HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-08-05-COA-minAugust 5, 2015
Council on Aging Minutes for August 5, 2015
Attendees Present:
Barbara Rediker
Marion Kilson
Harry Mackay
Sheila Butts
Hemali Patel
Sophia Ho
Ellen Cameron
Rich McDonough (Recorder)
Meeting started at 3pm
Meeting opened by Nancy Adler, COA Chair.
• Citizen complement on new facilities & smooth transition
• COA Member Harry Mckay raised concern regarding Lexpress routes 1 & 4 that 33% of routes not
covered during free senior ride time of 9AM -2PM
• Chair said Transportation Town Rep will be invited and asked to explain at next month's meeting
• Chair moved to open comments for June Minutes. Moved they be approved. Voted approved.
• Suggestion was raised to have meet and greet coffees: Barbara Rediker will lead study group
• Marion Kilson suggested COA be made a permanent member of community center executive
steering committee for community center at large.
• Hemali gave program update on furniture which is still coming in.
o After Labor Day, all programs, equipment & activities should be in place.
o Adjustments anticipated
• Sheila Butts announced recreation programs to begin September 24. Brochure sent to printer
• Owl & other program registration will be available online.
o Prices to remain the same except where course length of time is extended
o Many classes are running full
o Recreation equipment installation still ongoing according to work order schedule.
o Room assignments are still the biggest challenge
o One COA member stated he had received several inquiries regarding registration problems
o The Center is adjusting to the new facility and working out the transition operations from
the old facility to the new facility
o Registration which was split between recreation & Human Services will now be centralized.
o One COA member asked if online registration provides a confirmation. Answer: Yes.
• Another public comment inquiry regarding availability of microphones for meeting rooms &
hearing devices.
o They are planned for along with other misc. audio - visual equipment
o A live phone operator /receptionist is planned. Phones will also have menu options for
various organizations in the community center.
o Public Announcement system (PA) is planned for.
o Phones will be strategically placed (1 -2) for each floor, for emergency responders and 911
connectivity such as exercise & cardio rooms.
o Emergency Action Plan is in the works similar to one currently used by the Town Office.
o Building maps are planned for emergency exits & other building orientation.
o Certain doors will not be accessible from the outside for building security purposes.
• Windowpane shop & Fixit shop space allocation was raised. Fixtures will be very nice but space
limitations are not alterable. Square footage was notably smaller from previous facility for
Windowpane shop.
• Space limitations affect SHINE program as well.
• Library issue raised. Emphasis will be on periodicals & newspapers vs. limited book selection.
• Computer Room inquiry from citizen in the audience.
o No operable printers. How many are projected to be purchased for use. Copy policy?
o Sheila Butts said a central location has not been finalized
• Role of the COA vs. Community Center
o How do organizational /program /budget lines remain clear
o Some programs /budgets are dictated by the State.
o Programs are self - selecting just by virtue of times offered. Day programs tend to be Senior
oriented.
o Purpose of the Community Center is to provide services to all groups.
o Space by 60+ vs. youth tend to be segregated but there is some overlap.
• Citizen inquiry regarding program conflicts between movie times & world affairs. No response to
letter submitted to Human Services by local citizen
o Human Service Rep: Space & activity conflicts do exist, they are working within the
limitations they have to best meet the needs of the community.
o Citizen proposed a straw -man schedule for movies & World Affairs Programs.
• Dining & Meals involved extensive discussion.
o No one is satisfied with the current quality of meals
o Service providers have changed due to budget limits for meals which affects quality
o Human service Rep is visiting other Community Centers around the State to see if there are
better options we have not been able to identify locally.
o Because Budget limitations are driving the quality of food, schedule options of two days vs.
5 days is a consideration that requires further analysis
o One member of the citizen audience suggested allowing people to bring their own lunch
o One COA member suggested using the school lunch vendor to get economies of scale to
optimize price and quality.
o Another COA member suggested that perhaps the Friends of the Council of Aging could
possibly subsidize a couple of lunches per week, especially in the summer.
o Chartwells is another option
o One COA board member suggested that those who sign up late for lunches, should be
charged extra to offset the unanticipated need to provide meals.
o Another audience member suggested Vendor snack machines.
o Sheila Butts stated that something like that is under discussion by the Community Center
• New Business:
o Grand Opening Saturday, Oct 17. 10am -1pm. Raffle Prize: Quilt.
o Time limited due to National Heritage Museum planned event utilizing parking spaces
o Veterans Breakfast could not be held at the new Community Center due to space
limitations in the Dining Hall.
• Veterans Breakfast will take place Oct 31, 2015, at St. Bridget's Basement Hall