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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOA Minutes 1/10/2012Mansfield Council On Aging C` 1 `Jt� Board of Directors C Minutes to Meeting 1' OFF f CE January 10, 2012 261P 14AR 12 A 10: 21 Present: Sonia Walgreen, Tom Keogh, Mary Butler, Norma Smith, Frank M dnf' Debra Surprenant and Gale Farrugia. Excused were Donna Harrington dhd Ed Sliney, Sr. Call To Order: The Meeting was called to order at 3:30 PM by Board Chair Sonia Walgreen. Warrants and Estimated Budget Status to Date: Gale presented the Warrants from December, 2011, and the Estimated Budget Status to Date. Gale said that the Estimated Budget was right on track. Frank Nilson offered a motion to accept the Warrants from December, 2011, and the Estimated Budget Status to Date as presented. With a second from Mary Butler, the motion was passed by a unanimous vote. Minutes to the Board Meeting of December 13,2011: The Board reviewed the minutes from the Board Meeting of December 13, 2011. Norma led a brief discussion about having two people second a motion. Norma Smith offered a motion to accept the Minutes to the Board Meeting of December 13, 2011, as presented. With a second from Mary Butler, the motion was passed by a unanimous vote. Treasurer's Report: Mary Butler issued the Treasurer's Report. She informed the Board that the estimated balance in the Gift Account was $4427.02. Tom Keogh offered a motion to accept the Treasurer's Report as presented. With a second from Norma Smith, the motion was passed by a unanimous vote. Correspondence File: The Correspondence File was circulated. Frank asked a question about a funding request from the Mansfield Schools for a trip to Mississippi. After a short discussion, the Board felt that the COA does not have discretionary funds to give to the School Department to fund a student trip. Director's Report: December/Holidays —Gale reported that the holiday period was very busy and hectic with special programs and activities. She said that the COA is now back to normal pace. Linedancing —Gale also reported that the Linedancing Class has ended due to a lack of participation, but the Quilting Class, which meets at the same time, has moved into the Multi- purpose Room during that time slot. She said that the Quilting group is now too big to meet in the Lunch Room. Strategic Planning Committees —Gale informed the Board that Bill Ross announced that the Strategic Planning consultant, Dr. Mullin from Mullin Associates, will be organizing sub - committees comprised of community members for the purposes of exploring different focuses. Gale said that a few of the sub - committees may have subject matter related to Social Services, seniors and the Library. She explained that it would be beneficial to have the interests of the COA and Social Services represented on these committees, which will be the factor in determining the needs of the community over the next 10 to twenty years. Gale said that she asked the Town Manager for a list of the committees, which will be formulated over the next couple of months. Tom Keogh asked Gale what the needs are of the COA, seniors and Social Services to convey by those who are members of the committee. Gale responded that the issues are space, population growth and funding. Gale expressed that if we do not have representation on the committees, decisions will be made by those who do not understand the needs of the COA and seniors. Sonia said that she would attend as many as she could. Gale informed the Board that Bill said at the Coffee Hour that he understands that the Library needs more space and the COA needs more space and that it is evident that a department will have to leave the building. Gale said that she feels that we need to convey the need for more space and does not want us pushed into the position of being in a temporary situation. RMV Program — Gale informed the Board that the Registry of Motor Vehicles will be holding an informational workshop about handicapped plates and senior driving issues on March 60' at 1:00 PM. Troop 51 —Gale reported that she had been contacted by John Perry fiom Boy Scout Troop #51. She said that the troop members are sponsoring a sand bucket program for senior households. She explained that the boy scouts would be filling buckets with sand for seniors to put down on icy surfaces. Tax Assistance —Gale informed the Board that the COA will be hosting the AARP Tax Assistance Program once again. She said that tax assistance would begin on Monday, February 6`' and continue on Mondays through the tax season. Other —Gale reported that she had been contacted by a reporter from the Sun Chronicle who will be doing an article about our wellness programs for seniors. Assistant Director's Report: Statistics —Debi reported that there were 883 event registrations, 326 incoming telephone calls and 89 volunteer hours logged for December, 2011. Tax Work -Off Program —Debi informed the Board that she has been working on the data entry for the Tax Work -Off Program. She said that 6 participants have already finished their hours, and another 6 people are close to finishing within the next month. Mailing List ist Update —Debi reported that she has been working on adding seniors to the mailing list for the newsletter. She said the numbers added for the last mailing was about 175 people. Old Business: Reappointment Updates —Sonia informed the Board that she and Norma Smith met with the Board of Selectmen for a reappointment interview. She said that the Selectmen asked what the COA does. She said that Norma responded to most of the questions and did explain our services. Norma said that she told them about our programs. She said that they asked about how the word is spread about our programs, and she told them about our monthly newsletter, and they asked how we have gotten the names for our mailing list, and she told them that we get the names from the town. She said that she also spoke about the Outreach Department and the work with over age 60 people in need. Sonia reported that she was glad that Norma spoke on behalf of the COA, and said that it was a "good evening." New Business: Protective Services — Undersecretary Albright —Gale informed the Board that she has been asked to serve on a statewide sub - committee to investigate statewide problems with senior Protective Services. She said that the sub - committee is headed up by EOEA Undersecretary Sandra Albright, and the tentative meeting will be held on February 2 °d. She said that the initial issue include the need for more elder services case managers, lack of information sharing among providers and lack of adequate funding for vital services to alleviate an at -risk situation. Gale also said that the largest ASAP is Bristol Elder due to also serving the Old Colony area, yet the Southeast region receives the least amount of funding. Gale said that she feels that EOEA needs to find a way for the ASAPs and the COA to be sharing information concerning clients to be able to better address their needs. BESI Report: Sonia issued the BESI Report. She informed the Board that the last BESI Board meeting was very interesting. She said that there was a discussion about the demographic distribution of services provided by BESI. Sonia reported that the greatest concentration of services in the greater Fall River area. There was a short discussion about the other demographics in the survey. Mary asked about the court case with Lindley, and Sonia said that the case is in "limbo." Both Gale and Sonia said that the judge may defer the decision until the contract expires in 1 %2 years. There was a long discussion about the Nutrition issues with Lindley. Questions and Answers: There was a discussion about Bill's Taxi moving their Mansfield operations to a new location to free up space in the COA/Library parking lot. Gale explained to the Board that the Bill's Taxi Mansfield office deal fell through and Bill's is looking for a new location. She said that Francis Gay, GATRA Administrator, met with Bill Ross about finding a new location. Adjournment: With all business being complete, Frank Nilson offered a motion to adjourn the meeting. With a second from Norma Smith, the meeting was adjourned at 4:32 PM. VOTE SUMMARY 2012 -18 A vote to accept the December 2011 Warrants and the Estimated Budget Status to Date. Motion —Frank Nilson; Second —Mary Butler; Vote -5 affirmative, 0 negative. Voting affirmative were Sonia Walgreen, Mary Butler, Frank Nilson, Norma Smith and Tom Keogh. 2012 -19 A vote to accept the Minutes to the Board Meeting of December 13, 2011, as presented. Motion —Norma Smith; Second —Mary Butler; Vote -5 affirmative, 0 negative. Voting affirmative were Sonia Walgreen, Mary Butler, Frank Nilson, Norma Smith and Tom Keogh. 2012 -20 A vote to accept the Treasurer's Report as presented. Motion —Tom Keogh, Second —Norma Smith; Vote -5 affirmative, 0 negative. Voting affirmative were Sonia Walgreen, Mary Butler, Frank Nilson, Norma Smith and Tom Keogh. 2012 -21 With all business being completed, a vote to adjourn the meeting at 4:32 PM. Motion —Frank Nilson; Second —Norma Smith; Vote -5 affirmative, 0 negative. Voting affirmative were Sonia Walgreen, Mary Butler, Frank Nilson, Norma Smith and Tom Keogh.