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News/Events - Meeting Minutes

Board of Directors Meeting
Scituate Council On Aging
February 9, 2011

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

1. Meeting called to order at 6:00 PM
2. Vote to accept minutes of January 19, 2011 meeting—unanimous in favor
3. Staff & Director Reports
--The weather is the story for this months meeting. Because of it, many programs
were canceled, 3 full days of transportation, both in and out of town, were canceled. The building was frozen shut and covered in ice dams as was the case for most homes in the town. Fortunately, none of our seniors fell. The back door was frozen and when the DPW was called they discovered a cracked, leaky roof. A few of the inside ceiling tiles were sagging and needed to be removed. The SFD was called and between them and the DPW, a temporary fix was engineered. A pole in the rear of the building is holding up the roof. The DPW wrapped it to protect anyone who might bump into it. On Feb. 9, 2011 the insurance inspector confirmed the enormity of the problem and future repairs. The repair will include most facets of the building; roof, plumbing, electric to name a few. The inspector did say that with additional winter weather, the damage would grow. He also will be in touch with the Town Administrator and Building Inspector and will inform them that we need a contractor.
--The discussion moved on to a temporary home for the COA should repairs be
the option chosen. Pam would like to see us moved as a unit, i.e. room for programs and the entire staff. Pier 44?? The Pier 44 Selection Committee has created a list of things that need to be done to the building to render it insurable. When will it be done is the question. Rocky stated that this is an emergency situation that something must be done for temporary quarters—to keep all in a safe environment. Brendan mentioned the WPA building but apparently that is too small.
--MCOA has informed us that the governments’ budget and the Formula Grant are going to be lean. There will be no funds for seniors to get aid in order to stay in their homes. Only the poorest will get aid. Florence predicts a higher incidence of seniors being unable to stay in their homes and going into nursing homes. Florence also stated that the FY 2012 Formula Grant, though paying $5.50/senior as opposed to FY 2011’s $7.00/senior will serve Scituate well as our senior population is growing, growing, growing!
--Florence will be presenting the COA budget to the Selectmen on Feb. 15, 2011.
--Transportation Report: All together we offered 504 rides in the month of
January. 421 were local, 69 LINK, 9 Medical Connection and 5 Volunteer.
Our Volunteer drivers gave 31 hours and escorts gave 8.
--Outreach Report: The busy Outreach department went on 3 home visits, hosted 30 Office visits and fielded 166 phone calls. They referred 22 seniors for services. Nancy attended a meeting at SSES. They keep and emergency contact list, as do we, for seniors who may need help, rescue, a shelter or anything else in this brutal weather.

4. Old Business
A. Community Center Update: There was no committee meeting as members are having a scheduling problem. This will be rectified this month. Pam attended the Selection Committee meeting . They are putting out a survey, on line, as to what people want Pier 44 to turn in to! They are hoping to compile survey results to get a sense of how the public feels by Feb. 28th. The Selection Committee also wants to hold a public forum on the subject in March. Florence feels that the seniors are not getting much of a voice in this survey as many; many of them do not have or use computers. Dale concurs.
B. Gatra Update: None. Meeting canceled.

5. New Business
A. Shawn Harris-Municipal Update: None
B. Interest in COA Board training by elder affairs-- SSES is holding training
At the Barnstable COA. It is for Board members and Staff to learn their responsibilities. The Scituate Board would be interested in this training at
a closer geographic location.

6. Reports
A. SSES Update by Joan Powers—None
B. Commission on Disabilities Update by Jerry Fierimonte: None

7. Adjournment at 7:14 PM

Respectfully submitted,

Quincie-Ann Cutler

ADDENDUM TO COA MEETING OF FEBRUARY 9, 2011

Agenda and minutes are available at the Town Clerk’s office.
Staff and Director reports are available at the COA office.