Carmen reviewed the senior-meals program and the financial question raised at the prior meeting. She reported that the apparent variance in earlier months appeared to be a timing issue — invoices falling in adjacent months — and a payroll retroactive adjustment affecting May; July showed a smaller variance that, on review, did not indicate miscoding.

The program supplies about 170–175 meals per day across three congregate sites (Tanterra, Colfax and the former hospital site behind Dick's Family Fresh Market). Carmen explained the ADRC (Aging and Disability Resource Center) notifies the meal count at roughly 3 p.m. the day before, and the ADRC pays the Neighbors for the number of meals delivered. The Neighbors code senior-meal food and related costs to a senior-meals cost center in SAP and allocate a portion of one FTE cook to the program.

Carmen said nutrition requirements for the ADRC/Meals on Wheels program differ slightly from the nursing-home diet and the facility's dietitian handles those variations. On travel-sensitive menu items or meals that do not transport well, the senior-meal menu is adjusted (for example, the facility does not send liver and onions or some grilled items to the meal sites).

Committee members asked whether the program is government-subsidized and about overall funding. Carmen said the ADRC pays for meals and there are Atwell donations that cover some site costs; she noted the Neighbors recoup food and labor costs through the senior-meals budget and ADRC reimbursement. One member raised that the ADRC's Meals on Wheels funding was cut from a recent state bill (referenced in discussion as the "big beautiful bill") and said the committee will need to monitor the program's status during next year's budget process. Carmen said she would track updates and report back.

A question about the per-meal cost was asked; Carmen said she did not have the per-meal cost off the top of her head but that costs are based on food, labor and a share of utilities and space and are coded to the senior-meals cost center. The meeting did not include a vote on senior-meals funding.