HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-05-07-TDES-min 1
RECEIVED
The Selectmen's Tax Deferral and Exemption Study Committee 2023 03 J uiiin, 327 piin't
TOWN CLERK
LEXINGTON MA
Meeting Minutes for May 7, 2013
Attendees:
Vicki Blier, Alan Seferian, Norman Cohen, Pat Costello, John Bartenstein, Mary Haskell,
Charlotte Rodgers ( Director of Human Services), Elaine Melahouris and Sandra
Pentedemos (Assessor's office)and Jonina Schonfeld (Appropriations Committee)
The meeting was chaired by Vicki Blier and the minutes were taken by Mary Haskell.
The meeting was called to order at 9:07am.
1. Senior Tax Work-Off Program
Ms. Schonfeld attended the meeting because of her interest in this topic.
Ms. Rodgers explained that the range of number of annual participants is 29 to 34. Lex
does rolling admission—to date only 2 turned away because over-income. All towns
have the same basic problem: finding the right job for the right person. Seniors do not
know how to use computers, for example, with resulting skills mismatch.
2. Further general discussion to take advantage of the expertise of our Town
employees
a. SNAP benefits (food stamps)
Ms. Rodgers: why are seniors in the senior villages willing to accept this aid but people
living in their own homes aren't—it seems that the people of "the greatest generation"
feel stigmatized
b. Why do seniors move out of Lexington?
Ms. Melahouris: people put their homes into trusts which takes them out of the property
tax deferral program
Ms. Rodgers: it is part of a national trend for people now to stay in their homes until they
are "medically desperate" . She is seeking a Dana Home grant to do an intensive mail
outreach to obtain more data about Lex seniors
Ms. Blier: how can we reach the adult children of the elderly?
Ms. Schonfeld: brochures on pharmacy counters?
3.Charlotte Rodgers "ask"
Every year about ten people are right on the edge of the income limits. We need to
increase the income limits for the work-off program.
Discussion:
Mr. Bartenstein proposes tweaking a number of factors: to increase the hourly
wage(and earning cap), remove double cap on two income households, increase
number of hours and increase income thresholds.
2
The Town is budgeted for 45 thousand for this program but so far has been using only
25 thousand so there is room to tweak it.
Ms. Rodgers wants to find a way to increase applicants ASAP because starting to
recruit for FY14.
Keep in mind that the vote of this committee is but a recommendation to Carl Valente.
4. Votes
Mr. Seferian moved to increase the income eligibility for the work-off program from 50 to
53k for a single and 52,950 to 55k for a couple. Ms. Costello seconded. The motion
passed unanimously.
Ms. Haskell moved to increase the wage rate from $8.50 to $9.50. Ms. Blier seconded.
The motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Bartenstein proposed to eliminate the hours cap on two income couples in order
that a married couple would be treated as two individuals. They should be able to do
two times the work for two times the pay. He moved to increase the hours cap from 110
to 140. Ms. Haskell seconded. The motion failed unanimously.
5.Adjournment
Ms. Blier moved to adjourn. ? seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
The next meeting will be on June 11, 2013 at 8:30am.