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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-05-16-COA-minCOUNCIL ON AGING Meeting, Tuesday, May 16, 2006 Marian Cohen, Chairperson Attending were: Shirley Buck Don Graham Bob Edwards Dan Fenn Leo McSweeney Lauren McSweeney, Executive Director Tom Griffiths, School Committee Three members of Senior Advocates Minutes of Previous Meetings Minutes of the March 9 and April 11 meetings of the COA were submitted and approved. Lifelong Learners Program Marian Cohen reported on conversations with Nancy Bayer regarding the Lifelong Learner Program. We are to inform Lauren of any ideas we have regarding what seniors would like to hear in these programs in the future, starting in September 2006. Typical subjects might include History, Jazz, Txavelogs, etc. We do not want to hear lectures from someone selling a product or service. Speakers could be faculty members of our acquaintance, or other seniors, for example. Lauren may be able to fund such talks from her Programs budget. The cost would be about $200. per lecture. Nancy Bayer would take care of arranging the talks and paying the speakers. FCOA Booth at Town Day Lauren discussed the plan to have an FCOA booth at the Town Day celebration. They will be selling tickets to the June 16 music program, being presented by FCOA at the National Heritage Museum as a fund raiser for FCOA. There was some talk of whether we should have COA petitions for a new Senior Center available to hand out at the booth. Lauren felt this was not appropriate. Shirley wants to have the Senior Advocates (LEXSA) prepare a handout stating the urgent need for such a Center, and Lauren believed this would be OK, if there is some coordination with our group. Marian agreed to E -mail the Advocates a copy of her recent comments to the Selectmen regarding Article 36 as a starting point for the preparation. Leo McSweeney suggested the title of "Letter of Support" for the document. Senior Advocates Report Shirley Buck stated that the Bylaws for the group are nearly complete. The organization is urging members to make telephone calls to Town Meeting members expressing the importance of getting a new question was raised are few sources of FCOA could provide group's activities. The ide support, goals resented, They would like to set up a website where meetings could be posted, g p positions taken on various matterscs runs between 22 and 40 generally, l ly, wi h be willing to help do this. Attenda nce at mee png 30 present at the last gathering. A suggestion was made that the name "Senior Center" be replaced by "Quality of Life Center ", as being more appealing. School Committee Report Tom Griffiths said that the Capital and Buildings Committee needs projections for 8 to 10 years in the future. On a scale of 1 to 4, with 4 being the worst and requiring rebuilding, our schools are all rated 3 by the State. Estabrook and Hastings demand work most urgently. The old Harrington is going to be needed for "swing space' during reconstruction of other schools. On the subject of the School Administration offices sharing the White House with Senior Center, they do not officially object to this, but feel there would be significant parking and space problems. They do not think it is a practical reality. The White House is considered a "Historic Building ", and thus some major exposed portions of it must be preserved in any reconstruction. It was suggested that John Ruffing's proposed design for a building to share the property be shown to the School Committee. Program to Record Early Lexington Memories Bob Edwards reported that a phone conversation with Shelby Kashket of LEXMEDIA indicated Shelby is very interested in pursuing this idea. Mary Gillespie's recommended plan to video tape interviews with Lexington residents, telling of their recollections about the earlier days of Lexington, fits in very well with an existing LEXMEDIA plan to do some video taping of activities at the Senior Center. A meeting will be set up with key people to discuss this further. Dan Fenn says some other groups have done or proposed similar things (Lexfest, National Heritage Museum, Lisa Neal, etc.), and since he is aware of these other options, he was added the to sub - committee to study the matter. Other Marian handed out copies of the COA Bylaws, and also the Town Specifications for COA, listing the number of members, terms of appointment and description of activities. Dan Fenn reminded us that there will be an annual meeting of The Cary Memorial Library Foundation (fund raising arm of the Library) at Cary Library from 7 to 9 PM on June 13. There will be refreshments and music, followed by talks by the Library Director and the Foundation President. The public is welcome, though seating is limited. Reservations are suggested. (By the time of this publication details have appeared on page 39 of the June 8, 2006 issue of the Lexington Minuteman). Next Meeting The next COA meeting will be on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 at 3;30 PM. Respectfully submitted, Robert E. Edwards, Acting Secretary