On Thursday, NorCo Exec Tara Zrinski updated County Council on the recent decision to close the Northampton Borough Senior Center. She has a "sustainable operating plan" to keep the facility open as a community-based organization.
Northampton County operates 9 senior centers, while Lehigh operates 11.
Zrinski reported that there is a statewide funding crisis for senior centers. This is the result of both the end of federal American Rescue Plan and declining state funding combined with rising costs for meals, transportation, staffing, and other services. A dozen senior centers across Pennsylvania have already closed, with 40 more slated for termination.
Statewide, there's an estimated $50 million statewide funding gap for aging services, and they include far more than senior centers.
The Department of Aging's responsibilities also include:
- Meals on Wheels (the county cleared a wait list, but 13 mor have applied);
- Emergency food assistance
- Health and wellness programs
- Transportation
- Home modifications
- Medication management
- Personal emergency response systems
- Cooling centers during extreme heat; and
- In-home personal care services (there are 62 people on a personal care wait list)
Zrinski pointed out that "When you have people at a senior center, and you have people on a care wait list, people waiting to be bathed, people waiting for in-home services, and you think, 'Well, we have able-bodied seniors and we have people who cannot change themselves. Who do we provide services to first?"
Could the county make up the $1-1.5 million shortfall? According to Zrinski, no. She cited and waved a 1991 Council resolution barring the administration from funding more than is allotted by the state.
The budget at Northampton's senior center includes $90,000 for meals, $11,000 for rent and $8,000 for operating expenses. This excludes the cost of a 27-hour per week part-time employee.
So though the county will continue to pay rent until the end of the year, it is unable to support the senior center.
She's suggesting the formation of an autonomous community group that can provide volunteers for a newly organized nonprofit like Neighbors in Need. to provide a safe setting fand social interaction or seniors.
After she finished her presentation, Council member Jeff Warren fawned over it, claiming that Zrinski is thinking "outside the box," a phrase that she herself later used to describe her plan.
I'm a bit more skeptical. If Zrinski wanted to think outside the box, she could ignore a 1991 County Council resolution that has no binding effect on her or future County Councils. She could ask County Council to rescind the resolution. She could also consider merging two senior centers on south side Bethlehem that are within a stone's throw from each other. One is located at the Rooney building, and the other at the Hispanic center/ Frankly, at a time when we should be more inclusive and have even established a Human Relations Commission, why would we want to have separate senior centers for those who speak Spanish and those who don't? With the money saved by this merger, it might be possible to continue the senior center in Northampton
5 comments:
She is grasping at plastic straws
BO. Yes, she could easily consolidate and be more effective. She also can rescind the resolution. She should be looking into merging and reducing fiscal pressure. Her
circle of advisors are not thinking outside the box.
Why is American Rescue Plan ending? It's only been six years. People are dying. I still wear a mask and use hand sanitizer several time per hour.
Tara attempts to solve one problem by creating others and she hopes no one notices because there are people such as Warren who tell her how great her idea is (needs to help his campaign, you know). Totally agree that the two centers could be combined on the south side but good luck getting Willy to help on that one. Volunteers come and go as does their consistent availability,
Looking for money Tara? How much are you planning to spend on 2 brand new administrative positions to “manage” Gracedale?
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