HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-05-10 Council on Aging Minutes Town of Reading RECEIVED
0 Meeting Minutes TOWN CLERK
READING, MA.
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
2021 JUN 15 AM 8: 23
Council on Aging
Date: 2021-05-10 Time: 6:00 PM
Building: Location:
Address: Session:
Purpose: Version:
Attendees: Members - Present:
Jacquelyn Behenna (Associate Member), Joan Coco, Karen Fotino (Associate
Member), Margaret Havey, John Parsons, Karen Pinette (Associate Member),
Thomas Procopio, Sandra Shaffer, Marilyn Shapleigh, Deborah Small, Nancy
Ziemlak (Associate Member)
Members - Not Present:
Barbara Carney, Brenda Cashman (Associate Member), Jolyn Ek, Sally Hoyt
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).
Calf to Order by Thomas Procopio at 6:00 p.m.
Acceptance of Minutes from April: Accepted by roll call vote. All in favor.
New Business (Kevin Bohmiller):
• The Town Meeting approved $40,000 for a Senior Center Feasibility Study. It will
address questions such as the town's need a Community Center, a Senior Center or
both. Short and long term needs will be included.
• A second round of interviews for the Elder & Human Services director position will be
conducted 5/17.
• Tom Procopio is stepping down from the Chair of the Council on Aging at the end of
June 2021. He will notify the Town Clerk.
• A small ceremony will be held on the Common on Memorial Day and broadcast live
on CTV at 11 a.m. Information about the event will be posted in local papers and on
the town website.
• Work is underway to open the Pleasant Street Center. Visits to the Center will be
entirely by appointment to support contact tracing. Masks and social distancing will
continue. A canopy is being obtained for the patio.
MVES Update:
• A barbeque is planned for June. It will be a drive-by event.
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Elder&Social Services Update: Maria Puglielli reported:
• Wednesday's drive-by event will take place between 10 and 11 a.m. About 100
reservations have been received. MVES is providing the juice.
Sandwiches/croissants are being obtained from Swiss Bakers. Any excess food will
be distributed to those who are home-bound and/or Sanborn Place.
Evolving Senior Center needs:
• A draft email (included in this month's COA packet) to the Select Board was
submitted to the full Council for review by Nancy Ziemlak, John Parsons, and Marilyn
Shapleigh. The email expressed the Council's willingness to become involved in the
discussions concerning the future building needs of Reading. Also attached was a
Pleasant Street Center (PSC) Fact Sheet outlining broad needs identified in past
studies funded or conducted by the Town to address this issue. Marilyn Shapleigh
reviewed the purpose of the document, town demographics and high level study
findings. John Parsons encouraged all Council members to share their thoughts and
opinions on what was presented. Discussion/comments included the following:
o The format and content of the email were easy to read and likely to be found
to be helpful by the Select Board.
o PSC staff voiced concern that conditions have changed since these studies
were conducted and will require further review and that PSC staff input will be
particularly important since they have first-hand knowledge of recent
needs. For example, a hybrid model may now be appropriate. All agreed
that staff input is essential.
o Concern was expressed that the email did not include recognition of the great
job PSC staff have done to deliver programs to Seniors during this trying
year. Discussion clarified that the exceptional work done by PSC staff is
recoanized and oreatly appreciated. Moreover, while the pandemic period has
not yet been studied, the studies summarized in the email document the
value the community attaches to PSC programming and the need to continue
programming well Into the future.
o It was suggested that the planning regarding the center needs to start soon
so that the $40K targeted for a Building Needs Assessment for the Pleasant
Street Center can be completed during the upcoming fiscal year.
o It was also suggested that a Project Plan and Timeline could help move the
process along.
A unanimous roll call vote approved sending the email &fact sheet to the Select
Board. Thomas Procopio agreed to send the email to the Select Board.
Next Meeting: lune 14, 2021 at 6:30 p.m.
Meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m. by Thomas Procopio.
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