Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1984-02-27-HSC-min.pdf HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE Minutes of the meeting of February 27, 1984 Present Steve Baran, Stan Finkelstein, Howard Reynolds, Marion Shepp, Judy Zabin, Roberta Black, Ed Foley, Bea Phear Minutes The minutes of the meeting of February 6 were approved as mailed Budget Steve remined the committee that they were to meet with the Appropriation Committee late$ in the evening Steve spoke with Steve Politi about distributing the committee's report to Town Meeting There is no objection Judy suggested putting this on the agenda for the next meeting to discuss the method of presentation. There should be a cover letter, and perhaps a report under Article 2 Bea will draft a cover paragraph (enclosed) Franklin School The Franklin School Conversion Committee is inviting comments and suggestions from town boards by March 15 Skip Reynolds serves on that committee It was decided that the Human Services Committee had no specific comments at this time, but we could pass suggestions on through Skip as they arose Meeting with legislators Bea distributed some possible topics for discussion. Steve also suggested the difficulty local agencies have in negotiating with the State eg Replace; what their perceptions of needs were in the area, their perceptions as to private agencies in general and the question of funding for homemakers through Minuteman Home Care Senator Kraus and Representative Doran arrived at 8 00 pm, Steve explained what the committee does and some of its history Rep Doran asked why CMARC was not part of the budget, and suggested that it be rethought He also asked why the Committee was not a by-law Commission, which would give it policy making status The Committee had not thought about this recently, but felt not quite ready Sen Kraus expressed a need for a mechanism to plug into people from the district to help him think about the vast number of bills faced each year The timing is often very tight, but he feels the need for broader input and self-education. Most of his information comes from special interest lobbyists, who are often good, but narrow in their focus He invited members of the committee to visit him and look at the process of legislation - the volume, type, and time frame Rep Doran passed around some of his resources, including the "Poor People's Budget' which he found helpful in sorting out the massive number of issues He also feels the need for broader community input. In discussing specific issues Employment transportation for the retarded was voted not recommended in the Senate on Sen Kraus's motion, because he has as a higher priority extending services to those over age 22 They are lokking into DMH funding regionally, and concerned with the lower funding in the mystic Valley Area Some board members and staff people are now talking with the Governor' s office, as well as EOHS The Community Residence Siting Bill got a favorable recommendation They will look into the central pick-up issue at Alewife for the MBTA to allow private carriers such as Share-A-Ride and Gray Line The Committee thanked the legislators for their time Appropriation Committee The Committee met with the Appropriation Committee They were asked to show some fr of the human service contracts, the comprehensive CoA budget, and other community's support for Mystic Valley Bea will give this information to the Appropriation Committee Respectfully Submitted, Beatrice Phear Possible Discussion Issues/Concerns 1 State Human Services agencies appear to be moving from intermediate care and prevention toward emphasis on severely vulnerable DMH - Callahan says responsible for most mentally ill and severely retarded DEA - Rowland message that legislature wants to target most frail DSS - no day care slots in Lexington; no funding for Replace prevention DYS - secure facilities construction goal If this is a trend, who picks up community based care and prevention? 2 Community Residence Siting Bill still needed Callahan says DMH regulations are 'being developed", but they would still not cover other agencies 3 Timely Payments Affects RePlace (DPH) Share-A-Ride (DEA to Minuteman Home Care Corp ) Day Care (Providers shy away from contracts) 4 Retardation ( Underfunding of Mystic Valley area within DMH Expansion of Chapter 766 to persons over age 22 ??? 6. 19-14, Need for community residences and recreation programs Employment transportation - legislation would allow work site to be DMH 6 Transportation Legislation allows the state to distribute funds for operating handicapped transportation, but there is no appropriation META expansion of The Ride is illusiary They say th'go to Arlington, but don't really serve Arlington, in any case we would like expansion to Lexington There is a need for a central pick-up for META services at Alewife for private carriers (eg Share-A-Ride) but the MBTA won't designate (union conflicts?) 2/27/84