HomeMy WebLinkAbout1982-12-16-HSC-min.pdf HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE
Minutes of the Meeting of December 16, 1982
Present Steve Baran, Roberta Black, Judy Zabin, Bea Phear
RePlace
Roberta reported that Bill Blout is trying to arrange a meeting with DSS to talk about
funding DSS had asked Bill for a list of his programs and possible new programs They
are having trouble scheduling, but Roberta will attend, or Judy, if possible
Wild Acre Inn
Bea reported to the Committee that the Board of Selectmen had referred the question of
renewing the Wild Acre Inn lodging house license to the HS Committee The Inn is primarily
a post release house for adult mental patients, and has been operating in Lexington for
many years under a grandfathered lodging house license The question of the Selectmen
was is this the appropriate license?
Bea distributed a report she completed for the Manager She expressed concern about the
quality of care provided, with a recent death and a recent assault case being the most
dramatic incidents The file correspondance with the Health Director points up many
small complaints, such as a pet python, which are chronic but tend to have been addressed
in a fairly timely manner by the Inn
Roberta questioned who actually paid for the services If it is third party insurers,
then it would be hard to argue that it is a lodging house
Judy questioned their source of referrals She requested a transcript of what Dr
Yudowitz said at the Selectmen's meeting and of the material he distributed She views
this as a more complicated issue, with the committee by implication getting into the
business of setting standards for adequate supervision What is the town's obligation
when an accident or suicide or assault occurs in any household?
Steve felt that if we knew DMH was referring there is a built-in standard setting body
Judy will talk to Marge Battin and clarify the Selectmen's goals in referring it to
Committee
Bea will talk further with DMH about their relationship with the Inn and their knowledge
Other Funding Requests
Coopperative Elder Services Steve is doing his cable tv program there, and is very
impressed with it They are asking for assistance for the moderate income person, as
medicaid covers low income
Sing-Along Chorus It was felt that this program reflects the kinds of things the
Committee encourages preventive mainstreaming, partnership idea Since they are now
under an agreement with Recreation, the funding question changes somewhat It was
suggested that we consider assisting them with the unreimbursed start-up costs and some
money to encourage their own fundraising Their start-up time could be calculated as
20 hours at $25/hr which would amount to $1,000, and would recognize the principle of
their professionalism
Woburn Council of Social Concern Roberta and Judy pointed out that the Neighbor
Network program, for which they are asking $1,000, is not duplicative of RePlace's
Steve felt that, although they were a regional agency, they made a good case for
their services to Lexington
No decision was made regarding these requests, since there was no quorum.
Next Meeting
Steve stressed how important it is to have large participation at the next meetings,
as the Committee must arrive at budget recommendations by mid-January
There was some discussion about inviting Jim Crain to the next meeting, but it was
decided that Steve should talk with him informally, both about the timetable for
committee recommendations, whether there was a budget ceiling that should be adhered
to and whether the idea of pursuing the Charitable Trusts as a vehicle for funding
one-time innovative requests was feasible
Next Meeting Monday, January 3 7 30 pm
Respectfully' l' Submitted,
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Bea Phear