HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-03-27 Council on Aging MinutesCouncil on Aging
March 27, 20,0 'ASS.
Berger Room, Town Hall "
16 Lowe1D SOW 22 A 110; 25
Reading, MA 01867-2684
Present:
Mary Andreola, Dave Brigham, Gladys Cail, Betty Cronin, Edwina Kasper,
Joanne O'Brien, Gay Williams, Joanne Wooldridge, Associate Member Dick
Anderson, Lois Bond
Excused:
Beth Moore, Dottye Foxon,
Guests:
Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, Town Treasurer Beth Klepeis
Chairperson Mary Andreola called the meeting to order at 7:09 p.m.
The purpose of the meeting was to review the Senior Property Tax Worker Program as
listed in the municipal budget for $10,500.
Peter Hechenbleikner gave an overview of the fixed costs the Town must pay as
contrasted with the Property Tax Worker program that is discretionary and not mandated.
He wants to minimize disruption of services and employees while moving forward with
projects such as Addison Wesley and the land fill.
Gay Williams asked about the interest on the Burbank investment. By reducing the
amount of interest the principal is being negatively affected. She reflected on the Burbank
Legacy Policy that provides services and short-terms programs for the elderly. Switching
the Property Tax Program to the Burbank Trust will not be a short-term program because
once it is out of the municipal budget it will be difficult to reinstate it.
Dave Brigham asked about the vote taken by the Council to designate funds for people
needing help with pharmacy bills. Currently, one person has applied for the COA
determined cap of $500 for prescription assistance.
Joanne Wooldridge requested information about the percentage of per capita expenditure
of the municipal budget for elders compared with per capita expenditures for other
population cohorts. The aging of the general population indicates an increasing need for
assistance in the area of gerontological services. Is Reading becoming a homogeneous
population where the elderly can no longer afford to live? The COA may want to
consider broader criteria for the Burbank Trust to assist people not currently part of the
Property Tax Worker program. The concern is for people who may be physically
challenged yet continue to have homeowner expenses.
Beth Klepeis reviewed the Hospital Trust Fund from its meager beginnings to the
substantial fund it has become. The medical taxi program administered by Elder Services
Council on Aging Minutes
March 27, 2000
Page 2
and the Reading Response program are funded by the Hospital Trust. Approximately
$12-13,000 per month is spent on home care services and $2000 per month is spent on
taxi services. The portfolio is 80% bonds yielding 6-7% annual interest and 20% stocks.
Betty Cronin asked that if a future override were successful would the Property Tax
Program be reinstated to the 01 budget?
Joanne O'Brien is gravely concerned about the needs of frail elders who may not be able
to avail themselves of the tax program.
There was continued discussion about moving the program from the municipal budget to
the Burbank Trust Fund. It is to be for one year, Fiscal Year '01 and not to be considered
a permanent move.
Dave Brigham moved and Gay Williams seconded a motion to reduce the Elder Services
municipal budget by $10,500 for the Senior Citizen Property Tax Work Program for
Fiscal Year '01. The Council on Aging will address the guidelines to have the Burbank
Trust Fund sponsor the Senior Citizen Property Tax Work Program for Fiscal Year '01.
7-1-0
Respectfully submitted,
Lois K. Bond
MONTHLY REPORT
HUMAN SERVICES/ELDER AND HUMAN SERVICES
MARCH 2000
Sp
ecial Remarks:
♦
Social Worker worked with the Police Department on three cases, also, doing the
time consuming ground work for a home modification for a physically challenged
person, in addition to daily client concerns.
♦
Initial response to'diabetes support group meeting was positive. Group will meet
monthly on the last Wednesday.
♦
Elder Services clerk continues to assist clients with Fuel Assistance applications.
♦
Social Worker attended Mystic Valley Providers' Meeting and Social Workers
meeting in Watertown and a Mass. Grandparents Network meeting. She is exploring
beginning a Grandparents-raising-Grandchildren support group in Reading.
♦
Social Worker and volunteer Nurse Practitioner held two Alzheimer Support Groups.
♦
The Registry of Motor Vehicles presented a program on safe driving tips and how to
obtain a handicapped placard.
♦
Elder Services participated in the Health Fair.
♦
The Administrator and Faye Meehl from the Assessor's Office presented a program
on the Senior Property Tax Work program and abatement eligibility.
♦
Coordinator of Volunteers attended regional CoV Network meeting.
♦
Coordinator of Volunteers continues planning for the Volunteer Reception in May.
♦
Census workers were at the Center to assist with completion of census 2000 forms.
♦
Staff from the Boston VA Medical Center presented a Shingles Prevention screening
program. Veterans and their spouses and people age 60+, if they never had shingles,
may be eligible to participate in this national study.
♦
Fix-It shop is open twice a month thanks to dedicated volunteers.
♦
The Knitters are meeting weekly and want to market some of their handiwork to fund
their insatiable desire for yarn. Nana's Knit Shop to be open once a month.
♦
Details with Mystic Valley are nearly complete regarding our Meals on Wheels
Coordinator also managing the kitchen three days a week as the MOW/Mealsite
Coordinator. This is an exciting comprehensive approach to the nutrition program.
♦
A shipping business moved back to Reading and donated a very generous supply of
unclaimed infant clothes that we are distributing to Adopt-a-Families.
♦
Fire Department donated some of their silk plants to the Center. Welcome back Ficus
Benjamin!
♦
Four COA members and the Administrator attended the MCOA North Shore
Regional meeting. Attendees very excited and inspired by the workshops. RFD's Jack
Mooney and Bond attended two workshops on Fire and Fall Prevention.
♦
Subscriptions increasing for our monthly Ramblings newsletter. (People pay postage.)
♦
Center office setup is almost complete - waiting for keyed lock on door.
♦
Looking ahead: Social Worker and Administrator will do an elder issues presentation
for the Mass. Crime Prevention Officers School in Burlington; Formula Grant due in
April; EOEA statistical tracking annual report software will be installed and staff will
be trained on the STAR system. Formula grant will include a data input position.
Monthly Report - Human Services/Elder and Human Services
Page 2
March 2000
Meetings Attended:
RES staff meeting, COA, Human Services Department, MVES Advisory Council,
YMCA Adult Education Network, Formula Grant training, MCOA regional conference
Monthly Statistics
Staff/Client/Program Contacts
March
YTD
Administrator: Elder Services:
99
323
Administrator: Human Services:
9
33
Coordinator of Volunteers
156
421
Lunch participants
45
129
Lunch meals served
460
1241
Meals on Wheels participants
83
237
Meals served
1545
4053
Social Worker
208
572
Shopping
73
186
Van passengers
60
191
Van Mileage
900
2027
Volunteers: adult
146
400
Volunteer Hours: adult
902.5
3300
Volunteers: intergenerational
275
853
Volunteer Hours: intergenerational
260
1244
Food Pantry Referrals
Deposits
March
YTD $
Van
Shopping Fund
95
107
Elder Services Revolving Fund
10
492
Expended from Elder Services Fund
912.85
Human Services Revolving Fund
Expended from Human Services Fund
tl0
p
000 0 o O in
F
0 0 0 O O O i'
C71
N
-
OtnO O O H •1r) H(D -d'
w
omo 0 0 0 •MOO •ko
rA U
O Co In CO •to
d z
In ID 110 • W W e--I
a d
.-i h .-i • I\ H N
H a
m
44
ov i • ;1 1
r1
»
N . . • .--1
'-t
d
a
w
a
w
-
d
x
0 )n0 0 0 .-i •LO rio •~o
a
b
omo 0 0 a •moo •m
H
G.
H
OD N • (n to • M
O
q
to • ~o M
z
I~ r 1 t~ r l O%
a
W
x
w
o
z
E
xz
Ow
000 0 0 0 •000 - •O
z
ooo 0 0 0 •ooo •o
O
cn W
. . .
H
w to
o 0
H
5 a
in v)
d
z D
H ml
a
>
o 0
a
W H
N N
O
rz w
xo
x
.
a o
a o
d N
rs,P
w
o00 0 0 0 •ooo •o
O
z
000 O O O •000 •O
i
E O
cn m
W N
.
d O
5 >
i i
E
LA W
q
Uw
z H
H z
p H
.-i
<
>H
ooo 0 0 0 •ooo •o
wa
Q+a
ooo o 0 0 •ooo C.
x
o0
h
o
ww
-
O U
z
q z
o
Ma
H
d
m
.
z
D d
-
43u
zz z z
x-
oO O O C
E
H H H H -
OH
EIH E H •U
z
H H H H •
,d
fZ
00 O 00 H
W0
Q. a 04H - •Z
z
d
-
U)
Cr
HHfzH EZ -
W104
ZZOZD4zH U
> N
W W E W O W q -
W d
zzdzEzpti
~
~
r-4
H
z~0 H
ad
a pczHau Un ri) d
d
W W m 14 Q w w W
H(Y
aC1,O O. Ca as ~Un Un
Uw
o O mz - z d
*
W p
. . U, O• w• m w
a4 a
U Uz o. • w a a
Unw
mcnc~cn cnwx •r) w
a
WWZWZWwW •Hw>+ •q
w
m
H H H H O H E > d a
a
tnc•
xxafZEl CZZa> rzaa W
Nin
dd0, 4"4SW W dE
cn
1.1 1-1 011Un1-1 ax •U)zo a
O
ddx dHdOE+ OO •O
E
F
cncn(nU)>Un>O 0U) W
d
z
< 0a
H
W
o o N ~o m o• z W d -0
U)
O O N N N o• O a E-
C) C) 0 0 (D 0 •U) . H •E
a
lazy -O
*
p d
o N N N N o• w O d • H
*
D w
o r-1 ri .--I .-i r-
r=, q
0 LO LO In In m z
>n
w
C> z
O N
0
N 0
rz z
H
z
n N
r-1
C=. W
o a
tf) a
a
W o
O a
z '4
W d
> a
W
C4 w
o,
a
w
x
z
w
Q Oooo - v
H O o 0 0 o
D+ . . . .
. H
oovo
C. C)
W
ri OVO
OV0
•t0
W U
m N.
N
o
d z
m v
rn
a d
to m
rn
Ln
rn
a d
00
H
> W
W
d
rn
a
w
d
a
oovo
•ovo
•v
Cal
D
oovo
•ovo
-v
H
Ga
H
N
N
N
o
z
ON
a
w
w
c,
w
z
to
-
E.,
fa z
:
to
OW
rnooo
•ooo
rn
z
z
,oooo
•ooo
•,n
p
to w
. . . .
. . . . .
.
.
H
w to
N
C
E-4
n 1%
0
C)
H
W
x
>
N
N
a
wH
xa
ao
ao
-
a o
N
x
D4
0
0
o
:o
z
0
0
:
-oo
m
W0
-
v)
U)
H faa
40
a >
H
Cl W
to U)
x
Q
r, w
z H
H Z
Q H
r1
du:
D,
4000
•ooo
-
Wa
Ida
,n o o o
-ooo
•,n
a
on
:
o
o
W
H
m
m
O
W W
v
~y
Oz
-
z
-
~
o
wa
H
d
to
z U
.
oz
CL H
rx d
z
W
f.,
E O
d
0
4
-z
H
0
U
wz
a
5 o
H
z 0
U
W U
W
z
a
o
w
D
-0
am
H
U
a o
to z
cn
-
< "
W a
W
• to
H E
to o
to
z
u4
z4u
z
O
#
Wz
W\
tnW
H
a 0
a E
W a
H
tf'q
W
Hw
z
a
W W
a
•
W
r
H
d
•0
a
tnv
czaa
•aaa
•Q
•
N171
dwH
•wdH
-
cn
axb
•tnz~
~a
E.
E+
U)oo
.aU) 00
:O
54
d
z
daa
H-
-
oooo
zW d
a
cn
oooo
•0aE
d
H
0000
•to H
-
E
+
x
czza
-0
Qd
oooN
•w04
E
+
za
o,-im,r,
•azU
~D
C) r-4 r- OD
wQ
Ointnu
tn
w
D+
w
o z
O H
0
N C7
W z
H
z
rl
44 W
O %
a a
a
W o
5 a
z >4
w d
> a
a O
a'
W
z
Q
O o 0 0
N
E
0 0 0 0
r1
110 OO V•
O'r O
N
W
c•oo0
•00 O
•c
a w
01 U
~ ~o
~
• o
d z
m
m
-00
a d
r m
m
m
Ha
C)
dd
v
: :v
N
W
r-,
d
a
W
d
to
a
w
d
cx
ooov
0,r C)
•v
a
5
0000
•ooCD
•o
E
G4
H
l0
l0
- ~
O
Q
m
m
•m
z
m
m
m
rz
w
.
w
a
~
w
-
~ -
z
z
a
to
ow
oooo
•ooo
•o
z
~
oooo
•ooo
•o
O
to w
H
W W
•d'
• v
d
z n
to
a
w H
1% C)
C40
a o
d N
a
Nl~
w
0000
-ooo
o
0
z
o o o o
(D C)
- -o
H
E O
. . . .
. . . -
. . .
to m
W H
H
Q H
CL
40
n>
E
to W
to to
a
Oct
q
zH
H Z
a-
.--I
414
>4
D006
OOo
•tp
wa
rza
oooo
•ooo
-v
a
o
y
N
:N
(4
E
co
- • OD
O
W W
o
0
oz
z
3
5 d
O
ma
E
d
Vi
W
Q d
Z .
50
W
w
z
x to
o
v
E Z
H
co
H
U)
z
z
a
w
0 0
E
z C)
E
d
w
z
z
> E
W
O
w to
z
Q
(Z H
•
a m
Qi to
to
cn
d d
w w
W
H
-k
H
a to
to
VJ
U a
z
z
to
w0
1 w
•mW
d
ax
a
•wo
U) to
to tnX
•UX
:a.
a
www
H W T,
•O
W
co
H H
> d
x
a
,nv
aaa
•aaa
•m
C,4 L')
`yr.(;W
WdE
co
aax
-tnz5
.z
n
<
00
:o
E-+
U) U)
0
aU)
d
z
aaa
-
E
w
oooo
•zWd
•a
U)
x
oooo
•OaE
•d
oooo
*
:aza
: •o
i~
Qd
O0NO
w Od
• H
za.
or-,ritn
•aazu
i~
O W
Ori-4r
C, Q
o ,n ,n in
. +