Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1988-03-14 Council on Aging MinutesMINUTES - Council on Aging - March 14, 1988 Members present: Woody Baldwin, Barbara Doucette, Gail Rourke(6:10), Galdys Cail, Dick Felone, Aloyse Jellison, Loretta Spaulding, Ruth Vitkovich, Barbara Ritchie, Gertrude Poolf= Members absent: Rosemary Gibbons, Sebastian Tine Staff present: Rheta McKinley The meeting was called to order at 5:35 P.M. by Chairman, Woody Baldwin. Motion by Dick Felone, seconded by Gladys Cail and voted to ac- cept minutes of previous meeting. Financial Report was read and accepted. There was considerable discussion regarding memo from Town Manager dated Feb. 8, 1988, regarding COA relocation. Woody Baldwin has since talked with Town Manager and problem has been resolved. Director's Report: Rheta introduced' Gayle Munro, newly hired Volunteer Coordinator. A coffe is planned April 4th at 10:00 AM and April 12th at 1:30 PM for volunteers to meet Gayle. Gayle will be coordinating our intergenerational program "It's Good to Care" with 5th grade at Barrows school. Friendly Visitor Coordinator, Lee Roberts, received a thank you letter from school committee for representing the COA up to now with this program. Vial of Life Program - Barrow school youngsters are making posters advertising this program. The kick off date will be first of May for Older Americans Month. Rheta will make a presentation to the youngsters explaining the Vial of Life program. A program "You and Your Medication" was done by Emily Venee of Eastern Middlesex Mental Health in the Senior Center last month. Attendance was not what we had hoped, but those who did attend thought it was worthwhile. For Valentines, Lois Bond took a basket to a family who, through an oversight, we neglected to help at Christmas. The basket con- tained food items, clothing, small gifts, etc. The family had a bad leaky roof. Rheta asked if council would be willing to pay for materials to repair roof if labor could be performed at no charge. Family has very low income. Estimated cost is not available at this time. No help is available anywhere else. Rheta to pursue with contractor. 1 Council recently paid for removal of asbestos heater ($900.00) for a family whose heater "died". Company that replaced heater set up a 12 month payment schedule. After this is paid, COA will approach the family to schedule a payment system to recoup part of the $900.00. Whatever they can afford. We do this in order to bring money back in to enable us to help others. Outreach Worker, Lois Bond, is having a workshop for COA staff on how to fill out Health Insurance forms on Monday, March 21 at 8:30 to 9:30. She will then be available by appointment on the 3rd Monday of every month from 10AM - 1PM for any older person who needs assistance or she will visit the homebound if neces- sary. Motion by Aloyse Jellison seconded by Dick Felone to pay for cost of roof materials if labor can be done at no charge for family with leaking roof. Motion passed unanimously. Advisory Council: After considerable discussion, and in the ab- sence of Rosemary Gibbons, it was decided to wait for Needs Assessment to set up the Advisory Council. This will be dis- cussed at the next Board meeting. Needs Assessment: Labels have been received and as soon as printing is done, Barbara Doucette will request Board members to ' help with the mailing. Spring Brunch: Rheta reported that the Junior Woman°s Club is unavailable to do the Spring Brunch. Gladys Cail will Chair with help from Rosemary Gibbons. Tentative date: Saturday April 9th in the Senior Center from 11:30 to 2:30. Rheta will check to see if it is OK to use the Senior Center building on this date. Menu suggested was Quiche, fresh fruit, danish, donuts, tea and coffee. The Mass Bar Association has designated the first week of May as "Law Week". Attorneys will be available to speak on "Issues in- volved in Long Term Care" and "Why a Will". An attorney is ten- titively set to speak at the COA on May 4th or 5th at 9:30 to 11:30 AM. Volunteer Dinner: Rheta announced that the Volunteer Dinner is planned for April 20th at the Masonic Hall at 6:00 P.M.. Rheta will confirm the date with the Masons. Gayle Munro is working on the caterer and the entertainment. Patrons of Older Adults will be asked to provide funding in the amount of $400.00 to defray expenses. 2 Dick Felone requested the Board write a letter of recommendation to the Town Manager supporting Rheta McKinley's application for the Director of COA position. Motion was made by Aloyse Jellison seconded by Gail Rourke that Chairman, Woody Baldwin, send a let- ter of recommendation to Ruth Cogan with a copy to Peter Hechenbleikner, Town Manager. Motion passed unanimously. Older Americans Month: Rheta requested input from Board for programs and events for Month of May for Older Americans Month. The first week we will have a program by Mass Bar Association. The Annual Picnic is planned for Tuesday, May 24th at 11:30 AM in the Senior Center Parking lot if we are still in this building. The Annual Exhibit, held at the library, of items made in the COA classes will again take place at the Reading Public Library for the month. It was also suggested we have a program with the new Secretary of Elder Affairs, Paul Lanzikos, and also include Geoffrey Beckwith. This met with the Boards approval. Rheta will set up•a date. Rheta suggested having programs at each housing complex instead of everything at the COA center. Suggestion was made that per- haps we could have a progressive lunch with a different course at each complex. This would be a good chance to tour the different facilities. The van would be available for transportation. After Rheta finalizes the date with secretary Lanzikos, a date will be set for the progressive lunch. The committee for this event will consist of Gertrude Poole, as Chairperson, with help from Woody Baldwin, Barbara Doucette, and Gladys Cail. Rheta advised Board that Housing Athority requested letter of support and a list of services provided by COA for congregate housing if they can convert Pleasant St. fire station. Motion made by Dick Felone seconded by Gladys Cail to write letter of support to Housing Athority for congregate housing. Motion passed unanimously. Annual Dinner: Rheta has reserved Austin Prep for the Annual Dinner on Sunday Nov 20th. Austin's business manager will get back to her if their kitchen staff will be willing to purchase food at our expense and to do the cooking. Town Manager assured Rheta he would find volunteers to assist if students and staff are not available. Aloyse Jellison suggested giving a gift to each individual student for assisting. Board will think about and discuss at a later date. Woody Baldwin advised Board he had talked with Beth Klepeis, town treasurer, on reclassification of Van Driver, Florence Farelli. Board feels this is an oversimplification of her job and duties. Rheta suggested upgrading the position to transportation coor- dinator as her responsibilities are far beyond driving a van. A new classification should be established. Motion made by Loretta Spaulding seconded by Gladys Cail to pursue a better class- ification for van driver. Motion passed unanimously. Town Manager, Chairman Woody Baldwin, and COA staff viewed Paul's Furniture showroom as 'a possible site for relocation of Senior Center. The committee was favorably impressed. Peter Hechenbleikner will send a copy of floor plans to Rheta McKinley to allow each person to make suggestions. The Board also discussed the need for new furniture. The old furniture is too low for older people. We need to make the fur- niture more accessible. Rheta will call the Arthritis Foundation for information on chairs for people with physical difficulties. Meeting adjourned at 7:00 P.M. 4 MINUTES - Council on Aging - March 14, 1988 Members present: Woody Baldwin, Barbara Doucette, Gail Rourke(6:10), Galdys Cail, Dick Felone, Aloyse Jellison, Loretta Spaulding, Ruth Vitkovich, Barbara Ritchie, Gertrude Pool Members absent: Rosemary Gibbons, Sebastian Tine Staff present: Rheta McKinley The meeting was called to order at 5:35 P.M. by Chairman, Woody Baldwin. Motion by Dick Felone, seconded by Gladys Cail and voted to ac- cept.minutes of previous meeting. Financial Report was read and accepted. There was considerable discussion regarding memo from Town Manager dated Feb. 8, 1988, regarding COA relocation. Woody Baldwin has since talked with Town Manager and problem has been resolved. Director's Report: Rheta introduced Gayle Munro, newly hired Volunteer Coordinator. A coffe is planned April 4th at 10:00 AM and April 12th at 1:30 PM for volunteers to meet Gayle. Gayle will be coordinating our intergenerational program "It's Good to Care" with 5th grade at Barrows school. Friendly Visitor Coordinator, Lee Roberts, received a thank you. letter from school committee for representing the COA up to now with this program. Vial of Life Program - Barrow school youngsters are making posters advertising this program. The kick off date will be first of May for Older Americans Month. Rheta will make a presentation to the youngsters explaining the Vial of Life program. A program "You and Your Medication" was done by Emily Venee of Eastern Middlesex Mental Health in the Senior Center last month. Attendance was not what we had hoped, but those who did attend thought it was worthwhile. For Valentines, Lois Bond took a basket to a family who, through an oversight, we neglected to help at Christmas. The basket con- tained food items, clothing, small gifts, etc." The family had a bad leaky roof. Rheta asked if council would be willing to pay for materials to repair roof if labor could be performed at no charge. Family has very low income. Estimated cost is not available at this time. No help is available anywhere else. Rheta to pursue with contractor. 1 Council recently paid for removal of asbestos heater ($900.00) for a family whose heater "died". Company that replaced heater set up a 12 month payment schedule. After this is paid, COA will approach the family to schedule a payment system to recoup part of the $900.00. Whatever they can afford. We do this in order to bring money back in to enable us to help others. Outreach Worker, Lois Bond, is having a workshop for COA staff on how to fill out Health Insurance forms on Monday, March 21 at 8:30 to 9:30. She will then be available by appointment on the 3rd Monday of every month from LOAM - 1PM for any older person who needs assistance or she will visit the homebound if neces- sary. Motion by Aloyse Jellison seconded by Dick Felone to pay for cost of roof materials if labor can be done at no charge for family with leaking roof. Motion passed unanimously. Advisory Council: After considerable discussion, and in the ab- sence of Rosemary Gibbons, it was decided to wait for Needs Assessment to set up the Advisory Council. This will be dis- cussed at the next Board meeting. Needs Assessment: Labels have been received and as soon as printing is done, Barbara Doucette will request Board members to help with the mailing. Spring Brunch: Rheta reported that the Junior Woman's Club is unavailable to do the Spring Brunch. Gladys Cail will Chair with help from Rosemary Gibbons. Tentative date: Saturday April 9th in the Senior Center from 11:30 to 2:30. Rheta will check to see if it is OK to use the Senior Center building on this date. Menu suggested was Quiche, fresh fruit, danish, donuts, tea and coffee. The Mass Bar Association has designated the first week of May as "Law Week". Attorneys will be available to speak on "Issues in- volved in Long Term Care" and "Why a Will". An attorney is ten- titively set to speak at the COA on May 4th or 5th at 9:30 to 11:30 AM. Volunteer Dinner: Rheta announced that the Volunteer Dinner is planned for April 20th at the Masonic Hall at 6:00 P.M.. Rheta will confirm the date with the Masons. Gayle Munro is working on the caterer and the entertainment. Patrons of Older Adults will be asked to provide funding in the amount of $400.00 to defray expenses. 2 Dick Felone requested the Board write a letter of recommendation to the Town Manager supporting Rheta McKinley's application for the Director of COA position. Motion was made by Aloyse Jellison seconded by Gail Rourke that Chairman, Woody Baldwin, send a let- ter of recommendation to Ruth Cogan with a copy to Peter Hechenbleikner, Town Manager. Motion passed unanimously. Older Americans Month: Rheta requested input from Board for programs and events for Month of May for Older Americans Month. The first week we will have a program by Mass Bar Association. The Annual Picnic is planned for Tuesday, May 24th at 11:30 AM in the Senior Center Parking lot if we are still in this building. The Annual Exhibit, held at the library, of items made in the COA classes will again take place at the Reading Public Library for the month. It was also suggested we have a program with the new Secretary of Elder Affairs, Paul Lanzikos, and also include Geoffrey Beckwith. This met with the Boards approval. Rheta will set up a date. Rheta suggested having programs at each housing complex instead of everything at the COA center. Suggestion was made that per- haps we could have a progressive lunch with a different course at each complex. This would be a good chance to tour the different facilities. The van would be available for transportation. After Rheta finalizes the date with Secretary Lanzikos, a date will be set for the progressive lunch. The committee for this event will consist of Gertrude Poole, as Chairperson, with help from Woody Baldwin, Barbara Doucette, and Gladys Cail. Rheta advised Board that Housing Athority requested letter of support and a list of services provided by COA for congregate housing if they can convert Pleasant St. fire station. Motion made by Dick Felone seconded by Gladys Cail to write letter of support to Housing Athority for congregate housing. Motion passed unanimously. Annual Dinner: Rheta has reserved Austin Prep for the Annual Dinner on Sunday Nov 20th. Austin's business manager will get back to her if their kitchen staff will be willing to purchase food at our expense and to do the cooking. Town Manager assured Rheta he would find volunteers to assist if students and staff are not available. Aloyse Jellison suggested giving a gift to each individual student for assisting. Board will think about and discuss at a later date. Woody Baldwin advised Board he had talked with Beth Klepeis, town treasurer, on reclassification of van Driver, Florence Farelli. Board feels this is an oversimplification of her job and duties. Rheta suggested upgrading the position to transportation coor- dinator as her responsibilities are far beyond driving a van. A new classification should be established. Motion made by Loretta Spaulding seconded by Gladys Cail to pursue a better class- ification for van driver. Motion passed unanimously. Town Manager, Chairman Woody Baldwin, and COA staff viewed Paul's Furniture showroom as a possible site for relocation of Senior Center. The committee was favorably impressed. Peter Hechenbleikner will send a copy of floor plans to Rheta McKinley to allow each person to make suggestions. The Board also discussed the need for new furniture. The old furniture is too low for older people. We need to make the fur- niture more accessible. Rheta will call the Arthritis Foundation for information on chairs for people with physical difficulties. Meeting adjourned at 7:00 P.M. 4