The Health and Human Services Committee of the DeKalb County Board met on Monday, August 4, 2008 @ 6:30p.m. in the Administration Building’s Conference Room East.  Chairman Robert Rosemier called the meeting to order.  Members present were Ms. Fullerton, Mr. Metzger, Sr., Mr. Osborne, and Mr. Stoddard.  Ms. LaVigne was absent.  Others present were Mary Ramp and John Hulseberg.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

            Moved by Mr. Metzger, Sr., seconded by Ms. Fullerton, and it was carried unanimously to approve the minutes from July 9, 2008.

Ms. LaVigne arrived at 6:37p.m.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

            Moved by Mr. Stoddard, seconded by Ms. LaVigne, and it was carried unanimously to approve the agenda as presented.

SENIOR TAX LEVY ALLOCATION GUIDELINES – MARY RAMP

            Ms. Ramp, Director of the DeKalb County Community Services Department, approached the committee about the funds that are in the Senior Tax Levy Account. 

            Ms. Ramp said that there are some funds still left in the Senior Services Tax Fund and she needed to still get updated information from the Finance Department for the month of July 2008.  The final numbers that she has for the past year are attached to these minutes.  She said that several agencies did not spend all of their monies.  DeKalb County Hospice did not, along with Elder Care Services-Self Neglect, Family Service Agency, DeKalb County Health Department and Opportunity House. 

Ms. Ramp said that the Health Department has about $900 left, but they are waiting until the claims are denied by the State and then they bill the Senior Tax Levy. They are still waiting for January 2008 billing.

Mr. Metzger said, on the billing delays, how long can we wait until we can apply them back?

Ms. Ramp said that the auditors said that in this case they could follow the logic, they would let the County go back.

Ms. Ramp then explained that Opportunity House submitted their claim as an hourly rate as if the person worked a 40-hour week and they really only worked 32 hours a week.  Because they did not work a full 40 hours a week, they did not spend all of the money.  She further explained that the program only call for 32 hours a week. 

She also explained that $6,000 goes to her department to help offset some of the costs.

Chairman Rosemier asked if she had talked to Hospice about not spending all of the monies?

Ms. Ramp said that she did not talk to them, but that they did not have the clients.

Mr. Rosemier asked Ms. Ramp to check up on Hospice and to get back to the committee with her information.

Ms. Ramp said that in this case she things it was for the Transition Program.  The funding for this new year, she thought was for $3500.00.

Chairman Rosemier said that he has seen the fund increase about $50,000 a year. 

Ms. Ramp passed out a one-page summary of unaudited estimates for the Senior Tax Levy Fund.  She said that the one-time only allocation that the committee just made was in the amount of $17,737.80.  She further stated that the fund gained $21,000 and another $75,000 in interest and unallocated property tax money.  We did not budget as much as what we could have is what it amounts to, Ms. Ramp said.  She also said that a lot of it has to do with the fact that when we budget we don’t know the exact cash amount, too.

Chairman Rosemier said that this committee also has to make a determination for the Community Assessment Phase II.  Our first investment was for $2500.00 and the Phase II portion is anticipated to amount to $10,000. 

Chairman Rosemier asked Ms. Ramp to explain how she advertizes our Senior Tax Levy solicitations?

Mr. Ramp said that she sends out the information to all of the agencies from the past that have applied and others who have expressed interest.  She announces it at the senior service providers meeting and, of course, it is on the website.

Ms. LaVigne suggested that possibly we should see if Safe Passage should be contacted.  Resources are getting harder and harder to get from the state and possibly we should contact them if seniors are involved in caring for children in their homes.

Chairman Rosemier asked Ms. Ramp to check with Ms. Pam Wiseman at Safe Passage to see if they need any money that she may want to consider applying for this funding.

Ms. Ramp said that what she is looking for tonight is for guidelines and suggestions to change for next year, to new committee members for next year.

Ms. Fullerton said that she felt that we should always have a cushion in this fund because of the economy. 

ADJOURNMENT

Moved by Mr. Metzger, Sr., seconded by Ms. LaVigne, and it was carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting.

                                                            Respectively submitted,

                                                            _________________________________  

                                                            Chairman Robert Rosemier

_____________________________ 

Mary C. Supple, Secretary