Council still working on reestablishing WHISPER program

Willoughby Hills City Council is still considering reestablishing its program providing assistance to senior citizens in the city.

W.H.I.S.P.E.R. began in the city in 2009 to offer temporary or permanent assistance to senior residents with services such as lawn care, house cleaning, general maintenance, meals or companionship, through the work of volunteers.

The program came under scrutiny and was suspended in February 2018. Accusations were later declared unfounded by groups such as the Ohio State Auditor, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Lake County Department of Job and Family Services.

An ordinance rescinding ordinance 2018-11 that suspended the program is on second reading. Councilwoman Tanya Taylor Draper has been leading the charge to bring back the W.H.I.S.P.E.R. program. “Many good conversations happened” at two earlier subcommittee meetings about the program, she said.

Draper hopes to re-establish the program by building up what she calls the “mini branches” of the program. She submitted to council that the subcommittee should consist of a council representative, a mayor’s designee who would facilitate two Willoughby Hills residents, a road and fire superintendent or their designees, and lastly, the police chief or his designee.

“The duties of the committee would be to review, approve, deny, oversee every aspect of the W.H.I.S.P.E.R. program,” she said.

The subcommittee wants to also focus on any other expenditures, expenses, and requests. They are also looking to review and keep up to date with logs and essential documents.

The biggest factor is trying to re-establish services for seniors inside and outside the home without having to go certain approvals.

This is in the effort to offer any immediate services needed, like raking the leaves, mowing the lawn, watering plants, sweeping porches, and stoops and other small services.