HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-10-27-COA-min RECEIVED
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rOWN CLERK
Town of Lexington Council on Aging -Age-Friendly Sub-Committee Meeting
October 27, 2021 - 2:30 PM - Zoom Video Conference LEXINGTON
Present:John Zhao, Sudhir Jain, Betty Borghesani, Sandra Shaw, Ellen Cameron, Julie-Ann
Shapiro. Staff: Hemali Shah
• John Zhao called the meeting to order at 2:33 PM and read instructions on public
meetings via Zoom.
• September minutes approved
• After our last meeting (9/30) John reached out to several committees including the
Planning Board, CPA Advisory Committee, Tax-Deferral group to ask if they were open
to speak to the COA about housing affordability and safety. All were open to talk, it is
just a question of timing because of special town meeting session.
• CPAC is tasked with soliciting feedback from committees and residence regarding plans
and goals to increase supply of housing for all stages of life, and increasing supply for
older adults.
• We discussed inviting a variety of housing groups to a special session of the COA to
discuss housing for older adults. CPAC might sponsor it, with attendees possibly
including the Planning Board, Housing Partnership, LexHab, Select Board,Tax Deferral
and Exemption committee, Human Services, Lex Home and Lexington Housing
Authority. A major question will be as a practical matter, how do things get done?
What is the best way for us to advocate? Where our time is best spent?
• Ellen and Betty have been researching the Capable Program. The cost to take the
course is still unknown. A Nurse, Occupational Therapist and a handyman would be
necessary— is that more involved than we want? Ellen, Betty, Hemali and Melissa have
a meeting to determine what is feasible because it will fall on Human Service's
shoulders? Plan B, if the goal is home safety, would be to apply for a grant to pay for
modifications. There may be a contractual relationship with some organizations.
Additional questions involve whether there are liability challenges, what is the cost to
be proactive to address safety issues? What grants are available?
• Regarding transportation, Sudhir just received data regarding senior ridership and the
cost of Lexpress to review. Question of whether to seek full free ridership for seniors,
and if so, what the timing should be.
Next meeting date, TBD.
Submitted by Julie Shapiro