ARLINGTON COUNCIL ON AGING
Richard Murray, Chair
Mary Dodge, Vice-Chair
Shirley Chapski, Secretary
Regular Meeting of the Council on Aging
December 13, 2001
MINUTES
Members Present: Mary Dodge, Mildred Hurd, Hannah Simon, Harry McCabe,
Dottie Nicholas and Shirley Chapski
Members Absent: Richard Murray, Phil Mercandetti, and Robert Bowes
Others Present: John Jope, COA Executive Director, Lynne McCluskey, COA
Transportation, Paul Matos, Stan Nowak, Diane Meadow and Jean Hopkins.
Quorum Identification/Call to Order: Mary Dodge, Vice Chair called the
meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. A quorum of 6 was present.
Minutes of the November 15, 2001 Meeting: Harry moved to receive the minutes
of the November 15, 2001 meeting, Mildred seconded. Mildred requested that
the minutes be amended as follows: Page 2: Paragraph 10, insert COA
Representative to beforeMinuteman Senior Services , and insert Mildred
before the word discussed and in the next paragraph COA Representative to
ASA, add at the end of the paragraph, As COA representative to Minuteman
Senior Services she presented the GLBT Report.
It was MSV to accept the minutes as amended.
Public Forum: Paul Matos and Stan Nowak of Silver Lake Communications spoke
about a voice-activated telephone communications service for seniors who are
living in their own homes. Messrs. Matos and Nowak would like to convene
some focus groups with the COA to get feedback on their product. Those who
participate would have to sign confidentiality agreements. Harry said our
policy is that we can t act on it right away and cannot endorse them, nor can
they say we have endorsed them, but if they understand those limitations, we
could help them. Hannah moved that this item be put on the agenda for the
January meeting, Dottie seconded. Mr. Matos and Mr. Nowak departed the
meeting.
REPORTS
ASA Representative to the COA: Gloria von Hyeburg was not present.
Executive Director s Report:
° John Jope said he has resigned as Chair (and member) of the MCOA Education
and Membership Committee as a replacement has been found. The MCOA s
statewide Membership Meeting is scheduled for 2/15/02 and he would encourage
the board members to attend.
°The flu clinics held at the Senior Ctr. and Town Hall were very successful
and John commended the student nurses, who use the COA as a field site, for
their help and said that in addition to the on-site clinics, Terri Susi had
spent 2 days on the road giving flu shots to homebound elders. Mary praised
the volunteers for their help.
°Governor s conference on Aging will be held at the Holiday Inn at Boxborough
on Thursday May 23.
° Delivery of Thanksgiving dinners (84) prepared at Symmes cafeteria to
shut-in seniors. COA volunteers and some from the Arlington Retired Men s
Club (who funded this event) did a great job.
°Sanborn Foundation reviewing our request for additional funding.
°Dial-a-Ride program: Cost will increase 25¢ per ride (to be paid by the
client) as of January 1st. The total increase not firm yet as the bids have
not come in but expect an increase of 50¢ - $1 per ride. We would absorb the
bulk of the increase.
° The Annual Report will be due mid-January. Also, John was notified by Alan
McClennen that the federal government did an on-site visit for CDBG and
everyone who receives these grants will have to make quarterly reports on
each block grant.
Finance Committee:
Hannah gave an informal report; they did not have a quorum at the last
Finance Cte. meeting at which she and Bob Bowes were present. The biggest
issue is the Lifeline Subsidy Fund which is a nonreplenishing fund and they
talked of ways to acquire more funding . Further they are hoping to get
another $20K for the Sanborn fund. John added that he has not received a
sheet on the Sevoyan Fund but the members present said we could wait until
the Jan. meeting.
Sevoyan Bequest Committee:
Harry reported on the December 11 meeting of the Sevoyan Bequest Committee at
which a quorum was not present. He said no votes and no binding decisions
were made. At that meeting he distributed documents relating to the Sevoyan
Bequest to the newer members of the committee and it was agreed to meet on
the 2nd Tuesday of the month. Harry next reported that a vigorous discussion
had been held on the funds available for disbursement after all conditions
were met and further discussion took place concerning a dental reimbursement
program (initially proposed by John Jope 6/22/00) for the Town s elderly. It
was agreed that the committee would like to hear from the COA staff on their
progress with the town s dentists and the Board of Health and how they would
envision the program working, specifically what income guidelines would they
recommend. John will review the proposal with the staff and will submit his
findings to the committee and he will also contact Marie Walsh of the Board
of Health. The next meeting of the Sevoyan Bequest Committee is Jan 8.
Transportation Study Group:
Dottie reported that the proposals went out they have had two responses (SCM
and Arlex). Those involved have reviewed and ranked them (however, without
the pricing part of the proposal) and have returned it to the Town Purchasing
Department. Issues of liability insurance and fare grouping were also
discussed.
Harry moved that we return to the order of the day.
Long-Range Planning Committee: Hannah reported that a meeting had been held
on December 4 and had a quorum. The participants discussed setting strategic
goals for long range planning but felt before that could happen we should set
goals for a year. To that end, John was asked to give dollar amounts for
programs and he has very kindly offered to do a presentation to give a basic
understanding of the programs with service and dollar figures. The next
meeting is January 8 at 1:00 pm.
Assisted Living/Housing Options Task Force: Harry commented that the task
force had met recently but he was not notified, nor was Hannah. John will
follow up on this with Alex Moschella.
COA Representative to Minuteman Senior Services: Mildred said she has the
Minuteman Home Care Nutrition Report will give it to John for copying. It
will be distributed at the next meeting.
COA Representative to ASA: Mildred did not attend the December board
meeting, but reminded the members that the ASA Christmas Party will be held
on Dec. 15. Discussion followed on the number of people the function room
can hold in keeping with the fire laws. John will check these restrictions
again with the Fire Department.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
° Senior Center sign: John said he talked with Joe at the DPW Paint Shop and
the sign will be finished shortly and hopefully installed before the next COA
meeting.
° RUOK Program: John met with Lt. John Serson, Community Services, who is
interested in the program, and they will both pursue it. It is police-run
program and the software is $3500.
° Senior Center TV: John has had two local contractors in to give him
estimates of the cost of building a suitable cabinet to house the TV and is
waiting for the estimates. The $2500 check from the Cambridge Savings Bank
has been received.
NEW BUSINESS
° John talked about a fax he received from Linda Roberts of the Nantucket COA
wherein she stated that Nantucket has a hiring freeze and that she is working
alone and was seeking advice on paid and volunteer positions. John said we
are fortunate at this point in time to have the funding to do what we do.
CORRESPONDENCE
° Letter from David Stevens, MCOA
° Letter from Michael Bellotti, Sheriff
° Minutes received from Minuteman Sr. Svcs.
There being no further business to come before the meeting, it was voted
to adjourn.
Adjourned at 9:12 p.m.
Shirley Chapski,
Council Secretary
Date of next Meeting, January 24, 2002 at 7:30 p.m.
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