HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-08-04-HSC-min.pdf Minutes
Human Services Committee
( 8/4/199
Present: Cathy Abbott, Selectman Liaison;Nancy Bartlett;Barbara Ciampa, Co-Chair;Helen
Cravis, Co-Chair;Roz Gittleman;Eva Glick;Khalil Khatri;Gregory Kotonias-Payne;
Christine Yedica; Steve Baran,Human Services Coordinator.Nancy Freed,Director,
Social Services Department;Irving Rothman,Minuteman Home Care board member
liaison to Council on Aging,visitor
Minutes of 6/2/99
The Minutes of 6/2/99 were accepted.
Question on Domestic Violence Response Team Procedure
Greg Kotonias-Payne called to inquire whether the fear of showing up in the police log might serve as a
deterrent for some people to get involved with the Domestic Violence Response Team.He knew of an
individual who had this very problem.Eva Glick,liaison to the Team,will pass on this concern. Committee
members wondered if the police log was legally required in all situations.
Annual Report to the Board of Selectmen
Barbara Ciampa had responded to a question by Betty Eddison when the Annual Report was presented as to
what the Human Services Committee was doing about affirmative action in town employment. This is not
in the purview of the Human Services Committee. Cathy Abbott will clarify directly with Betty Eddison.
( Membership
Committee members intending to continue after 9/30/99 are Eva Glick and Gregory Kotonias-Payne.
Human Services Fund,Fund for Lexington
Steve Baran administers funds for emergency and other purposes. These are distributed to Lexington
citizens in need. The Human Services Fund responds largely to emergencies. Once need has been
determined,the funds are distributed upon approval of Nancy Freed,Director of the Social Services
Department.In the case of other needs,responded to by funds from the Fund for Lexington,funds are
distributed upon approval of Nancy Freed and the Fund for Lexington board.
Steve gave the Human Services Committee short synopses of cases where individuals had received
assistance during FY '99 The Committee asked how potential recipients heard about the funds(brochure,
web page). Aside from helping recipients financially Steve is able to bring many into the system and make
available other means of assistance.
The Human Services Committee had earlier been invited to review emergency requests in excess of$500
for which the Human Services Fund was seen as a response. There had been an informal agreement early in
the life of the fund that such requests should be submitted to the Committee.It was agreed,however,that
henceforth Nancy and Steve would be able to make inunediate decisions without the help of the
Committee.but in some circumstances cases could be discussed at Human Services Committee meetings at
a later time.
It was noted that when requests are made for financial assistance the client is asked to provide verification
of income and expenditures.