HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-05-01-COA-min Town Council on Aging Board Meeting Minutes
May 1, 2024
Attendance: Michelle Kelleher, Christine Dean, Dana Bickelman, Julie Barker, Kelsey
Rollins, Charles James, Jyotsna Kakullavarapu, Sue Rockwell, Sandra Shaw, Laureen
Fiola, Sudhir Jain, Zehra Yark-han, Julie Ann Shapiro, John Zhao, Ellen Cameron
Meeting began at 2:35 pm
Agenda:
1. Public Comments: No public comments were made.
2. Review/Approve April 3, 2024, Minutes COA: The minutes were unanimously
approved.
3. Staff Reports and Program Updates:
o Christine — Now in full summer mode. Hiring for part-time staff and
summer programs. The pool membership is now open and there will be
an annual Special Olympics event at the track. The Recreation
Committee is staying involved with the high school renovation. The
outdoor tent is approved and up for summer events. Pursuing funding for
a sun shelter over the rental equipment. The Rotary Club funded a Happy
to Chat bench. Sue Rockwell requested details on the bench to secure
Historical Society approval.
o Michelle — May is Mental Health Awareness month. There will be swag
giveaways on Wednesday and a therapy dog 10-12. Suicide prevention
training and CPR/Narcan training will be scheduled for the staff. The Meet
and Greet event at Brookhaven was well attended. Transportation was
identified as their biggest issue. The residents also requested more
communication and want the Sage magazine.
o Kelsey - The visit to the Middlesex Sheriff's office was well attended.
There was discussion about the danger of scams. The trip to covered
bridges in NH had 50 participants. Goat yoga and other mental health
activities will be the May focus.
o Dana — Sharon Gunda, Clinical Outreach Manager resigned. Will be here
until June 13.
5. Update on Age-Friendly Working Group: Continue to work on the Senior
Resource Guide, goal to have a draft by May 25. Application for AARP
designation will go to the Select Board June 3. The designation would put
Lexington in a favorable position with other MA cities. Julie Shapiro indicated that
the Working Group would need to develop an actual plan and would add other
members of the broader community. Julie also added that at the Meet and Greet
the residents wanted access to all services available i.e. FISH. Kelsey indicated
that there was work to re-format brochures and fliers on the Lex Media platform.
Jyotsna suggested that Jonas pursue the issue further and include the question
on his survey. The discussion included the need to target communications for
the right folks, i.e., Villages. Julie commented that she would be getting back to
Lex at Home to see what could work relative to Meet and Greet sessions. We
may also look into groups that are already meeting and see if COA could be
added to the agenda. There was a discussion about a "virtual" Meet and Greet
session for homebound seniors.
5. New Business/Announcements:
o The countdown calendar to announce the 250th Anniversary of the start of
the revolution celebration has been installed by Town Hall. May 22nd will
be the date that the COA will turn the calendar.
o The Aging in Place information event in Belmont was well attended.
Dana indicated that 35 organizations were represented. A discussion of
the event will be put on the agenda for June.
6. Liaison Reports:
o Minuteman Senior Services — Sudhir Jain: The new website and
branding went live last month. April was Volunteers Month — 21,000 hours
of volunteering. A balance program, Matter of Balance will start May 16.
MMSS will have a table at Discovery Day. There will be a Malnutrition
Awareness program on May 22 at the Lexington Community Center.
o Transportation — Sudhir Jain: (Need information regarding MBTA
funding $372,459 to fund May 24 — June 28 $80,000?) The $20 Lex
Express plan will continue indefinitely. Reduced fare card will be
available, sign-up May 10th
o FCOA— Sudhir Jain: The FCOA will begin interviews for their Board of
Directors.
o Commission on Disability - Laurie Fiola: There was a discussion of
Discovery Day participation. Leonard Morse-Fortier presented a model for
cluster and village housing. He may inquire about presenting at a Select
Board meeting. Discussion about neurodiversity presentation.
o Vision for Lexington — Jyotsna Kakullavarapu: No updates.
o Lexington Housing Authority — Sue Rockwell: There are some small
projects underway at Greely Village, fire alarms et.al. Last month there
was a public hearing regarding state and federal programs. There are still
vacancies on the Resident Board. There are three applications. Sue
toured Building 1 at Vinebrook. People are returning from Greely Village.
There were 10 new units available, and 10 residents came off the waiting
list. (Need more information regarding the voting on articles.)
o Housing Partnership — John Zhao The draft RFP for the Lowell Street
affordable housing was authorized at the Annual Town Meeting and is
now available for comment. Affordable Housing Trust meeting June 11th
o Lexington Center Committee — Sandra Shaw: Sandra announced that
she was resigning from COA.
o Strategic Equity Advisory Team — Ellen Cameron: Dana indicated that
Sharon wants to launch Mental Health Taskforce website. Discussed that
it would be nice to establish a partnership with LCC. (Need more
information regarding the funding approval for the Mental Health
Technician for 2 years.)
o Adjourn: The meeting was adjourned at 4:00 p.m. Zehra Yark-han
announced her resignation from the COA due to her family relocation to
Indianapolis.
Submitted by Laurie Fiola