Agency on Aging plays with City Organizations. They are solely there to bring information.
I was advised to make a public announcement to each of you as opposed to sending each of you a
letter informing you all that I am having great difficulty with two previous members of this
Board. I have been personally harassed since their removal from the Board up until last night in
the Council Meeting; I was intimidated by one of them. I spoke with someone in regards to
pursuing it legally and this is my first step. Pictures are taken of me from the bushes across the
way and that is direct stalking. People need to be aware of this and take notes. When you see
unusual things taking place or hear negative things, you need to report to staff. The seniors in the
lunchroom have a misunderstanding, they think that in order to accomplish anything they have to
go through one person. That person is telling those seniors that they have connections and they
can get things done for them. We need to communicate better with the seniors on a regular basis.
We have staff, Senior Advisory Board and a suggestion box. There is no need to fill out a petition
for anything that they want. All they have to do is communicate it. We will check into it and take
care of the matter
Member Cecelia Dove — Can City staff have badges to identify them and their title?
President Lorene Reed — I believe they already have badges, they just do not wear them.
Jose Trejo — I want to say that it has now been four years. There is a Human Resource policy for
City Employees to have pocket identification and they were issued. However, the pattern has
been too long without practice but we can definitely issue name badges to the employees. That is
not a problem.
President Lorene Reed — That is a great idea Mrs. Dove. I also had the opportunity to meet with
Wayne Mack who was the Deputy District Attorney that came to our meeting. He covers various
subjects such as Elder Abuse and others that pertain to senior issues. He would be glad to come
and talk to us on any topic that we would like to have covered.
Member Margaret Araujo — Seniors a lot of the time do not know who to turn to. 1 informed them
that Mrs. Edner and Mrs. Lindsey eat in the lunchroom sometimes. 1 tell the seniors that they are
on the Advisory Board if you have any questions or concerns you need to take it to them and they
will bring your concerns to the board. I had the opportunity to go to the Pomona Fair 1 met
vendors who are willing to come and have presentations for our seniors. I informed them when
they come to do the presentations they need to bring goodies because seniors like these things.
Can we have someone come and talk to us on living wills and trusts? They try to charge you an
arm and a leg.
President Lorene Reed — We will look into this matter The newly elected Council will be sworn
in October 16, 2007 at the next Council Meeting.
Bylaws Committee Report — Second Reading of Articles:
President Lorene Reed — We have the second reading of Article 16 & 17
Vice President Irene Garcia — Second Reading of Article 16 & 17 Amendment.
Member Margaret Araujo — What are the general rules regarding safety and conduct as outlined
in item A and C of Article 15? Should you have Article 15 in here too?
President Lorene Reed — We probably should have so you can refer to it. That is another reason
why I would like for you to carry your notebooks. (Mrs. Reed reads Article 15 A and C)
Secretary Julio Mendoza motioned, 2 " Vice President Irene Garcia, by unanimous consent
motion passed.
Fashion Show Update:
Paulette Bradley — We are currently working on our Fall Fashion Fling Fest. We are printing the
tickets. We had a discussion with Gwyn Thomas and Clyde Mahoney they will be coming to the
center with instructions on how to walk. I might have two of our sewing students do some
modeling. A couple of sewing students have taken off into making dresses so I hope one or two
of them might be complete. Things are coming together and we might have some postings in the
next few days of a nice eye- catching flier for our fashion show Tickets will be on sale shortly
We will be promoting our fashion show at Dollarhide. I do hope to see some of the Board
Members as models. Tickets are five dollars and the proceeds will go to the Senior Building
Fund. The central location for all ticket sales will be at the Senior Center front desk.
Gatsby Ball:
Phyllis Lyons — I would like to invite you to attend the third Great Gatsby Ball the last night to
wear white. You can be casual, formal, dressy or elegant. The tickets are ten dollars and we have
them available today We are soliciting sponsors to buy tables to support the seniors. All proceeds
go to the Senior Building Fund. We will have the Classic Car Show, Lionel, Seville and local
talent. The Gatsby Ball is Thursday, October 25, 2007 from 6:00 p.m. to 1 1 p.m. at Bateman
Hall. The ticket includes the dinner, dancing and entertainment.
Paulette Bradley — Will there be a professional photographer as usual?
Phyllis Lyons — We are looking into doing the Glamour Shots.
Jan Robinson — Can you please explain to the people that they do not have to wear white. We
would prefer them to wear white but you are welcome even if you do not wear white.
Phyllis Lyons — You are right. We want people to come participate and have fun. The car show
held on July 19, 2007 had an agreement that they would give a small token of their donation back
to the City and they wanted that donation to go to the Senior Building Fund so the check was
deposited into the Senior Account for $220
Floral arrangement:
President Lorene Reed — The floral arrangement you see at the end of the desk is being donated
by the Senior Advisory Board. Until today I have been paying it on a monthly basis. At this point
I am going to ask for anyone that would like to assist me in paying for the monthly Floral
Arrangement the cost is $40 per month. I figured there are eleven Board Members, if we can give
two dollars each, it is open for discussion. Would you like to continue the flowers or discontinue?
Member D Joyce Edner — We get many compliments when the Senior Citizens come in and see
the flower arrangement. My suggestion is that we should keep the flowers coming each month if
we donate two or three dollars each per month.
Margaret Araujo — I was under the impression that the City was providing the flowers because
they provide flowers for the Front, City Managers and the Reception Desk.
President Lorene Reed —No they do not, they are being donated by different employees. The City
is not paying for floral arrangements and that is why I was paying for these.
Jose Trejo - A good suggestion Mrs. Bradley just brought up is to consider implementing a
membership program for the center so these things can be purchased on a regular basis. It is a
good opportunity to start planning what the membership would entail and the fee. I think it is a
good idea to put it on the table for discussion so you can start the process.
President Lorene Reed — It is an excellent idea once implemented that would take care of things
such as the floral arrangement but the immediate need is payment of the bill.
Member D Joyce Edner — We have not received the ones for October These flowers are from
September
President Lorene Reed — I have to go pay the bill. Those who want to donate can. It is not a
requirement. We will make up the difference. We collected $24, we are a little short but will
make up the difference. I will go today and pay the bill.
Public Orals:
Jan Robinson — I went ahead and did a living will and reverse mortgage. They also have the setup
where you can pay so much money for attorney services. When you need the service, you have an
attorney right at hand and it is not very expensive. After 1 finished I checked around with
attorneys. The initial fee is $750 for the living trust. If the next year you need to make changes
you will be charged $750 more. With the program I got you can change your living will once a
year free of charge. We got the information through the Silver Fox Retirees Club.
Blaine Milliorn — I had to go to the Compton Blue Line Station. Nowhere on the coupons does it
state that it is only for medical purposes. The trolley runs once an hour where I live. The rules
should be placed on the identification card. There are two sites, Wilshire and Long Beach
Veterans Hospital.
President Lorene Reed — Thanks for your input. We are currently working on the issue and we
have established a committee to work on these matters.
Member Margaret Araujo — I would like to be on the committee since I have had things happen in
my household.
Paulette Bradley — I think a membership fee is great. We need to contact the community
regarding membership. We need to inform everyone that we find it necessary to implement a fee.
The City has done its part by providing the building for us. As we go along, we need more
equipment. We have to come up with the money and a membership fee is just a source besides
having fundraisers. I have not heard or seen any notifications after the City contract ratified with
the trolleys. Correct me if I am wrong there is no stop yet.
Jose Trejo — The stop will be installed right in front of Bateman Hall. I do not have a date. They
informed us it would be some time this month. However, it is not going to be a shelter It was not
one of the locations but it will be a stop.
President Lorene Reed — It was supposed to be this week. I am not certain of when it will be but
we will check into it and get the information out to everyone.
Paulette Bradley — I thought the Senior Center was a no hassle zone that people can come here
and would not be pursued by anybody's personal agenda. I do not have to accept my lunch being
interrupted or my classes. Apparently, I need to be corrected.
President Lorene Reed — That is the importance of having a suggestion box. Staff would be the
ones taking care of the issues in the suggestion box.
Zelda Hutcherson — The County Senior Advisory Board is looking for members. It is an
opportunity to represent the Lynwood area.
Jan Robinson — Are we getting vending machines for the center?
Jose Trejo — We are currently working with a couple of vendors for all our facilities. It is a project
currently in progress. We apologize for the delay We currently have Coca Cola Company We
are exploring some options with Pepsi. We are still reviewing the contract. We are looking at
other vendors that provide nutritious multi- variety items. We are currently working on the cable
for the center It is not that we are delaying it but we have some issues with the building. A
couple of companies that provide cable services came out and looked at the building to find the
best way for installation without creating too much destruction to the building. The board
requested to have a letter sent to the Lynwood Chamber of Commerce in appreciation of their
donation and that is complete. In addition, the announcement for the Senior Advisory Board
vacancies is complete. It should go out in the November issue. The bingo machine, we are
looking at options of how much it costs to get a flashboard. You are looking at anywhere between
four to five thousand dollars. The unit we currently have is not compatible with the flashboard. I
am working with a vendor Maybe we can get some kind of compensation to upgrade the unit.
Board Orals:
Member Margaret Araujo — My husband got a poker table donated before he passed. I need to
know when l can notify them that you will be picking it up. With your permission, I would like to
see if I could get the monthly flowers donated. In addition, I would like to ask Trejo if there is
something that the seniors need such as equipment, patio furniture and things like that, if he will
let me know I do have friends that would be willing to donate or sell at cost to the Senior Center
Jose Trejo — We have two requests - the bingo machine and portable dance floor Those are the
rivo main items that are on the list of things to do that are a budget issue. If you can get vendors
that can give us the manufacturer price that would be great.
Member Willie McGill — Many bus stops do not have benches.
Member Cecelia Dove — I wanted to ask about the identification badge.
Jose Trejo — Mrs. Edner is wearing an example of the badge.
Member Alfred Kilts — 1 have forty five to fifty library books that I want to donate to the Senior
Center They are all hardback books l" edition. The authors go back thousands of years.
Jose Trejo — We want to make sure that the material we put on the library shelves are quality
books.
President Lorene Reed — I would like to pick up these valuable books and take some of the paper
back books out. We need to find some volunteers to go through the books.
Jose Trejo — Perhaps a couple of the members here would like to take on the task of looking
through the shelves and determine what is good.
President Lorene Reed — We have volunteer Members Cecelia Dove, Margaret Araujo and
Paulette Bradley
Secretary Julio Mendoza — I would like to make a suggestion to get rid of all the paperbacks; give
them away or sell them. The old Council members gave us the job to rectify or find an answer to
problems with Fiesta Taxi. (President Lorene Reed — yes) I believe it is their job not ours to take
care of the problem. They created it, they can correct the problem.
President Lorene Reed — The purpose of the committee on the Fiesta Taxi is for the committee to
come back with recommendations to the board. We determine what the problem is, we are not
looking for complaints. We are looking to improve contact and ability to provide more coupons.
What have we done wrong with Fiesta Taxi? The one thing we can immediately identify is to
offer the coupons at fifty -five as other cities do. One of the immediate problems we realized is
that people are using the service but they do not need it. They are abusing the system. We need to
get all the participants in one room and start work from there and then we make a
recommendation to staff.
Vice President Irene Garcia — Regarding the bus shelters we have requested that for the last ten
years to be approximate. 1 have taken it to Council. It is on record and on tape. Another thing is
believe a letter should be posted in big bold letters in the senior center that no one can harass any
senior They come to eat their lunch not to be bothered by somebody else that is petitioning for
the bingo flashboard. That is something that already took place. Anything related to the Senior
Center ought to be conveyed through the Senior Advisory Board for approval. In regards to Fiesta
Taxi, there has never been any paper trail to the higher ups. It is always under the rocks and that
needs to stop.
Member Marie Lindsey —No comment.
D Joyce Edner — I was informed by Mr Trejo to get Mr Kilts address to have someone go over
and pick up the books. Someone brought it to my attention that seniors that have been coming to
lunch on a consistent basis all of a sudden do not show and we do not know anything about them
because the) have become ill. If we can get a committee to keep up with the seniors and find out
it they are doing we] I.
Lien Stringfield — When are we having the flu shots for seniors? (Jose Trejo — November, I will
give you the date.)
President Lorene Reed — Mr Kilts said the books would be ready tomorrow for pick -up after
lunch. 1 am happy to have Mrs. Araujo back. A very good question came out today and things we
need to learn. Communication is the key We need to thank Mrs. Bradley We formed a senior
leadership group. It was the President of each organization that got together Mrs. Bradley
volunteered to handle the excursion and she is doing an outstanding job, not only is she handling
the excursion she is volunteering for everything else. Before we adjourn, I want her to tell us
about the Los Angeles Opera.
Paulette Bradley — We have the opportunity this year to see a live Dress Rehearsal Opera Don
Giovanni and it is a program provided for all State and Federal Funded Facilities like ours. They
try to make a sweep of the Los Angeles Basin so you do not get to go every year We lucked out,
we got our paperwork in two weeks ago. 1 went down to the orientation at the Dorothy Chandler
Pavilion. It is a requirement. We will have forty tickets. We will have another orientation in a
couple of weeks. They will have someone come out and speak to us. This is our opportunity to go
see a live opera performance for free. You must come to the orientation to get a ticket.
President Lorene Reed — We will have to set -up a sunshine club to send cards and flowers to
seniors that are ill.
Adjournment: Secretary Julio Mendoza made a motion to adjourn. By unanimous consent the
meeting adjourned at 2:11 p.m.
Date:
LYNWOOD, CALIFORNIA 90262
(310) 603 -0220
To.
Subject:
City of LYNWOOD
�.1 City vUeefittg NaQQettges
11330 BULLIS ROAD
October 23, 2007
Senior Citizen Advisory Board
Amendment to Senior Citizen Advisory Board By -Laws
Article 16. Board Member and Citizen Input —Third Reading
Per Article 14 (Amendments) to the Senior Citizen Advisory Board By -Laws the
following Amendments is being submitted as Article 16
Article 16
Board Member and Citizen Input
1 All meetings of the Senior Citizen Advisory Board are to be open to the
public.
2. Provisions will be made for both citizen as well as Board Member input on
agenda items of either written or verbal input or both.
Date:
LYNWOOD, CALIFORNIA 90262
(310) 6030220
go
Subject:
City of LYNWOOD
A City Jleeting C OW11ges
11330 BULLIS ROAD
October 23, 2007
Senior Citizen Advisory Board
Amendment to Senior Citizen Advisory Board By -Laws
Article 17 Conflict of Interest - Third Reading
.«m
IIIIII
Per Article 14 (Amendments) to the Senior Citizen Advisory Board By -Laws the
following Amendments is being submitted as Article 17
Article 17
Conflict of Interest
Relationship with other organizations.
1 Holding office or membership in another organization whose objectives
and purposes are similar to those of the Senior Citizens Advisory Board
may lead to conflict with responsibilities to the Board.
To avoid such conflict, the President of the Board shall follow the
General Rules regarding safety and conduct as outlined in items A —C
of Article 15 of the Senior Advisory Board By -Laws.