HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-03-18-COA-min (Age Friendly Subcommittee)
Age Friendly Meeting
Lexington Council on Aging
Date: March 18, 2026
Location: Online
Time: 3 PM
COA: Julie-Ann Shapiro (co-chair), John Zhao (co-chair), Ellen Cameron (vice chair),
Bonnie Teitleman-Levin, Sudhir Jain, Sandra Hackman
Staff: Senior services director Michelle Kelleher; social services director Dana
Bickelman; intern Fran Servello
Julie called the meeting to order at 3.02 PM and took attendance.
Bonnie moved the minutes from the January Age Friendly meeting, and Ellen seconded.
The roll-call vote was unanimous.
New Business
Michelle said that Senior Services would host a meet and greet at the Community Center
on June 3, before the COA board meeting, to enable COA board members to interact with a
broader cross section of the public. She is inviting participants in Lexington at Home,
residents from Waterstone Senior Living, and others.
John reported that former Lexington transportation manager Susan Barrett will volunteer
for Senior Services. The Town will post her former job soon.
John noted that Vision for Lexington is asking Annual Town Meeting to approve $75,000 for a
townwide survey to facilitate long-term planning. John is hoping that the survey will include
questions relevant to senior needs. He will look at previous surveys and bring suggested
questions to the full COA.
Transportation
Michelle reported that Burlington eliminated its town bus service in favor of subsidies for
Uber and Lyft. Dana mentioned that Belmont also relies on on-demand service.
John proposed interviewing sta? in nearby towns with such service to understand their
approach. Ellen suggested that each COA member research one such community. Julie
noted the need to define “on demand” as needs that FISH cannot fulfill on short notice
rather than emergency situations.
Parking Pass Program
John cited the need to make passes permanent to make the program more e?icient and
sustainable, and suggested updating earlier reports to include new figures on participation.
Julie suggested that any new report include anecdotes from participants, perhaps gleaned
during upcoming meet and greets. Michelle may already have such feedback. An email to
participants can ask that they return the sticker if they move out of Lexington.
Julie will work on a first draft of a letter to the Select Board on the program that asks to
make the stickers permanent. Michelle will ask for a letter of support from the Police
Department.
Next Meeting
The group agreed to meet again on April 29 at 3 PM.
John moved to adjourn the meeting, and Ellen seconded. The meeting ended at 3:58 on a
unanimous roll call vote.