Human Services Advisory Commission

 Meeting Minutes
December 11, 2007
 7:35 - 9:35 PM
Rockville City Hall

Re:  Call Meeting to Order/ Introductions

Sarah Duffy called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m.  

Re:  Overview of Senior Survey and Aging in Place Initiatives

Lorraine Schack, Senior Outreach Coordinator for the City of Rockville, began her presentation by saying that she is looking for volunteers to help seniors with snow removal should members of the Commission know of anyone who might be interested.  It is not possible to use teens earning community service learning credits as there must be a supervisor on site and usually the need occurs at a time that schools are closed.

Lorraine then passed out a summary of the results from a recent survey of Rockville’s older adults conducted by the National Research Center.  The survey was mailed to 1200 randomly selected Rockville households with residents over sixty years of age and had a response rate of 43%.  Lorraine said that respondents rated the quality of life in Rockville above average and that transportation did not appear to be much of an issue.  Twenty percent of respondents reported participating in activities at the Rockville Senior Center.  Lorraine commented that if 20% of the senior population continues participation in Senior Center activities, there will be a huge increase in the number of people served as the “baby boomer” generation reaches retirement age. 

The most significant issue emerging from the survey was concern over affordable housing.  In order to publicize this issue, the Mayor and Council declared October 11 to November 11, 2007 “Aging in Place Month” in the City.  This followed similar proclamations by the County and State.  Other initiatives related to affordable housing include a presentation on housing options at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theater, which was attended by over 400 people. 

Lorraine said that home maintenance is a critical part in helping people stay in their own homes.  As a result the City is looking at ways in which they can assist.  The tax rebate program is an example.  Also, Lorraine is asking for a new part time position in FY 09 for an “Aging in Place Coordinator” who would evaluate needs, develop resources, and apply for grants.

Another area of need for seniors identified through the survey is access to mental health services.  To respond to this need Lorraine is including a request in next year’s budget for a contract social worker (four hours per week) who could provide mental health assessments, short-term counseling (group and individual), and psycho-educational presentations.

Sarah Duffy said that she was pleased by the City’s immediate response to the mental health and other issues.  She asked if Lorraine has the raw data from survey responses in an Excel spreadsheet.  She offered to do an analysis of the data in order to assess how representative of different demographic groups the survey response was.  Lorraine said this would be helpful.  David L’Heureux commented that he remembered seeing a directory of resources for seniors and suggested that the City could promote a similar section in the Gazette which could be called “Aging in Place” and include useful resources for seniors.  Lorraine said she would look into this idea.

Tim Stranges asked what concerns the Senior Commission had after reviewing the survey.  Lorraine said that this group is looking into ways people can help each other, for example, a directory of services.  She has also interviewed four companies that are interested in working with the City to develop a plan to provide various handyman services to seniors living in their own homes in Rockville.  Agnes Saenz commented that the need is universal, without regard to income.  Mary Lou asked if the budget requests were going through the usual supplemental process.  Lorraine said that they were.  Mary Lou said that the Human Services Advisory Commission might consider writing a letter to Burt Hall, Director of Recreation and Parks, indicating that these are important budget requests.
  
Re:  Briefing on Workforce Housing in King Farm

Ed Duffy, Community Development Program Manager, explained that the new workforce housing units in King Farm originated with four buildings in King Farm Village Center that contained both housing and retail units being put on the market.  Housing laws state that if a rental facility plans to substantially change the way it does business, the Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County has the right of first refusal and the jurisdiction where it is located (in this instance the City of Rockville) has the right to be heard regarding the change.  Ed said that workforce housing is a step above moderately priced dwelling units.  It targets those people earning 70-110% of the average median income.  This translates to $60,000 for a one/two person family and $120,000 for a larger family.  It is intended for people who are employed. 

Ed said that the King Farm External Affairs Committee was very receptive to meeting and discussing the concept.  Their initial concerns were that workforce housing would result in lower property values and that owners of this new housing would decide to rent their units.  The County came up with appropriate responses for all their concerns.  The issue was then taken before the newly elected Mayor and Council.  They agreed to enter into a memo of understanding, a copy of which Ed handed out.  Generally, this memo describes the property and what will be done with it including:

• The property includes a total of 49 units
• Priority will be given to Montgomery County employees
• Special priority will be given to first response employees, e.g., fire, police employees
• The memo will be legally binding
• 12 of the units will be filled through priorities established by the City of Rockville, e.g., employees of the City
• If someone violates the terms of workforce housing, they will be required to sell the unit
• In the event of foreclosure, the County will step in and sell the unit to someone else who qualifies

Ed described the memo as an incredible document in that everyone’s concerns were met.  Tim asked when the same thing might happen in downtown Rockville.  Ed said that housing is too expensive there.  Sarah Duffy said she had followed the process and thought the work that had been done was extraordinary. 

Following Ed’s presentation there was discussion of the two presentations and whether the Commission should take any action supporting the budget requests being made by Lorraine Schack.  Sarah Mahin asked if the Community Services Division was also making any new budget requests.  Mary Lou responded that she had not planned to.  Tim asked about incorporating a part time volunteer coordinator in the FY 09 budget, an idea the Commission has discussed for several years.  David said that this position could also be utilized for the “Aging in Place” initiative of the Senior Center.  He thought it important to keep the concept in front of the Mayor and Council.  Mary Lou said that, if they chose, the Commission could write a letter or send an email to Burt Hall urging him to fund both the volunteer coordinator position and the two part time positions mentioned by Lorraine.  She thought that a volunteer coordinator could develop some new opportunities for volunteering in the City.  The County Volunteer Center serves as more of a clearinghouse.  Agnes asked if the volunteer coordinator position was more pressing than another position in the Community Services Division.  Mary Lou said that staff has not been able to document the need for another case manager.  Those people who most need case management are not always willing to receive it.  The last time the issue of volunteerism was studied, 100,000 volunteer hours were documented annually in the City.  This includes people serving on boards and commissions, coaches and all sorts of other activities. 

David then moved that the Commission write a letter endorsing Lorraine’s request for two new part time positions and recommending that the City explore the option of establishing a position for a part time volunteer coordinator in the City.  Tim seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.

Re:  Approve November 11, 2007 Meeting Minutes

Cindy Griffiths requested that the sentence at the top of page three be changed to reflect that information used in mapping crime is taken from City of Rockville police reports only.  Tim moved that the November 11, 2007 minutes be approved as amended.  David seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.

Re:  New Business

Outreach to New Mayor and Council
Sarah Duffy said she had contacted the City Clerk; she is working on scheduling visits from the new Mayor and Council members.

Community Services Division Monthly Report
Sarah Duffy asked what services were included in the substance abuse counseling at Linkages.    Mary Lou said that she would get clarification from Carol Binta-Nadeem and report back.  Agnes asked if the seminars on basic money management were open to everyone.  Mary Lou responded that they are.  Some people walk in off the street when they see the sign on the door.

Rockville Holiday Drive 
Tim asked how the Holiday Drive was going.  Mary Lou responded that November had gone well.  The Thanksgiving distribution took place at the old CVS store on Middle Lane.  The City also provided a dinner at Heritage House for seniors living there.  Volunteers served the food to the seniors.  She thanked Eric Wang for providing entertainment.  Now staff is working on the December distribution.  The City will be providing gift cards, not food.  Recently Faith United Methodist Church provided about $900 worth of gift cards.  Also volunteers from Convergent Wealth Advisors (formerly Lydian Wealth Management) raised over a thousand dollars, which they donated to the Holiday Drive.  The December distribution will be December 17 and 18.  Staff decided to ask parents to come to the office and pick up gift cards for their children.  For families with children, each child will receive a $15 gift card.  Families without children will receive a Giant card.

Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan (PROS) 
Mary Lou explained that the Department of Recreation and Parks is doing a formal study of what residents want to see in their parks in the future.  They have held several open houses and this winter will hold several focus groups.  They would like to include the Human Services Advisory Commission and the Human Rights Commission, Community Ministries of Rockville, Rockville Housing Enterprises, representatives of the Latino community, and the Asian community.  After discussion Mary Lou said she would see if members of the Human Rights Commission could meet on a Tuesday with members of the Human Services Advisory Commission, possibly in March.

Tom Lawrey’s continued absence from Commission meetings was discussed. Tim moved that the issue be tabled until the January meeting.  David seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.

Re:  Plan Agenda for January 8 Meeting

Mary Lou asked Commission members to discuss the specific information and materials they would like to present to the new mayor and council. 

Depending on time, members agreed to adjourn to committee to discuss individual topics