HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-03-06-COA-min Town of Lexington Council on Aging Board Meeting
Wednesday March 6, 2019
2:40-3:50
Lexington Community Center
Present: Bonnie Teitleman, Rich McDonough, Ellen Cameron, Betty Borghesani,Julie Ann
Shapiro, Sudhir Jain,Jyotsna Kakullavarapu
Staff: Christine Dean, Hemali Shah, Melissa Interess
Public Comments: George Burnell suggested a project to provide all seniors with optical alarm
sensors to check on well being. COA enthusiastic but has questions re: cost, monitoring, etc.
Approval of February minutes.
New Business
Victoria Buckley, chair of the Commission on Disability, described the Commission's mission,
values, activities. Topics: disparity on school suspensions for disabled or minority kids,
streetscape, curb cuts, sidewalks, restaurant and civic buildings. COD is now reviewing plans for
accessibility before construction begins; conservation areas.
• Question: should Lexington have a list or registry of disabled persons?
• COD will be visiting and publicizing other community groups.
Congratulations to Melissa Interess for being promoted into Director of Human Services role
Staff Reports
Melissa Interess, Director of Human Services
• Interviewing for outreach coordinator, lots of applicants
• 2 grants: Dana Home, CHNA 3 yr grant proposal $60,000
• Recruiting for assistant director position
Hemali Shah Senior Services Coordinator
• Age Friendly community forums scheduled for 3/12 and 3/25 (before town meeting)
with questions on transportation, housing, new social programs
• Transportation workshop GoGo Grandparent new concierge service for Uber/Lyftfor
those using telephone, not smartphone. $3-4 add-on to cost of Uber/Lyft ride
• March trip canceled, low enrollment. April trip to Newport good enrollment
Christine Dean Community Center Director
• Last center track project meeting
• Program Advisory meeting 3/14 7PM
• Dana Home grant Forever Fit
• Garden Club funding for garden beds
• Spring registration begins April 1
Liaison Reports
Transportation Committee-Sudhir Jain
• Committee looking into generating income from Lexpress advertising
FCOA- Ellen and Rich-OWLL registrations going well
Human Services Committee- Betty Borghesani—no quorum; did not meet
Recreation Committee-Julie Ann Shapiro, Ellen Cameron-discussion of turf
Vision 20/20 Committee-Jyotsna Kakullavarapu
Mental Health and Wellness Task Force-Jyotsna attended legislative breakfast at Minuteman with
panel on mental health discussion for aging adults
Housing Partnership- Rich Mcdonough- Housing choice initiative presentation on housing shortages in
metro Boston. If a town builds 500+ new units, earns 4 stars. Goal to produce 135,000 new units in MA.
Lexington has 3.7%of new units
Meeting adjourned 3:50 PM
Respectfully submitted,
Bonnie Teitleman