HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - EAB - 09/12/2016 COHASSET ELDER AFFAIRS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
Willcutt Commons
91 Sohier Street
Cohasset, Ma 02025
September 12, 2016
MINUTES
In Attendance: Paul Kierce, Tana Carlson, Elinore Barrett, Elaine Coyne,
BeBe McCarron, James Mensching, Taffy Nothnagle, Sue Reagan, Jim
Carpenter, Rich Hynes, Diana Karcher
Not in Attendance: Cindy Swartwood
Liaisons: Katie Dugan, Helene Lieb, Kevin McCarthy, Chief Robert Silvia,
Sgt. Jeffrey Trainor, Lisa Uglialoro
Also Attending: Coral Grande
Paul Kierce called the meeting to order at 8:35am
Paul introduced Jim Carpenter as an Associate member of the board.
Bylaws will need to be updated because we are in a new building.
June and July minutes were accepted.
Treasurer's Report:
Updated for year-end adjustments
Formula Grant also needs to be adjusted
Van repair cost was put in 2017 needs to be entered in 2016 report
Revolving fund is working well for us
Gift account going forward with a positive balance
Trust accounts remain the same
Personnel report - spending 13% of budget - on target
Coral - Tables and chairs delivered in the summer and we had to send back
all tables because of defects. Just redelivered new tables and we sent 3 of
those back. Will hold out on paying until satisfied with all.
TM and Paul met about landscaping. Possibility of using excess from the
Senior Building Fund ($1176) for outdoor furniture
Sestito's Landscaping will perform fall cleanup for Willcutt Commons
Launch program has been working on the landscaping - watering, weeding
and trimming 3/ week all summer. Launch also sets the tables, cleans up
after lunch, and washes dishes 3/times /week, as well as packs lunches for
the Meals on Wheels program 3/week, and delivers meals to clients
2/month.
Officers were voted on and approved for the coming year:
Chairman: Paul Kierce
Vice Chair: Tana Carlson
Secretary: Elinore Barrett
Treasurer: Elaine Coyne
There is an open seat on the affordable housing board.
M.G.L. 40B states 10% of housing should be affordable. More than 10%,
CDC/state/town can decide how much housing will be affordable, less than
10% they have no say. With Elm St. and Avalon, our town is at approx.
10%.
1 .5% of annual taxes goes to affordable housing.
Town is seeking steering committee for 3 years to study needs and
opportunities in town. There will be 9 members on the committee, 4
assigned by selectman. Sue Reagan volunteered to represent CEA on the
board.
Tana - all are compliant with board training and being sworn
in.
Director's Report:
5 people signed up for board training for Elder Affairs at Scituate Senior
Center. Rich Hynes, Sue Reagan, and Diana Karcher will be added to that
list.
Farmers Market hosted a market here recently. It went very well. CEA plans
on hosting a Farmers Market once a month in the winter months at Willcutt
Commons.
CEA has developed a partnership with the South Shore Conservatory. They
will start teaching music classes here and conducting programs soon.
Updated fiscal 2017 goals have been submitted to the TM and Lisa
Uglialoro.
Updated job descriptions are in the process of being submitted in final form
to the TM and Lisa Uglialoro.
CEA wrote a strong case for support for the use of an alternative energy
vehicle for Elder Affairs. Waiting on a decision from TM. He has requested
additional cost-saving information from certain departments, as well as
estimates on the cost of the leasing program itself, and will make a decision
based on this information. Chief Silvia added we were awarded a grant for
three alternative energy vehicles for a 3 year trial period. We are on a 90
day track should the Town decide to go forward with this program.
Continue talks with Liturgical about the newsletter, 12 page color/glossy for
cost of sponsorships. Friends of Elder Affairs have been approached to sign
the contract as a nonprofit organization, since the Town cannot legally sign a
multi-year contract, and project costs into future fiscal years.
Bar coding machine cost Approx $3500 - Should we consider buying one?
Paul Kierce has just purchased one for his company. Talks of usage will
continue.
Helene Lieb, representing the Edward Lappen Foundation, said they offer
grants to organizations to install carbon monoxide detectors. Grants from
this organization should be submitted within ten days for funding
consideration, through the Cohasset Fire Department. (The Cohasset Cares
project has received generous funding in the past through this organization
for installation of carbon monoxide detectors.)
Scheduling evening activities has become more difficult due to limited
staffing capabilities. CEA is actively searching for a solution to this issue so
that the center can expand evening programming 1-2 nights per week.
Town needs to address adult beverage issue. It is very costly, $900 for
caterer and insurance.
If the building is opened to other groups, the event is scheduled through the
TM's office and is staffed by a Facilities staff person.
September 30th will be the Harvest Moon Dance.
September 29th Joanne Tours - Country Tour to Venus DeMilo in Swansee.
Increasingly popular.
Liaison Reports:
Fire Chief - ongoing Cohasset Cares program. Rob Ford (CFD), Mary
Goodwin (PHN), Nancy Lafauce (AD/CEA), and Coral Grande (D) make
home visits. Nancy Lafauce schedules these visits.
Sgt. Trainor - 9-12 this coming Saturday, in conjunction with Pilgrim Bank on
3A, will assist in document shredding, child id, and child seats.
New IDs are being designed by Cohasset Police Dept. for all town
employees. IT department is in the process of installing additional fiber
optics to enable senior center to provide a live feed for real time
programs/activities. Installation is nearly complete.
Kevin McCarthy said we have 2 building projects being considered/planned -
Town Hall and Public Safety.
A cross walk is being planned/located across Sohier Street near the
entrance of Willcutt Commons. Sgt. Trainor and Coral Grande will work with
Carl Sestito to make this happen. The cross walk painting is scheduled to
coincide with the street lining in the Village on or about November.
Katie Dugan - schools - opened last Tuesday. 15 new teachers. Louise
Demas - Interim Superintendent. Susan Schreiber - Interim Curriculum,
Business Manager — John Tuffy. New principal Elisa Farrell at Deer Hill. Ms.
Laura Keating passed away last month.
Completed rules for school committee
Security assessment for CPD. Overall security in good shape at our schools.
Programming with CEA and Schools in the process. The technology training
went well this summer.
Transportation and vans discussion continues.
Helene - Advisory - Looking for opinions on warrant articles
Selectmen — New long term management contracts have been successfully
negotiated for the Police Chief, Fire Chief, and Finance Director.
Town finances are better than they have been in many years.
Town meeting will move to Monday nights - November 28 and May 1st.
A 250 year anniversary committee has been formed. All residents are
encouraged to participate.
Meeting adjourned @ 10:45 am.
Next meeting date: Monday, October 17, 2016 @ 8:30am
Respectfully submitted
Elinore Barrett,Secretary