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HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE
Minutes of the Meeting of November 5, 1984
Present Roberta Black, Marion Shepp, Ed Foley, Stan Finkelstein, Judy Zabin,
Leonora Zola, Sheila Martin, C.C. Chao, David Budding, Bea Phear
Guests Paul Marshall, Jim McLaughlin
MR Housing
Paul Marshall reported that last week neighbors of the Hill Street site for
potential MR housing came before the Selectmen to protest the duplex concept
and the high density use as it is inconsistent with the neighborhood character,
violates the spirit of the zoning by-law, and will lower property values
The Town Meeting Members Association is concerned that the transmitting of the
site to the Housing Authority was for low income family housing, and that use
is now being avoided.
Paul asks the Human Services Committee to be prepared to discuss the magnitude
of the need for this type of housing, and an opinion as to whether this is the
best place to take a stand. Town Meeting will have two warrant articles on
November 26 on this subject
1. Vote to rescind last year's transfer to the LHA (not yet finalized)
2 Vote to authorize the Selectmen to transfer the site for
( whatever purpose the LHA wants
There are other complicated issues before this Town Meeting, and the Selectmen
are not eager to unnecessarily make an issue where it is not warranted. Another
possibility is to compromise on some sort of goahead subject to approval at
Spring Town Meeting
There was discussion about the "second' MR house, in relationship to the
number of Class and non-class clients served. Jim McLaughlin said the Tewksberry
site origionally considered for a second MR duplex is not appropriate and the
LHA decided to put mobility impaired people there He said the LHA is now
negotiating for buying the Forest Street residence and expanding from four to
six clients, which will be the second house He also felt that if one site
is accepted, then another become easier later, although community opposition
can always be expected.
Jim said the LHA will press for the Hill Street site at Town Meeting as proposed.
The committee felt that it was imperative to speak to the need for MR housing,
to express to the town that state funding is available, that Lexington has an
obligation to address its share, that we support the concept and see the
need, therefore support the LHA' s application, but that the committee has no
expertise in site planning and cannot address the appropriateness of Hill St
Bea was asked to gather and summarize information for a presentation by Roberta
on November 16 Selectmen's meeting (enclosed Draft)
L
Minutes
The minutes of the meeting of October 15 were approved as mailed.
Roberta informed the Committee that David Budding and Sheila Martin traded
subcommittees David is now on special needs, and Sheila is on adolescents and
fmailies
FY86 Budget Committee Responsibility
We received requests as follows
Mystic Valley Mental Health - to support Lexington Clinic $15,000 Leonora & Stan
CMARC - general program support 5,500 Marion & David
Replace - program support, some expansion 62,861 Ed & Sheila
Cooperative Elder Services - scholarships 3,000 Judy & C.C.
Hospice Care, Inc. - Overnight Hospice Care 2,500 Leonora & Stan
Hospice Care, Inc. - Knowing Death Children's Support 2,300 "
The Council on Aging will vote on its request at the November 13 meeting; the
current draft calls for an expense request of $37,450 Bea plans to recommend
an significant staff increase, and will present the numbers and rationale to
Judy and C.C. as soon as she writes it.
Bea has not yet calcualted the Veterans budget request, but she anticipates
no change, except for minor increase in office expenses
Bob Hutchinson's message to staff was to continue services and stay within 5%
incre ase
Bea also distributed suggestions from Jim Lambie for frail elderly services
(recently awarded funding by the Department of Elder Affairs) Evening
transportation for retarded people for recreation was suggested as a need by
Sheri McCann.
Roberta requested written reports from the subcommittees on their visits to the
agencies about their findings and questions The FY86 budget will be discussed
at the next two meetings
Community Health
At Mrs. Battin' s request, members of the committee (Stan, Leonora, & Roberta)
met with Bill Page, Jack Gardner and Dorothy Boggia to discuss the functions of
the former Community Health Committee Jim Lambie from the Board of Health was
unable to attend, but will be briefed by Stan and Leonora. Most of the evening
was spent at the Selectmen' s meeting, and Bill Page's request, to hear the
discussion of strategic planning
Police
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Roberta, Ed and Bea met with the Chief The Police are improving relations
with RePlace, and are interested in crisis issues They see the current crisis
vendor as more responsive The main police concern is with drunken driving,
and adolescent alcohol use
There was discussion about police officer training in regards to youth, but
C.C. also raised the issue of training" the youth to understand the police,
since parental support is sometimes lacking
Leonora thought alcohol is a health hazard for all ages, not just youth. Bobby
suggested keeping this in mind as an agenda issue for the future, instead of
the Provider Council, for addressing on a community level
Next Meetings
November 19 budget discussion (Bea will cancel Alan November)
December 3
December 10 (may be cancelled if not needed)
December 17
Respectfully submitted,
Beatrice Phear
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