2009-11-10 Council On Aging Minutes

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Council on Aging Board Meeting Monday, November 10, 2009 Reading Senior Center Game Room Present : Stacey Bertocchi, SallyHoyt, Steve Oston, Marguerite Bosnian, Erica Deane, George Lonergan, Carol Oniskey, Carole Scrima, Dawn Folopoulos (Staff). Excused Absence: Margaret Havey, Gina Nelson Call to Order: 6:35 PM. Minutes: A pproved for October 19, 2009. Administrator’s Report: The report was not available for this meeting and will be sent to members in the mail. Financial Report: Approved.  The status of the former COV position within the town budget was reviewed. The money is still in the budget, but the intent is not to spend it this FY. Old Business:  There is no new information on the Senior Discount Directory. Volunteers should be scheduled to work on it prior to November 30.  Dawn will be leaving the MVES Board, so there will be both a two-year and a three-year position available for Reading residents to fill. MVES Board members must also support one or more MVES committees; a list of those committees and their current members was given. Carol Oniskey expressed an interest in being a MVES Board candidate.  The Administrator shared the history of the Burbank Trust Fund Account Activity from FY01 to FY09. The Fund balance relative to the $250,000 preservation level was discussed as was the ratio of earnings to disbursements year by year. New Business:  The Rotary Club will assume responsibility for coordinating the Adopt-a-Family Program that distributes holiday food baskets and gifts for families in need.  The scope of the Property Tax Work-off Program has increased from 21 participants to 30. Wages were increased from $7.50 per hour to $8.00 per hour. The yearly maximum abatement was raised from $750 to $1,000. Funding will be provided from the overlay account of the Assessors’ Office. The program is available for Reading seniors 65 and over, one per family unit, and is subject to income limitations.  The Administrator is seeking a Cultural Council Grant to fund a proposed community-wide social event in May 2010 at the Senior Center with entertainment.  Five members of the Council volunteered to pick up and distribute Christmas meals to isolated elders on December 24.