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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1989-09-11-HSC-min.pdf Human Services Committee Minutes, 9/11 /89 Present Renee Cochin and Bob Cushman, Co-Chairmen; Ann Irving, Seymour Mandel , Dick Dougherty, Leonora Feeney; Nancy Schock and Joanne Fray, Enablement Committee; and Steve Baran, Human Services Coordinator 1 Minutes of 8/21 /89 Change "with some sense that many needs which were already being met had to be met in the future" to "There was also some sense that many needs would continue to require services in the future " 2 Enablement Committee report Nancy Schock gave a report for the Enablement Committee She explained that the Committee' s emphasis continued to be on physical accessibility, but the Committee was aware of other concerns needing attention such as hearing and vision impairment The Enablement Committee dates from 1982 All of the original members were disabled there have been deaths of Committee members since its founding Many largely unsuccessful efforts have been made to recruit new members to the Committee Other problems have been limitations on the energy of Committee members, lack of accessible rest room facilities in the Town Office Building and transportation The Committee' s message is that people with impairments should not be viewed as diminished because of their impairments An impairment happens at the body level resulting in a disability If the disability is not accommodated, the person is handicapped A significant accomplishment for the Committee was to make the Town Office Building accessible The Committee has often advised the Town, but its members do not pretend to be experts on all accessibility issues The Committee does not seek to address all barriers to accessibility Rather, it is oriented to people' s real problems with accessibility and seeks to give them priority consideration Joanne Fray, Enablement Committee member, said that it was enough for one person to be barred from accessibility for the Committee to decide to take action This was the view of advocates for the disabled Human Services Committee members felt that / more needed to be known about numbers of people { J inconvenienced since numbers helped to make a Human Services Committee Minutes, 9/ 11 /89 Page 2 n political point It was agreed that the Committee would discuss these matters further at its next meeting 3 Selectmen' s Breakfast Renee and Bob reported on the discussion of impending cuts from the FY ' 90 budget $492, 000 must be cut from Town funding and a like amount from the School budget RePlace was on a list of items which could be cut prepared by the Town Manager and presented to the Selectmen 4 Meeting of leadership of Council on Aging with the Town Manager and Human Services Committee Some of those attending felt there was a lack of warmth Rick wrote a letter clarifying his recommendation that the Human Services Committee needed to appoint a liaison to the Council on Aging Following the meeting with the Council on Aging, Renee and Bob met with Jacquie Smith who advised that the Committee carefully review its charge with particular C reference to policy development, planning, oversight and monitoring Many changes going on in the Town and its environment made this imperative Renee Cochin invited the Committee members to meet in her home to discuss these matters, and it was agreed to do so on the 23rd 5 Candidates to Human Services Committee It was agreed to recommend Dennis Murakami to replace Harvey Lowell Beth Klarman has resigned from the Committee necessitating a search for a replacement The Selectmen will be asked to assist 6 Liaison to Senior Health Monitor Committee Seymour expressed his interest in serving as a liaison to the Senior Health Monitor Committee He will let the Committee know if this is possible The matter of a liaison to the Council on Aging will be taken up by the Committee 7 Substance Abuse Forum Planning for the substance abuse forum was pursued with U respect to possible speakers and locations with assignments given to Steve and members Human Services Committee Minutes, 9/ 11 /89 Page 3 n 8 Selectmen' s meeting on cuts Dick Dougherty reported that RePlace was asked to discuss impact of cuts and status with respect to State funding Cuts seemed ill advised at a time when drug treatment and prevention were of paramount concern to the Town which has greatly increased its fund raising expectations for RePlace Moreover, there is better cooperation between the schools and the Town on human services Dick was asked to prepare a written presentation should the need arise Respectfully Submitted, Ste phen Baran, Human Services Coordinator H 1