HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOA 03/15/2021Minutes of the COA Board Meeting held March 15, 2021(Virtual Meeting per Town of Mansfield)
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Present: Richard ICelsay, Mary Hourigan, Tom Keogh, Joan Hoey, Neal Boldrighini, Lee Ann Cprre a@,F c ICE
Josephine Madrazo, Director, and Lynette Boidrighinl, Assist. Director.
Call to order: Board Chairman Richard Kelsay opened the meeting at 4:33 PM witty a reading of th `
Massachusetts Regulations governing virtual meetings. j
Minutes of the Board Meeting from February 23, 2021: Minutes of the said meeting were examined,
Joan made a motion to accept them as is and Tom seconded the motion. No discussion and minutes
were accepted by a unanimous roll call vote of the Board.
Estimated Budget Status to Date, Warrants, and Treasurer's Report: Josephine called attention to the
financial reports presented, Josephine explained it was for purchases pertaining to Grab Bags
distribution, The budget was status quo. After no further discussion or comments, Mary moved to
accept the reports, and Joan second them, passed by a unanimous roll call vote of the board,
Treasurer's Report: Tom stated that the gift account balance is $6073,45. Tom stated that one of the
Board's goals is to provide the financials on a one -page document; he Is working towards that goal,
Formula Grant was added to the Budget on file. Neal made a motion to accept and Mary second, passed
with a roll call vote, 5 accepting and 1 abstaining.
Correspondence: None
Director's Report: Director, Josephine Madrazo, reported that the Fire Department administered Covld
Vaccines to the Senior Housing population as well as Seniors that are homebound. Fire Department also
held a small Vaccination Clinic at the COA for 60 seniors, The staff has been busy assisting Mansfield
Seniors in scheduling appointments at Gillette Stadium. Mary asked Josephine to please thank the staff
for their efforts, having received positive feedback on their behalf, saying that they have stepped up to
the task. Dick reiterated Mary's sentiments. Neal asked the director of the Fire Department if limited
vaccines based on CDC recommendations to bring them to our community. Josephine stated that to be
true and that It Is hard to equitable with so few vaccines available and people are extremely frustrated,
A new system has been put In place by that state that allows people to preregister for vaccines, Leanne
mentioned that many of the Physician Groups like Atrlus, Sturdy, and Partners are in fact reaching out to
their patients to be vaccinated. Partner's Group was vaccinating at their Needham Facility, Joan stated
that Beth Israel/Deaconess was contacting patients to be vaccinated at their Longwood Ave facility.
GATRA has received funding for transportation to vaccination sites.
The Bereavement Group Is going to be reintroduced in April, in person, with two sessions due to
restrictions. Tina Walsh was going to start her program "Living Your Best Life",'a 10-session program
aimed at helping people connect and learn tools to build resilience in the face of stress. Drive -up Meals
continue to be a success, Two upcoming meals are scheduled, one March 241h honoring Gerry Abbott
sponsored by her family and one April 15'" sponsored by "Hearts to Home" a meal preparation delivery
service, Drums Alive has expanded Its days to include Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday made
possible by the surrounding COA's sharing the costs and virtual platform to increase participation by
seniors. Grab bags continue to be a hit, distributed monthly at the COA and bi-monthly at Senior
Housing, Bags contain activities, crafts as well as Informative handouts, The Town Trash & Recycling
Survey was added to the March bag.
Minutes of the COA Board Meeting held March 15, 2021 (Virtual Meeting per Town of Mansfield)
On Wednesday, March 171h, Director Josephine Madrazo and Board Chair Dick Kelsay will be attending
the Select Board's Meeting. Town department heads will give a brief synopsis of their department's
progress during Covid.
Leanne asked if children going back to school was any Indication that we may have on -site participation
for our seniors. Josephine said there was no talk of It at this time but It will be a collaboration between
the Town Manager, Health Agent, and Fire Chief. When we will be able to add more on -site activities is
unknown and most likely it will be uniform across the town.
Old Business: There being no April meeting scheduled, Chair Dick Kelsay asked the board if there was an
interest in scheduling a meeting. Josephine said If there is an interest that she would ask about an
alternative date. Board members agreed they would like to meet in April. Josephine reminded the
board that there was to be a Slate of Officers and an Annual meeting in April, Dick mentioned it Is not
on the. agenda and would need to be added to April's Agenda pushing things back to May. Board agreed
upon moving the Annual Meeting to Mayon February 23, 2021, with an affirmative vote. Dick also
mentioned that the Vice -Chair vacated by Norma Smith had not been filled. Neal made a motion to
check for an April date, seconded by Joan, passed by a unanimous roll call vote of the Board.
New Business: Programing for the center with Ideas from the board on how to reach seniors either
home -bound or virtually was discussed. Director feels that the transition to in -person activities needed
to be slow and small steps taken so that everyone feels safe. Mary asked Josephine what the board
could do to help, what would engage people, what type of programing would make people leave their
homes. Josephine discussed a program that she felt would be beneficial to the seniors at the center
focusing on instruction in the use of a tablet or iPad-like device. Josephine had a meeting with
instructor Rick Sterling about exploring options for such a program and if purchasing (Pads even be
plausible, Dick mentioned that purchasing a significant number of devices could be pricey. Dick asked if
maybe the Instructor could offer some cheaper alternative to folks to suit their needs. Maryasked how
the devices would be used, would be lent out or given to seniors. Josephine explained that the person
receiving the device would first have to participate in the program before being given the pad or before
lending out the pad, Dick added that learning the basics could be very beneficial to participants. Joan
agreed to say that most people don't have a grasp on how to use them. Mary reiterated that basics
were important so that people could communicate with family at this time, The program was met with
favorable response by the board. Dick asked Josephine to look into It further.
Dick Is hopeful that by September we could be heading towards some type of modified opening or
participation at the center.
With no other business before the Board, a motion to adjourn was made byloan and seconded by Tom
at 5:27 PM. The motion passed by unanimous roll call vote.
Respectfully submitted, Lynette Boldrlghini Assistant Director COA
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Minutes of the COA Board Meeting held March 15, 2021 (Virtual Meeting per Town of Mansfield)
Voting Summary:
2021-01 A vote to accept Minutes of the February 23, 2021 Board Meeting, Motion by Joan Hoey,
seconded by Tom Keogh. Vote Affirmative 6; Negative 0, Voting affirmative were Joan Hoey, Tom
Keogh, Richard Kelsay, Mary Hourigan, Leanne Cerretani, and Neal Boldrighini,
2021-01 A vote to accept the Budget Status, Warrant, and Treasurer's Report, Motion by Mary
Hourigan, seconded by Joan Hoey, Vote Affirmative 6; Negative 0. Voting affirmative were Joan Hoey,
Mary Hourigan, Tom Keogh, Richard Kelsay, Leanne Cerretani, and Neal Boldrighini,
2021-01 A vote to accept Report by Treasurer Tom Keough. Motion by Neal Boldrighinl to accept,
seconded by Mary Hourigan, Vote Affirmative 5; Negative 0; 1 Abstained. Voting affirmative were Neal
Boldrighini, Mary Hourigan, Joan Hoey, Leanne Cerretani, and Richard Kelsay,
2021.01 A vote to schedule an April Board Meeting. Motion by Neal Boldrighlnl to accept, seconded by
Joan Hoey, Vote Affirmative 6; Negative 0, Voting affirmative were Richard Kelsay, Tom Keogh, Leanne
Cerretani, Joan Hoey, Neal Boldrighinl, and Mary Hourigan.
2021-01 All business completed a vote adjourn was made at 5:27 PM. Motion by Joan Hoey, seconded
by Tom Keogh. Vote Affirmative 6; Negative 0, Voting Affirmative were Richard Kelsay, Joan Hoey, Tom
Keogh, Leanne Cerretani, Mary Hourigan, and Neal Boldrighinl.
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