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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1989-12-04-HSC-min.pdf n Human Services Committee Minutes, 12/4/89 \ Present Renee Cochin and Bob Cushman, Co-Chairmen; Ann Irving; Seymour Mandel ; Sheila Martin; Leonora Feeney; Dick Dougherty; Leo McSweeney; Sgt Joe O'Leary; and Steve Baran, Human Services Coordinator Minutes of 11/6/89 Add to 2nd paragraph under Cooperative Elder Services item, p 2 Linda is responsible for monitoring the program for the Council on Aging as requested by the Town Manager ( "for the COA added" ) Add after last sentence following discussion of "Eddie" on p 4 Committee members expressed concern that there was no follow up to the program Report of Human Services Coordinator Steve referred the Committee to the extensive written report he had sent to the Committee since their last meeting He further commented that he had recommended a 4% increase for RePlace in line with their request based on their solid programs, their responsiveness to suggestions of the Committee and (_ )/\ Coordinator, and their success in reducing their dependence on the Town for funding while steadily increasing income obtained through fundraising He recommended level funding of Cooperative Elder Services and CMARC as they requested Leo McSweeney Charge The Committee members explained the results of their review of their Charge a new emphasis on planning and coordination related to their continuing role as a catalyst Since the Manager was taking over close scrutiny of budgets, it had become possible for the Committee to move more into looking at community need and recommending human service policy for the Town Programs funded by the Town in relation to Committee recommendations No new programs are under consideration for funding although it was possible that a new program in need of funding might emerge as a result of the needs assessment which was forthcoming A continuation of funding for Cooperative Elder Services and CMARC was foreseen The responsiveness of RePlace was noted Leo said that the Town Manager was very happy with what Human Services Committee Minutes, 12/4/89 Page 2 n RePlace had accomplished Review of Town response to drug abuse Leo saw need, as recommended by Judy Zabin, for convening representatives of the PTA, school department, churches, youth, and human services to review where the Town was going in responding to drug abuse and looking to the future The Committee felt this should be an ongoing effort involving the community as a whole, not just a one-shot effort Merger of Lexington Citizens with Special Needs and Enablement Committee Committee noted beginning discussions on some form of merger in relation to recognition of similarity of needs Renee Cochin agreed that some units should be set aside for special needs housing Leo said he would implement making the physical side available in (_) response to indications from the State that they could supply programming Sergeant Joe O'Leary Crime Prevention and Safety Officer Joe O' Leary explained D A R E (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program which he was hoping might be installed as a 17 week curriculum in the 5th grade He came seeking input from the Human Services Committee The approach is a reaction to previous police/school interactions having been negative and superficial Here the emphasis would be on the policeman who combines friendship with authority while applying a life skills orientation to decision making particularly, in relation to use of tobacco, alcohol and marijuana At latest count, there were 90 programs in Massachusetts In Los Angeles 100 police officers teach full time with a support staff of between 25 and 30 In Newton there are now 13 elementary schools covered by two full -time patrolmen The program would cost $25, 000 in Lexington It has been endorsed by the Superintendent, Town Manager and Chief of Police U The program would be part of a comprehensive life skills program with parents involved on a continuing basis Human Services Committee Minutes, 12/4/89 Page 3 n Dennis Murakami Visit to Council on Aging Dennis reported that he had attended COA Board meeting They are requesting an increase in their budget this year He learned that Arlington allocates $6, 000 for the Cooperative Elder Services program as opposed to the $3, 500 allocated by Lexington The Senior Health Monitor program is now serving 30 clients per month and has a capacity of 35 Meals on Wheels has been getting its meals from Choate-Symmes Hospital which has gone bankrupt Dennis said that he had received a warm welcome from the COA Linda Crew Vine, Executive Director, had briefed him on the budget and had provided him with a tour of the facilities Subcommittee Assignments Subcommittee assignments were made as follows (_ ) Council on Aging/Senior Health Monitor Dennis and Seymour CMARC Leonora and Renee RePlace Dick, Ann and Sheila Cooperative Elder Services Renee and Bob Steve emphasized that it was the prerogative of the Committee to review any human service budgets in which the Town had an interest regardless of which Department was monitoring the program to which that budget was attached Seymour Mandel sought, and was given assurance, that a subcommittee assignment included the potential for not only reviewing the budget for that program but conducting a site visit On the other hand, the Committee was not sure that site visits would be necessary for any or all of the programs visited by Steve who had provided advanced information and because the Human Services Committee Minutes, 12/4/89 Page 4 n Committee was more oriented to making policy recommendations and less oriented to monitoring programs A final decision about visiting programs was deferred until Committee members had an opportunity to review proposals and other materials Renee explained her concern about the Cooperative Elder Services budget being transferred to the Council on Aging 1 The Committee had not been consulted before the decision was made 2 The Human Services Committee was created in the first place as a response to the Town' s uncertainty about giving money to human service programs If the Committee no longer has direct responsibility for certain human services budgets, its influence regarding those budgets might be diminished 3 Which Committee or jurisdiction has responsibility for writing an RFP, dictates in large part what will be the shape or philosophy of a particular program Once the Human Services Committee loses direct responsibility for a budget, it may not be possible for it to (I ) construct RFPs' in the future for the program relating to that budget It was decided to invite the Town Manager to the next meeting of the Human Services Committee to discuss these concerns with him Respectfully submitted, Stephen Baran, Human Services Coordinator U