HOLDEN COUNCIL ON AGING
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Conference Room – Senior Center
Present: Richard Mansfield; Louise Charbonneau; Rev. Jerry Heslinga; Cheryl Owoc; Barbara Anger; Albert Ferron; Maureen Buffone.
The meeting was called to order at 8:05 a.m. by Chairman Mansfield. Albert Ferron moved to accept the minutes from the January 3, 2008 meeting, which was seconded by Barbara Anger.
Rick announced that Rev. Dr. Paul Kennedy was offered and has accepted the vacant position on the HCOA board. Paul has had a lot of volunteer experience. He is the retired senior pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, the 1st person honored with the Ambassador Award from Children’s Friend, and recipient of the Isaiah Thomas Award in 2000. He has also been very active with the Worcester Senior Center. He recently moved to Holden with his wife. Paul will be a real asset, and we are very excited to have him on board.
F.H.C.O.A. REPORT
Barbara Anger reported that the Friends met on Monday, February 4th. The Treasurer’s Report from the meeting is as follows:
Commerce Bank |
$8,112.70 |
Leominster Credit Union |
$18,000.94 |
C.D. |
$20,000.00 |
The Friends annual cookie sale will take place tomorrow, February 8, 2008.
On Wednesday, February 13th, Mike Sullivan from the Holden Post Office will be here to discuss the mailing of the newsletters. The advertising contained in the newsletter has put it into a different category, which will increase the cost of the mailing.
Reggie Judson from Bourne attended the Friends’ meeting. Reggie has recently moved to town and is anxious to become involved in the Holden Senior Center. He had a lot of interesting information that he shared at the meeting.
COORDINATOR’S REPORT
The movie “Music and Lyrics” is being shown today. The Friends Annual Cookie Sale will take place tomorrow. On February 14th, we will have a Valentine’s Day Party, followed by the movie “Magnificent Obsession.” We will be closed on February 18th in honor of Presidents’ Day and will have Presidential Trivia on February 20th. The movie “American President” will be shown on February 21st. International Day featuring Australia will take place on February 28th.
Louise received a letter from the Executive Office of Elder Affairs stating that every town received an increase in their grant amount. Holden received an increase of $576, from $18,131 to $18,707.
Al Ferron was nominated as a candidate for the Good Neighbor Award. A ceremony honoring Mr. Ferron will be held on March 27th at the Senior Center. Louise encouraged the board members to attend to show their support.
The HCOA budget hearing will be on March 26th at 7:00 p.m. at the Senior Center. Louise encouraged the board members to attend this meeting, as well.
Louise will be leaving for vacation after the COA meeting on March 6th. She will also be attending the NCOA Conference from March 26 to March 30. A staff meeting will be held before Louise leaves.
Louise received a phone call from the town clerk, yesterday, regarding an 8-year old girl who was hit by a car in Randolph by an 86-year old senior who was at the school to vote. It was suggested that there should be a ban in the use of schools as polling places, closing schools on voting day, or having seniors use absentee ballots.
The drain in front of the senior center has broken down and access to the front of the building is currently blocked off.
The senior van will be used at the high school for the Special Town Meeting on March 10th to shuttle people from the parking lot. The debt exclusion vote will take place on March 17th.
SENIOR VAN SUB-COMMITTEE
Sue Sullivan was not able to attend the HCOA meeting. Someone from the board will contact her to schedule a sub-committee meeting. The older van had $2,000 worth of work on it. There has been no word from Millbury regarding the third van.
Al Ferron commented that there have not been many Welcome Aldrich requests, although now that we are approaching spring, we may get some late requests.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Jerry Heslinga, seconded by Al Ferron, it was unanimously voted to adjourn the meeting of February 7, 2008 at 8:40 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Maureen Buffone
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