* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Welch
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
title
Informational Hearing - Fiscal 2011 - Elimination of Senior Citizens Division, Department of Recreation and Parks
FOR the purpose of requesting the Director of the Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks and the Director of the Senior Citizens Division to report to the City Council on the Fiscal 2011 preliminary budget plan to eliminate the Senior Citizens Division, the number of seniors who participate in the programs and services provided by the Division, and plans to find alternatives to replace the programs and services that will be discontinued.
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Recitals
The Fiscal 2011 Preliminary Budget Plan includes the elimination of Program 651 - . Recreation for Seniors in the Department of Recreation and Parks: "The Senior Citizens Division (SCD) offers recreational programs and events for Baltimore's adults, ages 50 and older. The Division provides support and assistance to 94 golden age clubs located throughout Baltimore City. The Fiscal 2011 budget reductions will result in the elimination of all programs and services provided to Senior Citizens, which cost $349,000 in Fiscal 2010. The department can continue self-supporting activities. Golden Age clubs and other partners will need to fill the gaps".
While saving a relatively small amount of money in Baltimore City government's time of fiscal constraint, the elimination of the program will adversely impact thousands of seniors across Baltimore who have relied on the services the Division has supported since the 1960's. The programs are highly regarded, and special events draw crowds in the hundreds and sometimes the thousands, from all 14 senior centers, 56 Eating Together nutrition sites, 94 golden age clubs, numerous senior apartment buildings, and faith based senior organizations throughout Baltimore City.
The Senior Division oversees a network of golden age clubs that come together for fun and fellowship all over the City, meeting in recreation centers, senior housing, eating together sites, churches, and fraternal sites. A variety of entertainers, crafts and exercise instructors, and intergenerational programmers bring activities to these groups. Striving to make Baltimore a "senior friendly" city that keeps older taxpayers in place, the SCD collaborates with the Commission on Aging, the Health Department, local medical centers, and other aging network partners to provide quality leisure time and cultural opportunities to seniors.
SCD's city-wide recreational programs and services are not facility bound and reach more seniors across the City than any other senior services. The more than 150 senior groups that participate include many that do not frequent senior centers but are instead anchored in their church ministry or fraternal and neighborhood organizations. The recently released 2010 Calender of Events elicited many "sign-me-up" calls, and some events that can accommodate 300+ seniors are almost full.
The Golden Express, the SCD's 36 passenger "senior friendly" wheelchair bus, is well-utilized by senior groups across Baltimore for shopping and recreational outings. Safe and reliable transportation is very important to seniors, and, over the past 10 years, bus trips have generated $14,500 annually to supplement senior recreational programs.
Just as the Golden Express provides invaluable transportation services to our seniors, we must continue to provide the invaluable social opportunities that play an important part in ensuring that our Baltimore seniors thoroughly enjoy their "golden years."
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That the Director of the Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks and the Director of the Senior Citizens Division are requested to report to the City Council on the Fiscal 2011 preliminary budget plan to eliminate the Senior Citizens Division, the number of seniors who participate in the programs and services provided by the Division, and plans to find alternatives to replace the programs and services that will be discontinued.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the Director of Recreation and Parks, the Director, Senior Citizen's Division of Recreation and Parks, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
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