Robert Tosi, Jr., Chair
Karen Nichols, Vice Chair
Shirley Chapski, Secretary
Regular Meeting of the Council on Aging
October 18, 2007
MINUTES
Place and Time of Meeting: Arlington Senior Center, 27 Maple St., Arlington, 7:30 p.m.
Members Present: Robert Tosi, Jr., Karen Nichols, Paul West, Ann MacGowan, William Carey and Shirley Chapski.
Members Absent: Harry McCabe, Mildred Hurd
Others Present: John Jope, COA Executive Director
Quorum Identification/Call to Order: Bob Tosi, Jr. presided and Shirley Chapski kept the minutes. A quorum of 6 was present.
Minutes of the June 21, 2007 Regular Meeting: Paul moved to approve the Minutes of the June 21, 2007 meeting, Ann seconded. All voted in favor. Motion carried.
Minutes of the August 20, 2007 Transportation Committee Meeting: Bill moved to approve the Minutes of the August 20, 2007 Transportation Committee Meeting, Ann seconded, five in favor, Paul abstained. Motion carried.
Minutes of the September 17, 2007 Transportation Committee Meeting: Bill moved to approve the Minutes of the September 17, 2007 Transportation Committee Meeting, Paul seconded, all in favor. Motion carried.
NEW BUSINESS:
COA Board Position of Vice Chair: Paul West nominated Karen Nichols to serve as Vice Chair until the next annual meeting; Shirley seconded the nomination. There being no other nominations, Bill moved that the nominations be closed; Paul seconded. The Secretary cast a ballot for the new Vice-Chair, Karen Nichols. All in favor. Motion carried.
REPORT OF THE CHAIR: Bob attended the recent MCOA conference. The new secretary of Elder Affairs, Michael Fester, seems supportive of senior issues. Bob, along with Bill Murphy from the COA, attended a workshop on transportation which will be reported on by either Bill Murphy or Bob at a later COA meeting.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT:
•Flu Clinics: Two flu clinics have been held — one here and the other at the Veterans Memorial Rink where over 300 shots were administered. Additional flu clinics at the senior center are planned for Fridays in November.•“Vial of Life” Program: The “Vial of Life” Program, sponsored by the Arl. Fire Dept., Board of Health and the COA conducted “Vial of Life giveaway” today on our premises. The packets that were distributed consist of a small vial (donated by CVS) with a magnet for the outside of the refrigerator. A form, which the client fills in, is placed in the vial. The form was adapted from a national form by Capt. Kelly of the Arlington Fire Dept. specifically for Arlington.
•Student Interns at the COA: Social worker intern, Elyse Sears, from Salem State is working under the direction of Laurie August and Divinity intern, Andrea Mudd, is in place. Also at the COA, are student nurses from the UMASS Nursing Program.
•Leahy Sponsored Exercise Programs: Tai Chi is well underway and openings are available in this class. Pilates began last week and was well received; we have names on a waiting list if we do a second session of Pilates. The Aquacise program is in force and there are tickets still available for program.
Bob questioned whether Leahy, in addition to sponsoring the exercise programs, would consider some grants to help fund transportation. John stated that the grant was to introduce seniors to the benefits of exercise and that is a condition of the grant. We are in the third year of a 5-year grant cycle. However, he did have a transportation cutout this year for our vans that are
bringing people to the exercise sites whether they are here or off-site and Leahy accepted this provision.
•Dial-a-Ride (DART): The RFP is still in the hands of the Town Purchasing Agent, Dom Lanzillotti, who says he should be able to get it out soon.
•LGBT Aging Project of Mass.: At John’s invitation, Lisa Krinsky, Director of the Mass. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) elder project. attended recent COA staff meetings in order to get the staff up and running on issues pertaining to LGBT seniors. The COA is holding a LGBT workshop on November 8th with the hope that we achieve an understanding of these lifestyles and acceptance in the senior center where everyone should be welcome.
•Housing Corporation of Arlington is renting out most of the space on the lower floor of the building. This was space formerly occupied by CECI. There is a conference room that can be reserved by anyone in the building or a private party can rent it for a fee.
OTHER REPORTS:
•COA Representative/Liaison to Minuteman Senior Services: No report.
•COA Representative/Liaison to the Seniors Association: No report.
•Arlington Seniors Association Representative to COA: Although Elisa Lopez, President of the ASA, was not present, Bob expressed his thanks to her for her faithful attendance at the COA meetings.
•Budget Committee: The regular October budget committee was not held. The next meeting is Tuesday, November 13, at 10:30 a.m.
•Joint COA/ASA Committee: Under Ann MacGowan’s leadership, the survey, which is to be mailed to a randomly selected list of town residents, is nearing completion. The next meeting of the committee is Monday, November 5th and the joint ASA/COA meeting and social will take place on November 8th at 6:30 p.m. at the senior center.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
•Transportation Program: A meeting was held on October 9th but a quorum was not present. John repeated what was discussed at that meeting concerning what he calls, “lost money,” an inconsistency he discovered in the computerized municipal accounts: when we gray bill electronically instead of money being received as a credit to that account the money is going to the expense line and reducing that figure by the amount of the transfer. He is working with the
Comptroller’s office on the problem. He discussed the Transportation Enterprise Fund projection figures that were distributed to the members. Although we are not as badly off as we originally thought, we still need to identify our transportation needs and how to address them.
Bob referred the members to John’s list of Transportation Program Recommendations. The document outlines Needs Identification and Evaluation of programs and Resolutions. John said the process is a lengthy one but must be undertaken to assure the survival of the senior transportation program.
•New COA Van: With regard to the Aug. 20, 2007 Minutes under New Business:
“The Capital Budget will include a request for a new van.” John suggested that the board put that request in their recommendations to the Dept. head because budgets are submitted to the Town Manager early December. Bob said we had already voted that $10,000 was to come out of the capital budget for a van but John repeated that we need to put it in writing along with any other requests we have and he will prepare a draft of the letter for our next regular meeting.
•Advertising on Vans: John would like to look into the costs of placing advertisements on the outside of the vans as a source of increasing revenue. Some members recalled that at a spring meeting it was not fully decided to commit to this course of action. Discussion followed and John will get more information on the subject for a future meeting.
•FINCOM Attendance at COA Board Meeting: It was agreed that Bob will invite FINCOM members, John Deyst and Margaret Franclemont, to a COA board meeting in the near future to discuss the issue of the ability to fund Transportation as an Enterprise Fund.
•Donation Envelopes: Donation envelopes have not been distributed as yet. Ann will draft a letter addressed to funeral directors. John said new stands need to be ordered.
NEW BUSINESS:
Time of Monthly Meetings: After discussion, it was decided to change the time of the regular monthly meetings from 7:30 to 7:00 p.m. on a trial basis.Walkathon: Bill talked about Lawrence Elder Affairs raising a large amount of money through a Walkathon. He will look into the possibility of a similar project for Arlington for next spring.
There being no further business to come before the meeting, Shirley moved to adjourn; Paul seconded; all in favor. Motion carried. Adjourned at 8:55 p.m.
Shirley Chapski
Secretary
Next Regular COA Meeting November 15, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.
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