HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-01-11 Commissioners of Trust Funds Minutes Town of Reading R F G t IV ED
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Commissioners of Trust Funds
Date: 2021-01-11 Time: 6:30 PM
Building: Reading Town Hall Location:
Address: 16 Lowell Street Session: Open Session
Purpose: Specific Business Version: Final
Attendees: Members - Present:
Neil Cohen, Mark Dockser, John Daly, Elizabeth Klepeis, and Endri Kume
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Kevin Bohmiller
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Endri Kume
Topics of Discussion:
Mr. Cohen called the meeting to order at 6:31 p.m. This was a virtual Zoom meeting.
Acceptance of minutes from prior sessions Zoom meetings.
Minutes from 11/19/2020, 12/03/2020, and 12/28/2020 were approved as follows:
On a motion by Ms Klepeis seconded by Mr. Daly. the Minutes of 11/19/2020 12/03/2020.
and 12/28/2020 meetings were aooroved as amended, by a vote of 5-0.
Reading Response Program liaison report:
Mr. Cohen requested to move this agenda item out of order and asked Mr. Bohmiller to
provide his update for the Elderly Services Department. Mr. Bohmiller introduced himself to
the Commissioners as the Community Director for the Town. Part of his job is to work very
closely and manage the Elderly Service Department. He was aware of the Reading Response
Transportation RFP and wanted to be part of the discussion and provide answers if the
commissioners had any questions. The following modifications were made to the RFP for the
Reading Transportation program:
1. Under the section "Requirement for Providing Reading Response Transportation,"
item B was changed from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. to 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. per the request of the
Elderly Services
2. Item C was modified to say "at least 140 trips."
3. Item E was changed from 5 years to 3 years
4. Item F the sentence "It must have a GPS app," was removed and replaced with
Provide a cellphone that included a GPS app to communicate between drivers and
the clients and the Division of Elder/Human Services
5. Mr. Dockser added requirement G: Demonstrate ability to comply with CDC, State,
and local Covid-19 safety protocols.
Under the Selection Criteria, the following changes were made:
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1. Criteria B, the word "full fills" was changed to "fulfills."
2. ADD Criteria F: Ability to demonstrate compassion to the elderly and or ill
3. Modification to Criteria G: Add "and client's information."
Mr. Cohen had some additional modifications to the RFP document. This included
improvements to the "Background of the Program" and the "Current Reading Response
Program" section. Please see attached for the final document.
The Commissioners asked Mr. Kume to share the document with the Town Procurement
Officer for suggestions and feedback.
The following motion was made:
On a motion by Mr. Dockser second by Mr. Daly, the RFP Draft document was approved as
modified to be sent to the Town Procurement Office for feedback review and return to the
Commissioners for a final vote was approved by a vote of 5-0
The Commissioners thanked Mr. Bohmiller for participating and wish him luck in his new
role.
Discuss Hospital Trust Funds support for new initiatives
Ms. Klepeis asked to discuss the "Trust Funds support for new initiatives" out of order, and
Mr. Cohen approved.
Mr. Dockser wanted to discuss the cy pres agreement and what was acceptable and non-
acceptable for the Hospital Trust Funds financial support. Mr. Dockser asked that if the Town
decided that they wanted to offer more medical services, for example, at the senior center,
would this initiative be sponsored or funded by the Trust Funds with the Commissioners'
approval?
Mr. Cohen responded that the Commissioners would have to discuss and see if the services
provided are within the Hospital Trust Funds guidelines. Mr. Cohen stated that the
Commissioners had requests in the past, and upon reviewing each one of them, they had
allowed some of them and declined the ones that did not fall within the Hospital Trust Funds
guidelines. Mr. Dockser asked "if there was a program that would come in front of the
Commissioners, what would be the categories to disqualify it and what would qualify it for
support?" Ms. Klepeis stated that for an initiative to receive funds from the Hospital Trust
Funds, the clients had to be screened and show financial hardship. Ms. Klepeis noted that if
the program could not do the screening, it would not receive any funds. Mr. Dockser
mentioned an example if we had to purchase blood screening devices for the elderly that
use the transportation program would that qualify? Ms. Klepeis answered yes that could
qualify, however that type of initiative would be more in line with the Council on Aging.
Mr. Dockser apologized and requested to leave the meeting as he had to attend another one
at 7:30 p.m.
Review portfolio Cash Flow and Trust Balances Reports. Discuss Investment
changes.
Mr. Kume reported that the Dorothy Burbank Trust Fund has a 3.51K expense, and those
were for masks that the Elderly Service department had purchased. Ms. Klepeis asked if we
will have enough interest at this time to cover all the expenses. Mr. Cohen mentioned that
we had enough capital gain to support all the programs.
Mr. Kume mentioned that cash flow is sufficient even though the current balance is high.
This was due to all the funds set aside to open the approved CDs in the last meeting.
Mr. Kume informed the Commissioners that Cambridge Savings Bank had a special for
0.70% and asked them to approve the updated CD rate from 0.50% to 0.70%.
On a motion by Ms Klepeis seconded by Mr. Daly, the Commissioners voted to accept the
updated CD rate at 0.70% with Cambridge Savings Bank by a vote of 4-0.
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Mr. Daly informed the Commissioners that we had completed the 4th purchase of SPDR, and
we have two more left. The 10-year Treasury bond was at 1%, and it is expected not to go
over 1.05%.
The next meeting date was scheduled for 2/8/2021.
On a motion by Ms Klegeis seconded by Mr. Daly, the Commissioners voted to achourn its
meeting at 7,47 o m by a vote of 4-0
Respectfully submitted, Secretary
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