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HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTER
Minutes of the Meeting of March 30 1981
Present. Ruth Butler, Ruth Nablo, Howard Levingston, Steve. Baran, Carol Perez,
Carol Perez, Nicky Osborne also Nancy Banks and Bea Phear
Guest Jim Crain
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the future of a Human Services Committee
with Jim Crain, the Selectmen's liaison Jim pointed out haw valuable the work
of the Committee has been in the past two years with its recommendations and
surveilance of agencies He welcomes the Committee's suggestions for how the Town
should procede on future committee policy, goals, structure, procedure, defining
a charge, and helping focus on the skills needed. He requested these suggestions
by May, so that the Selectmen could then start putting its ideas together when
they do their goal setting
The Committee conveyed the distinction between responding to episodic concerns
and developing a human services stance The committee expressed concern that people
perceived the committee as only useful in terms of budgeting but not education
and coordination Ruth Butler pointed out that there is an underutilization for human
services intent, and Ruth Nablo mentioned the need to involve the private sector
which doesn't necessarily involve funding Carol said that one option that the
committee had not used was to draw from other candidates and form subcommittees,
but that we were unwilling to relinquish the thrust
II
There was discussion about involving the schools, since the system that has come
up over and over again is the school system. Jim said that is a tough nut because
we are a separate body however he has been encouraged by the way the Town and
schools have been working in a cohesive way Ruth Nablo said one suggestion is
to upgrade the Youth Commission; she also expressed regret at the cancellation
of Mock Tonw Meeting Howard said the school has a facility for agreeing but then
swallowing things up and not acting Jim said that Town Meeting has the leverage
to bring pressure to bear
Nicky said she was interested in the relationship with the Manager's Office
Ruth Butler felt that the Manager's Office has a task orientation on dealing with
special populations, whereas the Committee is more interested in broader issues
Bea said that she also wanted direction on tasks, within the framework of policy
Jim said that he could be responsible for that in his frustration in making budget
decision. Steve said that the Committee felt that the mandate for continuing
research should be carried out in the Manager's Office
Nicky felt it is important to get back to structure and communication, for example
she felt frustrated by the Mystic Valley decision Once we have a policy on the
table, the question is how we communicate that to the Selectmen Jim said he didn't
realize this was still festering, and that the Selectmen would be happy to hear the
Committee and perhaps change its recommendations It is not a dead issue
Jim left the meeting and thanked the Committee for dinner
Nancy requested the Committee's advice on funding the Mystic Valley second quarter
Howard said it was a real dilemma, as they have been unresponsive Nicky said it
was a problem in timing also since a letter was sent that implied they would
receive the money and the expectation was raised Nancy said she sat down with
them in September and explained that the first quarter payment was her error and
March 30 page 2
That funding was subject to their answering question. Bea pointed out that
there has been confusion about proper notification Steve proposed that Bea
telephone Dr Lund and ask him to bring data to the April 13 meeting
Steve said he had heard Jim emphasize elderly, but that children and single parents
are also a topic Carol said a key point to confront is that single parents
are part of normal development in our society
Ruth Butler and Steve will work together on a policy draft for the next meeting
The Minutes of March 23, 1981 were approved as ammended.
Next Meetings
April 13 room 111 7 30 Policy draft
8 00 Dr Lund
9 00 Youth Commission
April 27 room 111 7 30 Work on Draft for Selectmen
May 11 roo, 111 7 30 Finalize recommendations to Selectmen
Respectfully submitted
Beatrice Phear
REMINDER Mystic Valley open house Wednesday April 15 5 00 - 8 00 pm