HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-06-01-COA-minCouncil of Aging Board Meeting
Town of Lexington June 1, 2022
2:32-3:45 PM
Zoom Video Conference
Present: Julie-Ann Shapiro, Betty Borghesani, Bonnie Teitleman, Ellen
Cameron, John Zhao, Sudhir Jain, Sandra Shaw, Jyotsna Kakullavarapu,
Sue Rockwell, Julie Barker
Staff: Michelle Kelleher, Melissa Interess, Christine Dean, Hemali Shah,
Suzie Barry
John Zhao called the meeting via zoom to order at 2:32 PM, took
attendance.
Public Comments: None
Review and Approval of May minutes
Staff Reports:
Michelle Kelleher, Senior Services Coordinator
• Wrapping up Mental Health Month
• June-Alzheimer’s Awareness Month 6/2 program;
Fire Dept and Wai-Kwok Chong (outreach
worker) Safety at Home
• Wai-Kwok Chong new staff member description
in Sage
• 6/23 Portland trip 50 people
Melissa Interess, Director Human Services
• Shout out to Michelle for great job on Mental
Health
• After 7/15 can have open meetings or hybrid but
need chair and quorum in room, can use tent
Christine Dean, Director of Community Center
• Tent installed
• Walkway complete, waiting for equipment, will have
grand opening
• Summer programming, adult fitness winding down,
summer beginning
• Pool and Res open 6/4
• Skills for Life with performances for grades K-6, older
on positive thinking, making mistakes, making friends,
can see youtube
Hemali Shah, Senior Services Director
• Wai working w/Theatre Pharmacy to do vaccinations for
homebound, 24 lockboxes with Fire Dept
• Home modification 74 responses (so far) ½ need
modifications, 56% ok to maintain their homes
• Many seniors consider moving out of Lexington (property
tax)
• Many would like referrals for resources to maintain homes
• John, Julie-Ann, Ellen met with the new police chief 5/6, he would
like to come to senior lunch, engage w/COA; 3 goals:
o Keep police updated on senior events
o At Risk form, would like input from COA
o Language services, would like more translators, compile list
o Ellen suggested blast phone calls in different languages
New Business none
Liaison Reports
Transportation-Sudhir Jain-Contracts for Lexpress, Lexconnect expiring,
discussed options, agreed to find new contactor w/more vehicles and
handicapped ability; Ass’t Dir Sheila Page described Vision Zero
Program/ Network that seeks to eliminate traffic fatalities and injuries,
Planning Board proposes this for town; Change of Lexpress, Lexconnect
routes discussed in working group for Comprehensive Plan
FCOA- Sudhir Jain- no updates
Minuteman Senior Services- Sudhir Jain-5/13 mtg at Community
Center program where Ass’t Dir of MMSS Leslie May Chibani
described their services to 32 people, Q+A; met w/Bea Holland to
discuss marketing of MMSS to the public, will meet w/Michelle K about
future programs; Elaine Miller, Director of SHINE, met w/MMSS Board
re: Medicare counseling, a community education program for 16 MMSS
communities plus Cambridge and Somerville: Age Your Way is program
for older adults who wish to live independently as long as possible;
MMSS is celebrating Older American Month
Commission on Disability-Bonnie Teitleman- presentation by Sean
Newell on Fiske School playground; desirability of survey of disabled,
seniors on effects of covid-discussed and COA supported
Recreation Committee Julie Ann Shapiro no update
Lexington Housing-Susan Rockwell 2 meetings, applied and approved
CPA funds for Countryside update beginning 7/22; Vynebrook bath and
kitchen upgrades will cost $4,000,000, done in phases, residents need
to vacate; survey of tenants-happy; confusion re Eversource vs town
responsibility for wiring. Agreed Town do current repairs, then
Eversource will take over
Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee- no update
Vision for Lexington-Jyotsna Kakullavarapu- no update
Housing Partnership- John Zhao- Affordable Housing Working Group to
study current state:12,000 units, 1300 subsidized units, 5.7%
affordable, 669 rental units; since 2012 Lexington gained 29 units, 3 per
year
Mental Health Task Force-Ellen Cameron- no update
Lexington Center Committee-Sandra Shaw- parking lot survey and
redesign; Bike Node will have racks, solar station, spring plantings;
Discovery Day canceled weather, to be rescheduled
Strategic Equity Advisory Ellen Cameron group to make
recommendations for equity, inclusion in affordable housing ,
uncomfortable meeting; lottery for affordable housing; description of
Affordable Housing Trust by Suzie Barry
Meeting adjourned by Julie-Ann at 3:58PM
Next meeting of COA: August 3, 2022 2:30 -4PM location TBD
Submitted by Bonnie Teitleman