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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-05-11-COA-min.pdf acv LEXINGTON COUNCIL ON AGING MINUTES OF BOARD MEETING May 11, 1993 Lexington Senior Center Attending: Harriet Onello Chairperson Monica Chang Member Frank Chen Member Clark Cowen Member Bob Cushman Member Jim Fenske Member Ed Grant Member Kevin Grimes Member Barbara Rubin Member Linda Crew Vine Director Jackie Davison Guest, FCOA Timothy J. Quinlan Guest, FCOA John Watson Guest The meeting opened at 4:35 p.m. by Chairperson Harriet Onello. A Bridge Game Room Our guest Dr. John Watson described the need for a suitable room so that bridge games could be enjoyed by Lexington seniors. He cited the success and popu- larity of card games played in Scottsdale, Arizona. The Lexington Center s bridge game spaces were seen as noisy, lacking in comfort, and very limited for any growth in the number of bridge players. We had 40 players now and 10 more were expected. So the need for a suitable and dedicated space was viewed as rather acute. Bridge games could give seniors mental, social, and psychological/health benefits. Esther Green, an expert bridge player often gave pointers to local players. If staged well, certain competitive games could also be good as fund raisers. Following discussion, it was agreed that we should approach the Town of Lexington to review the needs for an available build- ing space as the seniors Game Room. Linda Vine was to take action. COA Board Members Dan Fenn was interested in being a Board of Selectmen liaison to COA and fill the vacancy left by Jack Eddison. John Curry would return to the COA Board in June. Minutes of April Board Meeting The minutes were reviewed and accepted by unanimous vote. Receipts to the FCOA auction were still coming in; a net of$14,000 was expected. User Fee for Senior Center An additional levy of$250 per month as user fee for the Centers occupancy at 1475 Massachusetts Avenue came as a surprise to Board members and Friends of COA. Newspaper accounts told about the Town Manager looking to FCOA to fund the $250 monthly additional charges. The FCOA should not be made an involuntary source of this fund. There was no COA budget provision for this levy The Board opted for a personal meeting with the Town Manager to have the facts of the situation clarified and to recommend that such additional occupancy costs should come from a COA budget supple- ment. Bob Cushman, Jim Fenske, and Linda Vine were to meet with Rick White over this question. FCOA Breakfast and Annual Meeting COA Board members were invited to the FOCA June 11 breakfast meeting. r Minutes page 2 Committee Reports 1. Linkage Kevin Grimes reported that all data collected at the recent hearing were being sorted out, analyzed, and arranged in some perspective. Another meeting of the working group (Kevin, Bob, Karen, and Linda) was scheduled. They expected to present a summary of their study results at the forthcoming FCOA breakfast event in June. It would address COA participation in the stated needs and suggest some solutions. 2. Senior Health Monitor Bob Cushman discussed the SHM guideline draft state- ments. Board members felt we should send a copy of the guideline to Rick White to inform him that we were keeping watch over the cost of SHM activities as well as the effectiveness of this important service to seniors. 3. Education Barbara Rubin reported on the Education Committee s plans to hold a series of conferences beginning this fall to highlight three key issues for seniors: (a) Home adaptation, with a first conference in October; (b) Financial and legal implications of selling one's home, in January 1994; and (c) Housing options for elders including effects on health and lifestyle, with a March or April 1994 conference. The Education Committee consisted of Barbara Rubin, Clark Cowen, Ed Grant, Harriet Onello, and Linda Vine. ( Director's Report: 1. Linda handed out copies of the Muzzey High Newsletter of April 1993 with news of the $250 user fee assessment, Dr. John Watson s letter to the Board regarding a dedicated card playing room, and a statistical report of the tax-aide counseling efforts conducted this year ending on April 15. 2.She did further research on the real estate property tax work-off program presented at the April meeting by Chairperson Dr. Robert Leone of the Board of Assessors. Linda ex- pressed a concern on how the labor union and the senior volunteers might react to it. The nearest model to Lexington s situation was that of Chelmsford where 100 seniors were tar geted for the tax work-off program but only 20 seniors took advantage of it. Jim Fenske asked the question whether more people would apply for the tax reduction if meaningful work was provided the applicants in this program. Another suggestion was the use of a tax credit 'bank 3. Carol Murphy, our receptionist on Mondays was appointed by Linda as a volunteer coordinator to oversee and train volunteer receptionists. She would also do general volun- teer recruiting, placement, and training. 4. The FCOA annual meeting and breakfast would be announced in the Center newsletter. 5. The April library report was distributed. Anne Novak and 20 volunteers continued to do fine work in the Library with additional donations of books, puzzles, and one videotape. 6. A Mature Driving Course was planned for July and August to meet a need. Minutes page 3 ` 7 An Intergenerational Concert would take place May 19 at 7:30 pm in the Bowman School Gym. Seniors were invited. The concert would be free to the public. 8. A Minuteman Cane award was scheduled for May 24 at 2:00 p.m. Harriet could ap- point a delegate to present the award. 9. The videotape of the interviews with World War II senior veterans was presented at the High School Tuesday May 4. It was a successful videotape production. 10. Planning was moving ahead for a Senior Golf League Thursday mornings at Pine Meadows.Twelve people were at the first meeting. Eight more were expected at the next meeting. 11. Senior Center department heads scheduled a half-day meeting on May 19 to con- sider goals for 1994, including housing for elders, space goals for the Center, possibilities of new construction, our educational needs and actions, and availability for evening and weekend openings of the Center The ideas gathered would be transmitted to the Town Manager and the Board of Selectmen. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 6:15 p.m. by unanimous vote. Frank Chen Secretary Pro Tem FWC: 5/13/93