HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-02-01-COA-minTown of Lexington Council of Aging Board Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, February 1st, 2017 Lexington Community Center, room 237
Meeting started 3:40pm
Present: Betty Borghesani, (Co- Chair) Nancy Adler, Ellen Cameron,( Vice
Chair) Sophia Ho, Gerry Howell, Camille Goodwin.
Staff: Kelly Axtell, Hemali Patel, Charlotte Rodgers
Public Comments: Anne F. brought up the fact that the link to receive
Senior Services Newsletter and emails is not working. There was also a
incorrect date in the printed Newsletter for the technology class. Follow up
on this topic occurs later in the meeting.
January Meeting Minutes: Accepted as prepared.
Staff Reports and Program Updates: Update on Sand for Seniors. Phillip
(Graduate Student) — had 120 phone calls, 3 separate deliveries of sand. 54
homes,16 homes and then 20 homes. 30 people did either not qualify or call
back. Phillip called each person up to 3 times. Rotary Club did a lot of
volunteer hours on this, as well as Phillip. They received extra calls this year
due to an advertising error (that did not have all information listed to
qualify). The buckets will be picked up at the end of the winter season as
well.
FCOA received a nice letter for the Lexington Veterans.
Hemali: Had a good meeting with the program working group. Looking into
smaller vs larger trips. Discussed hosting a panel of committees in town:
Camille said: committees — Tree Committee, Historic District and Historical
Commission. District decides on paint color etc on historical homes, the
Commission can decide if you have a 1950 style home it cannot be torn
down. Tree committee- about being able to cut a tree down — you need
permission. These can affect seniors if wanting to sell their current home etc.
First Passport around the World on America was very successful. 30
people attended. February "travel" to Italy, March will be Ireland.
Technology Class was also very good- discussed skype, Facebook and
facetime.
Sign up for March trip to the Lion King and Aprils trip to NYC started today
and already have people registered.
Charlotte: Discussed on having the UMass Director Jan Mutchler of the
social and demographic aging come to our March l st Board meeting. Also
Charlotte will included in her grant proposal to The Dana Home Fund to
help pay for this 5 year plan /study. The initial cost is $35,000 with additional
costs along the 5 years. The plan will be written for 50 years and above.
Betty: Lexington Housing Partnership maybe come to our march Board
Meeting, but now will ask for Aprils meeting instead.
Where can you get information about Senior Services: Staff received an
email about problems with the link from the Lexington.gov website. Staff
will contact IT from the town to see if this link can be fixed. Also a question
arose from Anne F. regarding more people should use the email version of
the Newsletter over the paper. Also how this information can be made to
Seniors (about signing up for online Newsletter). To date: 5,265 households
receive our bi- monthly Newsletter. Only 573 people have registered to
receive it online. Human Services tries not to fill folks mailbox with many
emails. They may send one out about 4 times a year. Kelly tries to limit
amount of emails per year, so they do not become spam. If the date for an
event is incorrect in the Newsletter — or it got changed, when you call to
register (or come in the Center) you will be notified of the correct /new date.
You cannot register online. Next Newsletter may have more information
about website /link sign up. Many folks like the printed Newsletter- the extra
1000 printed each time for the lobby of the Center are always taken. (In
addition to ones mailed home).
Meet and Greet: Would like to host another Meet and Greet just before our
next Board Meeting- at 1:30- on March 1st. It will have the COA Board,
Staff and Michelle Ciccolo (our Board of Selectman Liaison). This will be in
the dining room.
Liaison Report:
Recreation: Ellen we have a new Recreation Director named Melissa
Batitte. She started on January 31' .
Community Center Program Advisory: Nancy: In beginning stages of
looking to purchase the Pelham property. Maybe moving the Preschool from
Harrington to there, other rooms maybe available. Maybe a Basketball
Court, full catering kitchen. This is to be continued.
Lexington Housing Authority: Camille: The Director will be on maternity
leave for 13 weeks mid - March. She will try to attend monthly meetings.
Working on Community rooms, letters that are coming in anonymous will
nit be addressed and plowing company was plowing wrong area and now
needs more money.
Meeting Adjorned at 4:04 pm. Next Meeting March 1st 2017
Respectfully Submitted, Ellen Cameron, Vice Chair.