At the conclusion, Judge Rene Mascorro took over after-hours scheduling, the court put elderly services in charge of the 8 to 5 opening and closing of the center, and the squabble appeared to quell.
The workshop began with Bill Rayburn, board president and charter member of the seniors group, explaining the inroads made during his tenure that began in January.
“We’re not a day care center,” Rayburn said. “We have our faculties and we’re ambulatory...we’ve done well and set the pace for other senior centers.”
Rayburn explained that he has acquired food under his name through a Victoria Food Bank and arranged to hire workers through a federal work program. The seniors hold fund-raisers, provide free meals for its members and set up daily activities.
Rayburn also said the disagreement elevated when he asked for proper storage mandated by the food bank.
“They had the opportunity to do all these things,” Rayburn said. “Now that it’s working, they want to take it over.”
Judge Rene Mascorro said he supported the accomplishments and programs that are working and wanted them to continue.
“Do you really want three more services?” Mascorro asked Edith Collins, director of elderly services.
“I wouldn’t mind it,” Collins said.
The judge said problems stemmed from verbal agreements without written guidelines when the center was formed
Collins was instrumental in setting up the senior citizens group during the previous administration. She helped obtain equipment for the center and her office moved from the courthouse to the center.
Only Commissioners Rindle Wilson and Gary Bourland were in office when the initial verbal guidelines were set. Part of the disagreement revolved around the free lunch program instituted under Rayburn’s leadership.
Collins said the center agreed to pay for meals ordered by members who don’t pay $2 for the meals they order. The lunches are the same as those distributed through the Meals-on-Wheels program and inmate meals. The meals are cooked in the jail kitchen by county employees.
After the meeting, Collins said providing the meals at the center is legal because the senior center “is connected to elderly services and elderly services can provide lunches.”
Collins said the $2 lunches are not subsidized by the county or by grants.
Seniors who attend the center don’t qualify for the Meals-on-Wheels program because they are ambulatory or can prepare their own meals.
Attorney Robert McGuill questioned the legality of the county paying for meals that are ordered but not eaten.
Rayburn said because members do not qualify for the Meals-on-Wheels Program, they should pay for the meals directly to Collins. The average paid by the group for uneaten meals is $20 per month, according to Collins.
Collins also said she believed the center might be committing fraud by allowing one of its workers to volunteer past her four-hour workday, an allegation quickly refuted by the worker. Dora Fuentes said she worked only four hours a day. As a member, Fuentes told the group she enjoys sitting down with other members to drink tea, visit, and participate in activities.
County Treasurer Louise Aduddell cautioned the commissioners about the federal work program that could fall back on the county if the workers exceeded their work hours.
“You can’t separate working and volunteering,” Aduddell said.
“They can’t volunteer,” Commissioner Gary Bourland said.
“I brought it to (Rayburn’s) attention,” Collins said. “If I’m responsible, I’m creating fraud and so are y’all.”
After the meeting, Rose Nichols, who supervises the federal Work Experience Program under which Fuentes works, said, “I believe preventing her from participating would be more illegal.”
While she is prohibited from working or volunteering more hours that scheduled, she is free to have lunch as a member, play games and enjoy the center past her workday, according to Nichols.
“I would remove her if she wasn’t abiding by the rules,” Nichols said. “She doesn’t want to offend anybody. She likes being at the center and we have no problem with that. That’s her choice.’
The judge pointed out that the building must not be set aside solely for one group. However, Rayburn said that other offices within the building are used exclusively, including WorkSource and the Elections Administration Office. The board president even suggested that the county lease the building for a minimum amount. Currently the county is paying utilities in the building and the building is shared with Elderly Services.
Who controls the keys and lack of tact and communication skills also became issues. While county employees at elderly service are tasked with opening and closing the building, the board will schedule its own activities and provide a list of planned after-hours activities to the judge’s office.
“I’m willing to have the schedule in my office,” Mascorro said.
The judge also said, “let’s resolve the meals. issue and make sure that continues and not shoot ourselves in the foot.”
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