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Home My WebLink About2012-10-15 Council on Aging Minutes OFq Town of Reading rl Meeting Minutes '�ECEIV Eu TO RK o•.•' READIVYNNG, MA. Board - committee - commission - council: 3111 D L6- Council on Aging EC 6 PM 2z 55 Date: 2012-10-15 Time: 6:30 PM Building: Pleasant Street Senior Center Location: Address: 49 Pleasant Street Session: Purpose: Version: Attendees: Members - Present: Carol Oniskey, Erica Deane, Margaret Havey, Sally Hoyt, Steve Caton, Tom Procopio, Prabha Sankaran, Carol Scrima, Jane Burns (Staff Administrator) Members - Not Present: Dolly DeRosa, Kevin Walsh Others Present: Jacqueline Carson, Bill Hecht Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Topics of Discussion: • The Agenda was rearranged to allow Ms. Carson, CEO of Sanborn Place, Home Care&Day Care Services, and Mr. Hecht,a Reading volunteer representative to Mystic Valley Elder Services,to speak before the Board without delay • Ms.Carson described the current services provided by Sanborn to the community and its recent extensive growth • Mr. Hecht provided an update on the success of the MVES Endowment Fund and a current MVES emphasis on the use of technology to assist elder citizens. Minutes:Accepted and Approved for September 10,2012 Elder Services Report: Accepted and Approved for September 10,2012 • There may be inaccuracies in the Elder Services database, particularly with respect to numbers of volunteers and their hours • Lunch participation has increased markedly from a year ago. Financial Report: Accepted and Approved for September 10, 2012 • Steve Oslon stated his opinion that the monthly financial report continued to be inconsistent and difficult to interpret,thus making proper Board management of its trust funds more difficult. The Administrator will look into further streamlining the report. Old Business: • A sufficient number of Board members in volunteered to serve Thanksgiving and Christmas meals • The Senior Center defibrillator that was approved and funded at our last meeting is being installed this month at the reception desk.25 volunteers have been trained on the device. • The Administrator summarized recent Burbank fund entertainment expenses. For the year ending June 2012,the fund was$210 under-spent. For the year ending June 2013, we expect to over-spend by a few hundred dollars as we will offer several free events to elders. Page 1 1 - i i • We were asked by the Town to reaffirm the Board's prior year's decision to allow the Administrator to spend$1,500 annually from the Burbank Fund on small entertainment-related items without specific Board approval.Tom Procopio made the motion,which was seconded by Margaret Havey and passed by a vote of 8-0. • Carol Oniskey and Jane Bums described current efforts to redesign and decorate our Senior Center including modernization of the kitchen and reception areas and selection of paint colors. New Business: • The Board reviewed menu plans from food vendors for the two holiday meals. Most acceptable was the offer from the Green Tomato in Reading. It was moved by Carole Scdma and seconded by Erica Deane to take$777 from the Schroeder fund to pay for 30 Thanksgiving and 30 Christmas meals.The vote was 8-0 in favor.The Thanksgiving pickup will be at 2 PM on Wednesday, November 21. • The Board discussed ways birthday celebrations at the Senior Center could be made more enjoyable for the seniors. • Carol suggested that we defer having an invited speaker at the Board meeting until January. Steve will work on securing a guest speaker from Mass Elder Affairs. • Progress has been made on a shingles inoculation program for Reading seniors. The Hospital Trust will fund this program up to$10K for the benefit low income seniors.The Reading Women's Club also contributed an amount of up to$2K.The Elder Services Staff will provide financial and medical screening for eligible seniors.An information session will be held in December. • A Veteran's Day breakfast will be held at the Reading Senior Center on November 11.The cost of the breakfast is about$500, and contributions are being solicited.The Board discussed being a contributor and felt the breakfast would benefit our seniors. It was moved by Steve Delon and seconded by Erica Deane to take$100 from the Patrons fund as our contribution to the success of the Veteran's Day breakfast.The motion passed 8-0. • Reminder:The annual Thanksgiving dinner at the Hillview Country Club will be held Saturday, November 17,with signups by November 1. • Carol Oniskey presented renderings of an updated sign for our Senior Center. The new name would be"Pleasant St.Center"and would need to be approved by the Board of Selectman.A motion to accept the new name was made by Tom Procopio, seconded by Margaret Havey and passed by a vole of 8-0. Adjournment: 8:10 PM Next COA Meeting: Wednesday, November 14, 2012 Respectfully Submitted, Steve Oston Page 1 2 Council on Aging Board Meeting -, Monday, October 15,2012 Reading Senior Center Game Room 2911 NOV 28 PM 3; 01 Present: Carol Oniskey, Erica Deane,Margaret Havey, Sally Hoyt,Steve Osten,Tom Procopio, Prabha Sankaran,Carol Scrima,Jane Burns(Staff Administrator) Absent: Dolly DeRosa,Kevin Walsh Guests: Jacqueline Carson, Bill Hecht Call to Order: 6:29 PM • The Agenda was rearranged to allow Ms. Carson, CEO of Sanborn Place, Home Care& Day Care Services, and Mr.Hecht,a Reading volunteer representative to Mystic Valley Elder Services,to speak before the Board without delay • Ms. Carson described the current services provided by Sanborn to the community and its recent extensive growth • Mr. Hecht provided an update on the success of the MVES Endowment Fund and a current MVES emphasis on the use of technology to assist elder citizens. Minutes: Accepted and Approved for September 10,2012 Elder Services Report: Accepted and Approved for September 10,2012 • There may be inaccuracies in the Elder Services database,particularly with respect to numbers of volunteers and their hours • Lunch participation has increased markedly from a year ago. Financial Report: Accepted and Approved for September 10, 2012 • Steve Osten stated his opinion that the monthly financial report continued to be inconsistent and difficult to interpret,thus making proper Board management of its trust funds more difficult. The Administrator will look into further streamlining the report. Old Business: • A sufficient number of Board members in volunteered to serve Thanksgiving and Christmas meals • The Senior Center defibrillator that was approved and funded at our last meeting is being installed this month at the reception desk. 25 volunteers have been trained on the device. • The Administrator summarized recent Burbank fund entertainment expenses. For the year ending June 2012,the fund was $210 under-spent. For the year ending June 2013,we expect to over-spend by a few hundred dollars as we will offer several free events to elders. • We were asked by the Town to reaffirm the Board's prior year's decision to allow the Administrator to spend$1,500 annually from the Burbank Fund on small entertainment- related items without specific Board approval. Tom Procopio made the motion,which was seconded by Margaret Havey and passed by a vote of 8-0. • Carol Oniskey and Jane Bums described current efforts to redesign and decorate our Senior Center including modernization of the kitchen and reception areas and selection of paint colors. New Business: • The Board reviewed menu plans from food vendors for the two holiday meals. Most acceptable was the offer from the Green Tomato in Reading. It was moved by Carole Scrima and seconded by Erica Deane to take$777 from the Schroeder fund to pay for 30 Thanksgiving and 30 Christmas meals.The vote was 8-0 in favor. The Thanksgiving pickup will be at 2 PM on Wednesday,November 21. • The Board discussed ways birthday celebrations at the Senior Center could be made more enjoyable for the seniors. • Carol suggested that we defer having an invited speaker at the Board meeting until January. Steve will work on securing a guest speaker from Mass Elder Affairs. • Progress has been made on a shingles inoculation program for Reading seniors. The Hospital Trust will fund this program up to$10K for the benefit low income seniors. The Reading Women's Club also contributed an amount of up to $2K. The Elder Services Staff will provide financial and medical screening for eligible seniors. An information session will be held in December. • A Veteran's Day breakfast will be held at the Reading Senior Center on November 11. The cost of the breakfast is about$500, and contributions are being solicited. The Board discussed being a contributor and felt the breakfast would benefit our seniors. It was moved by Steve Osten and seconded by Erica Deane to take$100 from the Patrons fund as our contribution to the success of the Veteran's Day breakfast. The motion passed 8-0. • Reminder: The annual Thanksgiving dinner at the Hillview Country Club will be held Saturday,November 17, with signups by November 1. • Carol Oniskey presented renderings of an updated sign for our Senior Center. The new name would be"Pleasant St. Center"and would need to be approved by the Board of Selectman. A motion to accept the new name was made by Tom Procopio, seconded by Margaret Havey and passed by a vote of 8-0. Adjoumment: 8:10 PM Next COA Meeting: Wednesday,November 14, 2012 Respectfully Submitted, Steve Osten