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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-10-18-COA-minMinutes Council on Aging October 18, 2005 Attending Marian Cohen, Chairperson Betty Borghesani Guest: Shirley Buck Bob Edwards Dan Fenn Don Graham Paul Lapointe Frieda Oliner Jane Trudeau Richard Pagett, Selectman Thomas Griffiths, School Committee Liaison Lauren MacNeil, Director of Social Services Shirley Stolz, Capital Expenditures Liaison The minutes of the September 8, 2005 Meeting were accepted. Resi nation Marian reported with regret that Don Chisholm has resigned from the COA for health reasons. Marian noted how helpful his knowledge of Town affairs had been to her when she became Chairman of the COA. All members expressed appreciation of his work for the COA. We shall miss his participation. Senior Center Action Plan Committee Marion reported that the Selectmen have appointed a committee to recommend a single site, budget and timeline for construction of a new Senior Center. The appointees are: Maria Costantinides, Mary Lou Touart, Marilyn Campbell, Marian Cohen, Paul Lepointe, John Rossi, and Laura Kole, Liaisons appointed to the committee are: Shirley Stolz for capital expenditures and Tom Griffiths for School Committee, The Recreation Committee, Appropriations Committee, Conservation Committee, and the Planning Board will be asked to appoint liaison representatives as well. Richard Pagett inquired as to the status of the Worthen Road site. He reported that he had received a couple of phone calls regarding that location for the Senior Center. Marian responded that it was "off the table" because of parking, wetland issues, and strong neighborhood opposition. Richard Pagett thought that the starting point for the new committee should be the report of the 2000 Siting Committee, Paul Lapointe stated and Richard Pagett concurred, that the COA should update our site criteria. There is a need to recalibrate our program needs because they dictate our space needs which in turn controls the acreage required for a new Center. FCOA Nominating Committee Bob Edwards reported that Julie Miller has agreed to be Corresponding Secretary, Larry Fiore and Isabella Roskowski have both expressed some interest in the Treasurer's position. Review of COA Presentation to Ca itp al Expenditures Committee Meeting • Paul Lapointe and Marian Cohen made a presentation asking for 30,000 square feet for an upper limit of size with an estimate at $240 /square foot and a gross budget of about $ 8 million with design fee of about $1 million. • CEC raised the question of the operating costs of a new Senior Center (estimated $180,0004300,00 for utilities, cleaning, etc) in addition to staffing costs for programs. CEC is interested in incorporating sustainable /green building features to reduce costs. • Also discussed was the need to solve the problem of `floods' in the lower level of Muzzey location of the current Senior Center. • The goal is to have a new Senior Center article ready for the Spring 2006 Town Meeting. COA Goals for the Senior Center and Adult Day Program Paul Lapointe raised a question about the need for the COA to develop a clear consensus on goals for Senior Center and Adult Day Care site, before the second meeting of the Senior Center Action Plan Committee. The sites available would be reviewed at the first meeting. We need to justify and sell our plan to the Committee. Many different questions and scenarios have been suggested and need to be resolved, such as; Combining the Senior Center with other community needs — literature suggests that a Senior Center can combine with teen or adult -day programs, but that it is very difficult. It is better to have programming that brings generations together, but that have separate spaces. Visitor and Senior Center member, Shirley Buck, expressed the opinion of some seniors that there is strong desire for weekend and evening programs and access to Lexington Center - that is, when seniors are lonely. She also doesn't believe mixing seniors can be successful with other age groups (e.g., teenagers) in the same space at the same time. If the ADC and Senior Center were in the same building, they would need separate entrances and space. Others present at meeting agreed with these observations. Adult D Care — can we add onto Mill Street? What are our lease restrictions and longevity? Should we be open to incorporating it into the Muzzey location and, if so, where would it be located? Space needs — What is the ideal size for a combined center versus two (2) stand- alone centers? What are the parking needs for the two scenarios? Office space for staff — Lauren believes staffing and communication should be housed in the Senior Center. Can this be done in the lower level of the present Senior Center? Paul will draft a program worksheet referencing these issues and the results of the recent survey for discussion at the next COA meeting. Director's Report Lauren reports we are three to five slots below maximum for enrollment in ADC and we are not enforcing payment for missed days. Senior Health Monitor Program continues to be very successful. LEF Trivia Bee is November 17 Anyone interested in participating should contact Lauren. Next meeting of COA Thursday, November 10 th . R pectfull sub itted, J e A. Trudeau, Secretary with assistance of Betty Borghesani)