Seniors win bus delay

Metro Social Services will delay for 90 days implementing controversial audit findings that would alter special bus service for its elderly clients.

The agency originally planned to move the service to the Metropolitan Transit Authority.

Seniors fear the transition of the transportation program to MTA's Access Ride might threaten the nutrition program, bus stops may be too far and/or lack shelter, and drivers would not know their needs.

The decision was made Wednesday by the agency's commissioners before a room packed with elderly Davidson County residents and the department's Homemaker Service workers.

Social Services Director Geraldine (Gerri) Robinson said the 90 days would be used for a comprehensive assessment of the transportation services and needs with input from Davidson County residents.

The new management model the board adopted came from a May performance audit in which consultants from Reston, Va.-based Maximus Inc. recommended that Metro Social Services move away from providing direct services to managing services.

Councilwoman-at-Large Carolyn Baldwin Tucker presented the board with a Metro Council resolution asking them to delay implementation of the audit until July of 2006. Seven other Council representatives - Pam Murray, Erik Cole, Jim Gotto, Brenda Gilmore, Edward Whitmore, Vivian Wilhoite and John Summers - were present.

Social Services Associate Director Caroline Chamberlain said a special team of social workers has already met individually with seniors to address their concerns.

MTA also sent staff to do an assessment at four senior citizen centers to determine how many would qualify for Access Ride, MTA's transportation service for individuals who cannot use the regular bus service. Individuals need to qualify for Access Ride and be able to walk to a stop. Chamberlain said all 51 seniors participating in the assessment qualified.

However, during Wednesday's meeting, at least two seniors indicated by raising their hands that they had experienced problems with MTA staff members during the assessment. MTA CEO Paul Ballard talked to them after the meeting.

Seniors were not allowed to address board members during the meeting.

Board chair Luvenia Butler said the board was upset about misunderstandings that came up in connection with the transportation transfer, especially the rumors that the nutrition and homemaker programs may be in jeopardy.

"This board noted back in summer that nutrition and homemakers was the last we even look at under the new management model," Butler said.

Tucker said after the meeting that she is not satisfied with the 90-day delay.

"Ninety days is not sufficient in order to get a full assessment of what is needed by the citizens of Davidson County," Tucker said. "The board is rushing through on a mandate from somewhere and it doesn't appear that they're really giving the concern for the people that they need to give.

"That's concern for workers, concern for seniors, concern for children - none of that seems to happen. So I'm very displeased," Tucker said about audit implementations.

"I don't think that members of the board in some instances have gotten the full breath of what is actually happening here," Tucker said. "There is no vision for the department at this point, and they're structuring their vision based on recommendations from an outside audit, which should not be."