Agenda - 02-03-1997 - 9d - Laserfiche WebLink

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J 3 Funding Proposal for The Orange County Senior Centers Development Plan: 1996-2000 prepared by Orange County Advisory Board on Aging's Planning Task Force January, 1997 On August 20, 1996 the final report on the Orange County Senior Centers Development Plan: 1996-2000 was submitted to the Board of County Commissioners prepared by the appointed Senior Centers Development Plan Committee. While the final report provided a"vision"- recommending a large multipurpose Senior Center in Hillsborough and in Chapel Hill with satellite outreach programs in Carrboro, Chapel Hill/Northside area, Efland-Cheeks and Cedar Grove areas, it did not include a funding plan. In considering the Senior Centers Development Plan, the County Commissioners pointed out the need for additional information about facility costs, sources of funds and the staging of the facility construction, purchase, expansion or improvement. As a result of County Commissioner comments, the Advisory Board on Aging's Planning Committee convened a Task Force which included the Senior Centers Development Plan Committee to focus on the funding issues. The Task Force's purpose was to have a funding plan by December, 1996. Linda Rahija and Beth Ellen Barba, co-chaired the two funding task force meetings. The first meeting focussed on prioritizing the senior center facilities while the second meeting addressed the financing- estimated costs, the sources of funds and the staging of the facility projects. At the first Task Force meeting on November 4th, members ranked the top facilities along with listing the positives and the negatives of each facility in the the plan. The concensus was that all the facilities in the plan were important, but the top priority was a new Hillsborough Multipurpose Senior Center which would better serve central and northern Orange County. The current Hillsborough Center is centrally located in the Whiffed Human Services Center, but there are only three rooms which are small and scattered within the building. Because of its limited space, governmental location and lack of outdoor signage, many people are either unaware of the Hillsborough Center's existence or feel it is designed for low income or frail older adults. A more visible facility with adequate space would better serve the large number of senior citizens in this part of the county. The current Chapel EBB Senior Center(located in the Galleria shopping center)was considered the second priority as it serves the largest number of seniors in an excellent location, but in a leased facility with no assurance beyond the year 2001 that the Center would remain there. Members expressed a desire to purchase the facility if at all possible as well as the adjoining space in order to protect the upfit investment of over $200,000 by the Friends of the Chapel Hill Senior Center. Page 1 of 2