THOUSAND OAKS : Seniors’ Agency Gets New Director

A Simi Valley resident has taken over the helm of a Thousand Oaks senior citizens social service agency whose executive director resigned three months ago over a cut in his workweek.

Rick Fields, 38, has assumed the position of executive director of the Conejo Valley Senior Concerns Inc., a nonprofit agency that operates a senior citizens day-care center and Meals on Wheels program.

Fields, the former executive director of the Boys and Girls Club of Simi Valley, is chairman of the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District Board of Directors.

Fields hopes to boost the revenues of the agency, which plans to open an expanded day-care center for frail elderly people.

Senior Concerns needs money to continue running a hot line for senior citizens and a thrift store, he said.

Don Hegarty resigned as director in September after budget cuts forced Senior Concerns to trim his hours to 30 a week. Hegarty worked for Senior Concerns for five years.

More than $25,000 was trimmed from salaries because of a drop in revenues, said Fields, who declined to state his salary. The agency now has a $280,000 budget.

Fields said Senior Concerns is expecting a dramatic jump in its operating costs next year when it opens the 5,600-square-foot Fitzgerald House. The new center at Hodencamp Road and Hillcrest Drive will more than quintuple the size of the existing Fitzgerald House at 591 E. Hillcrest Drive.