HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-09-04-COA-minMinutes
Lexington Council on Aging
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
3:00 PM @ Lexington Senior Center
Attendees:
Nancy Adler, Chair
Marion Kilson
Barbara Rediker
Marilyn Campbell
Charlotte Rodgers, Director of Human Services
Barbara Deveau, Senior Services Coordinator
Kelly Axtell, Asst. Director Senior Services
Hank Manz, Selectman
Julie -Ann Shapiro
Betty Borghesam
Gerry Howell
Public Comments
The meeting followed the Meet and Greet at which Linda Vine gave a brief history of the Lexington Senior Center
and answered many questions regarding the planned Community Center.
Minutes
July 10 minutes reviewed, amended to include Marion Kilson as liaison to FCOA for OWLL program, moved
and accepted.
Human Services Staff Reports
Charlotte Rodgers
• MCOA (Mass. Council on Aging Annual Conference) will be held in Sturbridge on October 2,3, and
4. Theme is Senior Centers 2013, Where Do We Grow from Here. Friday morning the theme will
be Senior Centers of the Future. Interested COA members should speak with Charlotte for further
details. Deadline for sign up is September 16. Car pools will be arranged.
• A communication and information bulletin board is now up. All are encouraged to ask questions,
make suggestions via this route.
• Budget process for 2015 has begun.
Kelly Axtell
• Reviewed recent Greeley Village outreach program to seniors. Sponsored by the Community
Service Group of Lexington, two lectures were presented, one on spirituality and aging by Chaplain
Maria Benoit from Youville House, the other on how to overcome cravings for sweets by Josh
Hammond, director of admissions from Golden Living. A light lunch was provided. Translation
was provided. Kelly reports it was sold out and well received. Plan to do more at other community
areas.
Barbara Deveau
• Recent bus trip to Boston with free time in the city was well attended. Plan to do another trip to NYC
in November
Series on housing is planned for October/November
Recent change in sign -up for programs was proposed. When a program is advertised, registration
will be restricted for one week for Lexington residents and one guest only. After one week,
registration will be open to both Lexington residents and outsiders.
A motion was made and approved to support this method of registration for programs.
Older Wiser Lifelong Learning Program
Jane Trudeau and members of FCOA reviewed fall program which will offer 4 different mini - courses, all listed
in the September newsletter along with instructions on registering. The OWLL program is sponsored by a grant
from the Dana Foundation.
At the Lexington Depot on September 25 at 3:30 there will be a kick -off reception for the program at which at
which the presenters will introduce their courses.
Community Center Update
Recent CCAC meetings
Betty Borghesam reported that with summer schedules, there have been only two meetings of the CCAC. The
committee consists of 7 citizen members with Michelle Ciccolo as Chair. There are liaisons from critical town
departments and committees. Additionally, Linda Vines serves as Vice -chair and liaison from administration.
The web page can be accessed through the town site. Meetings are posted and always open to everyone. Anyone
who would like to be on email list for notification of meetings should let Betty know
At the August meeting Steffian Bradley Architects presented a design and proposed timeline. A priority of the
architects and the CCAC is good outreach so that all interested individuals and groups (stakeholders) can be
heard. Directors of recreation, the library, and human services also presented reports on their programs and goals
Discussion of COA communication ideas to make sure all stakeholders are heard and involved
Discussion of proposal drafted by Nancy, Barbara and Carroll Ann: 1) Meet and Greet at Senior Center to gather
input from current users, 2) "Community at Large" meeting, similar to the 2010 Community Conversation, to
gather input from broader segment of the community. Goal is exchange of information, opportunity to express
needs, wishes
Other ideas included: putting suggestion boxes in various public places; visiting or surveying other centers for
their ideas and experiences
Nancy will submit a suggestion to the CCAC that we will do a Meet and Greet at the senior center directed to
ideas /wishes from seniors. She will also suggest that we work with the CCAC to do a "Community
Conversation" open to all stakeholders directed to discussion of Community Center
Next Meeting
First Wednesday in October
Meeting adjourned at 4PM
Respectfully submitted
Betty Borghesam