2002-06-10 Council on Aging Minutes

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Council on Aging June 10, 2002 < Senior Center Reading, MA 01867 L L:a 21 12: 52 Present: Barbara Powers, Edwina Kasper, Dottye Foxon, John O'Neill, Betty Cronin, Ed Merullo, Joanne O'Brien, Gay Williams, Ray Cabot, Pamela Brown (Director). Absent: Dick Anderson Betty Cronin called the meeting to order at 6:34 p.m. • Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner visited and discussed the roles of the COA and Elder Service Staff. He views the COA as a policy setting board. And he indicated he was pleased about the outlook of a needs assessment, and believes it will be helpful to us. One suggestion offered is that Pamela "show case" individual department staff members at our board meetings. Peter offered as historical context, that over the past 15 years there had been a conscious shift from recreation/trips to social services, for the elderly population of Reading, and recognized that other groups sponsored recreational activities. There was a brief mention of intergenerational activities - such as crafts - that might be underwritten for seniors out of COA resources. • After Peter left, we reviewed the various resources at our disposal (to some degree). They are a) the Hospital Trust, b) the Schroeder Trust (for frail, isolated seniors - here is about $9K available to spend), c) the Revolving Account (Fund 25, dept 547 - overseen by Peter), and the Burbank Trust. There was some question about why Beth Klepeis makes decisions about what can and cannot be spent out of the Schroeder fund ...is this a condition of the trust? Pamela to research. • The minutes of April's meeting were approved (motion by John O'Neill, second by Betty Cronin). • Pamela reviewed the Financial Report. The report was moved for acceptance by John O'Neil and seconded by Joanne O'Brien, and passed. • Highlights of the Administrator's Report for May were reviewed. • Pamela reported that cleaning at the Center was much improved. • She was also pleased to report that the profits from the Hitching Post's cookbook had resulted in a gift of over one thousand dollars. The secretary will send a thank you note. • Regarding the Computer Room, Sue Reardon had contacted an advisor at the high school, and we do expect the mentoring program to continue through the summer. Unfortunately, Pamela has had no return call from the Carroll Center for the Blind. Catherine Cella is a volunteer who will teach a computer class in August. • On the newsletter front, Pamela presented information about our recent town wide mailing to residents 60 and older. 2761 newsletters were mailed at a cost of about $1550. She has obtained pricing from other resources - the town will support newsletters for July and August, but not after that. • Through April 30t", we have utilized about $5300 in the Property Tax Program. There are a number of reasons more has not been used. In addition Pamela plans to meet with Edith O'Leary, a North Reading resource, to discuss this topic. In a