All 21 applicants appointed to new Senior Task Force
Liaison between community services, task force discussed
By Nathan R. Huff
The Town Council on Jan. 18 decided to avoid the sticky issue of making "cuts" by voting to expand the Senior Task Force from 15 to 21 members and appointing all applicants.
Although the task force's membership and objectives have been determined, the group's relationship to the Community Services Department remains unclear following Community Service Commissioner Paul Dubois's request for a liaison between the two entities.
Dubois's request drew a mixed response from council members, who expressed support for communication between the two groups, but reservations about having an actual commissioner on the task force. "In some ways, the Senior Task Force is set up to oversee what the Community Services Commission has been doing, as it relates to senior services," Councilman Jan Hutchins said, "so there's a natural criticism defense thing that's going to happen."
Later, Hutchins said the council deferred action on that particular issue to "think it through and come up with a reasoned judgment." He added that the idea of either a council or an independent liaison were possibilities the council would discuss.
The task force, created Nov. 22 by the Town Council, is responsible for researching senior needs, evaluating current senior services and suggesting improvements, which could include a designated senior center.
Jack Orlove and Egon Jensen, two seniors who played a large role in persuading the town to appoint a task force, are joined by representatives from the Live Oak Senior Nutritional Center, the Jewish Community Center, the Recreation Department and others active in the senior drop-in program and Happy Hoofers walking group.
The following is a complete roster of Senior Task Force participants: Michael Abkin, Adu Bagley, Bob Best, Linda Brown, Clare Dudley, Eric Eberele, Michael Gill, Egon Jensen, Jens Kjemtrup, Deborah Kranefuss, John Lochner, Karen Lorenz, Phil Loveless, Jonnie McKinney, Joyce Meurer, Jack Orlove, Doris Prince, Fagie Rosen, Kathleen Russ, Lynnette Vega and Shirley Voll.
Los Gatos, California Since 1881
