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Home My WebLink About2019-06-05-COA-min Town of Lexington Council on Aging Board Meeting Wednesday June 5, 2019 2:30-3:30 Lexington Community Center Present: Bonnie Teitleman, Julie Ann Shapiro, Betty Borghesani, Sandra Shaw, Camille Goodwin, Gerry Howell, Jyotsna Kakullavarapu, Sudhir Jain Staff: Hemali Shah, Christine Dean, Suzie Barry Public Comments: None Approval of May minutes with one correction New Business Julie introduced Suzie Barry as the new Selectboard liaison to the COA Hemali Shah introduced new staff members: Sharon Gunda, LCSW- new HS Outreach Coordinator who will work with families, adults and seniors to provide clinical assistance and community outreach Michelle Kelleher, who has been doing transportation, is new Senior Services Program Coordinator Sean Dugan is the first Public Information Officer for Lexington. His role is to strengthen and find new ways to communicate between town and citizens. Social media, email blasts, newspapers, Colonial Times, etc. Suggestions from board: have regular column in Colonial Times, post public announcements in senior living complexes, library; attend public meetings. He welcomes hearing ideas sdugan@lexingtonma.gov. Staff Reports Hemali Shah Assistant Director  UMass Boston has 986 surveys returned out of 3,500 sent; 865 paper, 121 online; UMass will be analyzing the data over summer. They will return in the fall to host two more focus groups based on survey results  Slower programming for summer from Human Services Department For Christine Dean Community Center  Lexington Children’s Place about 50% complete; opening 9/20; road paved and open  Bright Ideas Garden Club beds and rain barrel completed  Walk with Ease Fitness Forever program successful and completed with enthusiasm  Pool and Res open for swimming  Center Track project in progress  Summer programs at Community Center and town going on  New Sun Safety initiative-measures UV levels and provides automatic sun screen dispenser  Registration for Fall programs opens 8/19 Liaison Reports Minuteman Senior Services- Gary Fallick- Ellen Chen named as the new Secretary of Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs, a Lexington resident; budget for MMSS has gone from $10 million to $28 million in 10 years FCOA-Janice -OWLL classes confirmed for fall and committee is now working on spring 2020; distributed FCOA notepads; want to build path to garden, plaque to acknowledge benefactors; looking for new board members; soliciting new proposals for Bright Ideas grant Disability Commission-Bonnie Teitleman, presentation by Melissa Battite, along w/therapeutic recreation specialist re: inclusion of all residents in recreational programs Lexington Housing Authority-Camille Goodwin-1 eviction is underway; budget was approved Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee-Camille Goodwin-Discovery Day successful; new head of Facilities delivered excellent presentation on differences between DPW and Public facilities; recruitment for Panning Director underway Mental Health and wellness TF_Jyotsna- attended regional training for COA Board members in Concord; Found that many COA’s struggle to recruit board members. Lexington Gone Purple Saturday, Sunday June 8 & 9 weekend activities focused on Alzheimer’s Meeting adjourned 3:30 PM. No meeting in July; next COA meeting August 7, 2019 2:30PM Community Center Respectfully submitted, Bonnie Teitleman