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News/Events - Meeting Minutes

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

1. Meeting called to order at 6:01 PM

2. October Minutes voted on and accepted

3. Director and Staff Reports

-October was a very busy month. The Director attended the MCOA conference
on October 5, 6, and 7. It was a net workers dream and a good resource for new
and innovative programming ideas. National MCOA members from Washington, DC attended and were superlative presenters and put on wonderful workshops, one of which was titled The Process of Aging and the changes that today’s Seniors face, i.e. the status of Health Care, new roles in life when living beyond one’s income, and the role of Senior Centers in the lives of today’s aging population. Senior Centers were a gathering place for folks in the past. Today’s
Senior Centers are more service related. Health Care and Fuel Assistance edu-cation are two of the many services rendered in Senior Centers today. Resources available are hardly adequate to meet the many needs of our growing senior population. Mr. Lynch asked if our objectives with our Seniors and impending Community Center is on line with other towns. Florence answered to the affirmative stating that we do more than most. She cited the Duxbury COA as an example of a Center that is able to tap into “younger” Seniors due to the nature of their facility.
- The Director is busy working on the budget and adding two new programs:
An additional Art Class on Tuesday afternoons and an ever growing Choral Group on Wednesday afternoons.
- Our Halloween party was a roaring success.
- Transportation Report—Daily rides up in October over September by 50. Total rides for the month: 567.
The LINK and Medical Connection is where the increases occurred, all medical.
- Outreach Report—EXTREMELY busy with Open Enrollment, the Tufts fiasco, and Fuel Assistance.
4. Old Business
A. Community Center Update- Ms Davis stated that the Community Center Project Committee has not met yet as they are waiting for the Selection Committee to have their first meeting.
Pam and Florence did go with the other Department Heads to tour Pier with the Town Administrator. There is MUCH space upstairs.

5. New Business
A. Mr. Harris commented on the low maximum payout for Fuel Assistance-$350.00. However, it may be increased by December or shortly thereafter, depending on funding. Joe oil starts in January.
B. The Scituate COA Christmas Party is on December 21, 2010. All Board Members are invited. The menu is TURKEY!, there will be entertainment and a BIG surprise.

6. SSES UPDATE BY JOAN POWERS
Since funding levels were in question before the Nov. 2nd elections, Home Care
Services were in question. However, SSES has had 25 new applications for home care and none have been put on a waiting list unless their need is in question. They also have an agency working for them, free of charge, to aid in their fund raising.
COMM. ON DISABILITIES UPDATE BY JERRY FIERMONTE
Jerry said that he would make his report when Jeff Dugan contacts Florence after the Commission on Disabilities meeting.
7. Meeting adjourned at 7:08 PM

Respectfully submitted,

Quincie-Ann Cutler

ADDENDUM TO COA BOARD MEETING MINUTES OF 11-10-10

Agenda for 11/10/10 meeting and minutes of COA board meeting on 10/13/10 are available at the Town Clerks office.

Director and Staff reports are available at the COA, 27 Brook St.