HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-12-12 Council on Aging Minutes Town of Reading
z Meeting Minutes
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Council on Aging
204 ou 16 PM 2: 36
Date: 2016-12-12 Time: 6:30 PM
Building: Pleasant Street Senior Center Location: Lounge Room
Address: 49 Pleasant Street
Purpose: Session: General Session
Attendees: Members - Present:
Jolyn Ek, Margaret Havey, Sally Hoyt, John Parsons, Sandy Shaffer, Marilyn
Shapleigh, Brian Snell, Jane Burns (Admin)
Members - Not Present:
Thomas Procopio, Pooja Parsons (Associate Member), Kevin Walsh
(Associate Member)
Others Present:
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Marilyn Shapleigh
Topics of Discussion:
Call to Order: 6:33 by Brian Snell
Acceptance of November Minutes: Minutes accepted.
Elder Services November Report (Admin): Jane Burns presented the report. Strong
attendance at the Memory Cafe is of particular note; the program is off to a great start.
Accepted.
Financial September Report (Admin): Report presented by Jane Burns. Note: Interest on
accounts has not yet been posted for the period since August, but will be reflected on
upcoming reports when the book keeping is brought up to date. Jolyn Ek noted that more
money will need to be approved to fund birthday expenditures after December; it was
agreed that this will be addressed in the January COA meeting. Accepted.
MVES Report (Brian Snell): Angie Fitzgerald (nutrition department) made a presentation
and spoke primarily about food source vender problems. Steps have been taken to resolve
the issues and implement checks to provide ongoing oversight. If the problems persist,
MVES will go out to bid. A fund raiser to support Meals on Wheels will take place in January
("Belly Full of Laughs" in Everett). In June another fund raiser, "We laughed, we cried, we
ate spaghetti", will be held at the Stoneham Theater. At Pleasant St, the regular kitchen
manager is still out - she may be back next week (waiting for clearance to return).
Old Business:
Thanksgiving Meals Recap: A thank you letter to Christopher's Restaurant was mailed to
the Chronicle last week. Locating apartments and gaining access to the building at Cedar
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Glen was challenging, but problems were overcome. The meals were greatly appreciated by
all.
Christmas Meals Reminder: Volunteers will meet at the Market Basket on Christmas Eve
(the 24th), at 11:00. John Parsons, Jolyn Ek, Jane Burns' daughter, and Brian Snell have
volunteered to help deliver meals.
Needs Assessment Update: The project is moving forward. The scope has been finalized
and expanded to include 5 key informant groups, a focus group, a 21-community
comparison evaluation, and 2 community forums. COA members are asked to plan to
attend one or the other of the community forums. The focus group will be by invitation
(including 1 member of the COA and 1 from the Board of Selectman). The cost of the needs
assessment is now at $9,500 which will be fully funded by the town. Jane Burns will raise
the idea of adding "consumers" (i.e. members of Reading's elderly population) to the
participants (especially perhaps to informant groups and community forums). Ms. Burns
will also ask if a focus group discussion guide can be made available for prior review and
approval.
New Business:
2017 Schedule: The April meeting will be April 3r°
Upcoming Events: Memory Cafe and Walking Club in Jan. The Alzheimer's Assoc. is coming
out to do a program on basics. A CSI program is scheduled, etc. In short, there's a lot
going on.
Adjourned: by Brian Snell at 7:24.
Next COA Meeting: January 9th, 2017 at 6:30.
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