Printer Friendly Layout

News/Events - Meeting Minutes

Scituate Council on Aging
Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
September 8, 2010

Attendees: Pam Davis—Chairwoman, Shawn Harris—Selectman Liaison, Florence Choate-Director COA, Rocky Carrabes, Jim Harmon, Joan Powers, Dale Balog, Jerry Fierimonte
Absent: Audrey Reidy, Brendan Lynch, Meg Stillman,

1. Meeting called to order at 6:00 PM at the Senior Center

2. Election:
Joan Powers—Liaison to SSES
Jerry Fierimonte—Liaison to Commission on Disabilities

3. August Minutes
Voted and accepted

4. Director Reports
The “Raising your Grandchildren” workshop is scheduled for Sept. 21, 2010
at 7 PM. The invitation has been put out to other COA’s and their seniors plus the general public. Kate Granigan will be the facilitator. Colleen Pertoni will be here too. She is from the Dept. of Child and Family Services. Ellie O’Neil from SSES will be here as well. Grandmother Janet Bernard of Braintree will be here to share her experiences
in raising her grandchildren. The workshop is for sharing ideas, discussing issues and
reaching a better understanding of situations where parents are not there and grandparents
take over raising the children. Sept. 21st is the first of three of these workshops.
August was a slow month for activities. It gave the staff time to catch up and reorganize for the upcoming busy, busy fall and early winter seasons.
The OEA report was finalized and submitted.
Carolyn’s August trip to Fosters in Maine was a HUGE success. The October 4th trip
to the White Mountains has been sold out for weeks.
Florence has been working with Jeff Dougan (Agenda item 5B) from Mass. Commission on Disabilities to get the R.I.D.E. to Scituate (see last months minutes). Jeff has contacted Gary Talbot of the MBTA to get him onboard (so to speak).
Nancy and Florence are attending a workshop at the Duxbury COA in order to become
certified facilitators for workshops for the chronically ill. This is a small part in Florence’s effort to have the Scituate COA nationally certified.
Florence will be attending the MCOA conference next month.
The choral group will be starting in September.
Inquiries in the Newsletter are for our readers to let us know how they feel about certain things, specifically, how about the COA putting out a cookbook?
The Maritime luncheon was a huge success.
Eileen Scotti will start blood sugar testing this fall at the center.
The Outreach Department is most pleased with our new software and the results it produced in tracking their activities.
Transportation numbers were up for August, as people settle in for the fall season
and summer drifts away. Total rides for August were 607 vs. 364 in July.
5. Old Business
A. The Community Center Committee met a few weeks ago. Jack Devine put
forth questions to the public as to how they think Pier 44 should be used if awarded to the COA. A popular reply was to rent space for functions. This can be used as part of the COA’s presentation to the Pier 44 Selection Committee.
B. R.I.D.E. Update—See #4
6. New Business
A. Municipal Update: Shawn Harris reminded all of us to VOTE on Tuesday, September 14, 2010. He also reminded us to attend the Special Town Meeting on Monday, November 8, 2010. The Selectmen have interviewed about half of the applicants for the Pier 44 Selection Committee. They may very well finish the interview process at their next meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2010.
B. Project Lifesaver-Pam asked Florence if we can get an article and an interview
into the newspaper to explain Project Lifesaver to the public. Florence said yes. The equipment is in place and the Police are trained. Chief Stewart has been totally on board and helpful.
7.SSES Update By Joan Powers- The State of Massachusetts has not yet finalized its budget. Protective, home care and health care have been cut. There is a waiting list for home care—160 people. MOW has declined by 10 %. Patty White, an advocate for nursing home residents, has 1 part-time worker and 20+ volunteers. Though the Dept. of Public Health looks at cleanliness of kitchens, etc., Patty and her group take a close look at the actual care that people are getting, their grooming and dental care. She does a fabulous job!
7. Meeting Adjourned at 7:08

Respectfully submitted,
Quincie-Ann Cutler

ADDENDUM TO COA BOARD MEETING OF 9-8-2010

Agenda available at the Town Clerk’s office
Minutes of August meeting available at the Town Clerk’s office
Staff and Director reports available at the COA, 27 Brook St.

.