HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-12-06-COA-min Town of Lexington Council on Aging Board Meeting
Wednesday, December 6, 2017
2:30pm to 4:01pm
Lexington Community Center, Dining Room
Present: Betty Borghesani (Co-chair),Julie Ann Shapiro (Co-chair), Ellen Cameron (Vice-chair),
Nancy Adler, Camille Goodwin, Sophia Ho, Gerry Howell, Rich McDonough, Bonnie Teitleman.
Staff: Christine Dean (Community Center), Charlotte Rodgers (Human Services), Melissa Interess (Senior
Services), Hemali Shah (Senior Services)
Distribution of Materials:Julie Ann Shapiro opened the meeting with a reminder about Open Meeting Law G. L.
c.30A,Sec. 22 that materials for distribution to Board members should be left on the table before the meeting
so that Board members may look at the materials after the meeting.
Public Comments: Gerry Falick, liaison to Minuteman Senior Services (MMSS), described:
• New Disabilities Options Counseling, a drop-in service where a counselor will be at the Community
Center to give elders and people w/disabilities information about the availability of long-term care and
resources to assist them in making decisions about their care. Hours to be determined.
• New 6 week caregiving group at MMSS for caregivers of people w/dementias. It will offer financial aid
to allow people to attend. It will also offer technology support.
• SHINE counselors have been busy during open enrollment. Gerry estimated that SHINE has saved MMSS
residents$6,000,000 by assisting people in making the best choice of insurance for their particular
needs.
• Ombudsman program is partially funded mandated program where trained people visit nursing homes
to investigate and resolve complaints
Review of November Meeting Minutes:The November minutes were approved.
Sophia Ho reported on MILK celebration scheduled for January 15, 2018 1-313M in the auditorium at Brookhaven.
Participants are asked to bring toiletry items which will be distributed to Veterans in Bedford housing. Gerry
Howell suggested that Gerry Falick be included as monthly item on agenda.
Nancy Adler spoke of Marion Kilson, whose term of service at Board member is over. She suggested attending
the OWLL tea on January 18 to acknowledge her many contributions.
Betty and Julie Ann noted that Bonnie Teitleman will be liaison to Disabilities Commission and Camille Goodwin
has been appointed to the Comprehensive Planning Advisory Committee.
Staff Reports:
Melissa Interess reported:
• Working Group on expanding the lunch program has met. The current meals on wheels vendor,
Bateman, provides meals to 4 consortiums from a commercial kitchen owned by the State in Lancaster.
State has decided to close that facility so kitchen will move to a location in Southboro. Meals On Wheels
is a state and federally funded program.This impacts Minuteman Senior Services' ability to provide any
additional funding for community dining expansion and they have reported they will not fund anything
additional for the near future.
o Exploratory meeting w/Brookhaven was requested by the diners to see if another lunch day
might be added. Melissa will look into this.
• There are 3 special lunches in January and February scheduled
• Redesign of the Senior Services Newsletter is complete. Seniors have been asked to vote on new name.
• Staff will offer winter outreach with home visits for residents.
Hemali Shah reported:
• Good feedback on programs.
• Starting a second caregiver's group for non-dementia-related people co-facilitated by a MMSS staff
person.
Charlotte Rodgers
• Presented budget 2018-19 to the Town Manager Carl Valente and the Selectmen with requests to fund
the Age-Friendly initiative and increase nursing hours from 15 to 20 hours/week. This would provide
more nursing service to homebound, Parkinson's patients, training on AED, CPR, and collaboration with
crisis team.
• Special meeting scheduled 12/7 to address behavioral health in Lexington, particularly in youth. The
question that is the focus is what is the role of municipal government in providing mental health
services?
Christine Dean
• New bench donated in front of Community Center
• Enrollments for winter programs are mostly full, couple of new instructors
Liaison Reports:
Community Center Program Advisory Committee Nancy Adler noted the need for a Friends of the Community
Center organization to raise funds for the CC.
Transportation Committee—Nancy Adler thanked Charlotte Rodgers for her commitment to transportation.
FCOA—
• Sophia has been a board member for both COA and FCOA. She has decided to resign as board member
from FCOA but she will continue as liaison from COA.
• Janice from FCOA Bright Ideas reports FCOA is accepting Bright Ideas applications again. They will have
launch party for the new Senior Creative Publication called "Lexington LifeTimes" on January 13 with
wine and appetizers to introduce contributors and celebrate the first edition.
Human Services Committee—Betty Borghesani reported on stress, suicidal ideation, behavioral health issues,
questions re: town responsibility for mental health services.
Lexington Housing Authority—
• Julie Ann, Rich and Betty spoke of need for more housing for seniors, update on Belmont Country Club.
Discussed Depot Square Feasibility Study from last month. COA consensus after November meeting was
that there is support for a feasibility study to assess the option of building affordable housing in the
Square; an email was sent to Gerry Paul.
• Rich will attend a meeting next week on Depot Square, senior housing.
• Nancy reminded people that any discussion of 55+ housing elicits fears that school age children will
increase. She mentioned that town rentals house many more children than 55+settings.
Comprehensive Planning Committee-Camille Goodwin appointed, along with 12 others. First meeting end of
January.
New Business/Announcements
• Board Vacancy Update:There will be two vacancies on the Board in January, as Marion Kilson is
resigning from the Board. The Town Manager is interested in diversifying the COA Board.
• Board Meet &Greet with Michelle Ciccolo: scheduled for March 7 before the COA meeting.
• Holiday lunch is scheduled for December 19 with COA Board members; Melissa will send out a reminder.
Meeting Adjourned 4:01.
Respectfully submitted,
Bonnie Teitleman
COA Board Member