HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980-05-27-HSC-min.pdf HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE
May 27, 1980
Present Stephen Baran, Ruth Butler, Ruth Nablo, Howard Levingston
Also Elizabeth Pressman
Absent Nicky Osborne, Carol Perez
The meeting was called to order at 7 30 p m. by Ruth Butler, Chairperson.
The minutes of 5-20-80 were accepted as amended Mrs Pressman announced that
Barry Marshall had resigned from the Committee due to job related commitments
for the next few months
Mrs Butler suggested that the committee adopt the following meeting format
1 hour - new business
1 hour - program type issues
1 hour - firm up decisions and set future agenda
This seemed agreeable to the other committee members Ms Butler told the coimuittee
that the new director of CMARC was prepared to come to the next H S meeting Ruth
Nablo suggested that since the Board of Health writes the contract with CMARC, a member
of that Board should be invited to the meeting Ms Butler had asked the CMARC director
for a written statement including a description of the current status of the agency, its
projected long term purpose, priority objectives, compliance with regulations,overal.l
fiscal management, and progress specific to the contract procurement position
The memo Mrs Pressman wrote to the Town Manager with the Human Service Committee
recommendations re Reed Street and changes in the committee make-up was passed around
The status of the committee vis vis REPLACE, CMARC and MVMHC was discussed It
was agreed that an addendum to the REPLACE report would serve no useful purpose now,
since the appropriation has already been approved Ms Butler will draft a letter to
REPLACE indicating that the committee regrets its inexperience in writing reports
and trusts that in the future they will improve She then will continue in a
positive vein, asking REPLACE for their input to the committee on developing a
preventive model, and stating that the committee looks forward to working together
with REPLACE Ms Butler told the committee that she does feel the dialogue with
REPLACE has stimulated them to focus on reaching better clarity about their goals
and objectives
June meetings were set for Monday evenings, June 2, 9, 16 and 23rd at 7 30 p.m.
On June 9 the committee will attend the Selectmen's meeting for part of the time if
their Reed Street recommendations are on the agenda The committee would also like
to have about 20 minutes on the Selectmen's June 23 agenda At that time they would
present the following for the Board's approval
1 a statement of philosophy
2 goals and objectives
3 an outline for a fall workshop
1I
Human Services Committee -2- May 27, 1980
Steve Baran read his draft proposal on "A planning strategy for Human Services
in the Town of Lexington " Discussion followed Ruth Nablo stated that if the
committee emphasizes the preventive component that in itself says something to the
community Ruth Butler asked how do you get measurable results? A suggestion from
Howard Levingston was to ask the director of an agency to present a plan for a
specified period of time such as a month, with specific goals and objectives A
detailed log of what goes on during this period should be kept Afterward the
agency would review what had actually happened and evaluate the results Discussion
ensued
Ruth Butler wondered how local pediatricians deal with serious problems that
adolescents present to them, such as obesity and pregnancy Direct input from
young people at the workshop was suggested.
Ruth Butler informed the committee of an updated report by the Planning Board
on subsidized housing She thought Human Services Committee members should see it
Mrs Pressman will get copies
The agenda for June 2 includes
1 Discussing content of material for Selectmen
2 Statement of Human Services theme
3 Discussion of objectives
The agenda for June 9 includes
1 Complete setting of evaluation criteria
2 Discuss prevention
a What needs to be prevented?
b How do you attain that?
c What are the advantages of prevention?
d What difference would it make if it worked?
3 Discuss workshop - would money be needed, and if so, would Selectmen
support it?
The meeting was adjourned at 10 10 p m.
Respectfully submitted,
aclifib M.m+s )
Elizabeth H Pressman is
EP/bc
5/30/80