HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-12-13-COA-minMinutes
Council on Aging
December 13, 2005
Attending Marian Cohen, Chairperson
Betty Borghesani
Guest: Shirley Buck
Bob Edwards
Dan Fenn
Don Graham
Paul Lapointe
Leo McSweeney
Frieda Oliner
Guest: Nick Santosuosso
Guest: Marilyn Stone
Jane Trudeau
Tom Griffiths, School Committee
Richard Pagett, Selectman
Lauren MacNeil, Director of Social Services
The minutes of the November 10, 2005 meeting were accepted.
Publicity for Senior Center
Marilyn Stone and Shirley Buck have interviewed eight (8) volunteers at the Center.
They propose to publish a biography every two (2) weeks in the Lexington Minuteman
and Colonial Times newspapers, It was also suggested that Laurie Atwater of the
Colonial Times be contacted about doing a story on the Senior Center, Both suggestions
were enthusiastically endorsed by the COA,
Senior Center Action Plan Committee
Marian Cohen reported that the Committee has eliminated four (4) sites from
consideration: Forest Street; Worthen Road; Lowell Street; and Adams School, Still
under consideration are: Munroe School; Muzzey Field; Harrington School; and the
Meriam Street Parking Lot. Subcommittes have been appointed to do in -depth studies of
each site, The Committee is also considering purchasing a site,
Each site has different issues and problems that include potential neighborhood
opposition and important current usage (Meriam Street Parking and Muzzey Field);
parking problems (Munroe School); long delay to implement (Harrington School).
Richard Pagett noted that the Meriam Street Parking Lot has an excellent center location,
Shirley Buck liked the idea that all Lexpress buses arrive and depart from adjacent Depot
Square,
Dan Fenn said that the current use of Muzzey Field as, a supplemental soccer field should
not be a deal breaker, Paul Lapointe affirmed that Norman Cohen believes a two - thirds
(2 /3rds) vote of Town Meeting and approval of the State Legislature would be required to
change the use from recreational. Richard Pagett noted the problem of limited parking on
nights and weekends at our current site would also impact the available parking places
during those times at Muzzey Field. There would only be 35 -40 spaces at night and on
weekends at the Muzzey Field site, He wondered if the Condo Association would
negotiate a change in the parking policy if the proper incentive were offered.
Richard Pagett suggested that a Program Committee be formed to suggest alternate sites
to expand our programming before we have a new. Senior Center,
FCOA
Becky Clarice has been doing the Treasurer's job on a temporary basis, but a permanent
Treasurer is still needed. It was suggested we e -mail the job description to the TMMA
list.
Adult Day Care
The current plan is to expand the program from three (3) to four (4) days or five(5) days
starting on July 1, 2006, While the Fiscal year 2007 budget includes Thirty Thousand
($30,000.00) Dollars for ADC, the goal is to eliminate the need for a Town subsidy, The
COA Adult Day Care subcommittee will research the issue of appropriate fees given that
an expanded program will require more staff. Minuteman Tech has increased the rent
One Thousand One Hundred ($1,100.00) Dollars per year for 2006 -2007 and another One
Thousand One Hundred ($1,100.00) Dollars for 2007 -2008.
New COA Members -
The COA voted unanimously to recommend to the Town Manager the appointment of
Nick Santosuosso and Shirley Buck to the COA.
Volunteer Coordinator
The FCOA has agreed to give the COA Twenty Seven Thousand ($27,000,00) Dollars
over the next eighteen (18) months to hire an 18 -hour per week Volunteer Coordinator.
The new Coordinator will be responsible for scheduling and organizing the Friendly
Visitor Program, the .Tax Work -Off Program, and other volunteer positions.
The next COA meeting will be on January 12, 2006 at 3:30 p.m.
Successive meetings will alternate between Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 p.m, to
5 :30 p,m, as follows: February 14, 2006, March 9, 2006, April 11, 2006, May 11, 2006,
and June 13,2006.
Repectfully sub itted,
- QXJ
e A Trudeau, Secretary