HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-06-11 Council on Aging Minutes Town of Reading K E CE IV E u
Meeting Minutes TOWN CLERK
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Council on Aging
Date: 2020-06-11 Time: 10:00 AM
Building: Location:
Address: Session:
Purpose: Version:
Attendees: Members - Present:
Barbara Carney (Associate Member), Joan Coco, lolyn Ek, Margaret Havey,
Sally Hoyt, John Parsons, Pooja Parsons (Associate Member), Karen Pinette
(Associate Member), Thomas Procopio, Sandy Shaffer, Marilyn Shapleigh,
Debby Small
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Kevin Bohmiller, Mark Dockser, Steven Osten, Maria Puglielli, Kerry Valle
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Marilyn Shapleigh
Topics of Discussion:
Note: Meeting was conducted via a Zoom video conference call (Open Session - Remote
Meeting).
Call to Order by Thomas Procopio at 10:06 a.m.
Committee Re-organization (elect new chair/vice chair): Due to Brian Snell's relocation to a
new home outside of Reading, committee re-organization is required. For the position of
Chair, John Parsons nominated Thomas Procopio; Sandy Shaffer seconded. Council
members voted unanimously in favor of electing Thomas Procopio as the new Chair. This
created an open Vice Chair position. Thomas Procopio nominated John Parsons for Vice
Chair; Jolyn Ek seconded. Council members voted unanimously in favor of electing John
Parsons as the new Vice Chair.
Update from Mark Dockser(Chair of the Select Board): Mark Dockser reported that the
Select Board is looking at priorities for spending as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The
Board is focusing on community needs and issues and wants the voice of the Council on
Aging to be reflected since residents who are 60+ years old make up a very large proportion
of Reading's population. Concerns include examination of town buildings and potential
modifications required to ensure safety. Discussion addressed concerns about availability of
space to provide services now not offered at the Pleasant Street Center due to its closing,
such as an air-conditioned environment, a location where blood pressure checks can be
performed, etc. John Parsons explained that he had talked with Bob LeLacheur, Alyse
Warren, and others about the importance of continuing to provide blood pressure checks to
elderly residents who rely upon the town for this service. Kerry Valle suggested that
automated cuffs could support self-monitoring and said that she would check with Alyse
Warren about Medicare coverage. Mark Dockser suggested that perhaps CVS or Walgreen's
might be approached for help with this.
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Acceptance of Minutes from February: Accepted.
Human & Elder Services Report- COVID 19 Update - Preparing for the new Normal:
(Admin): Kevin Bohmiller reported that work continues on assessment of the Pleasant
Street Center but he does not yet see a point where it could be opened. Kerry Valle
reported that she and the Human & Elder Services team are making every effort to support
the town's elderly residents, going well beyond the scope of their normal duties. A key
component of their strategy has been to make phone calls to residents who are 60 years old
or older. So far, they have made 5,432 calls, and the work continues. Accepted.
Human & Elder Services Administrator Position Status: Kevin Bohmiller reported that
interviewing began before the COVID 19 crisis, but has not progressed since that time. He
also explained that the FY21 town budget scheduled to be finalized at the upcoming week's
Town Meeting would reduce the position from full time to 23 hours per week. Deep concern
over the planned reduction in Administrator hours was expressed in subsequent discussion
of this news. Arguments included the fact that the age 60+ group is the most rapidly
growing segment of the community and that the demands being placed upon the staff of
Human & Elder Services have increased dramatically to protect the health and safety of the
town's elderly as normal operations such as the provision of group meals, activities, and van
transportation have been suspended. Mark Dockser was asked to explain what options
were at this point available to the Council on Aging to amend the budget plan. Marilyn
Shapleigh made a motion to have Tom Procopio and herself compose a letter to the Town
Manager, cc'd to the Select Board and Town Moderator, stating the Council on Aging's belief
that the Administrator position should continue to be a full-time position given the current
and future reality. Jolyn Ek seconded the motion. All voted in favor of the motion.
Kerry Valle shared her appreciation for the Council's efforts and asked that the evolving
roles of the current Human & Elder Services staff be taken into consideration when
evaluating candidates for the Administrator position. Working in tremendous collaboration,
all staff members have stepped well beyond their current roles to meet the new demands.
It will be very important that a new Administrator be prepared to build upon the work that
they are accomplishing since there is much still to be done.
On the topic of the"new normal", Kevin Bohmiller noted that 50 or 60 people need tax help,
but the AARP has not yet approved giving the help they have provided in the past.
Maria Puglielli elaborated further on staff priorities and accomplishments. The first focus
has been to organize calls to those age 60+ to identify essential needs. The team is also
supporting email communication, setting up online surveys to measure interest in potential
programs, designing virtual programming (to be delivered via Zoom), and reaching out to
instructors who are comfortable with this media. A new Pleasantries format was organized
and produced at the Pleasant Street Center by staff members because It was not possible to
follow the past practice of printing in New Hampshire. In July, Reading will be partnering
with Melrose/Wakefield to focus on health self-management. A coffee & conversation
support group is planned. And, the staff is looking at cable N as a means of sharing
activities since not all have computer access to virtual programming.
Kevin Bohmiller added that the town is funding a pilot program to loan Chromebooks.
Kerry Valle summarized elder outreach projects including:
• Staff(Kerry Valle, Maria Puglielli, Joe Beninati, and Alyse Warren) made initial calls
to 5,432 clients and are now working on a second round of calls to identify needs.
• Cleaning the list of names of Reading residents age 60+.
• Delivered masks to those who needed them, but could not go to the pick-up site.
Arranged food delivery where needed to supplement efforts of neighbors and Mystic
Valley. (Note: Mystic Valley has stepped up their Meals on Wheels program.)
• Assessing gift card needs.
Ms. Valle also noted that they are encountering lots of client isolation and depression issues.
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Financial Report (Admin): Accepted.
MVES Report: Kevin Bohmiller reported that he has stepped into lane Bum's fom,er role on
the MVES. A volunteer committee is looking into finding a new representative to replace
Brian Snell.
Old Business:
Dementia Friendly Reading: Working on pledge to become a Dementia Friendly town.
Next Meeting: August 10, 2020 at 6:30 p.m.
Meeting adjourned at 11:49 a.m. by Thomas Procopio following a motion to adjourn by John
Parsons. Seconded by Thomas Procopio. All in favor.
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