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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980-05-06-HSC-min.pdf li 5-6-80 1 HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE Present Carol Perez, Ruth Butler, Steve Baran, Nicky Osborne • Absent. Howard Levingston, Ruth Nablo, Barry Marshall y, The meeting was called to order at 7 35 P.M. by Carol Perez Some discussion about how various agencies reacted to the committee took place It was felt that the agencies may be saying "Tell us what you want and we'll do it" Mrs Perez and Mrs Pressman reported that the Selectmen voted to ask Mystic Valley Mental Health Center the questions posed by the HS committee The Board decided that if the responses were not adequate the appropriation would be withheld The Town would then proceed no further If the agency wanted the money it would be incumbent upon them to provide satisfactory information to the Town The committee proceeded to discuss the Reed Street problem, i e the feeling of the neighborhood that it is over saturated with institutional residences Mrs Pressman passed out copies of a letter from MVMHC regarding their plans to go forward with the purchase of a home in that neighborhood for an emergency shelter, SAFEHOUSE" Mrs Battin indicated that the Selectmen would like the HS committee to help create a process for siting of group residences She thought it was a good idea to work on this problem with the planning director Bob Bowyer The Committee requested a map of the Town pinpointing where such facilities already exist It was suggested that those that refer to themselves as "educational be identified. Does an institution such as the Krebs School have a residential component? Steve Baran will review Howard Levingston' s corrections to the REPLACE report before the agency receives a copy Carol Perez stated that she is expecting a copy of an elderly needs assess- ment done on the Cape It was found to be insufficient, and it would be interesting to see what the pitfalls and shortcomings were Ruth Butler shared with the committee a planning matrix used by Fred Jervis The three parts are 1) State the ultimate purpose of the organization 2) State where the organization is now 3) Set up a road to get from 2) to 1) In these terms Ms Butler suggested the following for the HS committees 1) Ultimate goal - the enhancement of well-being for all members of the Lexington community 2) The Selectment appointed the HS committee and assigned particular tasks to them. 3) ? Questions raised include how does the HS committee address itself to the total community? The Selectmen charged the committee to serve "vulnerable" populations This is diametrically opposed to serving the whole community How does the committee resolve this? Discussion ensued It was felt that the community has immediate needs and limited resources There is never much left beyond that to address the population at large Ruth Butler suggested that existing social systems that relate to particular vulnerable populations should enhance and support that population An example would be that REPLACE help not only in dealing with the immediate problems of adolescents b 5-6-80 _ 2 _ but also help the schools and families to become more responsive and supportive of all teens This would be part of a process to shape the environment Though on the face it may seem more costly to respond in this manner, rather than only dealing with particular individual problems, in the long run it is more cost effective People' s orientation needs to be changed This approach does amount to changing the existing system Another component of such an approach would be to help people already in place, such as clergy and the school system to do a better job Ms Butler defines vulnerable population as relating to the normal process of development s Nicky Osborne also addressed the total community in her goals She posed the question of how human services are organized in Lexington Ruth Butler stated that there are presently two categories of human services in Lexington, first, essential a services for all, such as police and fire and second, those services directed toward specific populations Some discussion followed about the reorganization of human services in Cambridge and the differences between Lexington and Cambridge Also talked about was where and what kind of health programs and services are available to adolescents in Lexington The committee needs to define what they mean by quality of life" In part this will be done by setting specific objectives and priorities Each committee '. member should set priorities out for the whole committee to discuss it Mrs Perez asked what the responsiveness of the community to social and economic changes in society is? Ruth Butler would like to have the lines of authority with the Selectmen and the Town Manager defined She would like to see the Manager and the Board involved in the evolution of the HS committee Nicky Osborne stated that the committee needs to help the Selectmen define what advisory" means At some point there should be a joint meeting with the Selectmen, as well as some public meetings to help the community accept the HS committee plan when it is developed Mrs Perez told the committee that5{vZ. ARIge Selectmen would like to know where the committee is going and be able to give their r.approval to that plan Once the committee has set its goals and priorities as well as steps to reach the goals, then they shohld meet with -the Selectmen Mrs Perez will be resigning as chairperson of the committee, effective after the next meeting on May 13, 1980 Vice-chairman Nicky Osborne advised the committee that she cannot take on the position but would serve as chairperson pro-tem if necessary The agenda for May 13 will be a continuation of the discussion of goals and objectives The committee will also decide on a new chairperson The meeting was adjourned at 10 15 P M Respectfully submitted, .., �1 dieraeti Elizabeth Pressman