B.O.S.S. discusses ad-hoc meeting results
To the editor:
During the town council meeting of May 18, our Bay Oaks Social Seniors Ad-hoc committee was pleased with the discussion about Bay Oaks in general and the portion concerning our group in particular. It was very gratifying to hear town council members state their intention to continue to operate Bay Oaks after the turnover from Lee County on Oct. 1, 2009, and to keep as many programs as possible with BOSS mentioned as one of the three programs to definitely continue operating.
We understand that the town council has not yet officially voted to accept the Bay Oaks Recreation Center, but it appears to be very positive that it will happen. Our BOSS committee and our members remain available to assist the town council, the town manager, the county and anyone else in any area where we can be of service.
Our committee has worked several months on plans to continue the activities of our group before knowing what the status of Bay Oaks is to be after Oct. 1. A report outlining these results is attached for your review.
Our BOSS group functions under the direction of our very capable program director, Laurie Satalino, who is a Lee County employee now paid by the county and reimbursed by the town through grant money for her salary and benefits. Our group is basically self-sufficient because of Laurie’s work and that of the many volunteers who assist her with our programs and activities. We are presently able to use the Chapel by the Sea church hall for bridge games and pot luck luncheons; two or three 12-passenger vans; kayaks; and the baseball field for bocce ball.
Our biggest concerns at the time are outlined in more detail in our attached report. In brief, they are:
n a fully-paid program director for BOSS
n transfer of the two 12-passenger vans from the county to Bay Oaks made available for our group to use
n transfer of the cell phone, computer and all office and other equipment now used by Laurie from the county to Bay Oaks
n use of a meeting place for our larger group activities
n office space and all necessary equipment for the program director
It is hoped that Lee County has furnished the town with an inventory list itemizing all of the assets of Bay Oaks that will become town property by Oct. 1, 2009. Barbara Manzo assured our group at a meeting on Feb. 26, with Jo List and other town officials in attendance that most of the equipment at Bay Oaks would remain there. Without an up-to-date list, the town council can not know what assets will remain the property of Bay Oaks nor can BOSS determine what we need to purchase as listed in our proposed budget report.
We thank Jo List for her attendance at our first meeting, for her input and guidance to our group, and for her attendance at the Bay Oaks Advisory Committee. We would also like to thank in advance the rest of the town council, the town manager and Ray Judah for their concern and interest in getting for our town an acceptable and workable program for all of Bay Oaks activities after Oct. 1, 2009.
Jim Leisure
Fort Myers Beach