Orange County NC Website
Mary Fraser announced that the new Mobility Manager will begin work on June 16. This individual is <br />currently the Community Outreach Specialist for TTA. An Occupational Therapy graduate student has <br />also been hired on an interim basis to promote the new rural routes to be launched in July utilizing the <br />½¢ sales tax revenues. Janice Tyler added that the new OPT Director, Peter Murphy, is committed to <br />improving client satisfaction among riders. <br /> <br />Housing Study Coordinator Cherie Rosemond reviewed the document she presented at the previous <br />month’s meeting that outlined Orange County’s housing resources, future options, and shortcomings. <br />Questions were raised about the number of long term care facilities and concentrations of senior <br />residents in apartments/condos. Ms. Rosemond stated that one conclusion of this study might be that <br />housing options are available for low and high-income individuals but not the middle class. Dick White <br />asked what next steps are planned. Mary Fraser responded that a summer intern will interview <br />municipal and county planning department staff to share the identified future options and explore their <br />feasibility. One particular issue is the zoning limit on the number of unrelated persons who can live in <br />one dwelling. Another issue is providing incentives for builders to get involved in Orange County’s senior <br />housing market. Ms. Rosemond asked the Advisory Board for recommendations to receive the Housing <br />Study: Board of County Commissioners, any Aging In Community series attendee, Orange County <br />Department Directors, MAP Steering Committee members, heads of existing senior housing complexes, <br />Habitat for Humanity members, Orange County realtors, Chamber of Commerce. Advisory Board <br />members expressed thanks for Ms. Rosemond’s work on the Housing Study. It was suggested that the <br />Interim Housing and Community Development Director be contacted and informed. Additional <br />comments will be accepted through June 20 before the document is finalized. <br /> <br />Mary Fraser summarized the May 31 follow-up meeting for those who had attended the Aging In <br />Community series and wanted involvement in developing the next phase. The consensus was that the <br />AIC series should continue. She also announced that a second summer intern from the School of Public <br />Health will be interviewing long term care administrators and staff to identify the barriers to providing <br />‘person-centered care’. Heather Altman asked how this project relates to the current competition for <br />meaningful activities development. Those projects must be submitted by August with a September <br />recognition of the winning facility/agency at a September Board of County Commissioners meeting. <br /> <br />Committee Reports: <br />• A new administrator has been assigned to Carolina Pointe; Britthaven is rumored to reopen this <br />year. <br />• All Orange County long term care and assisted living facilities have signed up for Music In My <br />Mind along with Soltys Adult Day Health Center and Charles House. <br />• MIMM is exploring the legal issues associated with sharing music downloads; community <br />residents may also be given the option to participate if hardware is available. <br />• Carolina Villages has a new interim executive director. <br />• Beverly Blythe has been elected Chair of the Friends of the Central Orange Senior Center; Rita <br />McIver is the new Vice-Chair. <br />• Katherine Leith is beginning her second term as Chair of the Friends of the Seymour Center; <br />plans are underway to develop a new Board member training. <br />• The new Chatham-Orange Community Resource Connection Coordinator is Melissa Black, a <br />former Department on Aging Capstone team member (she also serves as Durham County’s CRC <br />Coordinator); Project EngAGE graduate Donna Scandlin has agreed to serve as a CRC consumer <br />representative.