HomeMy WebLinkAbout1988-11-17-HSC-min.pdf Minutes Human Services Committee 11 /7/88
Present Renee Cochin, Co-Chairperson; Bob Cushman,
Co-Chairperson; Harvey Lowell ; Leonora Zola;
Sheila Martin; Beth Klarman; Dick Dougherty;
and Steve Baran, Human Services Coordinator
Minutes
The Minutes of 10/31 /88 were approved with one exception Renee
stated that the Minuteman article which included her views on the
drug policy was not "innacurate" so much as a
"misrepresentation"
Renee commented further that 17 hours average time for a Senior
Health Monitor program assessment (as reported to Bob Cushman by
Terry Gent, Chairman of the Council on Aging) seemed excessive
Beth said that her comments on lack of interest of COA members in
day care related to parents' attempts to recruit them as
babysitters only Were a day care program to be initiated at the
Council on Aging, a different outcome might ensue
Drug Policy
Bob and Renee reported on the 11 / 1 School Committee meeting where
there was a discussion of the drug policy Leanora Zola also
attended
Al Zabin held that since a set of procedures, or memorandum of
understanding, as opposed to a policy, had been completed it
( would be appropriate for the School Committee, as a policy-
setting board, to create a drug policy Al Zabin' s motion was
not seconded
The Superintendent defended the drug memorandum of understanding
which he viewed as having been initiated four years ago More
recently, he held, there had been widespread community
participation in finalizing these procedures He questioned the
very recent interest in the drug issue of the Human Services
Committee whereas others had been so involved
Furthermore the Superintendent said that he had only recently
become aware of the Human Services Committee Committee members
felt that Leo McSweeney who had been very much involved in
drawing up the memorandum of understanding should have involved
the Human Services Committee as its liaison in planning and in
reminding the Superintendent of the Committee' s earlier
involvement two years ago when it convened a meeting on
alcoholism and drug abuse which he attended
Steve said that the Town Manager was supportive of the
Committee' s interest and looked forward to the part it would play
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on planning related to drug issues Committee members believedF
( they did have a part to play in regard to the service portion of
a drug policy As Beth Klarman pointed out, this was still
missing
Recruitment of advocates
On the basis of a review of resumes sent to them, the Selectmen
felt initially that Dick Dillman would be an appropriate
candidate, particularly because of his personal experience and
interest in acting as an advocate on drug abuse issues They had
not been aware at the time they reached this conclusion of the
Committee' s own conclusions based on its interview with Mr
Dillman
Renee Cochin noted that earlier the Committee had inquired of Leo
McSweeney as to the appropriateness of including advocates
representing special constituencies Leo had advised them that
in his opinion the Committee should continue as it had in the
past He had also agreed to ask the Selectmen what they thought
but apparently never did so Renee felt that the question of
what kind of candidate should be recruited for the open position
on the Human Services Committee would best be discussed in the
context of an examination of the Committee' s roles and
functions
Review of goals and charge of the Human Services Committee
Renee reviewed the goals and charge of the Human Services
Committee It was felt that the Committee had become more
proactive in recent years, was no longer restricting itself to a
review of budgets, although still acting within the scope of its
charge This may have raised questions, and the recent events
now provided an opportunity to reach an understanding with the
Selectmen
Next steps
Bob Cushman to talk with Leo McSweeney about
Committee' s concerns
2 An informal discussion of drug and recruitment issues
to take place in the context of a discussion of a
review of the roles and functions of the Human Services
Committee with Leo McSweeney, Jacquie Smith, Bob
Cushman, Renee Cochin and Steve Baran
3 Meeting with Superintendent (at his request--scheduled
for the 28th)
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4 Meeting with Town Manager in Committee (accompanied byF
( Deborah Radway)
5 Advice to Selectmen on drug policy (and other issues as
these might be required)
Subcommittee visits to agencies submitting nr000sals
Lee noted absense of mission statement from RePlace materials A
preliminary reading of their proposal showed that they were
operating on a deficit It was agreed that there needed to be a
full understanding of what RePlace did and what each of their
programs cost
Appropriateness of full review of Council on Aging budget to be
taken up in discussion with Selectmen
Special needs recreation
Harvey Lowell pointed out that the Town is spending only $2, 500
on special needs recreation with no real expansion or commitment
of dollars planned Moreover, there are no provisions for extra
curricular activities in the schools
Steve was asked to get figures on the recreation budget and how
it is spent including provisions for special needs j
It was agreed that this matter would be further discussed at a
later point
Next meeting
The next meeting will take place on November 28 The
Superintendent will come at 9 Prior to his arrival there will
be a review of pertinent issues, e g , Committee' s interest in
youth issues, what it has accomplished, the Committee' s charge,
what kind of support is being given by the schools to life skills
issues, capacity and involvement of the guidance department in
mental health issues, historic separation of orientation between
school and other parts of Town around youth issues)
There will be another meeting on Monday, December 5 I
Respectfully Submitted,
Stephen Baran,
Human Services Coordinator Ii
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