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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-04-13-COA-min.pdf M 1 COUNCIL ON AGING MINUTES BOARD MEETING DATED April 13 , 1993 Lexington Senior Center Attending Robert Cushman Member Clark Cowen Member Jim Fenske Member Frank Chen Member Ed Grant Member Harriet Onello Member Kevin Grimes Member Linda Crew Vine Staff Sumner Harris ._ Gueft Bill Stern Guest Bev Kelley Guest Dr Bob Leone Guest The meeting opened at 4 30 p m by Chairperson Harriet Onello The minutes of the March meeting were reviewed and accepted by unanimous vote A report from the April 2nd FCOA Auction was given by Bev Kelley , who summarized the auction as very successful , both financially and as a community event The event raised $15, 500 and netted $14, 300 However, money was still coming in, and we hope to have final written report completed by May Financial Report -7 Jim Fenske reported Meals On Wheels is almost breaking even, compared to past small deficits Meals On Wheels and Social Day Care will be added to Town General Revenue Funds for payment of personal services connected with those programs The financial report was accepted as presented by unanimous vote Client Satisfaction Survey, March - April , 1993 -- Sumner Harris , Bill Stern presented the written report Five percent of the 6, 400 members in the database were solicited by mail , telephone follow up and some second mailings There were 80 total responders--a 25 percent percent return--37 responders used the Senior Center regularly and 43 were nonuser responders All responders were at least sixty years old A detailed report of the findings was distributed to the Board A copy will be forwarded to the Town Manager L Dr Robert Leone, Chairperson, Board of Assessors, Lexington Dr Leone was invited to address the Board on what tax relief Council on Aging Minutes -2- Board Meeting 4/13/93 r options were being considered to assist elderly residents of the Town He presented the following options with much disucussion coming from the D. Board * Tax e�errl Program was recently voted by Town Meeting-- an. income change from $20 , 000 gross income level ceiling to $40 ,000 Dr Leone explained that few people have taken advantage of this option in the past * The second option the Board of Assessors is pursuing is working with the State Legislature to raise outdated exemption levels Many levels have not been changed since the 1970 's Dr Leone asked the COA Board to work with him on this endeavor * The third option to assist elders concerned a Tax Work Off Program Linda Vine reported she was working jointly with Steve Baran, Human Resources , and Bob Miner, School Department , to investigate other areas of the country where this program was implemented The Board concluded that increased publicity was needed to inform elders of what is available to assist them in property tax relief Ideas were presented on how to increase access to these programs Linkage Committee Report was given by Dr Kevin Grimes Dr Grimes stated the Linkage forum was successful The committee is working on * Summery of information * Issue of lack of church response needs to be addressed The meeting was adjouned at 6 20 p m Ed Grant , Secretary Pro Tem