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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOA 10/28/2003s MANSFIELD COUNCIL ON AGING MINUTES TO BOARD MEETING 10/28/03 Present: Mary Butler, Frank Nilson, Ben Boynton, Sonia Walgreen, Ed Shney, Sr:, , Donna Harrington, Norma Smith, Gale Farrugia and Debi Surprenant. ' o Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 3:30 PM by Board Chair Sonia Walgreen Correspondence: The Correspondence file was circulated. Minutes, Treasurer's Report, Warrants, and Budget: The Minutes to the September 9, 2003 meeting were examined. The Treasurer's Report was not mentioned. Gale issued the Budget Report and informed the Board that FY'03 finished with very little to spare. FY 2004 is a very tight budget, and it is reported that FY 2005 will be even worse. The 2005 budget process is beginning. The Board examined the Warrants. With a motion made by Ed, and a second from Ben, the Minutes, Warrants and Budget were accepted as presented by a unanimous vote. Director's Report Friend's Fair—The Annual Friend's Holiday Fair was held on Saturday, October 25a; and, although it went well, it was not as profitable as past fairs. The gross sale from Saturday was about $1,700. Annual Electric Department Lunch -The Electric Department sponsored a luncheon for the Seniors on Friday, October 3rd. Morins was the caterer and the program was on electric safety. The event went very well. Mansfield Utility Assistance -Gale reported good news with the donation from the Electric Department for the Utility Assistance Program. She requested level funding—$30,000, and the Electric Commissioners granted $40,000 for this year. Tax Work Off Program -The Tax Work Off Program was given an additional $10,000. The program is going very well. Friend's Christmas Party—The Friend's Christmas Party will be held on Friday, December 12fl, at 11:30 AM. All Board members are invited. Automatic External Defibrillators(AED's)—The Fire Department was given AED's through a grant program. There is an extra one which is to be donated to the COA/ Library building. Consequently, staff will be trained on the proper use of the AED. Donna expressed concern about having a policy for the use of the AED. There was a discussion with regard to a policy. Chairs in Activity Room -The Friends of the Drop In Center have agreed to finance the reupholstery of the four arm chairs in the activity room. The cost will be $800.00. Flu Clinics—The annual public flu clinics are underway. New Pharmacy Assistance Program— Rep. Louis Kafka will be sponsoring a program for the Seniors in conjunction with the Mass. College of Pharmacy. The new program is to assist Seniors find ways to access prescription medications though corporate programs or low cost insurance programs. Coffee Hour—The November Coffee Hour will feature postmaster John Brunelli. Triad—The Triad is currently exploring the idea of providing emergency packs to frail senior citizens. We will do this project with Bob Button, MEMA Director. Triad has about $1100.00 in the bank from fundraisers. DECIDE—The 2nd DECIDE training started in September, and the class is small, but going well. The graduation will be in November. Other Traid Program —Triad will hopefully be having a program featuring the Sheriffs Office and the K-9 Unit. The program is being planned for the Spring at Memorial Park. Meeting time Chane—Gale reported that she has looked through the by- laws, and the only statement is that the meetings will take place on the 2nd Tuesday of the month. The time change to 3:30 is allowable. Therefore the next meeting will be on December 911, at 3:30 PM. Assistant Director's Report: Transportation rBrochure —Debi circulated the newly developed brochure describing the transportation programs available to Mansfield senior citizens. MCOA'Conference workshops Debi was able to attend two excellent workshops at the MCOA conference. One was on grantwriting and the other was on legal issues. ( Other workshops—Debi and Bev attended a workshop on the HIPPA and the COA Privacy Law in Worcester. Debi also attended a workshop on complementary alternative medical therapies. New Business: HVAC Replacement—Gale reported that the HVAC system will be replaced starting sometime in January or February. Part of the COA will be closed, including the kitchen and the bathrooms, but only for about a week. Board /Staff Get Together—Gale suggested that the Board and Staff have an informal pot -luck get together after the next Board meeting on December 91h. The Board felt very positive about the idea. Donna will bring punch, Mary will bring sandwiches, Norma will bring a dessert, Sonia will bring salad, Ed will provide eggnog, Frank will bring chips, and Ben will bring dip and crackers. Debi will bring a fruit plate (changed to spanikopita). The meeting will be quick to accommodate the get-together. Budget Planning—Gale informed the Board that the 2005 Budget planning is already underway. She is to submit the COA and Social Services budgets by December 1s'. There is also a retreat planned with the Selectmen and Department Heads on the goals and objectives for the town. State fundine— Gale has been informed that the COA will receive level funding from the State. Because of the increase in the population, this is an extra $2,000. Housing Task Force: Donna reported that there was no activity. BESI Report: Mary reported that she was officially inducted at the BESI Annual Meeting in September. She is the Treasurer. She was pleased to report that the annual audit was very good, and that BESI is in good financial shape. A Board fundraiser is upcoming—a BESI Board member has made a quilt to raffle. Mary asked Donna to put it on the COA website. There will also be a concert. Mary now goes to about 3 BESI meetings a month. Q & A: There was a question about the construction of new Senior Centers. Gale reported to the Board that she attended a workshop at the National Conference about the direction of Senior Centers becoming more community oriented. The move is toward constructing more multi- generational centers. There was some discussion around this concept. Adjournment: Donna submitted a motion that the meeting be adjourned, with a second from Ed. The vote was unanimous. The Meeting was adjourned by Sonia at 4:29 PM.