HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-07-01-HSC-min.pdf Minutes
Human Services Committee
7/ 1 92
Present Renee Cochin and Ann Irving, Lo-Chairmen Dennis
Murakami Rick Safford Steve Baran Human Services Luordinator
( recorder )
Absent Eva Glick Donna Hooper
Minutes
The Minutes of 5/6/92 and 6/3/92 were reviewed and approved
Coordinator' s Report
Steve reported
a 1 1 /2 hour WBZ-TV forum on "Domestic Violence A
Call for Help" effective as an unusual fundraiser and
in revealing the frequency with which women are
battered ( see attached Boston Globe editorial )
attendance with Renee at a planning meeting of a new
neighborhood group on Bloomfield Street with the theme of
"Neighbors Helping Neighbors" ; Renee commented on their
enthusiasm, warmth and spontaneity they are seeking a focus
for their desire to help others ( see attached announcement ) ;
RePlace loss of two staff this will have an impact on their
service planning and highlights need for renegotiation of
their budget with the Human Services Committee ( see attached
Table of Organization showing changes )
as of 6/30/92 the Human Services Emergency Fund direct aid
balance was $2 832 and the endowment balance was $4 143
Eva Havas, Candidate for a position on the Human Services
Committee
Eva Havas candidate for Human Services Committee said that she
had moved to Lexington four years ago, had been active in the
schools PAC, PTO , search committee for new superintendent She
characterized Lexington as a place where on the face of things
one would think there are no problems, but there are problems
She had noted particularly a lack of tolerance among school
children
Eva commented further that she was interested in the problem of
battered women and was struck by the number of women and children
from Lexington reported by the battered women' s shelter in
Waltham in the past year--512 Also, we tend to think there are
no poor people, and yet the Food Pantry is well utilized
Human Services committee 7 / 1 /92 Page _
it was interesting that some stucents maintained dur ng the
_ondom controversy that they didn' t know where RePlace was Why
should the schools be giving out condoms when RePlace uuuld be
performing this function
s for impacting social policy, why is it that teachers can bring
uut U 000 - 30 000 people to a demonstration un Euston Common
while social wurkers do not ?
Co-Chairmen Report
Renee reported
Norm Cohen has advised that it is not legal to raise
funds for the Human Services Emergency Fund by
including solicitations with tax bills Renee had the
impression that this was acceptable to the Selectmen
A meeting with David Gil of Brandeis un analysis ur
U S Census data has been scheduled
The Committee should plan for the coming year
( Although the Town' s financial position is not likely to
improve the Committee might look at possibilities for
a change in services and review various needs areas
e g mental health, developmental disabilities women
and children--meeting time for this possibly early in
September
A meeting has been scheduled with the Council on Aging
and Friends of the Council on Aging to discuss modes of
operation for people over 60 and a possible
contribution from the Friends We are particularly
interested in why so few elderly persons with emergency
needs have come forward
Special Needs Housing
Rick reported that investigations were proceeding with the
assistance of Bob Cushman to match an appropriate financial
package for housing together to a group of people in need (mental
illness) Question was raised as to what was happening with
planning for the Met State property