HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-02-05-HSC-min.pdf Minutes
Human Services Committee
2/5/92
Present Renee Cochin and Ann Irving, Co-Chairmen; Mimi Aarens
Bob Cushman Eva Glick and Rick Safford Steve Baran Human
Services Coordinatur (recorder )
Absent Donna Hooper
The Minutes of 1 /22/92 were approved with the following
revised wording "As to the Human Services Fund, it was decided
to once again ask the Selectmen to provide a commitment of $5, 000
as the base funding for the Human Services Fund in FY ' 93 "
Renee reported that the Committee had been asked to send a
formal designee to a Selectmen' s Forum on Lexington Issues She
will attend their first meeting Renee reported further that she
had attended a Selectmen' s meeting on the budget and advised
level funding for RePlace, a 12% increase for CMARC and $5, 000
for the Human Services Fund The Human Service budget
recommendations received Paul Marshall ' s strong support
Steve reported his impression that there may be no funds
available for elderly people having emergencies, but there might
be a need It was felt that a change in policy to permit using
the Human Services Fund to help the elderly as well as people
under 60 might be in order
Steve reported further that the Fund' s direct relief balance
was $3, 796 on January 1 and was reduced by expenditures for a
shortfall in fuel ( $ 190) children' s clothing ( $200) , moving
expenses ( $325) and dental work ( $ 150) leaving a balance of $2931
on January 31 A planning meeting for an educational conference
on the Americans with Disabilities Act was announced for February
19th
Betsy Fitz, Board of Directors (Special Events Coordinator ) ,
Lexington Interfaith Outreach, reported on its activities On
the previous Saturday, 65 families were accommodated The recent
average has been between 40 and 50 80% of recipients are from
Lexington; there is reciprocity with other towns
$ 1 000 worth of food is purchased per month with most
significant donations including $8, 000 from the Lexington Walk
for Hunger, $ 1 500 from Stop and Shop, $800 from the Harrington
School and $300 from St Brigid' s Financial contributions have
been supplemented by food donations At this point, the
organization has a balance of $30, 000, has given $5, 000 to Beacon
Santa and will give $5, 000 to the Human Services Fund ( the
Committee requested that this be evenly split between endowment
and direct relief ) after spending $ 12, 000 in its first year
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Human Services Committee, 2/5//92 Page 2
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In-kind contributors of food have included Doran' s with
truck loads of "blemished" food, the Boy Scouts and Stop and Shop
customers The Police have contributed toys personalized by age
and sex
Each family receives $25 to $30 worth of groceries and
provides data on number of family members, special dietary needs
or food preferences and address (proof not required) The
environment is hospitable; coffee and cookies are served Social
needs have included pregnancy; elderly, two with guns and knives
in their homes, unable to afford medical care and needing home
repairs In the summer, people who sleep under bridges in town
come for food
Program needs include furniture for families expecting
babies and information and referral services
Mimi reported that she had attended two crowded meetings of
the AIDS Committee with initial discussions focused on clarifying
the Committee' s mandate (education) It is not advisory to the
School Committee
The Enablement Committee was invited to send a
representative to the next meeting of the Human Services
Committee
Rick and Bob reported that they had been exploring housing
possibilities for people with special needs Opportunities have
opened up in Arlington and Lexington Bob is exploring equity
funding