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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1984-04-23-HSC-min.pdf / HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE ` Minutes of the Meeting of April 23, 1984 Present Steve Baran, Roberta Black, Marion Shepp, Stan Finkelstein; Bea Phear Minutes The minutes of the meeting of April 12 were approved as mailed Selectmen's Liaison Steve reported his conversation with Paul Marshall Paul's general comment on the Human Services budget was that perhaps it had been slighted by the Selectmen in the past with an assumption that there was a ceiling on human services expenditures Paul thinks it is important to look at needs first, and then where the money will come from Paul plans to introduce Steve to Town Meeting on Monday, April 30, and Steve will then present budget summary and goals Re new appointments Paul approved calling former applicants to learn if they were still interested in serving and putting a notice in the Minuteman requesting new applicants send a letter to the Board of Selectmen Re Bea's status Paul said he would discuss this with the Town Manager If there is no response in a couple of weeks, Steve will call Paul Stan suggested inviting both the Manager and the liaison to a debriefing meeting of committee issues in general (assuming no action is taken) Roberta suggested looking at other communities as to how they handle part-time employees Public Trusts In discussion about refunding ElderDay Care and Lifeline, there was concern that this is precendent setting to use Public Trusts to strengthen operational programs rather than enhancing innovation While these are worthy, it doesn't give us credibility Stan suggested asking Town Meeting to amend the Community Services budget line to add $2,500 for Elder Day Care and not use the Trusts Steve was concerned that this last minute change would itself damage credibility, after months of budget review Also, do we have convincing argument that the Town is the last resort to fund day care? Roberta thought the face saving way was to request Public Trusts for one more year and then in FY86 add it to Community Services if there was still evidence of need Stan felt it better to admit we "goofed" in this one case Bea reported that the Lifeline program has no Lexington waiting list, but that two of the twelve subscribers are not paying full monthly cost (The Lexington donation was to fund purchase of two units, not t4 supplement monthly costs ) Also there is a new Lifeline unit that is smaller and lighter modification to these new units is $90 per unit. Lifeline would like Lexington to contribute to modification It was decided to place a new notice in the newspaper regarding possible funding for seed money to innovative programs, emphasizing coordination. The text of this will depend on the outcomes from the meeting on Needs of April 25 It was decided to have Bea investigate more details on the three Elder Day Care clients (are they eligible for medicaid, is there alternate funding, what would happen if they were not funded?) and the composition of the Cooperative Elder Services board of directors Their Board will then be encouraged to spearhead an increased request, if there is client need. It will be done in the form of moving reconsideration for the Community Services line, with possible voting at the end of Town Meeting, when the total financial picture is better known Goals Steve distributed draft goals Marion thought there should be comment on the reduction of federal funding for human services programs, with the Town's responsibility being to care for our vulnerable people She also suggested strengthening the sentance about publicity Roberta and Stan thought rephrasing the contents under the headings in terms of tasks, with active verbs, would make it more understandable More detail could be added in the oral report. Bea will redraft and check with a member of the committee (Rewrite enclosed) Lexington Friends Marion and Steve will schedule a visit soon. They hope to go for dinner on May 3 Adolescents 1 Steve distributed a summary of a meeting he had called It was intended to address further use of cable tv, but participants mainly discussed a drop-in center The group Steve convened will meet again April 28 There was a sense that perhaps the group was interested in developing a resource that shouldn't be organized by adults Marion thought perhaps a series of small programs was a better answer There was discussion about the Attic, which evolved into Replace Committee members suggested using cable tv to scroll information and referral data on the screen, as is done with Sandy Russian Next Meetings Monday, May 14, 7 30 pm room 111 Paul Marshall will be invited. Tentative Party at Judy Zabin's, Thursday, May 31 Respectfully Submitted, nN,tne+ Beatrice Phear Human Services Coordinator Note The Committee asked Bea to list human service budget expenditures over a longer time period than was reported by the Appropriation Committee, in case this is brought up at Town Meeting (attached) IL, p Torn" cf xxxc" ioj HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE GOALS FOR FISCAL YEAR 1985 The Lexington Human Services Committee has as its primary purpose giving advice to the Board of Selectmen on human service policies and their implementation. In the coming year it will continue to carry out its charge as follows Planning Seek connections with Town physical and economic planning agencies and private and government funded human service providers Support the Human Services Coordinator in conducting needs assessments in relation to such groups as the mentally retarded, frail elderly, chronically mentally ill, and adolescents Use all possible means of sensitizing the community about need i Support the Enablement .Committee on issues of the physically disabled. Use the media, especially Cable TV and newspapers to highlight need and approaches to family problem solving Coordination Recommend allocation of Town resources keeping in mind the policy emphasizing prevention. Coordinate with Town Boards and Committee such as the Lexington Housing Authority, Recreation Committee, School Committee, and Appropriation Committee Continue regular meetings of local human service providers Coordinate efforts with State agencies, legislators, and other towns Evaluation Analyze critically the funding requests presented to the Selectmen and the Town Meeting according to established criteria Review agency budgets t MN OA('111 07617. 1625 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02173 TELEPHONE(617) 96Z-0500 ZeXMGTCfi a) O m C 0 co m ow ,CC ,—I dP M d rowow U I M r1 CM O ow N 0 In LU H I. 111 C N ow I O) I + I + + + m H ( TO 0 +) m N 1n OO r O C' M M O m H M o 0 to dP 0' H . . . . 0 N 0) O M In N 'Cl' 11 CU cC N 1n ri in H co N M M V N N r4 .H }.I M pa C' v1 N 0 00 0 C' O CO Ill CA 0 HI H)4 m CO m0 M M al .—I N N 04 m 0 H C' N 1n en RC, N C' C' H N O CO CO V 0 C m COen Cl' O co d' H a) mcal H O co O d' C' N an X M 'Cl' O O co N en 01 .-i 'Cl' H C' 0 H m H In H M N C CO 0 01 N 0 CO 0 CO GL M N 0) to C' u1 m N X LO 0 N 0 N co M W H c1' M m M O7 m N V a) C• CO 0 0 N m N C' 00 m to r1 111H N m r X 0 M 1n N HI 0 en [r] M en H CO HI co In m N ro v C 17 m m o 1Nn LU a Oa 01 C 0 M CO ' 1/4c, to � X en l0 0 Cl' C' N C' 01 C' N M M M In H l0 •N N N N N a) m 0 +I 0 C •f1 N 1) •.i >1 X V m X m U 0 W 7 en • H O H >. E 3 to C b -H a 0 0 3.1 0 •i 7 H -H H N E O U ZE U E O cw W A Place for Kids to "Hang Out" An Unmet Need in the Toren of Lexington Draft 4/23/84 Young people in Lexington, as they grow and develop , have a variety -of needs which are largely met by existing programs Thus, the school system meets educational needs ; Replace offers more or less formalized help to young people through outreach, counseling, and a drop—in center; while Hayden provides structured recreation largely geared to pre—teen agers A need which has yet to be met is the requirement all young people have to simply relax and be together with friends, away from the pressures and tensions which are a part of the adult world Because this need to simply "be someone" rather. than "do something" (recreation, studies, playing games, a job) , with its very different sense of time and rhythm, is one that adults have forgotten, overlook, or minimize, no program has been successfully developed in Lexing— ton Adults have become accustomed to think of activities and prodltcts That is why they have difficulty appreciating the young person's yearning to be left alone, to "hang out" , to listen to music , to chat with friends , to sit and think We propose that planning be undertaken to consider these needs for space, a welcoming environment, accessibility, and a measure of autonomy with older kids guiding younger kids, and adults, attuned to this kind of program model, partici— pating One aopr ach might be to promote small drop—in centers which would relate to diffe ent age and/or interest groups These could eventually become part of a community center Nancy Adler, Steve Baran, Nancy Batter, liz Haines , Florence Koplow, Steve Kay, Jackie Ward Next meeting home of Nancy Adler, 22 Village Circle , Lexington; Saturday, April 28th, 9 30 a m L