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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-24-90 SS '--- MINUTES OF THE OCOEE BOARD OF CITY COMMISSIONERS SPECIAL SESSION AND PUBLIC HEARING ON THE OVER 65 PROGRAM HELD JULY 24, 1990 Mayor Dabbs called the special session and public hearing on the Over 65 Program to order at 7:30 p.m. in the commission chambers and then led in the prayer and pledge of allegiance. After calling the roll Mayor Dabbs declared a quorum to be present. PRESENT: Mayor Dabbs; Commissioners Combs, Foster, Johnson, and Woodson. Also present were City Manager Shapiro, Assistant City Attorney Brian Lower, Public Works Director Brenner, and City Clerk Jean Grafton. ABSENT: None Mayor Dabbs explained that the purpose of this meeting is to get public input into the Over 65 Program and he asked citizens to fill out the speaking reservation form provided. Mrs. years, service Sanders let her Estelle Sanders, 669 S. Cumberland Street, a resident of 25 expressed her appreciation for the free water and garbage provided by the City for the senior citizens. Mrs. said also that she is on a back-up water line and has to water run before she can use it for drinking. "'-" Mrs. Victoria J. Sanders, 35 West Geneva Street, expressed appreciation for the large attendance at the meeting. Mrs. Sanders said also that she wants to vote for older people's benefits and she encouraged team work to provide for them. Mrs. Laura Hendrickson, 1304 Wurst Road, thanked the City for what they have done. She was proud of the City when the program started. Mr. Kermit Bushur, 441 Vandergrift Drive, said that two things influenced his moving here: the City was free of debt, and the senior citizen discounts that would be available when he reached the proper age. Mr. Bushur said that with the annexations and new taxpayers that the little amount the senior citizens are getting is a pittance and requested that the City continue the benefits. Mrs. Vivian Rogers, 1603 Jemima Street, a resident of 21 years, said that they had paid taxes and been good citizens and had great pleasure when the Over 65 Program was adopted. Mrs. Rogers said that even with growth fixed income persons need the program and she suggested a ten year residency requirement. Mr. Clyde Doolittle, 604 Ridgefield Avenue, did not corne to the podium. ....... Mrs. Dottie Minnick, 508 Bernadino Drive, said that she served on the Over 65 Program Committee, and that she supports the program even though there was a 30% raise in taxes last year. Mrs. Minnick said that she feels that people who can afford to own a good big home should not get free services and also that the benefits should be reduced, that renters should be considered, and more programs for all seniors should be done. Mrs. Minnick stated that she objects to a referendum on the program. Page 2 Ocoee City Commission Special Session-Over 65 ~ July 24, 1990 ~ \..- Mr. R.P. Mohnacky, 1820 prairie Lake Boulevard, stated that the program, though good at the outset, is now out of control as it can be abused as presently implemented. Mr. Mohnacky feels that the tax rebate should be zero and that the dollars should be put in a senior fund. Mr. Ben Griffin, 345 S. Lakeshore Drive, said that he had been asked to introduce the speaker of the evening, former Mayor Bill Breeze. Mayor Bill Breeze, 351 S. Lakeshore Drive, noted that present in the audience was the largest group of former and current city officials ever gathered together under one roof: Past Mayors Tom Ison, Cliff Freeman, Bill Breeze, Sam Scott Vandergrift, Past Commissioners John Bateman, Vard Hager, Bob Lyle, Bill Stinnett, Lewis Whitehead, Edwin Pounds, Betty Hager, Delma Fields, and Ben Griffin. Mayor Breeze said that most of these came to review or express support of the program which they had felt was worthwhile when they were in office and which they still felt to be worth supporting. Mayor Torn Ison, 6 Delaware Street, recognized Mayor Scott Vandergrift and Commissioners Lyle, Stinnett, and Whitehead as the commission holding office when the program started. Mayor Ison talked about senior citizens who are trying to get along with the decreasing government benefits, and reduced pensions due to outside uncontrollable circumstances, noting that these same citizens are not those who are using the football fields, baseball fields, fire and police department services. Mayor Ison said also that in one of the meetings a projection of the cost of the program was presented but consideration was not given to the overall size of the budget so that a true picture of the cost could be shown by comparison. Mayor Ison also advised that at one time funds had been set aside for a senior citizen building, but those funds were used for a drainage problem at Lakes Peach and Moxie instead and an agreement was made with the senior citizens to use the community center on a regular basis. In closing Mayor Ison noted that this program brings the benefits into the home of the recipient while if the dollars are used to provide a service that calls for the user to drive to another location the benefits will be limited to only those who can and will get out of their homes. Mayor Cliff Freeman, 513 E. Lakeshore Drive, spoke in favor of the program as a way to pay back those who helped when help was needed. Mayor Scott Vandergrift, 2625 Cedar Bluff Lane, asked what percentage of the total budget the program amounts to, and whether the percentage of increase in property taxes was due to increased assessed valuation. He commented that he hopes this commission will look at the program as practically as possible and make a human decision based on the lives of the community and everything they know about the situation. Page 3 Ocoee City Commission Special Session-Over 65 ~ July 24, 1990 While responding to Mayor Vandergrift's questions City Manager Shapiro said that the citizens present seemed to feel that the decisions have already been made regarding the program and that the program is in jeopardy and that was not so, because this hearing was called in order to hear the opinions of the people. Commissioner Robert Lyle, 510 West Street, said that he served on the commission when the program started and that the program was not implemented so much for the needy but rather to recognize the contributions the senior citizens made to us as young people and to help them afford some things they could not otherwise have. Commissioner Lyle said further that if the program is not in jeopardy, then why is this hearing being held? At the time the program was implemented the City could well afford it, and if that is not the case now, someone should say so, rather than try to downdgrade the program. Commissioner Bill Stinnett, 349 N. Bluford Avenue, said that the Over 65 Program Committee was appointed by this commission to see if something could be done to protect the program. He said that financially he does not care where commission gets the money and if they can fund recreation and other projects they should be able to fund this program as well. Commissioner Stinnett said that while he served on the commission they policed the program by ~ reading the obituary column and removing the account from the program if there was no surviving spouse and he felt that someone should be doing that now. Commissioner Stinnett listed the recommendations of the committee and stated that he felt they were a reasonable solution. Commissioner Delma Fields, 102 Magnolia Street, offered sympathy to the commission saying that it was a headache when he served as commissioner and that was before the Over 65 Program. Mayor Breeze closed the comments of the past City officials with a thank you for the opportunity to speak and no envy at all for the task of making a decision. Mayor Freeman asked to speak again and he said that he had served on the commission in the 50's, 60's, 70's, and 80's, and the way for the present commissioners to continue to serve is to pay attention to the people who are present. Mrs. Dorothy Dinkel, 907 Maureen Avenue, thanked commission for appointing the Over 65 Program Committee and asked that they continue the committee so that they can continue to advise the commission. Mrs. Dinkel spoke on behalf of the homebound and also asked that the name of the program be changed to "Seniors Program" . '-" Mrs. Mary J. Kicinsky, 1102 Bellini Lane, thanked the City for assistance and said that she had to wait an extra year to receive her tax refund. Page 4 ~ Ocoee City Commission Special Session-Over 65 July 24, 1990 Mrs. Linda McDougal, 3100 Old Winter Garden Road, said that we shouldn't begrudge the needy getting free services and that the City should not limit the benefits to only the old. Mrs. Dottie Adainette, 802 Spring Creek Drive, reminded the young people present that some day they will be old and the young people at that time will have an opportunity to help them. Commissioner John Bateman, 406 E. Lakeshore Drive, said there are some serious mistakes being made by good people who are criticizing this program. He supports this program but is also a practical taxpayer and feels that the program should adjust to necessary change and that can be accomplished by adopting the committee's recommendations. Commissioner Bateman also recommended calling this program the Mature Citizen Program or Senior Citizen Program and placing it in the budget along with the recreation program, etc. as the City of Ocoee has the best recreation program anywhere on the least cents per citizen in the state. ......" Commissioner Vard Hager, 313 Lee Street, said he has lived here 47 years and served as commissioner from 1979 through 1989. He thanked those present for their support during that time and expressed appreciation for the work of the Over 65 Program Committee. Mrs. Carlotta Best, 730 Coke Avenue, Winter Garden, spoke for citrus workers and those who are in need. As no one else wished to speak the public hearing was closed. Mayor Dabbs announced that he wished to put down the rumor that this Commission is going to shut down the Over 65 Program and that he is in favor of amending it. Commissioner Woodson said that he has lived here 20 years and came on the program when he became eligible (which may cause some to feel that there is a conflict of interest). He has supported programs for the youth and for the arts as well as this program. He is in favor of the $100 tax refund limit, approves of a greater monthly limit than the suggested 7,600 gallons of water, approves of the one month sign up time and the recommended residency requirement of 10 years. Commissioner Combs said he moved here in 1975 and is in favor the program and of the committee recommendations. He would for the committee to remain active and continue to serve. of like ..... Commissioner Foster said he approves of the program and thinks government should not operate like a business to make a profit. He feels that the function of the commission is to provide for the needs of the citizens. ~ Page 5 Ocoee City Commission Special Session-Over 65 July 24, 1990 Commissioner Johnson said that in 3 years no one ever asked about the Over 65 Program but that in putting together this budget they did and that is the reason for this hearing. He is in favor of keeping the program and for the recommendations of the committee. Mayor Dabbs said that this whole issue is responsible government. When this commission was told that this program took 1/2 mill of a 1 mill increase in a 4 mill tax levy, they felt it was time to take a close look at it. He does not intend to take from those who have already qualified for the program. Senior benefits can take many forms and he prefers to have 100 get the benefits who do not need them than miss one person who does. Commissioner Woodson, seconded by Commissioner Combs, moved to accept the recommendation of the Over 65 Program Committee with the exception of item 3 which he wished to change to 10,000 gallons of water monthly rather than the recommended 7,600 gallons. The committee recommendations are as follows: 1) The residency requirement for qualification be changed from 5 years to 10 years. 2) The maximum tax rebate be reduced to $100.00. '-' 3) The maximum water rebate be reduced from 15,000 gal/mo. to 7,600 gal/mo. (Commissioner Woodson's motion changed this to 10,000 gal/mo.) 4) Sign up for the Over 65 Program be reduced to the month of April each year. 5) That a committee be formed to study other cities' methods of caring for the elderly and poor and that said committee recommend programs to the City Commission for adoption. 6) Any savings gained from the adoption of these recommendations be accrued and used to fund other programs for the elderly and poor. On roll call Commissioner Combs voted "aye," Commissioner Foster "aye," Commissioner Johnson "aye," Commissioner Woodson "aye," and Mayor Dabbs "aye." Motion carried. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 9:19 p.m. ......