COUNCIL ON AGING

BOARD MEETING MINUTES August 7, 2003

 

Present:  Brunetta Wolfman, Anita Berman, Greg Howe, Gerry Brennan, Florence Alexander, Alternate,  Visitors:  Mark Latour and Vern Sutcher  (Gladys Johnstone – excused absence.)

 

Minutes from the July 3, 2003 Board Meeting were approved as corrected – to be e-mailed by secretary to Town Clerk.

Old Business:

·        Mark Latour came by again to discuss the Community Vision Planning Process with us.  B. Wolfman asked if there was an ulterior motive for having this community development action.  M. Latour stated that the Town received a grant from the state for community development action.  All the towns need to have a community development program but not all accepted their grant  The state mandates 4 parts to a community development program:

1.      affordable housing

2.      transportation

3.      economic development

4.      open space/resource preservation

A couple of people from Town government would go around in August and  September to various groups in Town, just as he was doing with the COA Board, and then in October, these findings would be reported back to the community at a public meeting.

                        Some of the items discussed were:

·        TAXES TOO HIGH!

·        Trouble with the Seashore.

·        Group Homes for the elderly (run similar to the B&B’s in Town.

·        Adult day care.

·        Too many community boards – consolidate?

·        Some boards consist of special interests – zoning board = real estate interest!

Correspondence:

·        G. Brennan signed and sent out about 100 “welcome to the COA” letters.  Vern bought return-address-stamped envelopes for this project.  The Board Members can come in any time and sign and send these letters or do them at home.  There are approximately 600 letters left to be sent.

Director’s Report:

As. V. Carrano was attending the Healthcare Reform Meeting at town hall, she printed out her report:

·        Thanked all for writing legislators regarding the possible slash in elder care budget.  They overrode the governor’s veto.

·        Truro COA is offering a seminar on back pain – Sept. 24, 3-4:30p.m. at Truro COA.  Transportation to be provided.

·        Liz Smith, Orleans COA Director called regarding the REACH program.  Some of her volunteers offered to bring Provincetown residents home from CC Hospital if needed.  Suggested we send a letter of thanks.  B.  Wolfman will do so.

-         page 2 –

 

·        NSTAR will not give out new senior customer information

·        On vacation 9/18 through 9/30.

Friends:

·        The Friends will hold a Labor Day Bake Sale on Saturday, August 30, 2003 from 9a.m. to 2p.m.  F. Alexander is calling people now for donations and help.  G. Brennan was asked to e-mail the BANNER to announce the bake sale in the “Around-the-bend” section.

·        G. Howe will sell cookbooks Sat., August 23, 2003???  He will check on date.  Greg will be turning over the selling of cookbooks to the Friends next month after 3 years of hard work.

New Business:

·        F. Alexander was commended for all her work on the Charlotte Motta birthday/ Boston Cane celebration at the Manor.  B. Wolfman had to send in an update to the BANNER stating Florence’s and the COA’s roll in this event.

·        New Town e-mail address is www.Provincetown-MA.gov

·        New Selectman e-mail address is www.Selectmen@Provincetown-MA.gov

·        As it is very difficult for the COA staff to handle the COA’s Senior Citizen part of the Town’s Fourth of July Parade, the Board will take over the work.  They will get a convertible/driver and decorate the car.

·        It was moved and seconded that the Board look over the Town’s event calendar and project the COA’s possible involvement for the next 2 months.  G. Brennan offered to get the Town calendars.

·        G. Howe reported that he was disappointed to receive only 20 responses to the SALT questionnaire.  Also disappointed that the stores in town were selling the beacon light bulbs for $19.95 when the cost is $9.95.  Suggested that Greg complain.

·        G. Howe also reported that PRIMETIME just might be a little sneaky in their reporting on the “Elder Law Finances” article.  Sub pieces of the article were written by vendors and brings up questions as to what’s law and what’s not and if it’s law, when were the changes put through.  Greg will ask our Director to consult with others to find out were to go to find out about these so-called new and devastating changes in elder law.

·        V. Sutcher explained how taxi chits worked in Stanford, using the tax return as proof of eligibility on a sliding-scale basis.  The taxi driver accepts the chits and the driver then turns them in to the town for money.  B. Wolfman to do a response-flyer for the next Newsletter to determine how many people are interested in taxi chits.

 

There being no further business, it was motioned and seconded to adjourn the meeting.  The next meetings will be September 11 and October 9, 2003 at 3:00p.m. in room #6 of the Grace Gouveia Bldg.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Gerry Brennan, Secretary