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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981-03-30-HSC-min.pdf 1 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