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Senior Citizens Committee elects chair, adds $10,000 for meals and creates Office on Aging cost center
Summary
The Senior Citizens Committee elected Carolyn Brooks chair, voted to create a separate Office on Aging cost center in the FY2026 request, and approved a $10,000 county increase to support meals at the Tazewell and Harrogate senior centers ($5,000 each).
Carolyn Brooks was elected chair of the Senior Citizens Committee at its Feb. 18, 2025 meeting; Steve Brogan was elected vice chair. The committee approved its agenda and heard introductions of the two senior-center directors: Betty Edwards of the Tazewell Center and Beth Nelson of the Harrogate Center.
The committee reviewed the centers' FY2026 line-item budget requests and voted unanimously to add a separate cost center for the Office on Aging to distinguish those line items from the senior centers' budgets. The motion to create a distinct Office on Aging cost center was moved by Steve Brogan and seconded by David Mundy.
Directors Edwards and Nelson described how both centers use grants for building improvements and supplies and outlined the importance of meals delivered to homebound seniors and served at the centers. The committee unanimously approved adding $10,000 to the county’s FY2026 budget request for food, with $5,000 allocated to each center (motion by Carolyn Brooks, seconded by Steve Brogan). The directors said additional CDBG Food Grant equipment will increase their food-storage capacity.
The committee also addressed program operations and client conduct. Nelson reported an ongoing problem with a disruptive participant whose behavior makes service delivery difficult; the committee unanimously voted to ask the County Attorney to review and update bylaws for both centers and to identify alternatives for handling disruptive clients (mover: David Mundy; seconder: Steve Brogan). Committee leaders reiterated staff hours (7 a.m.–3 p.m.) and public-service hours (9 a.m.–3 p.m.) and asked directors to post notices when they must briefly leave the center. Mayor Brooks asked the center directors to coordinate with him to ensure timely submission of grant reimbursements.
The Senior Citizens Committee adjourned at 6:20 p.m. and forwarded its amended FY2026 budget request to the county budget committee for consideration.
