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