HomeMy WebLinkAbout1983-03-30-HSC-min.pdf HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE
Minutes of the Meeting of March 30, 1983
Present Roberta Black Steve Baran, Dave Enman, Tom Zarle, Nancy Zarle, Stan
Finkelstein, Bea Phear, Renee Hatten 314.ilR. Ol,
The Minutes of the meeting of March 14 were approved as corrected The date of
the next Providers Council was corrected to April 19
Providers Council
Renee presented her plans for the April 19 and May 16 meetings on respite care She
reported that there had been good response to the meeting with Beth Jones of the Concord
Area Crisis Team, and that the attendance was the same as at the prvious meeting 18
Those people who had not been able to attend had specifically asked that they be kept
on the list and sent minutes
Steve asked why Cooperative Elder Services was included on the panel with the two state
agencies Renee had wanted to show the variety of types of services and the variety
of ages served Nancy suggested "Quality Care" as another vendor with a different
approach
Renee asked the committee if they were interested in designing an evaluation form to
be distributed at the April meeting It was decided to try to relate the committee
goals to the evaluation Ilene suggested a brief summary of each meeting followed by
a space for comments This will be at the April meeting and mailed to no-shows
Bea reported that the United Way computer I & R project CAIRN, did a "road show" and
might present at a June meeting There was concern that the providers were being taught
to be too passive and it would be better to have the June meeting for goal setting and
discussion Steve aslo suggested trying for a breakfast time slot
Enablement
Dave gave a summary of what his committee has been doing
1 Curb Cuts They have identified two priority sites, but are discouraged that the
engineers now say there is no money left Dave wrote the Manager, who has responded
that he will review the question and get back to Dave on April 15 The cost of a
curb cut is $500-1,000 depending on type of sidewalk and quality of work
2 Share-A-Ride Dave said that under law, transportation should be provided to
disabled people as to the able bodied; however he recognizes that is unrealistic
Nonetheless the Enablement Committee feels that the current 6 hours per week is
insufficient. Steve said the data on ridership shows very low use There was
discussion on why use is low, and it was felt that people may already have solved
their transportation probelms after years of no public assistance, that there is
an element of not wanting to impose, and that people are still reluctant to assert
themselves
3 Publicity The committee is trying to get regular articles in the local paper
about issues of disability, including transportation
4 Access to Lexington study The study was approved by the Selectmen on January 17
A group of 8 people are involved, and the instrument is almost ready for mimeo
Churches and schools will be examined first, using students
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Steve commented that he was impressed by the amount of work the committee had
accomplished in such a short time
A-95 Review
Bea reported that Angela Frick the Lexington representative to the MAPC was interested
in meeting with the committee It was decided to invite her to the next meeting Bea
also reported that she was now responding to the grant proposal of Share-A-Ride, and
had asked the committee for comments The committee felt they had insufficient knowledge
to expand on the proposed concurrance
School Reorganization Plan
Roberta asked the couuuittee to respond to the School Superintendant's proposed
reorganization, which eliminates the position of Direstor of Pupil Services (special
Ed, guidance, counseling, health, testing) Roberta feels this is the only position
in the central staff that speaks to human services, and has budget input. Otherwise
the functions would get lost among a variety of administrators The Superintendant
had been asked to reorganize to cut the number of central people, and he had felt that
these functions were most easily dividable
Steve commented that it also had the effect of giving less status to human service
policy issues He had talked to Florence Koplow about a possible school liaison,
on a policy level, and she was interested
Stan wanted to know the Superintendent's position on the reorganization before taking
a stance Steve wondered if the committee would like to invite the Superintendant to
a meeting It was felt that we should rather write a letter to the School Committee
expressing concern about the possible effect on human services, and suggesting that
moe time be devoted to studying the issue, and hope that no action will be taken to
jeopardize human services We would offer to be available At the same time we
could request a formal relationship between the two committees Bea will draft
Mystic Valley
Stan reported that he had received a letter from Frank Donnely appologizing for not
inviting Stan to the Board Meeting at which the new director was appointed He extended
an open invitation to all meetings
Mystic Valley had offered the position to Richard Weiss, a psychologist who serves as
Deputy Commissioner of Mental Health and Forensic Services for Ohio Dr Weiss has
accepted a two year contract.
Emergency Services
Following discussion at the February Providers Council meeting, Bea met with Linda
Roemer of the Board of Health to discuss emergency and health issues Linda reported
that Choate/Symmes is interested in a determination of need for a new inpatient psychiatric
unit, but will have more information in the late summer Similarly the crisis contract
will have been awarded by DMH in a few months It was suggested that this issue be
pursued informally until these decisions are made A meeting that committee members
might want to attend is
DMH Area Board to discuss crisis contract April 6, 7 30 pm Cafeteria Conference Room
at Symmes Hospital
( Choate Planning April 4, was cancelled Bea and Steve will talk to them)
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Wild Acre Inn
Howard had finally received a telephone call from the attorney, Mr Mason, and met
with him last week Howard then reported to the Selectmen that the committee's
questions had been answered referrals are word-of-mouth and private there is no
relationship with the Department of Mental Health average length of stay is 3-6 months
payment is $10-40 per day, depending on room style meals, and services residents
pay privately they teach "life skills" such as job interviews, budget, they screen
and do not accept criminal or sexual abusers nor substance abusers Howard told the
Board that he and not met with the committee, but he had no reason to recommend denying
the license, since this was the best way to monitor that was available to the town
He told the Board of the upcoming hearing on the community residence siting bill, and
thought that when that was passed would be a good time for Lexington to establish a
community residence policy
Nancy and Tom said the 3-6 month stay was wrong, as they have seen a number of the
same clients for many years
Charitable Trusts
Bea reported that the Selectmen had been satisfied with the contracts as drafted and
the additional data supplied It has now gone to the Trustees however there will be
a delay as there is a vacancy on the Trustees, and the chaiman does not want to make
a decision without a full board The Selectmen will be appointing a new member shortly 'Eli
This delay will not harm Cooperative Elder Services since the letter Bea sent appears
to be a sufficient statement of intent
Department of Social Services PPPP
Steve and Bea reported on a meeting they had with the DSS Regional office at which time
the PPPP program procedures were explained in yet a third way Bea and Steve feel that
this explanation is probably the correct one, which requires a new letter of intent to
go to the Regional Office, and then the RePlace program would be put in the regional
IMP (Internal Management Plan) , if it were pushed by the Area Director Bea feels that
Peter Koehan, the Area Director, is less than enthusiastic about RePlace and that a
campaign strategy is needed There was discussion about what approach to take at the
DSS Area Board Meeting since our most recent communication with them was to express
frustration It was decided that Bea would write Stephen Doran for the supportive
letter he had promised to the Regional Director (cc Peter Koehan) and that at the
meeting itself, the tone would be working together, in order for them to understand
Lexington's position
We will be meeting with the DSS Area Board on Wednesday, April 6 in room G-15 of the
Town Office Building This is an Area Board regular meeting, not a special meeting for us
Cable TV
Steve showed his diploma for completing the cable tv course He reported that Adams
Russell is planning to have a news program, and invited suggestions We should let
the program director know that we would like human services included, perhaps going
through the providers council The only hitch is that it would be work as we would
have to produce it Steve will write
Continuing Membership
Steve asked members of the committee to think about whether they were interested in
reappointment, also to look back at the charge and evaluate the committee's performance
Do we want to suggest staggered terms? Recruiting? Invite Dave Enman to be a full
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member, or is that a conflict of interest?
Stan and Roberta said they were interested in continuing to serve Nancy and Tom
both said they were not interested, as there were too many conflicts Steve is
undecided.
Next Meeting
Wednesday, April 6, 7 30 pm room G-15 DSS Area Board Meeting (committee invited)
Tuesday, April 12, 7 30 pm room 201 (Public Works) with Angela Frick
Monday, April 25, 7 30 pm room 111
Respectfully Submitted,
L
Beatrice Phear
Human Services Coordinator