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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980-02-11-HSC-min.pdf February 11, 1980 HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE Present. Ruth Butler, Nicky Osborne, Carol Perez, Howard Levingston, Ruth Nablo Also Elizabeth Pressman ''' '+ Absent Stephen Baran Carol Perez called the meeting to order at 7 30 p.m. The minutes of January 22 and 29, and February 5 were handed out to committee members Correc- tions were made and the minutes were accepted as corrected for January 22 and February 5, and as written for January 29 Mrs Perez handed out Stephen Baran's draft recommendations for REPLACE Discussion on these, as well as Howard Levingston's recommendations followed Mr Levingston recommended level funding of $27,717 , while Mr Baran agreed with the 10% increase, to $30,488 recommended by the Town Manager None of the three supported the REPLACE request for $34,423 The basis for these recommendations was discussed It was agreed that they were not made on the basis of performance evaluation. Mr Levingston asked how you evaluate which figure actually fits their needs Since he feels that he can't make an adequate evaluation at this time Mr Levingston recommends the same funding as this year Next year at this time, Mr Levingston feels that the committee can see whether or not REPLACE has done what they've said they will do Ruth Butler emphasized the need for REPLACE to get their program on a management system. They need to have a data base, she continued, which reflects the types of interventions they are making Further discussion followed about who this agency is supposed to serve and the possible positive impact they could have on the school system It was stated that no increase in these inflationary times amounts to a decrease Howard Levingston agreed, but said he felt a 5% cut would not hurt any organization He also stated that he might be willing to go along with an increase for REPLACE if cuts could be made elsewhere Barry Marshall asked how the school guidance department uses its funds In discussion that followed the committee felt that it should. look at the budget line items The schools have a contract with Mystic valley Mental Health Center but do not pay REPLACE for their services Perhaps, it was suggested, the schools should pay part of the REPLACE budget At this point the Area Director of the Mystic Valley Mental Health Area, Dr Ernest Cook, joined the committee With him were two members of the Area Board, Mrs Jacqueline Michelove and Mrs Joan Margolis Mrs Perez asked Dr Coeko apouoo Ce e swore is DMH. A summary of the case was given by Dr Cook Atcor$ingA rfinancia problems and questions about the quality of the program while Chester Sewall was executive director He was very uncooperative with those trying to evaluate the program. A study committee was set up including members from the Concord and Mystic Valley Mental Health areas CMARC was asked to work with the c€hrittee.. teeefelCMARC Board was willing to cooperate but the executive director was not,A An audit showed poorly kept financial records and a deficit of $4000/month In December, DMH had sent CMARC notification that funds would be terminated 90 days after January 1 1980 The committee decided that termination could not be withdrawn unless the executive director left After being asked to resign, Mr Sewall did so DMH is now working with the CMARC board The Area board feels that CMARC fills a real need and that everything possible should be done to get them back on their feet 2-11-80 - 2 - Some discussion followed of whether the Lexington appropriation this year is a fee for client service CMARC board believes this to be so Dr Cook feels that CMARC should be given money from Lexington and that CMARC will get back on its feet DMH is planning to give the CMARC board technical assistance At a certain point the board must take its own respons- ibilies with suggestions made by DMH as needed The current staff shortage at CMARC is being helped by a person from the Mystic Valley area and one from the Concord area'cworking there part time until a new director arrives The CMARC board is also working on a DMH sugges- tion to get substitute Special Education teachers to come in during this interim period' Dr Cook and the Area Board members left the meeting The Committee continued to discuss CMARC They want to ask Town Counsel how the appropriation can be tied into a contract or conditions of expenditure Nicky Osborne suggested that $5000 is a symbolic amount of money Discussion of giving a lesser amount followed Some discussion of the Mystic Valley Mental Health Center questions and answers took place Next meeting REPLACE, CMARC, and Mystic Valley will be discussed again The meeting was adjourned at 10 25 p.m Respectfully submitted„ i Elizabeth H. Pressman