HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-10-06-COA-min Council of Aging Board Meeting
Town of Lexington October 6 2021
2:30-3:50 PM
Zoom Video Conference
Present:Julie-Ann Shapiro, Bonnie Teitleman, Ellen Cameron,Julie -Ann Shapiro, John Zhao,
Sudhir Jain, Sandra Shaw, Camille Goodwin, Rich McDonough, Betty Borghesani, Jyotsna
Kakullavarapu, Bea Holland, Suzie Barry
Staff: Michelle Kelleher, Hemali Shah, Christine Dean, Melissa Interess
Julie-Ann Shapiro called the meeting to order at 2:32PM, took attendance.
Public Comments: None
Approval of September minutes, adding Betty to those present
Staff Reports:
o Michelle Kelleher, Senior Services Coordinator
o The Intergenerational Outreach Group awarded 2 scholarships of$5000 through
Omega to two Lexington students to promote their activities w/seniors. Each
got $1000 for their activities, which include helping seniors w/zoom, Uber/lyft
program, 1:1, website. Michelle is very proud of them.
o Programs now in person Sign Ups:
■ October Fest lunch 10/14 12:OOPM will have fewer people for safety
■ Lexington Symphony Chamber Group 10/19 7-8PM sponsored Dana
Home
■ Diwali Celebration 10/28 10:30 AM-12:30 PM
■ Harvest Festival 10/23 11AM-1:30 PM Intergenerational outdoor activity
at Comm Center
• Christine Dean, Community Center Director
o People are back at the Community Center!
o October pop-up event movie 10/14 Celebrating Differences, ADHD, dyslexia
o Describing their experiences
o Parker Meadow story boards
o Mid-session fitness programs
• Hemali Shah, Senior Services Director
o Parking sticker for seniors registration on 10/4 saw 296 applicants-popular! New
plans to register more seniors
o COA board members can pickup vests for Re-Discovery Day on 10/9
• Melissa Interess, Director Human Services
o Partnering with Burlington planning DV awareness program re: Asian community
• Age Friendly-Julie-Ann Shapiro met on 9/30 to discuss initiatives, decided to divide and
conquer:
■ Affordable housing-Sandra Shaw,John Zhao, Betty Borghesani
■ Two areas: financial support, tax deferral; income qualification: $90,000.;
makes inheritance more complicated
■ Need for affordable housing: zoning changes to remove single family only
Betty B:town might consider housing/apts for 55+
Need for middle income housing
■ Home Safety- Ellen Cameron, Betty Borghesani
■ Transportation-Julie-Ann, Sudhir Jain
Senior parking stickers, Lexpress
■ Socialization-Julie-Ann, John Z.
Postcards to invite participation, do more events, info on what's
Going on , focus on seniors feeling socially connected; COA might
Do meet greet with senior communities, Lexington at Home,
■ Community Center, neighborhood list serves
• Ellen C comment: Betty B and I googled programs:
o Johns Hopkins, Capability Program is RN, OT, handyman,
goal home visits
o And adaptation
o Boston Senior Home Repair Loan-home repairs w/financial
qualifications
o PACE-program for all-inclusive care for age 55+,income
dependent and have to be NH level of
care
o Senior care options-Medicare, Medicaid with
Commonwealth Care Alliance
Discovery Day 10/9/21 COA board members to attend along with
staff
Liaison Reports
Transportation-Sudhir Jain- 10/21 curbside grab n go, decorations, bicycle advisory, Friends of
Lexington bikers
FCOA-SudhirJain- no update
Minuteman Senior Services-Bea Holland-shortage of caregivers, looking for new board
members, fundraising in progress
Commission on Disability-Bonnie Teitleman-open house at Monroe reveals difficult
accessibility, poor windows, narrow corridors, low toilets; Parker Meadow got funding for 2022
conservation effort; ADHD and Dyslexia awareness month COD will partner w/HRC to co-
sponsor activity;joint work group w/HRC on effects of pandemic on disabled; opening for new
board member
Human Services Committee-Betty Borghesani- no update
Recreation Committee Ellen Cameron-presentation on bathrooms, playgrounds need updating
every 15 yrs
Lexington Housing-Camille Goodwin no update, meeting next week
Vision for Lexington-Jyotsna Kakullavarapu- no update
Housing Partnership-John Zhao- potential article to establish committee for conservation,
open space, historical concerns, affordability; in last 12 yrs, limited town allocated units/ land
for affordable housing
Mental Health Task Force-Ellen Cameron- no update
LexingtonNext Rich McDonough no update
Lexington Center Committee-Sandra Shaw-Visitor's Center ribbon cutting, some businesses
not coming back
Citizen's Advisory Committee-Ellen Cameron- need new name, 17 groups in Lexington, look at
all issues, need more members
Next meeting of COA: November 3, 20212:30 -4PM at the Community Center.
Submitted by Bonnie Teitleman