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AD HOC Senior Facility 2005 04-04-05 Page 1 of 4 APPROVED WITH CORRECTIONS 5/2/05 UNITED CITY OF YORKVILLE SENIOR FACILITY AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING Monday, April 4,2005 4:00 PM City Conference Room Present: Mayor Art Prochaska Alderwoman Rose Spears Parks &Rec Director Laura Brown Tony Scott, Kendall County Record Lloyd Johnson, K.C. Food Pantry Cecelia Sanders, Salvation Army-Golden Diners Major Mark Litherland, Salvation Army-Golden Diners Rosie Battista, St. Joseph Cabinetry Allecia Vermillion, Beacon News Kathleen Ramsey, OSAC Madonna Bialek, Alzheimer's Assn. Joan Parker, Salvation Army Retired Pete Murphy Tom Zerante Max Malone Bette Schoenholtz Senior Services Association (Arrived 4:48 pm) The meeting was called to order at 4:00 pm by Mayor Art Prochaska. 1. Minutes for Approval/Correction: March 14,2005: The minutes were approved as written. 2. Update Regarding Senior Services Location (any new development with Harold Oliver): Mayor Prochaska stated he spoke with Bette Schoenholtz and basically has learned there are a couple options out there that Harold Oliver has given her. There is a place in Mason Square or he could try to build her something too. The building option would be hard to make happen due to timing issues. The other issue is that they would still have to pay rent irregardless. Bette Schoenholtz did state she would like to remain a presence in Yorkville to stay centrally located for the residents to have access. Bette Schoenholtz was not present at this time in the meeting to make a statement on this item. 3. Updating of the Proposed Changes with Salvation Army Hot Meals Program and Location of the Deli: Major Litherland stated they are looking at the strong possibility of combining the program that is in Beecher Building with the Deli program that is in Countryside. They can no longer support two separate sites in 1 Page 2 of 4 Yorkville. Mayor Prochaska stated that this would leave one food site in Yorkville. Alderwoman Spears asked how the first day of catering service went. Major Litherland responded that it went well. He said it was a bit of a change for the seniors,but all was great. She also asked if the Salvation Army had diabetic menus available. He responded that now that they are working with the Caterer it is available. The diabetic meals just need to be ordered ahead of time. They can also substitute juice or skim milk for the milk they provide. He stated lastly that the consolidation should take effect approximately towards the first of May and will be going to the Beecher Building. 4. Short-term Options and Solutions: a. Recommendations: Mayor Prochaska reminded all present that whatever recommendations do come out of this Committee,Alderwoman Spears and be then have to take to City Council for consideration. Bette Schoenholtz also has to take these suggestions to her board for consideration as well. Mayor Prochaska went on to say that Bette and he went through the Beecher Building to see if this could be a place to be used as a short-term solution. The Beecher Building would be available for little to no rent from the City. Laura Brown stated that the Salvation Army does pay the minimal charge for use of the Beecher Building to help pay for clean-up. Mayor Prochaska stated that this minimal charge could be worked out with an agreement, but it still would save the Senior Services Association money. He went on to state that the layout of the building would work without interference with the Parks and Rec offices located there. Bette did hope to have a reception area put in place using paneling. Alderwoman Spears questioned how it would work with their caseworkers. Mayor Prochaska stated they would be looking into the tall paneling for privacy and they would be inquiring with Harold Oliver and his partners to see if they could help with the cost. They discussed the impact on the Park and Rec department's events with the Senior Services using Beecher Building. Laura Brown stated the biggest impact would be on the preschool program. They are currently looking for alternative locations to hold all of those programs in the community. Alderwoman Spears questioned at this time if the people that attend the Golden Diners facilities would have a choice between the catering, the deli or how it is set-up now? Major Litherland stated this is a decision the Salvation Army will have to make due to the lack of funds available for two locations; if the deli moves over, it will be the home-cooked meal, and they are still toying with the idea of offering the catered meal or not. Mayor Prochaska stated that there is still a question if the food pantry would be able to run out of the Beecher Building as well. He stated that there is a 2 Page 3 of 4 possibility, but this depends on how the building is used. Before this is determined, all would have to sit down and layout everything out. Senior Services will need 2 offices and a reception area in Perkins Room. Laura Brown stated that the old office at Beecher Building is currently used for storage, so they would have to relocate the stored items to use that room. She went on to state that Mayor Prochaska and her have discussed the idea of making storage area in the Perkins Room and giving Senior Services the old office for privacy with putting in glass doors. There was discussion of the possibility of adding on to the Beecher Building. It could be added on in three directions with ample parking still available. Mayor Prochaska stated that this could be discussed as part of long term options for the community. Mr. Lloyd Johnson questioned if the Beecher Building was built with specific uses in mind. Mayor Prochaska stated that the original purpose of this building was for use as a Community Center with no restrictions on additions. It could not be used for political rally(can hold meetings),religious or any use with alcohol based on the will of Mr. Beecher. The funds used to purchase some of the kitchen items (grant obtained for senior portion) at Beecher Building were for the purpose of serving seniors in the community according to the grant the funds came from. This is the ideal location then to relocate Senior Services if only short-term. Due to the heating, cooling and electrical systems in Beecher Building would not allow for building up. Mayor Prochaska brought up that there is a company to do a facility plan for the City. Before it is finalized,he would like this group to look at the plan for farther ideas for the senior activities. Right now, he believes the minimal cost is Beecher Building for Senior Services, as long as space is found for the Parks and Rec Department. Alderwoman Spears stated that she has spoken with seniors from the community and it seems that Route 47 is the farthest east most are willing to drive for these events. Yorkville is the most central for all the Kendall County towns where the seniors are traveling from. She also asked to keep the seniors that are involved in these activities in mind when making changes. Right now one issue that has been discussed is carpeting is hard for them to walk on and move chairs in and out on. Make sure wherever is chosen, safety issues and food options are kept in mind on their behalf. Mayor Prochaska stated that if the eventual goal is to build a Senior Center,he does not want to waste time and money on trying to find something unworkable for short term use for Senior Services. Laura Brown stated that one of the things the Mayor had brought up earlier in making the Beecher Building work is the cold storage building garage located by the riverfront and if any money could be used to retrofit that for the daytime programs. This would help because the building could be divided into 3 rooms. 3 Page 4 of 4 The idea of the Hoover Center as a possible solution was brought up for discussion as well, but this would not be able for 2-3 years which would not help now. Mayor Prochaska asked the group at this time how they all felt about them continuing with the idea of use of the Beecher Building and sitting down to work on a plan of how the building would fit all activities. All present were in agreement that Mayor Prochaska,Bette Schoenholtz, Major Litherland, and Laura Brown to go through Beecher Building and working out how all could use it and keep all programs going. Bette Schoenholtz entered the meeting at this time and stated that she is comfortable with trying to make Beecher Building work as well. She stated they do not have to be out of their current location until a proper setting is found. She also needs to work with the auditors still on the financial end and has not met with Harold Oliver yet. She feels the distance is the drawback from trying to find a location in Oswego. The Committee was in agreement to move forward with the idea to create a plan for the Beecher Building to work. From here this idea will move on to the Senior Services Board and City Council for discussion with both of those groups. When the short-tern solution is determined this Committee can move on to focusing on the long-term plan which is crucial. City Council will look this plan over in May at some time. The Salvation Army will be working out of Yorkville regardless of what happens with Senior Services according to Major Litherland. Beecher Building was found not to be the long-term solution for this issue at hand. 5. Additional Business: none 6. Set Next Meeting Date: Meeting set for Monday, May 2, 2005 at 4:00 pm. This meeting was adjourned at 5:15pm. Minutes by: Sheila Teausaw 4