HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-12-14 Council on Aging Minutes Town of Reading RECEIVED
Meeting Minutes TOWN CLERK
RFA,n P,' r. M.A.
Board - Committee - commission - council: 2021 APR 27 AM 10: 32
Council on Aging
Date: 2020-12-14 Time: 6:30 PM
Building: Location:
Address: Session:
Purpose: Version:
Attendees: Members - Present:
Jacquelyn Behenna (Associate Member),Barbara Carney, Joan Coco, Jolyn
Ek, Karen Fotino (Associate Member), Sally Hoyt, John Parsons, Karen
Pinette, Thomas Procopio, Sandra Shafer, Marilyn Shapleigh,
Members - Not Present:
Brenda Cashman (Associate Member), Margaret Havey, Marie Perrot
(Associate Member), Deborah Small
Others Present:
Kevin Bohmiller, Mark Dockser, 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 6:37 p.m.
Acceptance of Minutes from November: Accepted by unanimous roll call.
New Business:
• COVID update - Mark Dockser explained that town's Command Team is working on
COVID issues.
• Kevin Bohmiller updated the COA on the following:
o Thanksgiving meal delivery. The Green Tomato donated 125 meals and
delivered them to recipients' homes; this very generous gift was undertaken
by the non-profit, Hazel's Helpers, set up by the owner of the Green Tomato
in memory of his mother's commitment to helping those in need. Volunteers
from the Council on Aging assisted by making phone calls to Reading seniors
to help determine who would like to receive one of these meals and to
support on-going outreach to the elderly. The Adopt a Family program also
gave out 55 meals and will be doing this again next week.
o Holiday Drive by and Meal Delivery. 125 bags were given out at holiday
drive by event. Countless voicemails and emails expressing thanks have
been received.
o A Drive by is scheduled for 12/15 at the Pleasant Street Center location to
give out 200 goodie bags. Calaruso's donated 200 poinsettias which will be
given out along with the goodie bags.
o Demand is very high at the Food Pantry; 100 additional recipients have
signed up since last March.
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o The deadline to apply for assistance through the Rent & Mortgage Program
being run in coordination with CARES funding is approaching. The Reading
Cooperative Bank is coordinating; information is also available on the Reading
town website.
o Next week Kerry and the Pleasant Street staff are going to deliver 20
hot meals to needy residents; the meals will be purchased from the Green
Tomato. John Parsons made a motion to allocate funds not to exceed $300
from the Burbank fund to support this effort. loan Coco seconded the
motion. All approved by a roll call vote.
o Maria Puglielli reported that a Valentine's Day drive by is planned. Candy
from the Chocolate Truffle and carnations from Russell's will be given out to
those who sign up to participate. John Parsons made a motion to allocate
funds not to exceed $1000 for the Valentine's Day Drive by out of Burbank.
Thomas Procopio seconded the motion. All approved by a roll call vote.
o Kevin Bohmiller reported on the on-going need for COVID vigilance and the
importance of Reading's Mask-Up program. Mark Dockser explained that
the town has an emergency vaccine distribution plan, but the exact timing
and location have not been set; the state also has a plan.
o The town is brainstorming on ideas for outdoor Pleasant Street Center
activities for spring/summer.
o The Administrator position is still in the budget; needs to be addressed by
this position are being reviewed.
o Pooja Parsons has submitted her resignation from the Council on Aging.
The Council extends its gratitude to Pools for her many years of participation
as an Associate member of the Council on Aging Board.
o Marilyn Shapleigh expressed concern that, although meeting dates are posted
in many places including the COA page on the town website, they have not
been posted on the Town's home page calendar of upcoming events as
far in advance as other meetings often appear; she requested that the
practice of posting COA meetings on the home page calendar well in advance
be re-instated to help create awareness of the COA and encourage
community participation. Kevin Bohmiller will follow up with the Town Clerk
on this matter.
Next Meeting: Feb 8, 2021 at 6:30 p.m.
Meeting adjourned at 7:14 p.m. by Thomas Procopio following a motion to adjourn by John
Parsons, seconded by Joan Coco. All in favor.
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