HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-01-20-COA-min.pdf LEXINGTON COUNCIL ON AGING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES
JANUARY 20, 1995
ATTENDING Clark Cowen, Chair
Phyliss Rand
Steve Baran, Staff
Linda Crew Vine, Staff
Monica Chang
Dan Fenn, HOS Liaison
John Curry
Ed Grant
Roz Gittleman, Human Services Liaison
Gene Isotti
Peg Jemison
Absent Jack Fisher, Barbara Rubin, Jackie Davison
CHAIRPERSON'S REMARKS
Clark Cowen called the meeting to order at 11 05 am Clark
reported that the Rotary Dinner was a huge success; over 250
seniors attending the minutes of the previous meeting were
accepted
1 FINANCIAL UPDATE
John Curry reviewed the first six months of the COA budget The
Meals on Wheels program is self funding with a small surplus even
though the cost of each meal has gone up 20 cents Linda
authorized two additional frozen meals for each client because of
the inclement weather conditions
There may be a problem with the Social Day Care budget because of
increasing transportation costs Linda explained that there had
been serious problems with Share-a-Ride services, especially safety
issues Share-a-Ride terminated our contract, effective Jan 19;
and new vendors were sought SCM in Malden was the only one with
experience in Adult Day Care services to make a viable offer
However, their cost will be a one-third increase from $6 25 to
$8 90 each way And they cannot pick up until 4 pm , extending the
program two hours This will have an impact on staffing hours,
adding $2200 per year to their cost Carolyn Griffith has worked
very hard with the staff and clients ' families to resolve these
problems It will be necessary to charge $3 per ride and this is
agreeable to the families
A motion was made and seconded to assess a transportation fee of
$3 00 each way for Day Care clients, effective March 4, 1996 This
motion was passed
The balanced budget presented by the Town Manager' s Office included
full funding for the COA This includes $36, 000 for an offsite
location for the Day Care program The committee looking for a
site has been making inquiries; and Linda will send letters to the
various churches and service clubs to see if they have available
( space
The rest of the COA budget seems to be in pretty good shape,
although there may be a problem with the direct services provided
by the Senior Health Monitor Nurses They have not been meeting
the specifications of our contract with them; a letter will be sent
asserting our concern
DIRECTOR'S REPORT
Senior Volunteer Corps We have received $5 , 000 from Raytheon, the
first half of the grant from them Linda will advertise for a
coordinator to work 15 hours per week to start the program as soon
as possible
Linda introduced the idea of reorganizing the dining room There
are currently a Meals on Wheels manager, hired by the town, who
works 20 hours per week; a Nutrition Site manager, hired by
Minuteman Home Care, who works 20 hours per week; and a Supper Club
manager, who works 3 hours per week If Day Care moves off site,
half of the congregant meal participants will leave Linda
suggested a Nutrition Manager, working 6 hours per day to do the
combined meals on wheels, frozen meals, and congregant meals, to be
effective July 1, 1996 Minuteman Home Care will consider a grant
to the COA to cover part of the salary for this new position
A motion was made and seconded to support the Executive Director of
the COA in pursuing with the Town Manager the implementation of a
position of Nutrition Manager to direct the meals on wheels
program, the frozen food program, the congregant site meals program
, and possibly the supper club program This motion was passed
Linda distributed copies of a memo from the Board of Health
regarding the services of the Cambridge VNA doing blood pressure
screening, stating that the services will end March 31, 1996
Their services have been very erratic and unreliable; and a request
will be made have these funds transferred to the COA so that a new
provider may be found
The meeting was adjourned at 12 30 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Phyllis Rand
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