Board
of Commissioners Meeting
October 23, 2002
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: |
Ernest Freudenthal, Dot Dobbins, |
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: |
Caroline Chamberlain, Pam McEwen, Tarver Smith, |
GUESTS PRESENT: |
Kelvin Jones, Mayor’s Office, Julius Witherspoon, Program Manager II at Richland Village effective December 1, Aaron Cowles, Andrew Daly and Lee Harris, Metro Data and Telecommunications Office |
The Metropolitan Social Services Board of Commissioners met on Wednesday, October 23, 2002. In the absence of Chair Diane Neighbors and Vice Chair Bill Coke, Ernest Freudenthal called the meeting to order at 3:15 p.m. There were two corrections noted in the September 25 minutes. The paragraph under the Cemetery Committee Report will be changed to read as follows: “Mr. Freudenthal reported that the committee had met and are working to set a date for the dedication of the new monument. He made a visit to the cemetery and found the markers grown over with grass and dirt and said they should be cleaned and he indicated Metro Parks should do this. Another concern is the space is running out and the need to see about expanding the cemetery, with a possibility being land that is part of Bordeaux Hospital. They have indicated a willingness to discuss this.”
Announcements and Introductions
Mr. Freudenthal introduced Associate Director Caroline Chamberlain who will be reporting in the absence of Director Michael Miller. Mrs. Chamberlain noted this is only the second Board of Commissioners meeting that Mr. Miller has missed in 11 years.
Mrs. Chamberlain welcomed Julius Witherspoon. Mr. Witherspoon will be joining Social Services the first of December as a Program Manager II at Richland Village. He is a native Nashvillian, a graduate of Tennessee State University and is currently employed as the Program Director at Nashville Health Corps. Mr. Witherspoon said he has spent time with Tarver Smith and is looking forward to joining him at the Richland Village Community Services Program.
Mrs. Chamberlain introduced and welcomed Kelvin Jones, the new Department liaison from the Mayor’s Office and shared some background information. Chris Koster, who served as liaison for the past two years, has moved to another assignment.
As discussed last month, a copy of the new, signed functional job description for Mr. Miller has been included in each packet.
Mrs. Chamberlain presented a poster of the Vision and Mission Statements for the Department and asked each Board member to sign.
An all staff meeting is planned for October 29 and Mrs. Chamberlain went over some of the agenda items. Board members were invited to attend.
Social Services will participate in the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhoods, Celebrating Neighborhoods, on November 2 at the Nashville Convention Center.
Due to the holidays, the Board meetings for November and December will be changed to November 13 at 3:00 p.m. and December 18 at 2:00 p.m. The December meeting will begin with accreditation from 2:00–3:00, the regular meeting from 3:00-4:00 and from 4:00–5:00 p.m. the required training for board members on diversity issues and sexual harassment awareness will be presented.
Director’s Report
Liz Hager and Ali Mahmoud were thanked for chairing the Metropolitan Employees Combined Charities Campaign. We had 95 percent participation and went over our goal by $601.65.
A copy of the Nashville Prevention Partnership Weed & Seed Memorandum of Agreement is included in each packet. Page 4 outlines what Social Services will be doing. Mrs. Chamberlain asked the Board to pass a resolution in support of this agreement and a motion by Ms. Dobbins, seconded by Ms. Harris, passed by a unanimous vote.
Mr. Miller toured South Nashville sites of homeless persons and continues to participate in downtown church forums reviewing homeless issues. He and Bill Coke are also working with MDHA and others in strategic planning for homeless service needs.
Mr. Miller met with Marc Hill of the Mayor’s Office of Children and Youth to discuss services we provide and shared interests in children’s service developments.
Mr. Miller is chair of the selection committee to hire a replacement for Mike Servais at the Salvation Army and was a host in the United Way Family Resource Center Best Practice Conference held on October 19.
Financial Report
Ms. McEwen reported we are at the end of the first quarter and most Divisions are within their budget. Food costs in the Senior Dietary Unit are running higher than anticipated due in part to the 100 percent occupancy rate at the Knowles Home. We do have funds in other areas to cover this. Notification was received from the State they will resume funding two components of their homemaker contracts in the amount of $93,000. The 4 percent fund has a balance of $467,000, all of which is designated; the $550,000 in the Real Property Fund is designated for the Knowles Home renovations that are just getting underway; the Camilla Caldwell Fund, used at the Director’s discretion, paid for toilet facilities for the homeless at the old General Hospital site.
Richland Village Community Services Update
Mr. Smith reported they continue working with partners and making presentations at the middle schools. They are currently up to 40 cases. A display was set up showing their vision and goals, services they provide, eligible clients and funding. Mr. Smith said he is looking forward to working with Mr. Witherspoon.
Refugee Services Quarterly Report
Mr. Barre gave background information on how the Refugee Social Services program was started in 1994, primarily with grant funding from the Department of Human Services. This is the first quarter in which the program has observed a significant drop in the number of new arrivals and this has had an impact on our funding. He reviewed some of the services they provide.
Mr. Freudenthal congratulated Mr. Barre on becoming a U. S. Citizen on September 27, and stated he appreciated the significance of the event as he, too, had become a naturalized citizen after he emigrated from Germany.
Mr. Barre introduced Meryl Taylor who is in charge of the Targeted Assistance Program and is also involved with Cultural Sensitivity training. This program began in 1996 and services they provide include social adjustment, employment and health services. Centerstone Mental Health, a member of the Refugee Mental Health Collaborative, that we helped to organize and are a member, has agreed to make 20 slots available to refugees/immigrants who cannot pay for mental health services. Ms. Taylor reviewed two cases and how each was helped.
Ms. Chamberlain attended a meeting at DHS around contracts onsenior programs that also included Title VI issues. She shared that our Refugee Services program was recognized.
Other
There being no further business before the Board, Mr. Freudenthal adjourned the meeting at 4:00 p.m.