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COUNCIL ON AGING BOARD MEETING MINUTES - JANUARY 8 , 1991
Present Dorothy Boggia, Kevin Grimes , Harriet Onello, Jim Fenske,
Barbara Rubin, Ed Grant, Sumner Harris, Monica Chang, Bob
Borshay, Jack Eddison (Board of Selectmen liaison) ,
Dennis Murakami (Human Service Committee) , Linda Crew
Vine and Peg Jemison (staff )
Meeting was called to order at 4 30 p m
Remarks Dorothy Boggia -
The following correspondence was read
-Thank you from Bristol Lodge for the clothes donated at
Christmas
-Thank you from the Lexington Chapter of AARP for the use
of the parking facilities during trips
-Letter from the Town Celebration Committee regarding, the
Patriots Day Parade A questionnaire is to be completed
by March 15 , 1991 Discussion of COA involvement
followed Agreement was reached to think about marching
and/or making a float
Minutes - Harriet Onello
November minutes were read and amended as follows Jack
Eddison corrected Pg 2 , paragraph 3 , where the word
"questioned" was replaced with the word "emphasized"
D Boggia observed that no member of the Senior Citizen's
Club had been invited to the January meeting It was
decided to invite a representative to the February
meeting
After no further corrections or discussion, it was moved
and seconded to accept the minutes as corrected
Treasurer's Report - Jim Fenske
The budget is currently underspent by $19, 000 but this
is expected to change during the remainder of the year
Additional figures, not indicated on the materials
distributed, were as follows
-Travel - Out/State 0 00 0 00
" - In/State $138 18 $ 83 02
TOTAL $221 20
( Pg 2
-Training & 59 00 $165 00
TOTAL $224 00
($26 00 available)
Jim reported trying to get a better handle on the
Selectmen Gift Account for Social Day Care The process
has been complicated by the change in the Town's
accounting system There was a surplus at the end of the
previous fiscal year
Next year's budget was discussed regarding the 3% and 20%
cut proposals A budget with a 2 4% INCREASE reflects
actual needs The actual amounts are as follows
3% decrease $174 , 331 00
2 4% increase $181 , 591 00
Allocation will likely fall between the two figures and
in line with this year' s budget The budget will be
presented to the Selectmen on January 23, 1991
Linda Vine added that State Grants were cut and we
received only $10 ,001 00 this year
Bob Borshay questioned why the budget was underspent by
$19,000 The explanation was the delay of billing for
past expenditures
Goal Setting Session Report - Bob Borshay
A written report generated from the December "Think Tank"
session was distributed and explained
The following comments and suggestions were rendered
-Board members wished to study the document
-Need expressed to decide how to use the ideas over
time
-D Boggia We need to study the report and discuss
at the February meeting
-J Eddison We should not rush to expand the
level of services until there is a need
-B Borshay Agreed with Eddison that this
subject be considered by the Board
-J Fenske We must be certain we meet existing
needs
-K Grimes Re process-we need to refocus in
rather than expand our goals
Pg 3
-L Vine Likes the theme that the Center serves
the whole family not just the individual seniors
We need to show the extent of the Center 's
services, educate and build image in the community
-Congratulations were given to Bob Borshay for his
heroic indertaking of summarizing and reframing our
"Think Tank" session
Director's Report - Linda Vine
Structural problems at Muzzey Building (via Building
Inspector letter to the Trustees) was alarming but the
Center has been assured that center space is safe
Winter classes are scheduled; the Rotary Club Dinner and
Dance is most popular
Senior Health Monitor Program - to be reported later in
the meeting
SPANS - Diana Grammont , SPANS Coordinator, has secured a
$200 fund for an intergenerational concert with grade 5
& 6 students and the Young At Heart Chorus
Another intergenerational activity, perhaps an ethnic
dinner, is tentatively planned for April This event
will include the involvement of a language club from the
high school to help plan and implement the program It
will also involve fund raising
Diana is very creative She also helped with the New
Year's Eve Party which was a big success !
Newsletter - Increased mail rates are expected at the end
of January The newsletter will be pre-sorted by carrier
route to save postage
Meals On Wheels - Laurie Gleason, the new coordinator, is
doing very well after only three months The meals cost
increased from $3 50 to $4 00 per day, however , weekend
meals are being reduced
Social Day Care - Presently 19 people are registered
A total of 27 different people have attended SDC to date
Library - Reports were distributed; video tapes remain
very popular
Frank Olivier is the new Secretary of the Executive
Office of Elder Affairs He is experienced and
supportive of COA' s His appointment preserves the
Cabinet level position
Pg 4
Kevin Grimes expressed concern about insurance
ramifications of the Building Comm notice about
hazards at Muzzey (Town pays Center ' s insurance)
Senior Health Monitor Program - Peg Jemison
Statistics were read and distributed
Changes in Medicare/Medicaid regulations have affected
participation in the Senior Health Monitor Program No
Level III clients are allowed into nursing homes until
ALL community resources have been exhausted
B Rubin noted the impact of this on all taxpayers as
well as future nursing home clients
Expanded PR is planned for the SHMP
The SHMP maximum (40 ) is a critical issue what response
does the COA make when the demand for service increases?
D Marakumi - Suggests need for a triage model
P Jemison - The COA is doing this by referring some
people elsewhere
D Boggia - The original target maximum (50) clients now
seems beyond the reality of what the program can handle
E Grant - Expressed the thanks of the Board to Peg for
her efforts in the management of the SHMP
J Fenske - Inquired as to what statistics exist to show
who needs what services
President Boggia reminded board to think about the following
issues
-Goal Setting Report by Bob Borshay
-Patriot ' s Day float
Meeting adjourned at 5 55 p m.
Harriet Onello, Secretary