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Home My WebLink AboutCOA 11/16/2021Minutes of the COA Board Meeting Held November 16th, 2021 Present: Neal Boldrighini, LeeAnn Cerretani, Paula Devine, Joan Hoey, Mary Hourigan, Joseph 6JUF I VED Madrazo, Director and Lynette Boldrighini, Assist. Director. Tom Keogh, Dick Kelsay exoUseds !l - c?u OFFICE Call to order: Neal Boldrighini called meeting to order @ 4:24 PM ion JAN i q P 3: 4 3 Minutes of the Board Meeting Minutes from September 21st, 2021 meeting were examined p�rd ti S (= 1 Et.0 corrected; Mary made a motion to accept them, LeeAnn seconded the motion. Vote 5-0 Treasurer's Report: Tom Keogh excused. Josephine Madrazo reported the gift account stands at $4412.79 and the Fairfield Account stands at 35,471.83. Mary made a motion to approve and put on file, seconded by LeeAnn. Vote 5-0 to accept. Director's Report: Welcome new board member Paula Devine. Josephine reported that at the November Town Meeting, $300,000 was approved by the residents for a schematic's study of 50 West Street. The COA Board survey for seniors has been put on pause. Covid-19 booster shots will be offered to home bound seniors, as well as seniors at the COA on November 301h, to be administered by the MFD. The Birthday Bash will take place in January, sponsored by Atty. Eric Shepherd. Shine continues with Medicare Open Enrollment. Shine Counselors are seeing many seniors questioning the TV's campaigns for Medicare Advantage Plans and their "hidden benefits." Correspondence: None Old Business: There was discussion in the group about revamping the survey, making it more compact with questions geared toward seniors' input about a possible new center, needs, wants, concerns, etc. Joan suggested it could be left at the front desk for patrons checking in to exercise classes or activities. Paula also suggested to insert In the newsletter. There was talk amongst the group about dissemination of information; all agreed that information should be handled by director in order to stream line what the seniors are hearing about ongoing progress in hopes to reduce confusion, mixed messages. Over all, the process is in the infant stage. Street signs, directing traffic to center, seem to have hit a snag but will be followed up. Social media for COA is on the TOM web site or COA web page on site and will continue to be done in that fashion. Information can be put on the Friends' Facebook page but over all it will remain as is. LeeAnn asked if the COA web page could be updated and that she would be happy to work on it to improve accessibility to COA information making it easier to navigate. Senior Housing marketing was discussed, it appears all meetings to take place in common rooms at senior housing have to be approved by the Housing Authority board before planning an event. Housing has shown Interest in collaborating with the COA to facilitate a Dementia discussion for their residents as well as their staff. Josephine is working with Resident Coordinator on this. Discussion was held about events that would be taking place at the new site of the COA upon completion of the building. Josephine expanded on the idea that there would be more evening programs for the new location and she would be working closely with the rec dept. on this subject. Neal asked that the board consider attending more of the community activities during the year to give the COA more visibility. Joan mentioned Senator Paul Feeney held business hours at the Municipal Safety Building and it would f reat to see more seniors participate in that as well. 47 1 Minutes of the COA Board Meeting Held November 16th, 2021 New Business: Josephine told the board that she has contacted Patty Sullivan from MCOA about holding an In -person meeting about Dementia Friendly Community. Josephine asked the staff what days would be best for the majority of the group and all agreed that December 161h would be the date we would shoot for or if necessary to wait till after the holidays. Paula suggested sending cards to community members for special occasions, sympathy, get well, etc, In the past it was done by a volunteer of the Friends and sadly came to an end. The board talked about the possibility of restarting the task and there was no decision how to proceed but several thought it should remain with the Friends' group, Paula mentioned that she heard of seniors, infirm or financially strapped, in the community that need help with CO/Smoke detector maintenance and replacement. Paula went on to say that there is a program through the Red Cross that facilitates this exact thing for CO/Smoke detectors, Neal explained that the Fire Department has in the past tried to implement this exact thing. He also mentioned that the need for this was so few and far between that supplies bought in the past by the FD went to waste saying he saw staff members paying out of their own pockets for items. Neal explained the liability to the department and the town if something bad occurred after the install wasn't worth the risk. The board thought the idea was more related to TRIAD and would be best brought up at their next meeting on December 1st. The memorial clean-up committee was able to place the plaques at the Keech Memorial in time for Veteran's day under the direction of Earl Mason and i<evin McNatt. Plans are under way to decorate the outside of the building with help from the same group and anyone else interested in volunteering. The decorating will be held the same day as the Tree Lighting in the Meeting Room organized by activity coordinator, The board agreed to pay for decorations outside. Mary made a motion to spend up to $500 to be taken out of the Fairfield account, seconded by LeeAnn and vote 5-0 by the board. Decorating will take place December 2"d, @ 9:30 am. The COA Holiday Party Is scheduled for December 100' @11:30 am on site. Tasty Ray's will be catering and the COA Chorus will be supplying the entertainment. The event will be sponsored by the Friends' group, There was talk about using a local bakery for dessert. The next board meeting will be held on December 14th. The board would like to provide lunch for the COA staff at Noon on that day. Mary made a motion to supply Chinese Food and spend up to $300, seconded by Paula, voted 5-0 in favor, LeeAnn offered to provide the dessert. With no other business before the board, a motion to adjourn at 5:55 by Paula and seconded by Joan. 5-0 in favor. Next Meeting to be held December 14th, 2021 at the COA. Respectfully submitted, Lynette Soldrighini, Assistant Director COA 3 Minutes of the COA Board Meeting Held November 16th, 2021 Voting Summary: 2021-11 A vote to accept minutes with corrections from the September 21st, 2021 Board Meeting. Mary Hourigan made a motion to accept, seconded by LeeAnn Cerretani. Affirmative -5, Negative -0. Affirmative votes: Neal Boldrighini, LeeAnn Cerretani, Paula Devine, Joan Hoey, Mary Hourigan. 2021-11 A vote to accept Treasurer's report and place on file. Mary Hourigan made a motion to accept, seconded by LeeAnn Cerretani. Affirmative —5, Negative -0. Affirmative votes: Neal Boldrighini, LeeAnn Cerretani, Paula Devine, Joan Hoey, Mary Hourigan 2021-11 A vote to pay for Outside Decorations to the building for the holidays. Mary made a motion to spend up to $500 from the Fairfield Account, seconded by LeeAnn Cerretani. Affirmative -5, Negative -0. Affirmative votes: Neal Boldrighini, LeeAnn Cerretani, Paula Devine, loan Hoey, Mary Hourigan, 2021-11 A vote to pay for Holiday Luncheon for COA staff. Mary Hourigan made a motion to pay for Holiday Lunch for COA staff spending up to $300,00, seconded by Paula Devine. Affirmative -5, Negative-0. Affirmative votes: Neal Boldrighini, LeeAnn Cerretani, Paula Devine, Joan Hoey, Mary Hourigan or