The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About1975-11-19-COA-min.pdf Lexington Council on Aging Meeting, November 19, 1975 Town Office nuiiaing, Room G-1 Present CoA Members Rev S Goodwin, A. Paranya, M. Ritter, J Rooney, J Stumpp H Sullivan Guest Mr W C O'Connell, Town Manager Town Staff G Glennon, J Shaw Observers D. Williams (LWV) , J Gardner, A. Brown, H. Smith, Rev R. Zoerheide, J Zoerheide, J Carter MINUTES The meeting was convened at 7 42 F.M. by Chairman Jane Stumpp 1 After noting a correction, changing the reference from "fiscal 1976" to "fiscal 1977", it was moved, seconded, and voted that the minutes for the November 4th meeting of the CoA be accepted 2 Chairman Stumpp welcomed Town Manager Walter C O'Connell, who had been invited to help in clearing up some budget matters Mr O'Connell reint- erated some of his earlier statements to the Council The CoA is an authorized body of Town government, working under the Town structure, namely the Town Manager This does not negate the possibility of State aid According to Mr O'Connell, the $5,000 appropriation for the CoA included in the Warrant Article may not be used for personnel, but only F for programs and services Mr O'Connell further stated his ideas re- garding the purposes of the CoA. 1 To identify the elderly 2 To determine the needs of the elderly especially unfilled needs 3 Develop services programs for the elderly and to publish a newsletter as an ongoing project related to these purposes In making out budget requests, each program must be stated in writing with specifics on plans, implementation, and costs, and submitted to the Town Manager Mr O'Connell stated that he felt there was no justification for hiring a coordinator for the CoA. This triggered a rather heated discussion, including comments from some observers, on the value of having a paid person to coordinate and supervise programs and the work of volunteers Mr 0 Connell restated the fact that any money for a part-time employee must be requested through the personal services budget, programs and supplies come from the expense budget 3 Joseph Rooney reported on his visits to CoA' s in Belmont and Winchester Belmont, a newly organized council, employs a full-time coordinator who is paid $9,300 per year from CETA funds, who says that she works about 60 hours per week. The appropriation for programs is $750 Office space, telephone and furniture are supplied by the Town. The coordinator receives and logs calls, about 91 a week Winchester has a coordinator who works 30 hours per week at a salary of j slightly more than $6,000, and also a paid secretary who works 15 hours Lexington Council on Aging -2- I Their newsletter, published monthly, costs $130 per issue The office, provided by the town, is in a centrally located school building and their programs are supported by massive volunteer help 4 Mr Rooney asked if there were any space in Lexington where the CoA could set up an office Mrs Ritter said she had inquired at Red Cross headquarters, and though there is an upstairs room which could be used, space there is really not feasible The second floor of the Visitor' s Center was mentioned, but also presents definite drawbacks Mrs Stumpp said she would inquire into the possibility of getting school space Mr O'Connell said that using school space would entail paying custodial fees 5 Rev Goodwin read a letter from the president of the Lexington High School Honor Society asking how the group could work for the elderly It was suggested that the Honor Society members might be willing to help in compiling an up-to-date list of senior citizens Rev Goodwin will look into this Mrs Williams, LWV observer, offered to get volunteers to do the task, if the students can't 6 It was usggested, and all agreed, that all calls to Mrs Glennon or to members of the CoA be logged from now on. 7 The next meeting was set for Tuesday, December 2, 1975 at 7 30 P M. in Room III of the Town Office Building The meeting adjourned at 9 58 P M. Respectfully submitted, Ann G Paranya Secretary k1