Excused:  B. Blanchard

Staff:        C. Covert, Clerk of the Legislature; S. Whicher, County Administrator; I. Stein, Office for the
Aging Director; T. Herden, Social Services; N. Zahler, Youth Services Director; N. Zook, Youth Services; C. Nocera, Red Cross

Guests:    D. Winch, Legislator

Called to Order

 The meeting was called to order at 11:41 a.m.

Changes to Agenda

 Ms. Robertson requested a report from Chuck Nocera of the Red Cross concerning housing and homeless programs be added to the agenda.  An appointment for the Office for the Aging Advisory Committee was also added to the agenda.

 Ms. Robertson expressed condolences from the Committee on the death of Janis Avery, a 30-year employee of the Department of Social Services.

Office for the Aging

 Budget Adjustment
 It was MOVED by Ms. Schuler, seconded by Mr. Koplinka-Loehr, and unanimously adopted by voice vote by members present, to approve and submit the following budget adjustment to the full Legislature for approval.  Ms. Stein briefly explained the budget adjustment and said this money was received as a result of the introduction of the prescription drug card under Medicare.  As of April 2005, COFA will bring this into their own budget to restore some time of the Aging Services Specialist.  She said a presentation will be made to the Legislature in 2005 concerning the Countywide Needs Assessment.  In 2004, it was discovered that too many senior citizens are unaware of the health insurance counseling program even though there has been an enormous amount of outreach.

 Revenue:   6793.44772 Federal Revenue $6,650
 Appropriation:  6793.54491 Subcontract  $6,650

Explanation:  Revenue increase permits Lifelong to serve more clients for the Health Insurance Information Assistance Program (HIICAP).

Board of Health Report

 Mr. Winch, Liaison, provided a brief overview of the Board of Health membership and said the Board meets monthly.  The Committee hears standard reports from Administration, Medical Director, Community Health Services, Children with Special Care Needs, County Attorney, and Environmental Health.

 Below is a list of topics on which actions were taken on environmental health issues:
· Sale of tobacco to minors
· Food service establishment violations
· Water systems violations

Below is also a list of actions taken by the Board of Health on Community Health Services issues
· New policy on administrative on-call procedures
· Review of various policies to bring services up to date

The issues taken up by the Board in recent months include:
· Bringing Mayer's Smoke Shop and Newsstand into compliance for tobacco products
 not accessible to public
· Bury Water System in Newfield into compliance (Water District No. 2 has been created).  The town is hoping to bid the project in January and begin working in fall 2005.
· Smoking policy waiver for Bowl-O-Drome claiming loss of income.  Mr. Winch said he doubts they’ll be granted a waiver.

Mr. Winch updated the Committee on the WIC program and said New York State is not granting additional funds to the County.  Although the County's program exceeds its goals, it seems it is being penalized by the State, as the funding is not likely to increase.  In particular, Mr. Winch felt the need among the county’s student population is not adequately recognized.  The State has said its funding from the federal government has also been kept level.

Overall, the Board of Health feels the staff at the Health Department is doing an excellent job with limited resources, “going beyond the call of duty,” i.e., flu clinic.

In closing, Mr. Winch stated that he hoped when Dr. Joan Sullivan returns from active military duty that there will be a vacancy that would create an opportunity to reappoint her to the Board of Health.  The bylaws did not permit a leave of absence.

Department of Social Services

 Resolution
 It was MOVED by Ms. Schuler, seconded by Mr. Koplinka-Loehr, and unanimously adopted by voice vote by members present, to approve and submit the following resolution to the full Legislature for approval.  Mr. Herden explained the State pays 50 percent up to a cap amount.  It is a fixed dollar amount and has not been increased in 12-15 years.  The State pays approximately 30% of the cost, and all increases are local money.  This program is needed for about 25-40 people per year.

RESOLUTION NO.  - AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF THREE-YEAR INDIGENT BURIAL CONTRACTS – DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

 WHEREAS, the Commissioner of the Department of Social Services is obliged under New York State Social Services Law “to provide for the care, removal, and burial” of deceased indigent persons, and
WHEREAS, the Department of Social Services has negotiated successfully with the County’s funeral directors a new payment schedule covering these services, and
WHEREAS, the service providers have agreed to accept the new rates in payment for the covered services for a period of not less than three years, and
WHEREAS, it is in the County’s interest to incorporate that point into its indigent burial services contracts, and
WHEREAS, multi-year agreements must be prior-approved by the Legislature, now therefore be it
 RESOLVED, on recommendation of the Health and Human Service Committee, that the Department of Social Services is authorized to execute indigent burial contracts with area funeral homes featuring three-year terms beginning January 1, 2005.
SEQR ACTION: TYPE II-20

 Fiscal Reports
 Mr. Herden provided a brief overview of the fiscal reports distributed to the Committee.  He updated the Committee on the weekly shares report received from the State regarding the MMIS Medicaid program.  In previous years there have been 52 reports and the information on Medicaid expenditures provided to the Committee has been based on those 52-week per-year reports.  However, it came to his attention three weeks ago that the State has decided that 53-week shares will be recognized as 2004 calendar expenditures.  This creates a timing issue; however he is discussing with the Finance Director.

 He said at the end of October, the projection was $185,000 under budget, the County is averaging at this time approximately weekly share local costs around $210,000.  If the 53rd week were to count against this year, rather than having $185,000 under budget, the County would be approximately $20,000-$30,000 over budget.  In terms of the Department's budget, there will not be an impact as the weekly share costs are paid through separate accounts maintained by the Finance Director.

Mr. Herden updated the committee on a discussion he had with Mr. Squires on the overburden revenue for the MMIS program.  At the end of November, the revenues in the MMIS program for overburden were 40 percent of what the annual budget had been.  Mr. Herden reminded Mr. Squires that the first overburden payment received this year was counted as revenue in last year's budget.  It is expected based on this information that the budget will come in under budget; Mr. Herden is estimating the budget to be about $200,000 short.  The projections are difficult because the two overburden payments received this year were reimbursed for expenditures that took place while the Federal government was still paying increased share of MMIS.

Mr. Herden said it seems likely that the State will withhold more overburden money in the coming year.  In each of the last two years, the State withheld $19 million statewide from the expected overburden payments, even though they were legally obligated to pay this money.  Our share of that was $70,000 each year, which they just did not pay.

The Committee suggested the New York State Association of Counties should be made aware of this; Mr. Whicher agreed to make a contact, to ask whether NYSAC is considering a lawsuit.

At this time the Committee reviewed the fiscal reports distributed with the agenda. Ms. Schuler asked for more information concerning what "Petitions Filed: Other" means in the children's services section monthly report.  Mr. Herden could not answer her question and said he would ask Ms. Carey to provide information.

County Administrator's Report

 Mr. Whicher said the search committee for the Mental Health Commissioner met yesterday and will be interviewing three candidates January 14th.  The process has been extended to accommodate the Legislature's request to meet the finalists and interviews have been scheduled with the final candidates on January 18th.  The Legislature, Health and Human Services Cabinet, and the Mental Health Services Board will be participating in the interview process on the 18th.

 Mr. Whicher said at the appropriate time, he will be recommending an amendment to the Charter clarifying the role of the Mental Health Services Board in the selection process for the appointment of Mental Health Commissioner.

Youth Services

 Ms. Zahler updated the Committee on the Workforce Development Board grant for employment, education, and career training for in-school and out-of-school youth, ages 14-21.  The role of the Youth Services Department is to provide the coordination of employment services.  The Workforce Investment Board agreed to fund all the components, but separately.  The Employment and Training office was contracted with to provide the overall process and coordination.  There are two providers involved with this project:  Challenge Industries is working with out-of-school youth population in collaboration with Cooperative Extension; Tompkins Community Action is working with the in-school youth.  The Youth Services Department will be providing services such as intake, financial eligibility, pre- and post-testing, etc.

 Ms. Zook briefly spoke about her role and responsibilities and said she is working closely with Challenge Industries in the Job Club area.

There are a total of 30 out-of-school youth and 80 in-school youth involved.  Funds for child care, if needed, and transportation are provided.  In-school youth receive bus passes.

Red Cross

 Housing and Homeless Issues
 Mr. Nocera updated the Committee on housing and homeless issues as they relate to the Red Cross.  In the shelter program, the number of bed nights provided through October 2004 are about on line with the numbers from last year:  11,673 bed nights were provided through October 2004; 11,891 bed nights were provided through October 2003.  The one point he made with these numbers is last year was the highest year since they have kept records.  Bed nights by dependents have decreased slightly, approximately 15 percent, but more single adults have been in the shelter.

 He said the numbers in all the areas (Friendship Center, Food Pantry, and Project Share) seem to be consistent with last year's numbers.  For example the Friendship Center has had just fewer than 10,000 visits this year.  With 160 cases open in prevention, they were able to prevent 145 of those cases coming in to the shelter.  In terms of food, 131,000 meals were provided last year; this year through October 81,000 meals have been provided through the food pantry and 45,000 through the shelter.    The Project Share cases are holding about the same.  He commented there are no major deviations, but said the problem is still large.

 Mr. Nocera spoke about the financial problems his agency encountered this year including the loss of funding and grants.  The loss is an accumulation over two years of funding:  $10,000 less from County Youth Services; $17,000 State grant (Homeless Intervention Program); $7,000 increase in transportation costs for the Department of Social Services; employee health care expenses increased by $9,000; $20,000 in salary adjustments.  Including some new revenue, the total gap is $55,000.

 Ms. Schuler was excused at 12:58 p.m.

 Mr. Nocera spoke about some of the changes made in the program and the reductions and/or cuts made to accommodate the loss of funding.  There was some surplus money from the previous year that was  used, and a second staff person at the shelter was eliminated who was responsible for monitoring the activity at the motel (On average there are 36 beds used per night in the motel.).  The position of Re-housing Case Manager was also eliminated.  Total layoffs have been 2.4 FTE.

 He said discussions are underway with the Commissioner of Social Services to address some of these funding concerns.  Approximately $33,000 more would be needed to replace those positions, through June 2005.

 As part of the Continuum of Care program by HUD, the Red Cross has been identified as the lead agency to coordinate and implement a centralized management information system.  HUD has indicated that without this system, communities will risk the loss of all contracts.  The amount of contracts on an annual basis is approximately $450,000.   His agency has applied for various grants through HUD, the City's CDBG program, the County's CDBG grant process, and the United Way and to date have not been able to get funding to create this database.  The initial project cost for the first year will be about $58,000 and less after that; the project would involve four agencies (Red Cross, Tompkins Community Action, Unity House, and Department of Social Services).  At this time he explained how the project would work and would streamline and make more efficient the tracking of clients.  The HUD deadline is 2006 to have this system in place.

 Mr. Nocera then discussed the agency’s plans for the Friendship Center, which they lease.  They would like to rehab the building, put case managers’ offices upstairs, and convert the adjacent building to a 13-bed shelter.  The City’s CDBG process views this project favorably.

 He concluded by stating that the real issue causing homelessness in the county is affordable housing.  There is a need for county leadership in working with municipalities and private developers.  Mr. Nocera noted that CU Planning professor Rolf Pendall estimated there is a need for about 1,200 new units in the county.  Most homeless people are first-time and “episodic,” meaning they are undergoing new or temporary setbacks.  He estimates that about 20-25 people are “chronically” homeless in Tompkins County.

Chair's Report

 Ms. Robertson reported that in regard to the prescription discount card, Ms. Kippola, Contracts Coordinator, agreed to take the request to add more Spanish language back to CAREMARK.

 Ms. Robertson also updated the Committee on the activities of the Housing and Homeless Task Force.  She said Ms. Carey, Social Services Commissioner, is pulling together the appropriate agencies to look at and understand eligibility issues for jail inmates and streamlining the discharge planning process at the Jail.

Next Meeting

 The next meeting is scheduled for December 22.  If there are no agenda items, the meeting will be cancelled.
 
Approval of Minutes

 It was MOVED by Mr. Koplinka-Loehr, seconded by Mr. Todd, and unanimously adopted by voice vote by members present, to approve the minutes of the November 10th meeting as revised.

Appointments

 It was MOVED by Mr. Koplinka-Loehr, seconded by Mr. Todd, and unanimously adopted by voice vote by members present, to approve and submit the following appointments to the full Legislature for approval:

Youth Services Board
Term expires December 31, 2006
Wesley Sanders - Youth At-large representative
Terms expire December 31, 2007
Kathleen Schlather - At-large representative

Community Mental Health Services Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities Subcommittee
John Orak - Community Member representative; term expires December 31, 2008

Community Mental Health Services Substance Abuse Subcommittee
Nancy Zahler - Community Member representative; term expires December 31, 2008

Office for the Aging
Terms expire December 31, 2007
Eleanor May
Carol John
Terry A. Beckley
Randolph Warden
Terms expire December 31, 2006
Catherine K. Paddock
Roger Rector

Personal Emergency Response Service Advisory Board
Terms expire December 31, 2006
Phyllis Stout - At-large representative
Lorinda May - Health Department representative

Adjournment

 The meeting adjourned at 1:23 p.m.