KNOXVILLE- KNOX COUNTY COMMUNITY ACTION COMMITTEE. February 28, 2013 MINUTES

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1 KNOXVILLE- KNOX COUNTY COMMUNITY ACTION COMMITTEE February 28, 2013 MINUTES The regular scheduled meeting of the Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee was held at the L. T. Ross Building, 2247 Western Avenue, Knoxville, Tennessee at 10:00 A.M. on Thursday, February 28, COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT Ms. Virginia Anagnost Rep. Joe Armstrong (Represented by Mr. Wesley Donaldson) Ms. Debbie Black Councilman Daniel Brown Dr. Martha Buchanan (Represented by Mr. Dempsey Andes) Ms. Polly Doka Mr. Jim DuBose Ms. Zoe Evans Ms. Mary Farmer Mr. Timothy McMahan Ms. Christy McMillan Mr. Alvin Nance (Represented by Ms. Ashley Ogle) Ms. Judy Poulson Mayor Madeline Rogero (Represented by Mr. Thomas Tank Strickland) Ms. Lula Williams Mr. Charles Wright COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT Commissioner Amy Broyles Mayor Tim Burchett Mr. Mark Donaldson Rev. John Gill Ms. Susan Long Dr. James McIntyre Mr. Dennis Murphy Ms. Monica Reed Judge John Rosson Dr. Sandra Twardosz Ms. Lula Williams 0

2 The meeting was opened with a moment of silence, Ms. Virginia Anagnost, board chair, presiding. Ms. Anagnost introduced and welcomed Ms. Christy McMillan, who is serving on the CAC board as a representative of Head Start. I. MINUTES Ms. Anagnost asked if there were additions or corrections to the board minutes of January 24, There being none, the minutes were approved as distributed. II. ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE REPORT Mr. Thomas Tank Strickland presented the Administrative Committee Report for February 20, Mr. Tim Royster from HG&A Associates met with the committee to review the Pension Plan audit for the period ending June 30, 2012 and There were no issues identified. The report and the related forms have been submitted to the U.S. Department of Labor as required by law. The committee approved the personnel actions on the attached sheet. The committee received a report of the Office on Aging invested funds. No action is required at this time. The committee reviewed the cash balance report through February 20, Although the amount posted showed a negative cash balance, additional information presented showed $1,186,778 received and waiting to be posted at the Knox County Finance Department. Additionally, $931,788 has been requested and is in various stages of the payment process at grantor agencies. Based on this additional information, there is no indication of a problem with the cash balance. The committee reviewed the Head Start and Early Head Start program information reports and financial reports for the month of January, The attendance rates have been adjusted to reflect bad weather closings. The committee was advised that Head Start met 100% of the immunization standards through the immunization audit conducted by the Knox County Health Department. The Head Start Policy Council has selected Mr. Timothy McMahan and Ms. Christy McMillan to represent Head Start on the board. They will be invited to attend the February meeting. The financial reports of the Homeless Services grants including Homeward Bound were reviewed. The committee reviewed an application to the City of Knoxville Community Development Department for $120,000 in Emergency Solutions Grant funds for the period July 1, 2013 through June 30, The committee was also advised the current Emergency Solutions Grant contract with the City of Knoxville will be amended to add an additional $15,000 in client services for the period ending June 30, Full board approval is recommended. The committee reviewed the local budget request to Knox County which includes an additional $50,000 to cover a portion of a 2.5% increase for CAC employees effective July 1, This action was approved last month. The committee was advised that Barbara Monty s retirement event will be held on Tuesday, April 16 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the LT Ross Building. Mr. Strickland presented a supplemental Administrative Committee report. The committee approved the following personnel action: Employ Susan Long as Director of the Office on Aging, effective on or about April 8, 2013, at an annual salary of $75,423.00, Grade 14, Step 8. 1

3 Ms. Barbara Kelly told the board that Ms. Long has a degree in marketing from the University of Tennessee and has recently been employed with East Tennessee Personal Care. She has served as director of senior services at Baptist Health System and served in an administrative role at three (3) assisted living centers. Ms. Long currently serves on boards at O Connor Senior Center, the Council on Aging, CAC, and has been an active member of the CAC Administrative Committee. Mr. Thomas Tank Strickland made a motion to approve the Administrative Committee report and the Supplemental Administrative Committee Report for February Mr. Jim DuBose seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. Ms. Anagnost introduced and welcomed Mr. Timothy McMahan, who is serving on the CAC board as a representative of Head Start. Mr. Wesley Donaldson made a motion to approve the Emergency Solutions Grant application for the period ending June 30, 2014 and the amendment to add $15,000 to the current contract ending June 30, Mr. Charles Wright seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. III. EMPTY STOCKING FUND Ms. Lori Galbraith presented the 2012 Empty Stocking Fund (ESF) report. She expressed best wishes to the board on behalf of Mr. Fred Brown, who could not be present at the meeting. Ms. Galbraith told the board that 3,600 food baskets were distributed to those in need. Toys were provided to 2,658 children ages 16 and under. In all, $239, was raised for ESF, including the Milk Fund. In addition, ESF provided funds to cover 20,400 Mobile Meals delivered between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Thirteen (13) human interest stories were featured in the Knoxville News Sentinel to help raise funds for the Empty Stocking Fund. As a result of these stories, $29, was generated to help local families. Ms. Galbraith thanked Head Start, the Food Distribution program, Homeward Bound, Mobile Meals, and others for their assistance with ESF. IV. THE BIG PICTURE: NATIONAL PERFORMANCE INDICATORS FOR 2012 Ms. Barbara Kelly presented highlights from the National Performance Indicators (NPI) report. A PowerPoint presentation and a handout accompanied the report. Ms. Kelly described outcomes of CAC s goals for fiscal year Ms. Kelly told the board that a full copy of the report is available upon request. A copy of the PowerPoint presentation is appended to the file copy of the minutes. V. PRESENTATION City Councilwoman, Brenda Palmer, presented a check for $1,900 to Ms. Barbara Monty on behalf of herself, Councilman Dan Brown, Councilman Finbarr Saunders, and Councilman Mark Campen. The Council members donated a portion of their respective 202 discretionary funds in support of Mobile Meals. Ms. Monty thanked Ms. Palmer and the Council members for their generous support of the program. 2

4 VI. STATUS OF FEDERAL FUNDING Ms. Barbara Kelly spoke about the federal sequestration and the ways that it will impact CAC programs and services. The 5.1% reduction in federal funds over seven (7) months will result in a significant reduction in funding for CAC program operations. Programs already impacted are Mobile Meals, which currently has a waiting list of forty-nine (49). Other programs with waiting lists include Home Repair and the Weatherization Assistance Program. Ms. Kelly said that each program will have its own way of dealing with the shortfall. She added that there is a health and safety aspect to the reductions in funding, noting that CAC will do all it can to lessen the impact of funding cuts. Ms. Zoe Evans asked Ms. Kelly if she would regularly keep the board advised of the impact of funding reductions. Ms. Kelly replied that she would provide the board with regular updates. Ms. Anagnost urged board members to contact Senator Alexander, Senator Corker, and Congressman Duncan, adding that they should see the actual impact on services and programs that CAC provides to the community. Mr. Thomas Tank Strickland suggested that a letter should be written to the Senators and Congressman on behalf of the CAC board. Mr. Thomas Tank Strickland moved that a letter be sent to Senator Alexander, Senator Corker, and Congressman Duncan. Mr. Jim DuBose seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. VII NEIGHBORHOOD CONFERENCE Ms. Eden Slater, a CAC AmeriCorps volunteer working with the City of Knoxville Office of Neighborhoods, spoke about the upcoming Neighborhood Conference. She explained that all residents of Knoxville and Knox County are invited to attend this free conference on March 23 at the Knoxville Convention Center. The conference will include workshops, information booths, activities, prizes, and free lunch and breakfast for attendees. She added that event organizers are looking for volunteers to help with the event. Mr. Charles Wright asked Ms. Slater if registration is required. She replied that anyone interested in attending may register online by February 19th. Registration forms were also made available at the board meeting. Ms. Anagnost thanked Ms. Slater for joining the meeting to promote the conference. VIII. PROGRAM UPDATES Ms. Karen Estes presented an update on the utilization of the additional funding provided by Knox County for Knox County CAC Transit. She reported that 489 trips have been provided to CAC passengers since December 1, 2012, when expanded transportation services became available. The program has provided 4,281 one-way trips, with 1/3 of those trips assisting individuals with disabilities. The program has provided 204 KAT bus passes to 132 individuals. Ms. Estes thanked her staff for their efforts on a particularly difficult day when an ice storm blanketed the city. While CAC was officially closed due to inclement weather, eighteen (18) Transit staff members arrived to work and carried out the day s tasks. Ms. Estes directed the board members to a handout which listed those employees who went the extra mile to provide for the people who needed services. The handout included a letter from a client who expressed her gratitude to a Transit driver who not only took her to dialysis at 2:00 a.m., but also made sure she 3

5 got inside her home safely. The driver then spread rock salt on her steps, increasing her safety at home. Ms. Estes thanked the Knox County CAC Transit staff for their dedication and hard work. Ms. Alison Taylor announced the Mayors for Meals event on Wednesday, March 20, 2013 at the Mobile Meals Kitchen. Guests of honor will include City of Knoxville Mayor, Madeline Rogero, Knox County Mayor, Tim Burchett, and Farragut Mayor, Mr. Ralph McGill. Ms. Barbara Kelly announced that the City of Knoxville has been chosen as one of the top five (5) finalists in the Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge, which the City would use to develop an Urban Food Corridor. The board viewed a promotional video illustrating how funding would be used to promote local food security. Ms. Anagnost added that residents can vote online in support of Knoxville s application via a link on the City of Knoxville s website. Ms. Barbara Monty invited board members to attend the Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability s Listening Tour to be held on Thursday, March 7, 2013, at O Connor Senior Center. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. Respectively submitted, Jim DuBose CAC Board Secretary 4