considering hiring another full-time driver for the Office of the Aging, which would bring the office back to pre-pandemic levels.

The drivers handle medical and shopping runs and meal pickups and delivery, including at congregate sites, for both senior citizens and veterans. 

The transportation department has holes, the office’s director, Lise-Anne Deoul, told the legislature’s Planning and Community Resources Committee last week. The office currently has eight drivers and is asking for a ninth.

“If one driver calls out, the whole thing falls apart,” Deoul said. 

Adding a driver would cost the county around $73,000. Of that amount, 42,000 covers the salary, and the rest goes to insurance.

Legislator Cat Scott (D, 5) asked the county manager, Joshua Potosek if the position could be added to the budget.

“Well, anything in isolation is doable,” he said. “It’s a combination of all of the adds over time, but yes.”

Scott said the alternative also has an effect.

“When the Office of the Aging has to drop what they’re doing for a pick-up, there is a cost to that too,” she said.

Deoul said this happens about four times a month. 

Talking priorities

Matt McPhillips (D, 1) defended the need for the position: “I mean, we’re talking about seniors getting medicine.” 

Joseph Perrello (R, 7) was more doubtful. “If we could streamline and consolidate duties and give them more direction, it could work better,” he said. “Other departments need assistance also. If we just keep adding employees, we are going to have a problem.”

Scott pushed back.

“How much more can they streamline?” she asked. “We’re undeserving of our seniors.” 

The duties of the transportation unit expanded when it started transporting veterans as well as seniors to medical appointments. In addition, meal locations have been consolidated: Fewer locations are serving more people than was the case before the pandemic.

Luis Alvarez (D, 6) and Scott pointed out that meal deliveries and congregate meals serve as wellness checks for seniors. “The day we resumed in-person meal delivery, we found somebody on the floor,” a member of the Office for the Aging told legislators. “That’s what it’s about, the humans doing it and checking on it.”

Perrello and Brian McPhillips (D, 3) suggested hiring part-time drivers to save on insurance costs. “It’s more flexible,” said McPhillips.

But Deoul said part-time drivers are “incredibly difficult” to find.

“We are under-serving our elderly community,” Scott said. “We do not have the same number of congregate sites open.”

Perrello requested documentation of the number of seniors being served currently compared to previous years. “We’ve got to watch how we spend the money,” he said.

“I’m not against saving money,” Scott said. “I just wonder when we will be having money-saving conversations around something that doesn’t have to do with caring for the elders in our community.”