HomeMy WebLinkAbout1984-11-13 Council on Aging MinutesCOUNCIL ON AGING
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Secretary's Report
November 13, 1984
NOTE: Meeting was held in Room 129 the High School, prior to the Town Meeting
Present:' Administrative Secretary, Rheta McKinley, Chairperson, Lorna Knapp,
Members, Dick Felone, Corinne Pecoraro, S. Lester Ralph, Mary Segallo, Jane Soule,
Sebastian Tine; and Finance Committeeman, Eric Shane.
Absent: Marcia McFarland Gray, Ann Marie McCarron, Betty Knox, and Associate
Member, Frank Lemaire.
Chairperson Knapp opend the meeting at 7:10 by introducing Eric Shane, the
Council's new representative from the Finance Committee.
A motion was made, seconded and VOTED to accept the minutes of the previous meet-
ing as submitted.
Treasurer Soule reported that with 75% of line items unspent, the balance is on
target for the first quarter. Ms. Soule stated she and Rheta had attended the
finance committee meeting on October 30 and learned that the Council can expect
a 1% increase in their budget for next year, excluding salaries.
ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY'S REPORT
Rheta reported that the Rotary Club is considering the possibility of paying for
taxi service to the meal site for seniors unable to be accommodated by the
present van. This service, if provided, would be in force until the new van
with its additional space is procured. They are also providing 25 Thanksgiving
meals for the homebound.
Rheta met with Doreen Bolnick of the Library staff. The library has received a
grant earmarked::to serve the needs of older people. They are now ready to imple-
ment plans as suggested by Rheta. It was decided that the meetings would be
held on Friday mornings at the library, starting in December. The library will
supply refreshments and public relations work. Some of the programs suggested
were sexuality, health insurance and financial planning for retirement. Cassettes
for the blind and homebound were suggested. Information on legislative matters,
current topics around the community concerning older people, and tax abatements
and exemptions were mentioned as possible subjects.
The Friendly Visitor, John Dehne, has resigned as of the end of December. She
is willing to stay on as a volunteer and continue to visit a few clients that
she has been calling on. She would like to see the program expanded and suggests
that that when a new Friendly Visitor is hired that she recruit a coordinator to
handle all programs; i.e. meal site, meals on wheels, etc. She feels the hours
should be extended and mileage be paid. It was decided to put an ad in the
Chronicle for a new representative. Joan expressed a willingness to work with
her and help her get started.
Council on Aging
-2- November 13, 1984
Rheta stated she would be unable to pay the Friendly Visitor and the Meals
on Wheels Coordinator this week as the old grant has run out and the check
for the new grant has not been received.
Rheta reported that the morale of the Council staff is at a low ebb. The
Meals on Wheels Coordinator is now delivering more than twice the number of
meals a day than when she was hired. There is a great deal more paperwork,
and volunteers are leaving to go back to school or to accept paying positions.
Last week there were 61 participants in the meals on wheels program.The need
for another clerk for the Council office was stressed as the amount of work
expected cannot be done in 19 hours. Rheta stated that a definite title should
be assigned her; she questioned whether she was a department head, an adminis-
trator or a clerk.
S. Lester Ralph stated that he detected a hostile attitude on the part of the
selectmen when he attempted to address them concerning the Council's working
conditions and salaries. Dick Felone concurred and stated he thought immediate
and forceful action should be taken. Corinne suggested a subcommittee be ap-
pointed to address the problem.
There was a lengthy discussion regarding lack of response from the finance com-
mittee and the selectmen when the needs of the Council were outlined at a meet-
ing of the Council Board and Russell Graham, Chairman of the Finance Committee
on September 28, 1983.
Chairperson Knapp appinted Corinne Pecoraro and S. Lester Ralph to explore the
issues discussed. Dick suggested that emphasis should be put on the increased
number of people being helped and the subsequent added workload rather than a
time study of the workers.
Final details for the Annual Thanksgiving dinner were discussed. The spouses
of the Board members were invited to attend. Except for handicapped people, it
was decided that no one would be seated until the people who attended the
services came down stairs.
The meeting adjourned at 8:05 in order that some of the members could attend
the Town Meeting.
The next meeting will be on Monday evening, December 10, at 7:30 PM in Room 11
of the Community Center.
Respectfully submitted,
Aloyseellson,~
Recording Secretary