Minutes

COA Board

October 11, 2007

Present: Florence Alexander, Gerry Brennan [Chair], Greg Howe

Absent: Paul Mendes, Val Carrano, Kay Vogt

Friends: Vern Wilson [Treasurer]

Call to Order: Brennan called the meeting to Order at 3:00pm

Special Presentation: Ron Gamella [DPW] and John Finnegan [contractor] provided an update of activities around the COA building. This included presentation and review of a working drawing of the reconfiguration of the grounds, showing parking spaces, movement of back shed, etc., together with pictorial presentation of the new rear retaining wall. There should be a slight gain in available parking. The steps to the north front entrance will be reconfigured to present two sets of stairs. Previous front fencing will be restored, with most plantings. Current schedule calls for termination by mid to late November [pending availability of asphalt plant].

Minutes: The September Minutes were approved as presented.

Director’s Report: No Director’s Report, but Howe provided a summary of the Elder Services COA Board training session at Wellfleet on Sept. 24. Main emphasis was that 2 Cape towns already have a majority of residents over 65, and others will follow soon. Need careful notes from telephone volunteers to discover what people want, and what we don’t do. Serious need for new styles in communication. Do we have access to Channel 17? Particular need to inform low-income seniors that MASS Health will cover the prescription doughnut hole. Some COA’s do this with messages on bingo cards. Studies show that most people need to see/hear messages 6-13 times before comprehending.

Friends: $1500.00 – led by $1000.00 check from PPA – collected so far for new van. Annual Appeal will go out in late Oct.

Salt: No report

Elder liaison: No report

New business: Ceramics class starts Oct. 17 – scheduling problems led to late-in-the-day start. Steve Kennedy will start oil painting class in Nov.

N.B. Remember to check the Town Meeting Warrant for Senior Issues.

Meeting adjourned at 3:40 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Greg Howe