HomeMy WebLinkAbout1987-10-19-HSC-min.pdf Minutes, Human Services Committee
October 19, 1987
Present. Harvey Lowell, Chairman; Syliva Perlman; Marion Shepp; Robert Cushman;
Seymour Mandel; Stephen Baran, Human Services Coordinator; Renee Cochin
Absent. Leonora Feeney; Sheila Martin; Jan Eustis
Minutes of meeting of 9/28
The Minutes of the previous meeting were read and corrected to show name of
mother Carolyn, not Marilyn; weight of baby 8 lbs , 7 1/2 oz.
Selectmen's Breakfast
Bob Cushman reported on recent Selectmen's breakfast meeting Some concern had
been registered about the need for better coordination and communication concerning
items that go on warrant prior to Town Meeting
Equity Sharing
Harvey Lowell and Bob Cushman reported on the first meeting of the Equity Sharing
Review Committee There was considerable interest in obtaining units which the
Town could control Keith Butters, an economist with experience in analyzing
business proposals,felt that the initial version of the equity sharing plan
was biased in the direction of residents The Committee discussed the policy
issue for the Town of subsidizing the Emerson Gardens development, and, therefore,
subsidizing the situation of people many of whom have considerable financial means
The Committee advised inserting a section in the RFP pertaining to parameters
focusing on qualifications of tenants from a financial, fair housing and social
interest point of view with emphasis on potential for leXlab to play a significant
role.
Senior Health Monitor Planning
Clarification was requested around projected budget for FY '89 Senior Health
Monitor program showing contributions of the Council on Aging and the Friends
of the Council on Aging It was understood that some portion of the $8,500
now allocated for blood pressure clinics, communicable disease, well baby and
senior visiting through the Board of Health would be reallocated for this program.
Question was raised about continuing the present arrangements with Visiting Nurse
and Community Health, Inc. for providing visiting nursing for the Senior Health
Monitor Program. It was recognized that VNaI administrative responsibilities
would be less under the new program which would be administered by the Council
on Aging while it had been demonstrated through investigation by the Human Services
Committee that there was consensus in the community that the visiting nursing
services themselves were very satisfactory VNCH would be expected to report
to the Council on Aging, assist CoA with outreach (through Medicare referrals)
and continue with fundraising initiatives
Steve will draw up an evaluation approach (as part of redrafted plan for Senior
Health Monitor Program) with mention of criteria for recruiting a case manager
Minutes, Human Services Committee, 10/19/87, p 2
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and how case management would be monitored.Casefinding methods and the objective
of doubling cases in the program should be highlighted. The budget should appear
as a separate cost center for the Council on Aging The case manager hired should
be a Master's degree social worker
Mystic Valley Mental Health Center
Richard Weiss will meet with Bob DeIulio, Director of Guidance, to discuss
a school-based, counseling program under Mystic Valley auspices with possible
use of RaPlace staff
Hunger
Steve Baran had talked with Dawn Drozd, Director of Marketing, Lexington Savings
Bank,about the possibility of asking Lexington residents to authorize deductions
from their savings of a regular set amount to be contributed to the Boston Food
Bank
Computer
Since the Human Services Department expects before long to share with Lexpress
in the use of a computer, Steve asked for suggestions on computer applications
from Committee members Harvey Lowell suggested that the data bank of human
services resources, now residing in the Cary Library computer, be transferred
to the hard disk of the computer to be used by Human Services
CMARC
Marion Shepp said that Sheri McCann had asked for guidance on haw to present her
request for funding this year in view of an increase from 6 clients in 1983
to 14 clients in 1987 (an additional 3 or 4 in the past year) Marion had informed
her that the Committee was pursuing a course of "fiscal responsibility" this year
It was noted that Jack Eddison had indicated there might be sane additional leeway
this year for a program for the elderly
ReP lace
Seymour commented that he did not get the impression that RePlace had evidenced
a strong interest in fundraising initiatives
Committee with Special Needs
Marion reported that Dr Cole had shown an interest in providing staffing if
the Special Needs Committee could find away of making housing available provided
that State clients could benefit in some part fran the new housing
Schedule of forthcoming Re pectfully matted,
meetings 11/9, 11/23 �
Stepp Baran, Human Services Coordinator