HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-05-01 Council on Aging MinutesW Town of Reading
Meeting Minutes
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i)ING, MASS.
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Council on Aging
Date: 2016 -05 -01
Building: Pleasant Street Senior Center
Address: 49 Pleasant Street
Purpose:
Attendees: Members - Present:
1016 HAY 23 Pbr52
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Arts and Crafts Room
Session: General Session
Margaret Havey, Sally Hoyt, Marilyn Shapleigh, John Parsons, Sandy
Shaffer, Steve Oston, Brian Snell, Pocja Parsons (Associate Member), Jane
Burns (Admin)
Members - Not Present:
Thomas Procopio, Jolyn Ek, Kevin Walsh
Others Present:
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Marilyn Shaplelgh
Topics of Discussion:
Steve Oston was nominated and approved to act as temporary chair for the meeting,
pending Brian Snell's delayed arrival. Nominated by Sandy Shaffer, seconded by Margaret
Havey. All in favor.
Call to Order: 6:35 by Steve Oston
Brian Snell arrived at 6:40 and proceeded to chair the meeting.
Acceptance of April Minutes: Accepted.
Elder Services April Report (Admin): Presented and accepted. Jane Burns explained that
some of the numbers are preliminary, but will be updated by next month.
Financial April Report (Admin): Presented and accepted.
MVES Report (Brian Snell): Brian Snell reported that there was a meeting at the end of
April. The spring fund raiser was very successful, earning nearly $150k for the gap fund.
The focus of the meeting was on making changes to raise the income level to reduce the
"gap"
Old Business:
Review of Selectmen's Meeting: Jane Burns summarized the May 3itl Selectmen's meeting
as follows. She spoke for 45 minutes at the meeting, describing what Elder Services does
and the value of these services. The Selectmen identified a need for the town's seniors to
"rally" to make their voices heard at town meetings. An over -ride vote for school and town
expenditures is anticipated. It was noted that Reading's elderly residents are not typically
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as vocal as other segments of the population during public hearings and that having the
needs of seniors heard will be important to ensure that their opinions are given full
consideration. `
Following Ms. Burns' summary, the COA proceeded to discuss several options such as a
Lunch & Learn or other daytime meeting(s) with the Selectman as possible opportunities to
increase elderly participation and access to the public forum. One goal would be to increase
awareness about anticipated needs such as increased space for senior center activities and
for additional services. Sally Hoyt pointed out that it will be important to be mindful of the
fact that increased property taxes may create a serious economic hardship for many seniors
and that the voices of those opposed to increased expenditures need to be heard as well as
the voices of those in favor.
COA Board Training - May 10th: Pooja Parsons will be attending. She will also pick up extra
copies of any handouts and summarize key training points at the next COA meeting.
New Business:
Reading At -Home Organization: Jane Burns explained that a group in Reading is putting
together an organization to support aging in place, Reading Neighbors Network: Socializing
with a Purpose. It would be dues based and provide an online network similar to Angie's list
as well as social events. It's being launched June 12`h at the Unitarian Church. Jane Burns
will forward the link to the COA members. It will probably attract a segment of seniors who
would be unlikely to use the town's senior center services, but the Network is very willing to
market senior center services.
Birthday Cakes - Funding Request., Motion to approve $300 from Burbank to fund birthday
cakes for next 6 months. Motion from Steve Oston. Seconded from Margaret Havey. All
voted in favor.
Equipment for PSC - Funding Request., Jane Burns explained that the senior center needs a
better table to support the TV, a new Keurig, and a Blue Ray player to replace the current
VCR. Motion for $200 from Burbank to cover these expenses. Moved by John Parsons.
Seconded by Steve Oston. All voted in favor.
Inter- generational activities: Brian Snell opened a discussion explaining that he would like
to see more intergenerational activities at the Center such as cribbage, sitting together to
do puzzles, etc. There could be a club at the high school with teen agers who would be
Interested in doing this, but there's no forum to make this happen. Jane Burns explained
that an initiative of this type would need to come from the high school and that experience
has shown that one -time events at one of the schools or something like a walking club,
walking the track at the high school could be successful. Dinners or breakfasts would also
be popular, as would yard work and snow shoveling. Games have not been very successful
in the past. Mystic Valley has a reading partners program and we are working on setting
that up at Joshua Eaton school system on a weekly basis to promote literacy in the
classroom.
Adjourned at 8:04 by Brian Snell.
Next COA Meeting: June 13, 2016 at 6:30.
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