Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1977-1989 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 17, 1982)
Senior Services College to help pass levy Jane Tomlin Staff Photo by Duane Hiersche A senior services levy has been proposed for Clackamas County’s March 30 election. It will be a property tax levy costing .landowners $.22 per $1000. Jane Tomlin, Clackamas County supervisor for the Loaves and Fishes Organiza tion is heading the campaign. “The funds for senior services is decreasing and the number of seniors is increasing,” Tomlin said, “The levy is a natural response to the philosophy of the Reagan Administration.” Tomlin and County Com missioner Ralph Groener came before the Associated Student Government of the College Jn January to request their aid in passing the levy. “We have to help with this,” said Groener, who is onthe College’s Board of Directors, “As a-community college, we have an obligation to look after our elderly population.” Board considers construction By David J. Hayden Of The Print The College Board of Education voted last Wednes day to spend $17,500 to up date the College’s future con struction plans. “It would be short-sighted not to continue a minimal level of planning while our state and nation is in temporary economic difficulties,” com mented College President John Hakanson. The cost of the planning update would come from the capitol projects fund. By state law this money can only be us ed for construction, planning, or upkeep of college buildings. Ralph Groener, College board. member, commented that the cost would amount to about 1 percent of the fund. Despite objections voiced by Les Tipton, College art in structor and faculty represen tative to the Board, the Board hired Scott Fischer to fill the position of Financial Aid Officer left vacant when Richard Thompson resigned. “The College shouldn’t be hiring at a time when we’re un sure of what our budget will be,” Tipton said. He also ques- tioned the need for an addi tional administrator. Jim Roberts, dean of stu dent services, said “With the number of students and the money that goes through the Financial Aid office, we need a person to make decisions and administer the aid programs.” After a lengthy discussion the Board voted 4-1 to hire Fischer for a 4-month period beginning March 1 and ending June 30, 1982, at a salary of $9,344. His salary will be renegotiated at that time. In other business, $1,794 was transferred from the con- tingency fund to the operating fund to repay the National Direct Student Loan program, During an audit it was discovered the College had over-paid three students with funds from NDSL. Fpllowing Dr. Hakanson’s recommendation, the Board voted to recognise the College’s participation in the Economic Development pro gram. The program is organiz ed by Oregon community col lege presidents to inventory dif ferent aids available to help businesses and industries. Fawcett, assistant dean to stu dent aid and support services said. “It is a critical area that really needs somebody who can take the day to day respon sibility. We need somebody to make sure we’re complying with federal and state regula tions.” Fifty percent of the full time students at the College receive financial aid, according to Fawcett. Currently, about There was much con 750 students are receiving troversy as to whether the Col financial aid and about 400 lege needed a new financial aid veterans receive benefits and officer. As stated at the College service. Board meeting held Feb. 10, Les the workload of the Financial representative to the College Aid/Veterans Officer has in* Board, objecting to the new creased with the addition of position said, “We think the veterans’ office responsibilities. workload can be absorbed “The replacement position within the area. Much of the was vacant for 13 weeks,” Lee work can take place through a Wednesday, February 17, 1982 “Seniors don’t always know who’s doing what. But the Centers and the people work ing there are familiar.” By Tomlin’s estimates, if $1 million a year can be generated for the Senior Centers, about $12 million in services will become available, due to thè high level of volunteerism. “In most senior centers, it’s senior volunteers who actually call the shots,” Tomlin said. Budget cuts are assailing the elderly of America on near ly all fronts. President Reagan’s proposed budget would curtail dental and vision benefits. Also the Older American Act was cut back 4.7 percent for this year. Clackamas County will absorb the cuts, but Multnomah will be unable to and the difference will be pass- ed on to the elderly. Another funding project is the Oregon Project In dependence, which is part of the Area Agency on Aging (AAA). Approximately 150 seniors in this county receive money from the project, and there is a good chance that the state legislature may cut those funds, Tomlin thinks. The AAA provides $800,000 for the seniors of this county. It currently costs about $18,000 to keep one person in a nursing home for one year. The AAA can provide the lun- ding for only 40 people to stay in nursing homes in this coun ty. “If 100 seniors suddenly had to go to nursing homes, it would cost more than $1 million,” Tomlin said. Re-alignment of district zones were briefly discussed although action will be deferred until the next regular meeting Board member Kathleen Weigant, a former College stu dent, was elected to the zone 1 position of the lay Budget Committee. Hiring of Financial Aid officer draws controversy from staff The College will have a new Financial Aid Veterans Of ficer as of March 1. Scott Fischer who hàs been employed at Portland Com munity College in several ad ministrative positions for the. past nine years will work from Màrch 1 until June 30 at a 1981-82 salary of $9,344. His salary contract will be renegotiated July 1. Tomlin requested help with pamphlet distribution, telephone work, and door-to- ctoor communications. The ASG voted to help. “We want to have a well informed turn out, not just a big one,” Tomlin said. “This is very important.” Approximately 30 percent of the population of the United States will be seniors by the year 2000. Lake Oswego already has about 22 percent of its population seniors. We’re talking about ourselves, because we’ll be there some day.” If the levy is successful, it will be, the first of its kind in the, nation. “Some people feel that levies will crop up all over the place,” Tomlin «aid, “I don’t think so. We may have a youth services levy, but not a dozen others.” There are approximately 32,000 seniors in this county, with 48 percent of them bet- .ween the ages of 70 and 80 years. Since women live about seven years longer than men, 65 to 70 percent of those over the age of 70 are women. Also, 40 percent of all seniors have no immediate families. All these statistics add up to a need for more money, Tomlin feels. Senior Centers are and will be the mainstay of the county’s program, she said. “The Centers are places seniors can go for help. If they can’t get out of their homes, they can call the centers and get help delivered right to them?’ Another favorable aspect of the Centers is the “recognizability,” Tomlin said. staff person rather than hiring a ' ■ new person. Financially speak ing, we feel this may be a ''wrong move at this time.” Nuclear reactors may be the power source of tomorrow, but they’re powering the Navy today. 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