BC 2012 05 21 Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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May 21, 2012 (Regular Meeting) Page 1054 Larry Marlowe, resident of 664 Odell School Road in Concord, spoke in support of doing away with the current revaluation all together and using the previous revaluation values; supplying food for the jail from local vendors; and fully funding the Veterans Services department. He also expressed appreciation for the new Board of Elections facility. Gloria Winzenread, resident of 647 Camrose Circle in Concord and representative of the Friends of the Library, expressed support for library funding, stating the Library changes lives and works with all people. Gloria Simmons, resident of 236 South Union Street in Concord, former Council of Aging member and participant and recipient of aging services and programs, urged the Board to use caution in adopting a budget which supports staff changes and changes in use of space at the Senior Center. She also noted the current Senior Center is designated as a "Center of Excellence" by the State and that the proposed changes to the Center are not clear or finalized. Jean Chandler, resident of 4977 Hilton Lake Road in Kannapolis, Department of Aging Advisory Board member, etc., addressed the loss of volunteers if the proposed changes to the Department of Aging occur as presented in the County Manager's recommended budget. She advised volunteers contribute thousands of hours to the Department of Aging, consider the DSS (Dept. of Social Services) facility to be in an undesirable location for senior services and does not meet the accessibility needs of the aging population. In addition, she advised the additional mileage to Kannapolis will be another impediment for the aging volunteers. She asked the Board to consider these facts during the upcoming budget deliberations. Ann Eaves, resident of 1600 Flowes Store Road East in Concord, former social worker for the City of Richmond, retired Cabarrus County School teacher, and Department of Aging Advisory Board member, stated there is already strong collaboration between the Department of Aging and the Department of Social Services through the Cabarrus Community Resource Connection (CRC). She stated there is also collaboration between the Department of Aging and Parks Department. She spoke in opposition to restructuring of staff and reassignment of space usage for the Department of Aging. She asked the Board to not change something that is working well as it is. Ted Drain, resident of 4877 Keeneland Place SW in Concord, Department of Aging Advisory Board member, and Cabarrus delegate to the Senior Tarheel Legislature, expressed concern for proposed changes to the referral system of the Cabarrus Community Resource Connections for Aging and Disabilities (CRC). The CRC consists of approximately 30 service providers and uses the same referral system. He noted the Senior Center is the only recognized CRC in the State. He urged the Board not to change anything that will cost taxpayers more or that will give them less. Malli Plowman, resident of 7425 Millbrook Road in Harrisburg, active participant, instructor, volunteer, member of the Council on Aging, and member of the Silver Arts Committee at the Cabarrus County Senior Center, expressed concern for proposed changes that would move some services of the Department of Aging and Senior Centers to the Department of Social Services in Kannapolis. Mike Plowman, resident of 7425 Millbrook Road in Harrisburg, Department of Aging Advisory Board member and participant of other senior programs, expressed opposition to the proposed changes that would move some services of the Department of Aging and Senior Center to the Department of Social Services in Kannapolis and to the Parks Department. Dee Vernon, resident of 1204 Berkshire Drive in Kannapolis, expressed opposition to the proposed changes that would abolish the Department of Aging and move some services of the Department of Aging and Senior Centers to DSS in Kannapolis and to the Parks Department. She also noted the beauty of the Senior Center and pointed out the land was donated to the County. Finally, she advised seniors volunteer at the election polls, the County fair, etc. Rosa Santos, resident of 3821 Carl Parmer Drive in Harrisburg, and Department of Aging Advisory Board member, stated she works with the Hispanic community and hopes the Department of Social Services, Parks Department and Department of Aging will work with the Hispanic community. With there being no one else to address the Board, Chairman Poole closed that portion of the meeting.