Popular meal program generates debate in city council

by Erica Peterson 

To help keep senior citizens healthy and connected during the pandemic, the Independence Community Services department shifted its weekly 55-plus lunch in the Civic Center to a twice-a-week drive-thru no-contact program.  

Every Tuesday and Friday seniors who pre-order a meal pick it up curbside at the Civic Center between noon and 1 p.m. The meals, packaged to be taken home and heated, include entrees or sandwiches, soups, salads and desserts. Participants order a week ahead and pay $3 per meal, with the city picking up the rest of the $9-a-meal tab. 

“The city is happy to subsidize these lunches to keep the cost low while providing quality nutrition for our 55-plus residents,” said Mayor Greg Kurtz. “It also gives them a reason to come by and see us.” 

Kurtz said he receives phone calls from residents who say they miss socializing with neighbors at the Civic Center but appreciate the meals and friendly faces. 

The program has proved so popular that in early August 400 lunches were picked up per week. By the end of September, 600 lunches per week were being distributed. That number grew to 730 by the end of October, according to the mayor.  

In December, city council will consider continuing the program in 2021 by contracting with Lori’s Custom Catering of Cuyahoga Heights and TJK Catering and Concessions of Canton.  

The estimated cost for the 2020 program was $104,000. The city anticipates collecting $41,000 from the $3 fee from participants, leaving $62,400 for the city to pay.  

Kurtz said he’d like to see the program continue as long as the pandemic prevents sit-down lunches. 

“This only started because of the uniqueness of the situation,” he said. “It started out as an attempt to get people out of their houses, to get some type of communication going with them. It’s a therapeutic exercise as much as a nutritional one.” 

When Civic Center lunches safely return, the drive-thru program will end, Kurtz said. 

Higher fee? 

At a Nov. 10 caucus, several council members suggested raising the participant fee. The consensus was to raise it to $5 a meal. 

“It’s costing the city $9,” council member Tom Narduzzi said. “I know we’re doing a great thing, but let’s be realistic. … I think we have to consider at least splitting [the cost] halfway with them, and it’s still a good deal.” 

Vice Mayor Dave Grendel also supported raising the fee. 

“We’re doing a service, providing a nutritional meal for people that … a lot of times, especially the ones up in their 70s and 80s, they don’t take the time to prepare a proper meal,” he said. “I think we’re doing a good thing here, but we could raise the amount that we charge.” 

Council member Kathleen Kapusta also supported a higher fee, saying the city has additional costs connected to the program, as it provides the dessert.  

Council member Jim Trakas said raising the fee to $5 would generate “such a miniscule amount” of additional money, it wouldn’t be worth possibly alienating those in need. 

Council member Dale Veverka asked if all interested vendors had an opportunity to bid. 

Procurement Coordinator Dennis Zdolshek said he targeted Independence-based vendors first, aiming to give city businesses “an economic boost.”  

Opposition to program 

Kenn Synek was the only council member who opposed the lunch program, saying it “has a lot of flaws that need to be fixed.” 

“It’s wrong to operate the Civic Center as if it were a drive-thru window at a quick-service restaurant,” he said. “It’s wrong to use the city’s money to give away food to citizens, the vast majority of whom could easily afford to pay the full cost of the meal they are purchasing.” 

Synek said the program is unfair to Independence restaurants, as it will “kill their jobs” and “steal their customers.” 

He said he would support the program if the meals were sold at cost unless a resident demonstrated financial need for a reduced rate.  

“It’s wrong for us as politicians to try to curry favor with the electorate by giving away the city’s money, and then claim credit for having done something good,” Synek said. “This is one of those times we need to do what is right, not what is popular.” 

His comments spurred heated replies from other council members. 

Kapusta said she’s worked with the senior lunch program for 14 years and “totally disagreed” with Synek. 

“For you to say this is buying favors; we do this because we believe it’s a way to get our people together, to get our eyes on them,” she said. 

Grendel said it was wrong of Synek to think their mindset was about garnering votes rather than helping community members. He said he knows of seniors who, without a program like the drive-through lunch, will skip meals. 

Narduzzi said that restaurants are not an option for those who are at high risk for COVID-19. 

“These people can’t go to a restaurant, because they’re senior citizens,” Narduzzi said. “And the restaurants are saying, ‘Don’t come, because we don’t want you to catch it from our restaurant.’ That’s the only reason we are doing things like this, to help the senior citizens out.” 

Kurtz said the program “is a great investment in our seniors, who we obviously cherish.”  

Council voted Dec. 8 to continue the 55-plus drive-thru lunch program into 2021, raising the fee from $3 to $5 a meal. 

Feature image photo caption: The Community Services Department packs up and delivers lunches curbside twice a week to those who register for the 55-plus Drive-Thru Lunch program.