HomeMy WebLinkAbout1972-06-28 Council on Aging MinutesCOUNCIL ON AGING
Meeting Meld on June 28, 1972
A regular meeting of the Council on Aging was held on Wednesday evening,
June 28, 1972, at the dousing for the Elderly.
The meeting was called to order by Mrs. Beaton, the Chair n, at 8:30 P.14:
Those present in addition to Mrs. Beaton, were Mrs. Louanis, Mrs. Sias, Mrs.
Lantz, Miss Leslie, Mr. Stratton, Mr. Emrich and Nor. `Farnham.. Also present was
°s. Stewart.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously:
VOTED: To accept for the records the Secretary's reports for the meet-
ing held on April. 26, 1972 and the adjourned meeting of May 24, 1972, copies of
which had been previously railed to all members of the Council..
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was also unanimously:
VOTED: To accept for the records the information contained in the inform-
al discussion reported in the P.S. after the report of the meeting of May 24th.
Air. Stratton, the Treasurer, reported as follows:
A balance of $790.31 ( or $840.31 including Petty Cash of $50.00
on hand), after payment of Vouchers 3-37 inclusive, totaling
$1,720.95.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously:
VOTED: To accept the above Treasurer's report as read,
Mrs. Beaton reported that she had given to Mr. Dewey Smith, Clerk of the
Reading Finance Committee,, Reding Housing Authority check #27 on the Middlesex
Bank, June 12, 1972, in the e.mo-uht of $4,400.00, with the understanding, that a.
like am:). apt will be made available by a transfer from the Reserve Fund of the
Town of Reading to the account and for the use of the Council on Aging, and that.
she received a receipt dated June 13 to that effect. She also reported that a
balance of $318.79 is still being held by the housing Authority for the Community
Program.
The first of the Summer Programs held an June 28th was reported as most
successful:. ,tei elan was served outdoors followed by a community sing inside
with Mrs. Hazel Giles at the piano. Mr, Harold Bond and Mrs. Sally Matson of
the Quannapowitt Players gave delightful readings from Mark Vain, Dorothy Park-
er and the last act of "Elizabeth, the Queen," which were most skillfully per-
formed and enthusiastically enjoyed.
Mrs. Louanis reported that the Council buts ride scheduled for June 22nd
to hantasket, had been changed to a Golden Age Club ride to Yo , Is in Portsmouth,
New Hampshire, and that the Council ride would be postponed until September.
Mrs. Beaton reported she had received Volume 1, Number 1 of a newsletter
from the Executive Office of Elder Affairs, copies of-which will be mailed to
Catmzcil members. She had also been in touch with Mr, Jack Crain., of the same of-
fice, and very definitely Reading will be part of Region 4 - and not as former-
ly of the Middlesex Northeast Councils on Aging (MINERCA) in order to com-
ply with the regional allocation of towns already set up for Community, Dental
Health, and Visiting Nurse services. It is understood that Federal Grants in
the future will be made to an entire region rather than to separate towns,
Councils on Aging or other community services. Information is expected to be
given out about Region 4 meeting to be held in September for representatives
from its towns and services to present guidelines for the new set-up.
Miss Jean Turco, a teacher of Nursing at Salem State College had been
in touch with Mrs. Beaton and asked if the Council would be interested in sup-
porting a program with Wakefield on Home Care, Miss Turco had also discussed
this matter with Mrs. Frances Murphy of the Combined Visiting Nurse Association.
Because of developments pending through the Executive Office of Elder Affairs,
the Council felt it advisable to refrain from making a decision at this time.
Mrs. Beaton announced with regret that Fars. Stewart had informed her
Y that the position of Executive Director-Secretary was requiring more time than
she felt she could give to it, and Mrs. Beaton expressed the appreciation of
the Council for the fine work Mrs. Stewart had done during the past three months,
errs. Stewart did say, however, that until other arrangements could be made, she
would be walling to continue on for the time being on an hourly basis for as
much time as she could give.
Since the Council does not yet have information from the Executive Of-
fice of Elder Affairs and Region 4 regarding what funds and possible trained
personnel may be available to us or how programs will take shape, Mr. Emrich
suggested that Mrs. Beaton be authorized to hire at the usual hourly rate what-
ever extra help may be needed for the summer and to get the Fall Program, start-
ed. After further discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was
unanimously:
VOTED: That Mrs. Beaton be authorized to hire on an hourly basis extra
help as required until specific arrangements are made for filling the position
of Executive Director; and that Mrs. Stewart would continue to work with Mrs.
Beaton and be paid at the hourly rate.
Mr. Emrich questioned how he could better serve the Council and also
how other members could better contribute. It was suggested that he and Pi's.
Sias might contact the various churches for the names of elderly people needing
home care services or friendly calls from our Visitation Committee, a possible
voluntary youth group or such groups as the "Keenagers." The Council will then
also have a better idea of how many heading people might need Home Care if this
proves to be a major concern for Region 4 in the fall, as it is likely to be.
After further discussion, . Stratton and Mrs. Lantz offered to prepare
an alphabetical card file of the elderly in Reading from an extra set of mailing
stickers obtained from Addison-Wesley; and the Council members plan is spend
an eveni.ng,recordi.ng information on the cards on an individual basis, as well
as to add names from the new Reading Town List,
Discussion was entered into regarding any gifts of money which may be
donated to the Community Program for the Elderly, and the fact that funds cannot
be solicited for this program since April 1, 1972, when it was taken over, by
the Council. Mrs. Beaton said she had discussed this situation with Town
Counsel, who had suggested that a separate non-profit organization be incorpor-
ated that would be responsible for any funds other than Town funds. At this
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time there is sufficient money in the budget to carry a full program for this
year, but in looking ahead there is the possibility that the proposed budget
for the program may have to be curtailed if sufficient funds cannot be approp-
riated through the Town. This was taken tender advisement and will be discussed
at a further meeting,
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously:
VOTED: To cancel the July 2b meeting of the Council as many members
will be on vacation.
'there being no further business to come before the meeting, and upon
motion dull- made and seconded, it was unanimously voted to adjourn, and the
Chairman adjourned the meeting at 1030 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
LL.
Secretary
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