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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981-01-05-HSC-min.pdf HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE Minutes of the Meeting of January 5, 1981 Present Ruth Butler, Ruth Nablo, Nicky Osborne, Steve Barran, also Bea Phear (late) The Committee sepnt the first part of the meeting listening to Bea's presentation of the Elderly Needs Assessment to the Board of Selectmen It then moved downstairs The only agency that responded to the review criteria questions was CMARC Ruth Nablo will study their responses and draft a report which she will discuss with Ruth Butler and then bring to the Committee for approval at the January 12 meeting Without material from the other agencies, the committee feels immobilized Bea was asked to contact Mr Wright and discover if Mystic Valley is requesting funds for fiscal 1982 With a new director coming to Mystic Valley, it is hoped that a better relationship can he built Ruth Butler feels there is a difference in perception of the Committee's role between committee members, the Selectmen, and the Manager This needs to be clarified, and better communication between the Committee and Jim Crain (Selectmen's liaison) needs to be developed, both by inviting him to more meetings and through memos and reports The Committee is interested in shifting the emphasis of human services towards prevention and early intervention for vulnerable populations rather than addressing special needs groups They want to do this by working as a facilitator of human service programs by addressing policy issues, structure, and the educational components rather than by making specific budget recommendations The development of the realtionship with CMARC is an example where the mechanism of a contract helped CMARC focus its direction It is hoped that this supportive relationship can be replicated with other agencies Bea will try to draft a report for discussion next week that clarifies this role Bea spoke of some of the ways she hopes to facilitate programs the development of a usefu]. and flexible infor mation and referral mechanism, the revitilization of the Human Services Providers Council and participating on State boards such as DSS Next week the committee members will take turns discussing their perceptions of the Selectmen's charge to the Committee and their own "agendas for action Respectfully Submitted, -14420,_ TlkaR4 Beatrice Phear Addendum. It is my understanding that the Committee was encouraged to learn through the Minuteman newspaper that the Selectmen and the Manager will be consulting the Tax Policy Committee regarding the fiscal 1982 budget A memo to that effect is being sent to the Manager, per Ruth Nablo's request (attached)