HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-22-82 Older Adults Committee fdnmmtf#rr Erpori
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The February 22 , 1982 meeting of the Older Adults Committee was called
to order by its Chairman Councilman Richard C . Dombrowski at 5 : 30 p .m. in
the Council Meeting Room.
.Persons in attendence included Councilmen Zielinski , Beck, Szymkowiak,
Dombrowski, Crone, McGann, Voorde and Serge, James Seitz, Loretta Duda,
Robert Goodrich, Robert Niezgodski, H.J. Noel, Dewitt Hunter , Zoia Smith,
Lahmon Haynes , Mary Pawlak, Chuck Dempsey, Murdock E . Noel and Kathleen
Cekanski-Farrand.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss Bill No . 17-82 which would
appropriate $25, 000 for the Howard Park Senior Citizens Center. Councilman
Dombrowski noted that this bill would be funded by revenue sharing money
and not by tax monies which had funded it in the past . He then called upon
James Seitz to review the bill .
Mr. Seitz stated that approximately $36 ,000 is needed to help fund the
Senior Citizens Center. He noted that there is-no cost accounting for the
Center, and therefore there is some duplication because of the ice. rink
operation. The majority of the budgeted amount is for labor costs with the
balance for electricity, telelphone, social security, and other miscellaneous
expenses . The proposed $25 , 000 would pay for three salaried people . In
response to questions from Councilman Dombrowski he stated that no programs
or activities would be curtailed, and that there were no plans to turn the
Center over to Real Services . Mr . Seitz stressed however that he does not
set policy, and that the Park Board is charged with that responsibility.
Mr . Goodrich expressed his concern over the use of revenue sharing funds
since they may or may not be available in the future . He stressed that it is
very difficult once you take something out of the budget to put it back in
the following year . Councilmen Voorde, McGann, Crone and Dombrowski shared
this same concern.
Councilman McGann then questioned the cash balance as of January 1, 1982 .
It was confirmed by Mr. Niezgodski that the figure was $205 , 202 . 70 as of that
date. He then directed Mr. McGann to page 25 of the Park Department Annual
Report for further clarification. It was agreed that this figure could
be reappropriated however the City was presently borrowing against this amount ,
and therefore it was only a "paper figure" . Approximately $50 , 000 is
delinquent in property tax monies as of this date which was affecting the
budget .
Councilman McGann suggested that the two groups which function within
the Howard Park Senior Citizens Center be contacted since they each have their
own officers and meet on different days of the week. Mr . Goodrich thought
that that was an excellent idea and made an open invitation for this group
to meet at the Center for a future meeting.
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Older Adults Committee
Mrs . Zoia Smith who stated she will soon be 85 years old stressed
the need for a Senior Citizens Center which would be open every day of
the week.
Councilman McGann said he felt like this bill was "ruffling his
feathers" because a mere $36, 000 is designated for Senior Citizen
activities out of a total budget of 18 million dollars . He felt the
Senior Citizens deserved more. Councilman Szymkowiak also expressed
his concern for the Senior Citzens Center .
Following further discussion Councilman Crone made a motion
seconded by Councilman Szymkowiak to recommend Bill 17-82 favorably
to the Council. The motion passed unaminously. There being no further
business to come before the Committee the meeting was adjourned at
6: 10 p .m. .
Respectfully Submitted,
Richard C . Dombrowksi