09/04/2001 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 9/4/2001 f • Providing programs in the center such as dancing, computer rooms, computer lessons, fiberoptics, subsidized lunches, square dancing and dancing lessons. • Access to the Rec Center on a daily basis; senior recreation discounts. • Circulator buses that would ride seniors on the side roads of North Olmsted. There is some difi'iculty with people who use public transportation actually getting down to the senior center because the buses can't go down that road. • Exercise rooms, discounted beauty shop or beauty facilities. • Singing seniors to be continued. • Transportation to be continued, a program the city already provides. • Craft classes to be continued; entertainment; driving lessons; billiards to be continued; senior clubs, book club; large kitchen facilities; a flu shot program; extended trips; information center; an auditorium for larger gatherings. These suggestions came not only from the meeting that was held but also from the survey that was presented to the seniors that night and from phone calls from seniors who were not able to attend but wanted to express their thoughts. The committee agreed that Mrs. Kasler would summarize the events of the meeting and present the suggestions of the seniors to the administrration for their consideration and review so that everyone would be on the same page and working together as a Council and administration to look into a senior facility. Mr. O'Grady responded to Mrs. Kasler's report by thanking her for going to such great lengths to find an answer to his question. Perhaps he didn't state his question as clearly as he should have. His question did not deal with whether or not Council has the authority and the power to spend money, they do. Rather his question dean with whether or not it was prudent to go forward with a feasibility study without having first coordinated with the administration. Secondly, he raised objections as to the reasonableness of the site for two reasons, which were reported by Mrs. Kasler. First, the old library is notorious for its lack of parking. To consider this as a location for a senior center doesn't make a lot of sense from that perspective. Secondly, the old library is immediately adjacern to the North Olmsted Middle School. It isn't a great idea to have about 800 middle schoolers running around the parking lot when the senior citizens are trying to get back and forth to their car. Mrs. Kasler added to her committee report by noting that one of the seniors had made a comment, which everyone took to heart, that Council should consider senior citizens in discussions and in activities as a Council and that Council also listen and ask for their input, which was the purpose of the meeting on the 28'x. In response to that, she hopes that this helped them understand that Council certainly is in consideration of their thoughts, the meeting itself was evidence of that. Also, everyone appreciated Mr. Ketly's commentary about the drug prescription legislation in the Ohio Legislature, for which he is circulating a petition. This resuhed in a resolution before Council that hopefully will support the State of Ohio in reducing drug costs for seniors. The seniors were much appreciative of his commentary on that. 5 i