HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-09-08-COA-minMINUTES
Council on Aging
September 8, 2005
Attending; Marian Cohen, Chairperson
Betty Borghesani
Bob Edwards
Leo McSweeney
Jane Trudeau
Thomas Griffiths, School Committee Liaison
Lauren MacNeil, Director of Social Services
Shirley Stolz, Capital Expenditures Liaison
Guests; Marilyn Stone and Shirley Buck
The Minutes of the August 18, 2005 meeting were accepted.
COA MEMORANDUM TO THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN (BOS)
Marian Cohen drafted a Memorandum to the BOS for their goal - setting meeting requesting that a study
committee and Rending for the design of a new Senior Center be included in their list of stated goals for ,
Fiscal Year 2006, Shirley Stolz noted that a member of the Capital Expenditures Committee could not serve
as a member of the study committee, but would be a liaison.
Tom Griffiths asked if requesting that still another study committee be appointed would further delay a
decision by the BOS, rather than expediting the process.
The COA voted to approve the Memorandum to be submitted to the BOS,
ISSUES RELATED TO THE MUZZEY PLAYING FIELDS AS A POTENTIAL SITE
We do not have a definitive answer as to whether or not the Recreation Committee (RC) is willing to
relinquish the Muzzey playing field, however Don Chisholm who was unable to attend our meeting has
agreed to discuss the issue with the RC. Shirley stated that the field contains 1,1 acres and is listed as
Town -owned land used for recreational purposes and there may not be any more formal designation than
this listing,
ADULT DAY FEES
The discussion of our policy of charging for missed days continued from the last meeting, Betty
Borghesani reported that Cooperative Elder Services which runs the majority of ADC centers in our area
does not charge for days not attended. Medicaid, Medicare and Minuteman Senior Services do not pay for
missed days for the two - thirds (2/3) of their clients who are subsidized, so it would be unfair to their
private - paying clients to charge for days missed, Jane Trudeau reported that Chelmsford and Westford do
not charge at the present time because they are not fully subscribed. Andover does not charge if there is
telephone notification of the absence, In addition, Andover gives one day a month when it will not charge
even if no prior notification, However, Andover does retain a two -week security deposit to cover if a client
does not pay for a last partial month.
Our current policy.of charging for missed days remains in effect,
NOMINATING COMMITTEE FOR FCOA
Leo McSweeney agreed to chair and Bob Edwards to serve on a Nominating Committee to appoint a
new Treasurer and Secretary to the FCOA, Dot Boggia will be asked to serve, as well,
DIRECTOR'S REPORT
Lauren reported that the COA is now fully staffed with four (4) full -time and one(1) part-time
employee, The positions are Director, Office Manager, Outreach Social Worker, Family and Youth
Counselor and a part -time Clerk. Lauren also reported that the Public Health nurse is doing a wonderful job
of servicing the Senior Health Monitor Program in- house, Thirty (30) people per month receive services,
We are no longer pre - filling medications, but do blood pressure screening, The staff is also very
enthusiastic about a MSS grant to bring health and wellness programs to the Senior Villages,
The newsletter will now be outsourced to a firm that will layout and print the newsletter, however
collating will still be handled in-house, The postage will be higher for mailing to 4,100 households, but
there is no charge for layout or printing, Advertisements will be sold to cover those costs.
The next COA Board Meeting is October 11 2005 at 3.30 p.m.
spectfully submitted,
J e A, Trudeau, Secretary