HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-02-27-HSC-min.pdf Minutes, Human Services Committee, 2/27/91
Present Renee Cochin and Bob Cushman, Co-Chairmen; Ann Irving; Dennis
Murakami; Jack Sarmanian; Steve Baran, Human Services Coordinator
Absent Dick Dougherty and Barbara Levine
Minutes of 2/13/91
The Minutes of 2/13 were approved with one comment The suggestion that
the Committee propose a project to assess attitudes and perceptions of
public officials was meant to be a component of a larger project that
would assess needs of different groups of consumers
Human Services Committee Report to the Selectmen
The Human Services Committee will make their report to the Selectmen
on Monday, 3/4 Ordinarily, the Committee would have a draft report to
review, but time precludes this being possible The Report will deal with
the so-called "safety net"; its actual existence is in doubt New groups
of poor in Lexington will be discussed, also the impact of the new bidding
process on how the Town relates to agencies delivering services in Lexington
The suggestion will be made that a group be formed to undertake funding to
meet needs of the new groups of poor people while seeking to preserve
funds previously donated, enhancing the Trustees' initiative in this direction
and recommending a fund raising effort to augment funds made available by
the Trustees
Meeting between Bob Cushman, Renee Cochin and Jacauie Smith
A discussion took place between Bob, Renee and Jacquie Smith concerning
the "Committee malaise" low attendance at meetings, confusion about
the bidding process, awareness of increased Town initiative in the area
of human services, lack of clarity about what exactly the Selectmen desire
from the Human Services Committee
Jacquie felt the Committee should take the initiative in selecting am
agenda, suggested that the Committee meet with two of the Selectmen
Also, Jacquie showed interest in the concept of the"new poor" and how
the Town might fill gaps not met by State, Federal or private sector
mechanisms
Needs Assessment
Renee reported that Heller School student who had shown a tentative
interest in working on a needs assessment decided she was more interested
in a management type of study Ideas advanced for needs assessment studies
include perceptions of those interested in human services, e g , clergy, consumers
advocacy groups; inventory Town resources, e g school counseling COA, -and re-
sources outside of Town; conduct demographic study with statistical analysis
Minutes, Human Services Committee, 2/27/91, p 2
I
Bidding procedures
It was agreed that a subcommittee of the Committee would provide input
into the bidding procedures around announcing the bid, receiving and
reviewing bids, etc
Need for new members of the Committee
Steve agreed to check Town's talent bank file and prepare an etnry for
the Minute-man
Community Partnership Grants
Jack Sarmanian agreed to bring in to the next meeting of the Committee
information pertaining to Community Partnership Grants These call for
integrating segments of the community, or more than one community,
essentially for the purpose of assessing; quality of life Creativity
was required. In a recent grant cycle 800 to 1,000 proposals were sub-
mitted and 250 grants were given out by the Office of Substance Abuse
Prevention Jack emphasized that the process of applying for such a
grant had the effect of becoming an "energy base" and, thus, might
serve as a basis for conducting a needs assessment
Committee planning meeting
It was agreed that a date should be set so that the Committee might
meet to set goals for next year
Respectfully submitted,
Stephen Baan,
Human Services Coordinator