Council votes to restart WHISPER program

Willoughby Hills City Council has approved reinstating the WHISPER program despite some objections from residents.

Ultimately, Council on June 25 voted 7-1 with Councilwoman Nancy Fellows abstaining, in favor of re-establishing the Willoughby Hills Isolated Senior Program for Everyday Relief,

The program offers assistance to senior residents who are in need of assistance, temporarily or permanently, with services such as lawn care, house cleaning, general maintenance, meals, companionship, a helping hand, and other services, according to the city.

This program was designed to provide everyday relief, emphasizing that services will be offered year-round and not be limited to only “holiday time” when many other programs are in force.

Some residents voiced concerns about what this program means for the taxpayers.

Jenna Bing, longtime resident, expressed at the meeting her concerns about what the potential back-up plan is if there are not enough volunteers and also the potential cost for covering police background checks of the volunteers.

“I’m not a fan of the city paying for background checks that are required,” she said.

“I know too many places where if you want to volunteer that’s kind of the cost of doing that. If you want to read to the elementary school kids in Painesville, you got to pay for your own I think. If you really want to volunteer and help, it’s a small cost.

“But if we all of a sudden have 100 volunteers and they volunteer one time, it’s kind of expensive for the city, in times particularly now.”

Another longtime Willoughby Hills resident, Dale Fellows, husband of Nancy Fellows also voiced his concerns with the program and its possible cost for taxpayers.

The program came under scrutiny and was suspended in February 2018.

Accusations were later declared unfounded by the Ohio State Auditor, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Lake County Department of Job and Family Services.

Councilwoman Tanya Taylor Draper has taken the lead on the program, revised the guidelines and put in some “guardrails” to ensure safety and volunteer accountability.