Board
of Commissioners Meeting
December 10,
2003
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: |
Luvenia Butler, Ernest Freudenthal, Glenn Carter |
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: |
Dorothy Shell-Berry, Caroline Chamberlain, Pam McEwen, Renee Pratt, Karlene Polk, Dinah Gregory, Ali Mahmoud, Abdelghani Barre, Carol Wilson, Joyce Changler, Giovanni Achoe, Buist Hardison, Demitria Norman, Freda McDaniel, Pat Wingfield, Emma Simon, Jackie Campbell, |
Call to Order / Approval of Minutes
The Metropolitan Social Services Board of Commissioners met on Wednesday,
December 10, 2003. Chair Luvenia Butler called the meeting to order at 3:08 p.m. The minutes for the meeting held on November 12, 2003, were approved as submitted.
Volunteer Recognition
Ms. Butler explained that the Bordeaux Cemetery was in need of some landscaping and St. David’s Episcopal Church volunteered to do this at no expense to Metro Government. As a token of our appreciation, Chair Butler presented an engraved paperweight to Bryan Huskey, who accepted on behalf of the church.
Director’s Report
Ms. Berry thanked the Board members who went on the tour of some of our Divisions and expressed her appreciation to the staff members who participated. The tour went very well and she would like to conduct another tour to include the two students from the Mayor’s Youth Council.
Ms. Berry thanked staff for all their help during the time she has been here and for all they do for the city.
Employee Recognitions
The following employees were recognized and presented service pins: Addie DeGraphenreed, Richland Village Community Services, and Nelllie Carter, Adult Day Care, were awarded 30 year pins; Delores Knox and Frankie from our Child Care Center received 20 year pins; completing 15 years of service were Fran Binkley from the Disability Information Office, Emma Simon and Buist Hardison, Homemaker Services, Sharon Boyde, Adult Day Care, Joyce Chandler, Family Services, and Freda McDaniel from the Knowles Home. Being recognized for 10 years of service were Lamin Colley, Vezelia Harris, Linda Roland and Sheilah Watkins from the Knowles Home, Gary Daniel from Transportation, Ali Mahmoud, Refugee Services, and Carol Wilson from the Family Services Casey Family Resource Center. Ms. Butler thanked them all for their wonderful service and for being a part of making this Department what it is.
Financial Report
Ms. McEwen reported we have completed five months of fiscal year 2004 and are under budget by approximately $240,000 in the General Fund. Fringe Benefits continue to be an issue for the Department. The Nutrition Program is particularly affected by both the fringe benefits and the increase in food purchases. At the end of December, we will look at requesting an increase in their budget.
The 4 Percent Fund has a balance of $300,000, all of which is designated. We still have not heard about our request for FY04 but that should be in January. There was no money spent this month on the Knowles Home renovations but they are currently working there. The Special Donations Fund has a balance of $40,000. It was noted the $26 in the Frist Donation for Disabled was the balance from a $5,000 donation for the Handiguides. The $3,286 in the RV Lookout Fund was donated when Richland Village was a residential care center and now must be used only for children’s programs.
Policies & Procedures
Ms. McEwen explained that 12 policies were mailed to Board members for them to review prior to this meeting. The Richland Village Community Services Program policy is not included in today’s packet; there were changes made so we will look at that policy in February.
The Disability Information Office Program Policy, No. DIOSRV-0022, was presented. Ms. McEwen explained there were changes made and she reviewed the changes. She asked the Board to approve the policy as it is now written. A motion by Mr. Carter, seconded by Mr. Freudenthal, to approve the policy with noted changes, passed by a unanimous vote.
Mr. Carter made a motion, seconded by Mr. Freudenthal, to approve the Smoking Policy, No. ADM-0012. The motion was passed by a unanimous vote.
The Managing & Monitoring for Results Policy, No. ADM-0011 was presented
for approval; Ms. Sylakowski was recognized and asked that the words “collect and” be added to the second sentence of the Policy Statement (The system is used to collect and analyze…) and to paragraph four, Managing with Data, (Collect and utilize data…). A motion was made by Mr. Carter, seconded by Mr. Freudenthal, to approve Policy No. ADM-0011 with noted changes. By a unanimous vote the policy was approved.
The Child Care Program Policy, No. CCCSRV-0023, was presented. In response to a question by Mr. Carter, Ms. Chamberlain explained that the staff from the Child Care Center receives training regarding reports to the Department of Human Services. Ms. Berry noted the Center has a 3 Star rating. A motion by Mr. Freudenthal, seconded by Mr. Carter, to approve this policy passed by a unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Mr. Carter, seconded by Mr. Freudenthal, to approve the Family Services Program Policy, No. FSSRV-0015. By a unanimous vote, the policy was approved. Chair Butler commended Giovanni Achoe and her staff for the wonderful work they do; this work was witnessed during the recent tour.
The Adult Homemaker Program Policy, No. HOMSRV-012, was presented. There was discussion on the outreach and referrals to this program. Ms. Chamberlain explained people know about this program in a variety of ways; we go out into the community and are a part of community networking. We presently have more referrals than we can serve and have a waiting list. Mr. Freudenthal made a motion, seconded by Mr. Carter, to approve this policy. The policy was approved by a unanimous vote.
Mr. Carter made a motion, seconded by Mr. Freudenthal, to approve the Knowles Home Assisted Care Living Program Policy, No. KHSRV-0019. The motion passed by a unanimous vote.
The Nutrition Program Policy, No. NUTSRV-0020 was presented. A motion by Mr. Freudenthal, seconded by Mr. Carter, to approve this policy passed by a unanimous vote.
The Refugee Services Program Policy, No. REFSRV-0014, was presented for approval. A motion was made by Mr. Carter, seconded by Mr. Freudenthal, to approve the policy as presented. By a unanimous vote, the policy was approved.
A motion to approve The Community Partnerships Policy, No. SRV-000, was made by Mr. Freudenthal and seconded by Mr. Carter. The motion was passed unanimously.
The final policy presented for approval was The Transportation Services Policy, No. TRNSRV-0025. Mr. Carter asked if the program served the disabled; Ms. Chamberlain said that we do not right now, however, Metro Transit serves them. Mr. Carter made a motion, seconded by Mr. Freudenthal, to approve the policy as presented. By a unanimous vote, the policy was approved.
Ms. McEwen explained one more set of policies will go out before our January meeting. After that, you will get a list of all that are approved to date and a procedure for each of them.
Other
Ms. Berry announced that Social Services increased their participation in the Metro Employees Consolidated Charities Campaign and received an award. We exceeded our goal and she thanked the Department coordinators, Renee Pratt and Barbara Anderson, for their part in making the Campaign such a success.
A token of appreciation from Social Services was given to each Commissioner and Ms. Berry said it is our way of saying thank you for all you do; we hope you will enjoy.
On behalf of the Board, Chair Butler thanked the staff for all they do and wished Happy Holidays to everyone.
Adjournment
There being no further business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 4:03 p.m.
___________________________________
Dorothy Shell-Berry
Interim Director of Social Services
cc: Ann Simon, Metro Legal Department
Council Member Morris Haddox
Jennifer Gash, Mayor’s Office
Loreen Spain, Internal Audit
Ann Paine, the Tennessean