HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-09-08 Council on Aging Minutesw OI ql�o
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Council on Aging
Date: 2025-09-08
Building: Pleasant Street Senior Center
Address: 49 Pleasant Street
Purpose: COA Monthly Meeting
Attendees: Members - Present:
Time: 6:00 PM
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Location: Lounge Room
Session: Open Session
Version: Final
Joan Coco (Member), Kathleen Harrington (Associate), Karen Janowski
(Chair, Member), Thomas O'Connor (Associate), John Parsons (Vice Chair,
Member), Ron Powell (Associate), Jean Prato (Member), John Saczynski
(Member), Marilyn Shapleigh (Member), Nancy Ziemlak (Member)
Members - Not Present:
Rosemarie DeBenedetto (Member), Karen Pinette (Member), Deborah Small
(Member), Sally Hoyt (Associate), Tony Lionetta (Associate)
Others Present:
Chris Kowaleski (Administrator of Elder & Human Services), Karen Rose -
Gillis (Select Board Member), Karen Herrick (Select Board Member -arrived
at 6:24)
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Marilyn
Topics of Discussion:
Note: Meeting was conducted in person and via Zoom (Open Session).
Meeting Called to Order by Karen Janowski at 6:00 p.m.
Minutes from the August 18, 2025 meeting approved by unanimous vote.
The need for an elected Secretary for the COA was raised by Karen Janowski; a vote to
appoint a secretary will be conducted at the October COA meeting. Marilyn Shapleigh
volunteered to take minutes for the September meeting.
Elder & Human Services (ENS) Report: Chris Kowaleski reviewed the August 2025 PSC
Monthly Report. Participation levels continued to be great with more than 3,000
interactions during the month of August bringing FY26 YTD total interactions to 5,960.
Volunteer participation is also great. Several COA members asked if would be possible to
analyze PSC participation in greater detail, e.g, identifying patterns such as how many
attend twice a week, three times a week, etc. and how many participate in multiple
activities on any given day. Chris said he would look into it. Chris extends his on -going
gratitude to the Pleasant Street Center staff and volunteers.
Select Board Update: Work is underway, but nothing new to specifically report at this
time.
Massachusetts COA Annual Conference and Fund Approval: Motion by Marilyn
Shapleigh to approve spending up to $2,000 from the Burbank Trust Fund to purchase
tickets for COA members to attend this year's Massachusetts Annual COA Conference.
Seconded by John Parsons. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
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MVES Board of Directors Nomination Approval (Vote): Motion by John Parsons to
approve MVES's nomination of Chris Kowaleski to serve a 3-year term as a Council on Aging
representative to the MVES Board (6/24/2025 to 10/31/2028) and nominations of both
Michele Clopper and Karen Fotino to serve as Council on Aging representatives to the MVES
Board for a 2-year term (6/24/2025 to October 1, 2027). Seconded by Marilyn Shapleigh.
Approved by unanimous vote.
PBC Update: Nancy Ziemlak shared handouts from the PBC meeting and reported that the
project budget and schedule are on track. Design Development is coming to a close. Cost
estimates are being reviewed. The Operational Plan is being developed and will be shared
with the COA in November. A Financial plan workgroup will be reviewing change orders.
Nancy Ziemlak and Karen Janowski participated in a group that worked with the kitchen
design consultant. Two committees were appointed: one to review qualifications of
potential developers and a second to handle the RFQ process once proposals are received
from approved development companies. The next PBC meeting is scheduled for Oct 8'h.
Discussion and Vote to Change COA Monthly Meeting Start Time: Karen Janowski
suggested that the COA might change its meeting time to start at 6:00 pm instead of 6:30.
This could facilitate attendance at both COA meetings and other Town Committee meetings
held later in the evening. Concern was raised that the 6:00 time could be difficult for those
who are working. John Parsons made a motion to table further discussion and potential
vote until next month so that scheduling Issues could be researched. John Saczynski
seconded the motion. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Future Agenda Items:
• Election of a COA Secretary.
• Nancy Ziemlak requested that the COA consider and potentially vote upon
sponsoring a vendor -run How to Be Happy/Are You Happy program that was
demonstrated at last year's Annual COA Conference.
• Marilyn Shapleigh reserved a table for the COA to participate at the Connected
Reading: An Open House for our Community event to be held at the library on
Tuesday October 28 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. and at the October meeting will ask for
one or two volunteers to help staff the table. Meanwhile, Save the Date.
• Kate requested discussion of a "wish list" for the operations plan.
• At the October meeting, Town staff will give a presentation on the work underway on
an Operational Plan for the new Senior Center/Center for Active Living.
Motion to adjourn by John Parsons. Motion seconded by John Saczynski. All in favor.
Meeting adjourned by Karen Janowski at 6:52.
Next Meeting October 20'h at 6:00 p.m.
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