HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-01-08-COA-min Town of Lexington Council on Aging Board Meeting
January20 8,2020
2:30-4:OOPM
Lexington Community Center
Present: Bonnie Teitleman, Ellen Cameron, Betty Borghesani,Julie-Ann Shapiro (by phone),John Zhao,
Sudhir Jain, Rich McDonough, Gerry Howell, Sandra Shaw,Jyotsna Kakullavarapu
Staff: Michelle Kelleher, Hemali Shah, Melissa Interess
Public Comments: None
Approval of December minutes
Staff Reports:
Michelle Kelleher
• All CC staff completed training to become Dementia Friends
• Chinese New Year 1/14 12-IPM;John and Betty volunteered
• Ayurveda workshop 1/21; sign up required
Hemali Shah-Assistant Director
• Pilot caregiver respite program has not been utilized yet
Melissa I nteress-Di rector
• Community Center partners annual meeting 2/26 7PM at Comm Center
o Includes Recreation, Human Services,Youth and Family, library
o Goal of partners meeting:to review where we've been,where we are going and discuss
collaborations
Sharon Gunda, Outreach Coordinator
• Family Event MLK at Brookhaven 1/20 1:30-3:30 with music, drink,food Lexington.org/mlk
o Recruiting student volunteers to help seniors for an hour
o Conversations on race
o Speaker from BU
• Sandra suggested posting upcoming events with dates on COA Agenda
Age-Friendly Discussion- board members reviewed report and voted for their priorities to be presented,
along with the report, to the Board of Selectmen
Housing and Affordability 6 votes
Transportation 2 votes
Social Participation 3 votes
Respect and Social Inclusion 1 vote
Civic Participation and Employment
Communication and Information 2 votes
Community Support and Health Services 1 vote
Outdoor Space and Buildings
• Consensus on housing as major need but COA Board might have more impact in working on
enhancing social needs of seniors, specifically communication, mental health, reduced isolation
• Committee will continue monthly meeting to prepare report for Board of Selectmen; Betty will
stay on study group
New Business
3 year term for COA Board up for 6 people: Betty, Ellen, Gerry, Rich, Camille, Bonnie
• They will get letter and might sign up again, complete code of ethics training
• May need Nominating Committee
Liason Reports
Minuteman Senior Services Diana Bishop no update
FCOA-Sudhir Jain notes$10,000 received in donations; Help Around Town was given a small Bright Ideas
Grant money to make their services more accessible to seniors
Commission on Disability-Bonnie Teitleman- Brookhaven variance for new building; user accessibility of
town websites; elimination of plastic straws in businesses over 10,000 sq ft
Human Services Committee-Betty Borghesani-still working on goals
Recreation Committee Julie Ann Shapiro-no update
Housing Authority-Rich McDonough- meeting 1/8 713M re: residential development at 840 Emerson
Gardens, some controversy re: condos vs single family homes
Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee- Rich McDonough has been invited to apply
Mental Health Task Force-Ellen Cameron,Jyotsna Kakullavarapu- plan focus groups to do needs
assessment;Jyotsna will get names of seniors living alone
Vision 20/20 Jyotsna no update
Next meeting of COA : February 5, 2020 2:30 PM Community Center