HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-05-21-COA-min.pdf LEXINGTON COUNCIL ON AGING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES
May 21, 1997
ATTENDING Clark Cowen, Chairperson
Phyllis Rand
Nancy Freed,Staff
John Curry
Jacqueline Davison
Peg Jemison
Gene Isotti
Anne Kriebel
Ed Grant
Barbara Rubin
Chris Gelling, Staff
ABSENT Jack Fisher
Sheldon Spector
CHAIRPERSON'S REMARKS The meeting was called to order by Clark Cowen at
4 35 p m Clark expressed the thanks of the COA Board at the Town Meeting
regarding the approval of the COA budget and issued an invitation to the open house
at the new Day Care site There will be no elections at the June meeting. Jack
Fisher has drawn up a proxy authorization form for the use of the Boards, and forms
were distributed.
MUZZEY CONDOMINIUM ISSUES The minutes of the April 9th meeting were
accepted. It was noted that the 1997-98 meeting schedule that was mailed is
incorrect. The meetings will continue to be held on the second Wednesday of the
month, and corrected schedules were distributed.
There was a general review of the history of the relationship between the Muzzey
Condo Association and the Senior Center because of the recent discussion at the
Board of Selectmen's meeting. The public/private partnership of condominium
ownership has historically created tension which came to a head over the issue of
assigned parking places, The issue of assigned parking spaces was brought up by
the Muzzey Trustees in 1994 but shelved because of a letter from Steven R.
Frederickson, Director of Inspectional Services This letter stated that the by-laws of
the Condo Association provided for use of the parking lot for the Senior Center
between the hours of 8:30 and 4'30 A recent event at the Senior Center which drew
a large attendance sparked this issue anew The Town Counsel, Norm Cohen, has
written the Trustees a letter restating the 1994 position. In addition at the
Selectmen's meeting, the Trustees were advised by the Town Manager Rick White
that if they wanted the requested assessment increase they would have to create a
more harmonious relationship with the COA. There will be a Trustees meeting on
May 28th at the Senior Center
PROGRAM COORDINATOR Clark introduced Chris Gelling, the new Program
Coordinator, who presented a brief outline of ideas to expand the demographic base of
seniors using the Senior Center These include new cultural programs, accessing the
business community including the Chamber of Commerce and using the resources of the
schools. Chris welcomes ideas that will achieve this goal
Nancy Freed announced that interviews for the position of administrative assistant will be
held on Thursday May 22nd. When an appointment is made Chris will be able to devote
all of her time and energies to her new position.
MEALS ON WHEELS PROGRAM John Curry gave the MOW financial report and
distributed current statistics showing a deteriorating picture. This is the result of several
factors. On July 1st, 1996, the vendor increased the cost of the meals by sixty cents per
day and added a paper charge of thirty-five cents per two meals. In addition, the number
of meals delivered daily has decreased from about 35 to 20 The result is a negative
balance for April, although there is still some cash to be collected. Solutions to this
problem include more publicity (the recent article in the Lexington Minuteman was very
good) mailings to health care providers for referrals, raising the price and the
participation. Nancy explained that other COAs charge donations of under $2; their
programs are under the aegis of MHC and partially subsidized. It was suggested that
more regular billing and ordering the exact amount of meals would also help the
situation. In addition, Nancy will look into reevaluating the contract we have with MHC
A motion was made and unanimously passed that the cost of the two meals delivered in
the MOW program be increased to $6 per day, effective 7/1/97
( ADULT DAY CARE SITE Nancy announced that there will be an open house at the new
Day Care site on Wednesday, June 25th, from 5-8 pm. Board members are cordially
invited to attend.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:15 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Phyllis Rand, Secretary