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)
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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
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1625 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02173 TELEPHONE(617) 96Z-0500 ZeXMGTCfi
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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
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