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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-09-02-COA-min Minutes of the Lexington Council on Aging Board September 2, 2015 Present: Nancy Adler, Bette Borghesani, Ellen Cameron, Gerry Howell, Marion Kilson, Harry Mackay, Rich McDonough, Barbara Rediker Absent: Camille Goodwin, Sophie Ho, Julie Ann Shapiro Staff: Sheila Butts, Hemali Patel, Charlotte Rodgers, Jeanette Rebecchi Meeting was called to order by Nancy Adler, COA Chair 1. Public Comments – deferred until appropriate time on the agendat 2. Review of August minutes - Corrections: Camille Goodwin’s name was added to the attendees’ present list, and the Yamaha piano was recorded as actually being in the Dining Ellen Cameron moved that the minutes be accepted as amended, Marion Kilson Room. seconded, and all the Board agreed . Gary Fallick introduced Lou Conrad who will replace Barbara Ciampa as the new representative from Minuteman Senior Services (there are 2 representatives). Nancy Adler thanked Barbara Ciampa and Gary for their service and welcomed Lou with appreciation. 3. Staff Reports: Hemali Patel, Senior Services Coordinator, reported on a new lecture series, “Aging Mastery” which will be held at the LCC on Mondays from 8:30AM to 10:30PM. The series will include talks on exercise, healthy eating and hydration, sleep, medication management, financial fitness, healthy relationships, advance planning, community engagement, falls prevention, Alzheimer’s, and osteoporosis. Various agencies and professionals will sponsor breakfast. Hemali said the trips are filling up; there will be flu clinics at the LCC on Sept 24 and 30, and a flu clinic for seniors only at St Brigid’s on Sept 16 from 10AM to 1PM. Charlotte Rodgers, Director of Human Services, presented a budget proposal for the Friends of the Council on Aging (FOCA) of $16,000: $10,000 for the Lex Connect Taxi CR asked for a motion to accept the Program and $6,000 general subsidy for senior programs. budget which was made by MK, seconded by BR and approved by all the COA Board. CR reported that the FCOA suggested they’d like to offer coffee free of charge to seniors at the LCC. It is estimated that coffee and supplies would cost about $6,500 per year, and that proceeds from the Window Pane Shop and the Fix it Shop, now directed to the FCOA, and would likely cover that. Funds for furniture for a new Senior Center were donated some years ago. The FCOA donated $41,000 for the furniture and the Dana Home Fund also donated $25,000 for this purpose. How to provide beverages and food in the LCC now are being looked into by Sheila Butts, Director of LCC, with town hall officials will have an official town opening for th everybody in the community on Saturday, Sept 16 from 1PM to 2:30PM She is discussing possibilities with LCC participants and vendors. There will probably be tryouts with specific times and places. Right now coffee from 9AM to 3PM is being considered, along with coffee at lunches in the café, and some vending machines with salads, etc. Sheila is very interested in developing new volunteer positions, e.g.greeters or ambassadors, welcoming people at the door, showing people around the LCC both floors, volunteers who take pictures and get people signed up as members, volunteers in the cardiofitness room, others who can support staff,etc. All volunteers are required to fill out forms for a CORI check. Jeanette Rebecchi, Transportation Manager for Lexington, reported that three routes of the LexPress are able to provide transportation to the front door of the LCC. Seniors ride for free from 9AM until 1:30PM ending at 2PM. She explained how all the routes are coordinated with the center of town stop so riders can change from one bus route to another. If there is a 30 minute traffic jam, the whole schedule is thrown off. If riders have concerns, please direct them to call her office. 4. At our next meeting, there will be a discussion of important issues brought up by Mimi Aarons, who was unable to attend, about how the COA advocates and how individual constituents advocate. Some creative ideas were brought up, e.g. having greeters in the building, showing people around the building, ideas for different groups, trips,etc, suggestion box, etc. Important issue to discuss next meeting. 5. Update on Senior dining which will resume after Labor Day. Perhaps, a Keurig type machine would be useful and vending machines of some kind. A work in progress. 6. New Business - The Window Pane Shop will re-open after Labor Day. Some couches will be placed in front of the store where people can chat and see the offerings in the windows of the shop and what customers have bought. Ellie and Christina have been busy at work unwrapping goods and waiting for shelves. They are hoping the store will be open five days a week and will be recruiting volunteers. th There will be a “Meet and Greet” for seniors on Wed, Sept.16 from 1:30 to 3:00PM. Various members of the Board will bring cookies and flowers, provide tours for visitors, and take fliers around town prior for publicity. The COA will provide beverages and paper goods. Nancy Adler and Charlotte Rodgers will give short “welcomes,” and Sheila Butts will give a talk about the Lexington Community Center and its offerings. 7. No liaison reports 8. Meeting was adjourned at 4:35PM. Next meeting will be Wed. Oct. 7, 2015. Respectfully submitted, Barbara Rediker