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News/Events - Meeting Minutes

Scituate Council on Aging
Board of Directors Meeting
April 11, 2012

Attendees: Pam Davis-Chairman, Florence Choate-Director, Dale Balog, Gerard Fierimonte, Audrey Reidy, Joan Powers, Rocky Carrabes, Jim Harmon, Meg Stillman, John Danehey, BOS Liaison, Kathy DeMarsh, Director Scituate Housing Authority, Patty Butler, Chairman Housing Board of Directors, George Trafton, Affordable Housing Trust, Maureen Karlberg, Affordable Housing Trust

Meeting called to order at 6:05 PM
4. Old Business
A. Mr. Danehey started on the subject of a new senior center, affordable housing and the Gates school. He feels that we need to have at least two, perhaps three plans in the pipeline for a new Senior Center. Option 1 would consider the present middle school, Gates, to possibly house Town Hall, Senior Center and maybe another department. Option 2 considers a parcel of land (7.5 acres) on the Driftway that Mr. Trafton spoke about that the Affordable Housing Committee received. With it came an agreement that only rental housing be built on the site. Mr. Danehey suggested that the Affordable Housing Trust, the COA and the Housing Authority need to work together on a plan for new COA and Senior Housing. Must work together to get the Trust seed money, plus consideration of a 55+ type community. Also, Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program from the State is being explored by Rep. Cantwell. Maureen Karlberg said the co. she works for does a lot of work with the Low Income Tax Credit program. Obviously, the agencies will benefit by affiliation through this process. A walk through of the funding for this was discussed and Director Choate expressed her belief in fundraising and past successes. Chairwoman Davis said that Option 1, the Gates school conversion would probably be easier to jump start for raising funds as it would demonstrate to the public that something is happening.
MS Davis asked Pat Butler of the Housing Authority Board if they would discuss this at their next meeting. If their board is in agreement, then two members from each group will be chosen to represent said groups for further discussions.
Mr. Danehy will look at the legal ramifications of the land transfer on the Driftway property from the Affordable Trust.
John Danehey informed the group that a meeting is being held on April 25, 2012 for those who are interested in getting the Gates School project started.
MS Davis spoke of the enormous and mind-boggling expense of the Gates School conversion. There is a general feeling that the Board of Selectmen favors this project. If it is for Town Hall and Senior Center, problems with space and parking are anticipated. A similar project in Hingham did not work well at all, and Hingham COA is now working to build a separate building.

2.Vote To Accept Minutes of March, 2012 Meeting:
--Accepted unanimously

Staff and Director Reports:

Director: We are continually busy at the COA. The St. Patrick’s Day party was a HUGE success as was the Norwell VNA workshop. Our SHINE program with volunteer Norm Tetrault is CONSTANTLY booked solid. A new program, with Financial Advisor Deborah Flanagan, will be held on the first Monday of each month. Signups are a must.

Outreach
-- Home visits 4, Office visits 44, meetings attended 2, telephone calls 54, referrals
made 34, duplicated numbers 103 and unduplicated 58. Outreach attended workshops at the VNA and Salvation Army as well as several webinars.

Transportation
--Daily (Scituate) van rides 467, LINK 83, Volunteer 13, Total Rides, 563. Our Volunteers donated 51 hours driving seniors to their medical appointments and 3 hours escorting seniors to same. Our vans drove a total of 1356 miles.

5.New Business

COA is conducting a survey, this time a random sample of seniors in town to take the temperature of our service level at the Senior Center and in what direction do we need to go? The surveys will be mailed out soon.
MS Davis asked who will be the two representatives from our Board to work and attend meetings with the Affordable Housing Trust and the Housing Board. MS Davis and Mrs. Choate volunteered.

6. Reports

SSES Update by Joan Powers—SSES is looking for a new Director. They are also advertising for a nursing position. They have put in place a new answering system which is working extremely well.
Jerry Fierimonte attended a meeting of the Commission on Disabilities. They were discussing GATRA. Mr. Fierimonte was not clear as to where we stand with GATRA. Mrs.Choate said that she had not heard anything further on GATRA developments.
Mrs. Choate thanked Mrs. Reidy for the very generous donation to the COA from the Foundation in Mrs. Reidy’s husband’s name. Thank you, Audrey.

7. Meeting adjourned at 7:22 PM.

Respectfully submitted
Quincie-Ann Cutler
ADDENDUM TO COA BOARD OF DIRECTOR’S MEETING MINUTES
OF 4-11-2012

Agenda and COA Board meeting minutes of March 12th are available at the Town Clerk’s office

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