HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-04-17 Council on Aging Minutes �.;OrrF
Town of Reading
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
All DEC 16 M 2: 52
Council on Aging
Date: 2019-04-17 Time: 6:30 PM
Building: Pleasant Street Senior Center Location: Arts and Crafts Room
Address: 49 Pleasant Street Session:
Purpose: Version:
Attendees: Members - Present:
Barbara Carney (Associate Member), Jolyn Ek, Margaret Havey, Sally Hoyt
(Associate Member), John Parsons, Thomas Procopio, Sandy Shaffer, Marilyn
Shapleigh, Debby Small, Brian Snell, Jane Burns (Director Elder Services)
Members - Not Present:
Joan Coco, Pocja Parsons (Associate Member), Jayne Stafford (Associate
Member)
Others Present:
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Marilyn Shapleigh
Topics of Discussion:
Call to Order by Thomas Procopio at 6:35
Acceptance of Minutes from February: One correction -- the Financial Report was from
January, not December. Accepted with the noted correction.
Elder Services Report - February/March Report (Admin): The old van was determined to be
beyond repair. Trips can no longer be offered and trips are dearly missed. MASSDOT
grants don't come out until May, so approval for a new grant won't be for a long time. A
Woburn company rents vans for $135/day, but we would have to pay our driver, so costs
would add up. Jane Burns and Jeanne Delios will discuss funding options. Accepted.
Financial Report - February/March Report(Admin): Jane Burns distributed the report
during the meeting. Accepted.
MVES Report: The legislative breakfast was held March 26'^. Focus this year is on trying to
get legislators to pass legislation that would increase the salary for people who work for
MVES as health care aides. A nutrition program and more money dedicated to supportive
housing are also Issues of focus.
Old Business:
Staffing Update: 1°' round interviews completed for part time receptionist for 49 Pleasant
St. 2n° round interviews will be next Tuesday.
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Volunteer Appreciation Dinner- New Ideas: Dinner at the Center. Do the"volunteer of the
year"award. Invite the state legislators, the Select Board, etc. Motion to authorize up to
$1400 out of Patrons to fund the dinner by Thomas Procopio, seconded by Margaret Havey.
All in favor. Jane Burns requested support from Council Members on Ideas for gifts and
planning.
Dementia Friendly Reading: This month's COA packet includes meeting minutes. There has
been lots of progress on dementia friendly training. Three sessions are planned for May:
Sunday May 5"' at 2:00 at 1't Baptist Church, May 7th at 7:30 p.m. at the First
Congregational Church, and Tues May 14th 9:30 at Peter Sanborn.
New Business:
Spring Meal Delivery: Debby Small and Joan Coco will deliver Harrows chicken pies. Kerr!
Vallee and Alyse Warren are also delivering meals to several individuals. Harrows gave the
1n ten dinners for free and the remainder at half price. A Market Basket cupcake will also
be included with the meals.
Senior vs. Older Adult Terminology: An article from the Boston Globe on this topic was
included In the COA packet. Jane Burns commented that Human Services might be a better
term than Elder Services or Older Adults. Several COA members expressed preferences for
the term "senior", others preferred "older". Sally Hoyt researched some other options to
consider: our greatest citizens, gifted citizens, greatest adults, gifted adults. The question
was raised as to what the minimum age requirement is to participate in Reading's senior
center activities and programs. Jane Burns explained that some funding sources target the
age 60+ population. A motion to change the Newsletter heading to "Reading's Newsletter
for Residents 60+"was made by Jahn Parsons and seconded by Thomas Procopio. 6 in
favor, 3 opposed. The motion passed.
Summer Meeting Calendar: Jane Burns explained that the current practice of no COA
meetings in the summer is difficult for the town because there's no coverage if Issues come
up during that period. A winter meeting could be skipped and replaced by a summer
meeting. A proposed schedule was included in the COA packet. A motion to approve the
proposed schedule (adding an August meeting, but not scheduling a January meeting) was
made by John Parsons and seconded by Thomas Procopio. All in favor.
Summer Dinners: Historically we've done summer dinners: one in June, one in July, and
one in August. A motion to fund a pizza dinner with entertainment with up to $1200 out of
Patrons was made by Thomas Procopio and seconded by John Parsons. All in favor.
Follow-up Discussion to the Update on our Disabled Van: Jolyn Ek made a motion to
approve $150 for 1 trip in lune out of Patrons. Seconded by Thomas Procopio. 1
abstained. 8 in favor.
Special Events:
• Lions Club Dinner - 5/16
• LGBT Coffee Hour - discussing a social coffee
Next Meeting: May 13, 2019
Motion to adjourn by John Parsons, seconded by Jolyn Ek. All in favor. Meeting adjourned
at 8:29 by Brian Snell.
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