The second meeting of the Executive Committee of the Special Advisory Commission of Senior Citizens for the year 2001 was held on Monday, September 24, 2001, at 1:00 PM, in Room 327 of the Capitol. Dr. Abby Marlatt, Chair, called the meeting to order, and the secretary called the roll.
Present were:
Members: Dr. Abby Marlatt, Chair; Joe Bishop, Finnell Fields, Charles Fisher, Winford Holt, Wanda Korte, Esther Rigby, Jeane Robertson, Mary Robertson, and Robert Veazey.
LRC Staff: Barbara Baker, Emily Bottoms, Gerard Donovan, C. Gilmore Dutton, Louis Pierce, John Snyder, and Rose Mack, Secretary.
Chairperson Marlatt opened the meeting by asking everyone to bow their heads in a moment of silence in respect for those who had lost their lives or been affected by the recent tragedies in New York and Washington, D.C.
Chairperson Marlatt stated that the purpose of the Executive Committee meeting was to review agendas for the Commission’s general sessions on Thursday and Friday, November 8-9, 2001, and the subcommittee meetings on November 8-9, 2001.
Chairperson Marlatt directed the members’ attention to several documents contained in their meeting folders: minutes of the April 2, 2001, Executive Committee meeting; updated membership lists; a listing of newly-appointed members; and a Nominating Committee list.
The minutes of the April 2, 2001, Executive Committee meeting were approved as submitted.
Mr. Gilmore Dutton, Commission Staff Coordinator, reviewed the agenda for the upcoming meeting of the full Commission scheduled for November 8-9, 2001, at the Holiday Inn Capital Plaza Hotel in Frankfort. Mr. Dutton announced that in the past the Holiday Inn Capital Plaza Hotel charged a higher rate for a double room than a single room, and that the current rate is the same for a double or single room. Therefore, those members bringing a guest will not have to pay the difference between a double and single room.
According to Mr. Dutton, the Nominating Committee will recommend candidates at the November Commission meeting for the positions of Commission Chair and Vice-Chair. The election will take place in May, 2002. Mr. Dutton said that the members would be reminded in the November meeting packet, which is being mailed on September 27, 2001, that the Commission is taking applications for nominations for these positions and the proper procedures to follow if anyone is interested in seeking a nomination for either position. Mrs. Mary Robertson asked if nominations would be taken from the floor at the May meeting. Mr. Dutton replied in the affirmative.
Chairperson Marlatt announced that there have been several requests for members of the Special Advisory Commission of Senior Citizens to serve on various planning committees for other events around the state that involve issues concerning senior citizens. Mr. Bishop earlier served on the University of Kentucky’s “Summer Series on Aging” planning committee. Mr. Bertrand Sisk has been appointed to serve on the planning committee for the “Governor’s Conference on Aging” scheduled for November 14-16, 2001, at the Galt House East in Louisville, and Ms. Jeane Robertson has been appointed to serve on the planning committee for Senior Day in Frankfort 2002, to be held during the 2002 Session of the General Assembly.
Chairperson Marlatt announced how pleased she was that several members of the Commission were able to attend the initial meeting of the Task Force on Seniors and the Workforce, which was held on September 12, 2001, in Frankfort, and she encouraged the Executive Committee members to attend future meetings. Additional meetings of the Task Force are scheduled for October 16, 2001, and November 14, 2001. The November meeting conflicts with the “Governor’s Conference on Aging” in Louisville, so the Committee Staff Administrator for the Task Force is trying to schedule the Task Force to meet in Louisville in conjunction with the “Governor’s Conference on Aging.”
Chairperson Marlatt announced that a planning committee would be formed to plan the Commission’s 25th anniversary celebration scheduled for November 7-8, 2002, and that she had appointed Vice Chair Veazey to chair the committee. Chairperson Marlatt asked for volunteers from the Executive Committee, or nominations of other members. Mrs. Mary Robertson and Ms. Jeane Robertson volunteered to serve on the planning committee and Mr. Finnell Fields nominated Mr. Don Potts to serve on the planning committee. It was decided that the committee membership should total no more than 12 persons.
Several ideas were discussed in regard to the Commission’s 25th anniversary celebration. It was recommended that Senator Joe Prather, the founding father of the Commission, be the guest speaker for the celebration. Other special guests that were recommended to be invited were:
Mr. George Russell, an individual active in getting the Commission started;
Mr. Bill Miller, a former Commission staff member, on behalf of Mr. Vic Hellard, former director of the Legislative Research Commission;
Legislative Research Commission members; and
all former members of the Commission.
Chairperson Marlatt was recognized as having been inducted into the Kentucky Civil Rights Hall of Fame.
Chairperson Marlatt announced that members need to be reminded to turn in newspaper articles of local publicity received in connection with the Commission.
Chairperson Marlatt recognized Mr. Fields, Chairman of the Consumer Affairs Subcommittee, who reported that the Subcommittee’s November agenda would include the following:
(1) Mr. Larry Mann, managing partner, American Medical Pharmaceutical Outlet, who will discuss the American Medical Pharmaceutical Outlet and how it handles the paperwork to enroll people in pharmaceutical companies programs;
(2) Ms. Sandra Rolland, Project Manager of the State Health Insurance Information Program (SHIP), Office of Aging Services, who will provide an overview of SHIP and prescription drug programs; and
(3) Mr. Todd Leatherman, Director of Consumer Protection, Office of the Attorney General, who will discuss telemarketing, cemeteries, and consumer education.
Mr. Joe Bishop, Chairman of the Health and Human Service Subcommittee, reported that the Subcommittee’s November agenda will include the following:
(1) Access to prescription drugs for seniors;
(2) Staffing in nursing homes; and
(3) Assisted living facilities.
Mr. Charles Fisher, Chairman of the Insurance Subcommittee, announced that the subcommittee’s agenda will include:
(1) Prescription drug discount programs for senior citizens;
(2) Kentucky Access and Medicare supplement policies; and
(3) An explanation of House Bill 270 by Representative Robert Damron, the bill’s sponsor. HB 270 was introduced during the 2000 Regular Session of the Kentucky General Assembly, and if enacted, would have provided Medicare eligible persons with the opportunity to buy coverage through Kentucky Access.
Taxation Subcommittee staff member, Mr. Louis Pierce, reported that the Subcommittee will be covering the following topics:
Tax reform;
Inheritance taxes; and
A discussion of internet sales and e-commerce by a representative of the Revenue Cabinet.
Reporting for the Transportation Subcommittee was Ms. Esther Rigby, Co-Chair, who announced the following agenda items:
A representative of the Transportation Cabinet’s Human Service Transportation Delivery Program with an update on the program’s progress and any future plans to include transportation programs for the elderly;
A report on the Governor’s Highway Safety Summit, which will be held in early November; and
An update on transportation legislation that has been prefiled for the 2002 Regular Session of the Kentucky General Assembly.
Ms. Jeane Robertson asked that the Executive Committee members take a moment to write a note to a Commission member, Mrs. Helen Raby, who is ill, and that staff forward the notes to Mrs. Raby.
It was announced by Ms. Jeane Robertson, for those interested, that the Kentucky Long-Term Care Task Force will be meeting on Wednesday, September 26, 2001, at 1 p.m. in Room 125 of the New Capitol Annex in Frankfort.
Mr. Dutton asked subcommittee staff to submit their November agendas two weeks prior to the meeting for citizens and legislators who are interested in attending.
In closing, Mr. Dutton announced that two staff members will be leaving the Legislative Research Commission. Ms. Anne Armstrong, staff member for the Consumer Affairs Subcommittee, is retiring, and Rose Mack, Commission secretary, is transferring to another state agency. Mr. Fields asked that a resolution be drafted by Mr. Dutton in recognition of these two staff members and be presented at the November Commission meeting.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 2:20 p.m.