HOLDEN COUNCIL ON AGING
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Conference Room – Senior Center
Present: Rev. Dr. Jerry Heslinga; Cheryl Owoc; Louise Charbonneau; Albert Ferron;
Jacquie Kelly; Sue Sullivan; Rev. Dr. Paul Kennedy; Jim Robinson; Maureen Buffone
The minutes from the February 5, 2009 meeting were approved and accepted, with Sue Sullivan
abstaining.
F.H.C.O.A. REPORT - Barbara Anger
No representation
HELP AT HOME REPORT - Jim Robinson
Jim submitted a preliminary financial report dated February 28, 2009 showing a combined balance of $29,064.82. The total of receipts for the month was $2,667.75 and the total of disbursements was $705.78. The total year-to-date receipts was $13,052.43 and the total year-to-date disbursements was $3,165.38. The transfer of $8,000.00 from the Help at H.O.M.E. account to the Welcome Aldrich account was approved, as the Welcome Aldrich account earns interest. The transfer will show up in March's financial report. Future disbursements will come out of the Help at H.O.M.E. account. Jim and Louise agreed that leaving a balance of $4,000.00 in the Help at H.O.M.E. account will be sufficient. This will be discussed on a month to month basis.
Cheryl reported that demand is up. Since the last meeting, three (3) families have been helped, one (1) application is outstanding, one (1) new application has been received, three (3) applications have not been returned, one (1) application is still sitting on the desk since January 13th, and one (1) is still waiting to hear when the oil is needed. The needs are increasing, and the requests are starting to run closer to $1,000.00. The number of disbursements for March should increase considerably. There is a family in town who has been cooking on a camp stove, and Paula arranged to get them an electric range through Help at H.O.M.E. One thank-you note was received from a family who received help.
Al Ferron reiterated that the original intent of Welcome Aldrich was for the "worthy poor" and nothing was specified about what the funds should be used for. The original $400.00 bequest was to be kept in the account, using the interest for disbursements. There was no mention of receipts. Cheryl asked if the account could be used to help with mortgage payments. This will be discussed at a later meeting.
BOARD OF ELDER SERVICES REPORT - Rick Mansfield
No representation.
COORDINATOR'S REPORT - Louise Charbonneau
Richard Clark will be here this afternoon portraying Andrew Carnegie. This program is funded through a generous grant from the Holden Arts Council. On Monday, March 9, there will be a program on Native American Stories & Music. On Tuesday, March 10, Bob Beck will be here with Computer Q & A. If well received, we will be having him back once a month. On Wednesday, March 11, the Blood Pressure Clinic will be held from 10:00-12:00. On Thursday, March 12, we will be showing the movie "The Bucket List." On Tuesday, March 17, we will have a St. Patrick's Day Celebration at 12:00. The movie "Ace of Hearts" will be shown on Thursday, March 19. The second Blood Pressure Clinic will be held on Tuesday, March 24, from 10:00 to 12:00. The Souper New Year program will take place on Wednesday, March 25 at 10:30. This program
was originally scheduled for January, but had to be rescheduled due to a snow storm. On the Move will also be held on Wednesday, March 25 at 12:30 p.m. Kim McCarthy will be presenting this program with topics including downsizing, relocating, preparation for putting a house on the market and all prospects of making a move. On March 26th, the movie "Saint Ralph" will be shown.
Louise received the Formula Grant check for $18,707.00 yesterday which we have been disbursing from since July 1, 2008. We are lucky in that our Town Accountant allows us to utilize the funds based on the formal letter we receive in late June rather than requiring us to have funds in hand before paying out of the fund. We also received $500.00 in Service Incentive Grant funding which will pay for 1/2 of a series of seminars on Balancing Work and Caregiving. Emmett Schmarsow suggested that we have Johnny Suire (or Bob Beck) to tape the seminars and offer to lend them to caregivers who were unable to attend the seminars or other Councils. The remaining expenses for the seminar will be paid for by a grant through the Massachusetts State Grange. They are also providing funding for an additional laptop computer for our Outreach Department. The
Senior Center now has wireless capability, which is something that the shelter, during the ice storm, showed a real need for. Louise informed Jack Chandler of the wireless capability and suggested that his CERT team obtain a laptop for future use. Al Ferron suggested checking with some of the seniors who may have written grants in the past and who might like to help in that regard.
OLD BUSINESS
The budget for 2010 has been level funded. Sue asked if all departments were asked to do the same. Jacquie and Louise stated that they were not and that the step raises are in the budget, but cost of living raises are not.
Louise has drafted a letter to the governor regarding the resignation of Michael Festa as Secretary of Elder Affairs, as discussed at last month's meeting. Louise and Jerry Heslinga will both sign the letter.
Jacquie Kelly will work with Al Ferron and Sue Sullivan in researching the new senior van. The van drivers do not like the wide van, as it is not as easy to maneuver.
Clare Nelson would like to have a vendor fair in the spring, to help alleviate the constant requests from outside for-profit groups wanting to hold programs in the senior center. This will be open to the public and will be the only time we will give them a venue. Paula and Cheryl will work together with Clare on this.
NEW BUSINESS
Al mentioned that although the talk with Barry Burbank last month was very good, it should have been cut-off earlier, as it went for almost two (2) hours.
CITIZENS' ADDRESS
None.
ADJOURNMENT
It was unanimously voted to adjourn the meeting at 8:45 a.m. The next meeting will be held on Thursday, April 2, 2009 at 8:00 a.m. at the Holden Senior Center.
Respectfully Submitted,
Maureen Buffone
| 
