HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-10-09-COA-min COA Minutes — October 9, 2024
Attendees: John Zhao, Julie-Ann Shapiro, Sudhir Jain, Charles James, Julie Barker, Bonnie
Teitleman-Levin, Janet Perry, Ellen Cameron, Michelle Kelleher, Dana Bickelman
John Z. called the meeting to order at 2:33 pm.
Public Comments
• FCOA members David Grabel, Suzanne Caton and K and Lorain Marque attended.
New Business/Announcements
• Age-Friendly working group —Bonnie has agreed to participate. Vote taken—
unanimously approved.
Review of September Minutes
• Unanimously approved.
Staff Reports and Program Updates
• Michelle— for Christine Dean: New front-test person is starting in two weeks.
• Michelle—half of the vaccine clinics are done. Flu, Covid, or both at once.
• Homebound resident vaccines are at the end of the month.
• Prefer appointments on-line, but can walk in. There is a QR code in the lobby.
• Programming: Harvest Festival 10/19 —30 seniors have signed up. Every year more and
more sign up. It has doubled since last year.
• Diwali —over 70 people have signed up —at max capacity.
• Powerful Tools for Caregivers program—also at max capacity of 15.
• Minuteman Senior Services —has put out a survey on paper and on-line for caregivers.
Helpful for support groups we facilitate at the CC.
• Dana—October is LGBT History month. On 10/24 from 3-5 there will be a documentary
"gen-Silent" shown regarding issues that older adults face.
• 10/30 "Coming Out Being Ourselves"
• Michelle—Boston trip on 11/12 —need people to sign up.
• Cathedral of the Pines next week—filled with waiting list.
• Some people have difficulty walking and it is hard to know that in advance of a particular
trip or excursion. There are different ways of expressing how much walking a trip has.
• Lion's Club lends wheelchairs for a day, but needs several days' notice. It is important to
note that staff are not allowed to assist. If someone has a helper, they count as a
participant.
Age-Friendly Working Group
• We will use the Age-Friendly study as a guide when planning the Age in Place fair.
• Consider getting Lexington at Home input.
• When Michelle is ready with a list, we will all need to take on tasks.
Housing Partnership Board
• John is a full voting member. He needs input as Lexington housing is becoming more
and more expensive.
• Town Meeting voted to support re-zoning of MBTA community by law.
• Multi-family housing was designated.
• Last year Lexington conducted a Comprehensive Plan which was a 1 �/z year effort. The
housing goal was to promote a wide range of housing options that respond to the needs
regardless of life stage or financial status.
• HPB discussed having 2025 goals. John would like COA input regarding what needs to
be added.
• From the Comprehensive Plan, there are two action items needing input— 1)the
Disability Commission should organize housing standards to address mobility challenges
of disabled and seniors; and 2) Create rules consistent with ADA standards.
• Town does not have adequate supply of housing—seniors i.e. those over 65 make up 20%
of population and will make up 28% by 2030.
• We need more buildings with elevators, wider passages and the surrounding areas need to
have supportive services.
• Across all types of projects, we need to keep pushing for units that meet the ADA and
seniors needs and we need to advocate for projects that are close to services i.e. within
walking distance.
Liaison Reports
Minuteman Senior Services - Sudhir
• Today is Agism Awareness Day
• MM was selected by Cummings Foundation
Transportation Committee Sudhir
• Projects discussed include the 33 Concord Project which needs a bus shelter, and 80 and
23 Bedford Street and 541 Fifer Road.
• Arlington is exploring Red Line extension.
FCOA Sudhir
• Suzanne, President—took ill and left as she prepared the fundraising letter. 4,7000
recipients. David Grabel is assisting with fundraising, trying to gain more visibility,
using social medial to make connections between Human Services, COA and what
FCOA contributes to both.
• Davind is trying to insert some references in the SAGE.
• Michelle had a good article which included references to FCOA funding.
• Michelle does get space in the Lexington Times and can include an FCOA article.
Another idea would be for FCOA to come to the upcoming lunches.
• FCOA will be having a table at the Famers Market.
Lexington Housing Authority Sue
• LHA needs a resident member.
• Fire alarm update—Greeley and Vynebrook are complete.
• Section 8 housing coordinator is being brought back in-house.
• Fiscal year ends reports are great, except MH&R program got hit with a lot of expenses
and funding was reduced.
• New federal program - 17 scattered properties are going into an LLC. Countryside will
then go into that LLC.
• State reimbursement is going up by 12%.The authority received funding for an alarm
system and medication cabinet. Units have been renovated and filled. Documents need to
be completed for fair housing and diversity, with 60% Asian occupancy. They are trying
to fill a resident member position and have approved Minner Bell.
Disability Commission -Bonnie
• At last meeting, the person in charge of equity for the school department came to speak.
Survey proved that kids with special needs or kids that had different skin color are being
disciplined at a higher rate. It has declined, and is being monitored to assure that there is
no discrimination involved.
Next meeting:
• November 6, 2024
Submitted by Julie Shapiro