COUNCIL ON AGING

BOARD MEETING MINUTES AUGUST 1, 2002

 

Meeting called to order at 3:00pm by Brunetta, Chair.

 

Present:  Brunetta Wolfman, Valerie Carrano, Dir., Greg Howe, Anita Berman, Gerry Brennan, Roberta Elliott, Alt., Friends: Vern Wilson, Florence Alexander, David Eliseo, Human Services Committee, Public:  Linton Watts, Betty Comey

 

Minutes from the June 27, 2002 were approved as corrected – to be e-mailed by secretary to Stephan Nofield, Town Clerk.

 

Director’s Report:

·        There’s a exciting new program called the TRIAD which is a community partnership between seniors and senior service agencies, law enforcement and public safety providers (police and fire and rescue) to reduce criminal activity targeted at seniors, and enhance delivery of law enforcement and public safety services to seniors.  Using a “file of life,” a red plastic magnetic file folder that attaches to a refrigerator, vitally important info about a senior can be readily available in case of emergency.  Seniors must be active for this program to succeed. Greg from the Board will attend the next quarterly meeting in Sept. at the Sheriff’s Dept.  Berta Romano from the Friends will be asked if she is interested in attending.

·        Lillian Glickman, State Sec. of Elder Affairs sent a letter informing us that there is room in the new lobby in Boston for senior to display their artwork.  Anita to inform the senior artists.

·        Patricia Hart, Program Director of Elder Services, is available to speak to our seniors regarding nursing/rest homes.  This will be forwarded to the Manor.

·        We have a new volunteer at the Senior Center, Andrea Monetti, who is computer literate.  She will work on the Friends’ database for the next annual appeal.

·        Selectmen’s Goals include the use of town facilities and they are on a fact-finding mission to elicit public opinion.  Mark Latour, Asst. Town Mgr. is looking for the Board’s comments on moving the Senior Center to the old Manor once the new facility is built and to share it with affordable housing and Human Services.

      Discussion made it clear that the Board is totally against such a move:

·        Town meeting and other government meetings presented using the old Manor for affordable housing, as part of securing resident’s approval of the building of a new health-care facility.

·        The present Senior Center was named for and dedicated to the memory of Grace Gouveia, a local heroine in the cause for seniors and should remain the home of the Senior Center.

·        The Center is more centrally located.

·        Cemeteries do not surround the Center.

·        The Center is not located up an incline.

·        The Center has better parking.

·        Seniors and the Friends have spent much time and effort raising funds to enhance the Center’s comfort and beauty and are now very used to their “home”.

David Eliseo asked for a copy of our draft of the minutes to bring to his meeting of the Human Services Board. Brunetta was encouraged to write to Mark Latour stating the Board’s opinion.

 

Old Business:

·        Dr. Trailor, Superintendent of Schools, wrote that once Mr. Tesso, the new elementary school principal comes, she would like to see our two organizations working together again in an intergenerational program.  Previous events included washing windows, baking cookies, singing, etc. Tutoring could be another possibility.

·        National Seashore sent back the cookbooks we had sent over stating that they did not have permission from the Park Service to sell these books (although other local church cookbooks are being sold).  Brunetta will write to the Superintendent to gain permission.  Can we sell cookbooks at the Monument’s gift shop?

·        The “great book” has not been found as yet.

·        Volunteers needed – see new volunteer above.  Gerry has agreed to put the new Senior Scrapbook together.  Vern will drop off the pictures he has and ask the Friends to cover the cost of the new book.

·        Brunetta attended the July 22 Selectman meeting regarding the economic development issue and new position.  As an individual, she presented the fact that 29% of our residents are over 55, some need income, jobs, and training. 

 

Friend’s Report:

 

·        $382 was raised from the sale of cookbooks.

·        $155 was raised from the sale of cushions.  Louise Robbins needs help renting them and Linton Watts and Betty Comey agreed to volunteer.  Val will get another box of cushions as they ran short at the last event.  She also said that Maureen Hurst was doing a great job coordinating the renting of cushions with the event people.

·        Florence will run our next back sale on Aug 24th.

 

New Business:

·        Val was commended by the Selectmen for her efforts in bringing psychiatric services to Provincetown.

·        Val has a copy of the census showing, among other information, the names and addresses of the population over 55.  Unfortunately the same computer information has been wiped off the “C” drive.  Fortunately, we have the disc. We will use this information to send letters out trying to get more people involved with the Center.  Brunetta and Gerry will write the letter and each month the Board will address 10+ letters each and enclose the TRIAD pamphlet.

 

The next meeting will be Sept. 5, 2002 at 3:00p.m. in room #6 of the Grace Gouveia Bldg.

Respectfully submitted,  Gerry Brennan, Recording Secretary