HOLDEN COUNCIL ON AGING
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Conference Room – Senior Center
Present: Rev. Dr. Jerry Heslinga; Susan Sullivan; Barbara Anger; Albert Ferron;
Faye Ellis; Louise Charbonneau; Jim Robinson; Cheryl Owoc; Maureen Buffone.
The minutes from the September 2, 2010 meeting were approved and accepted.
F.H.C.O.A. REPORT ~ Barbara Anger
Barbara reported that the account balances are as follows:
Commerce Bank $15,247.58
Leominster Credit Union $4,608.40
C.D. $23,121.83
At their last meeting, the Friends agreed to buy raincoats for all of the MOW drivers.
Faye Ellis was elected as Vice President to the Friends board.
The Friends Fair will be held on Saturday, November 6, 2010.
HELP AT HOME REPORT ~ Jim Robinson
Jim submitted an updated Financial Report. There was no change in activity since the last report, and there is nothing new to report.
The Help at Home Committee met on Tuesday, and they verified the action that the Council on Aging Board took to transfer funds in the amount of Four Thousand ($4,000.00) Dollars from the Welcome Aldrich account to the Help at Home account. Donation envelopes will go out in the November Light Department bills. Donation checks will now be made payable to Help at Home, as all disbursements come out of the Help at Home account. At the end of the season, funds can be rolled over to the Welcome Aldrich account. The Help at Home account is not a 501(c)(3) account, but donations are tax deductible.
Cheryl reported that they are currently working on five (5) cases, which are all over One Thousand ($1,000.00) Dollars.
BOARD OF ELDER SERVICES REPORT ~ Rick Mansfield
No representation.
DIRECTOR’S REPORT ~ Louise Charbonneau
The events for the month of October are as follows:
Monday, October 4…Public Power Week Luncheon @ 12:00
Thursday, October 7…Movie “The Seven Year Itch” @ 12:30
Wednesday, October 13… “The Spirit of the Southwest” an Audubon Program @ 10:00
Thursday, October 14…Movie “The Last Song” @ 12:30
Wednesday, October 20…The Greendale Men's Club Chorus @ 11:00
Thursday, October 21…Movie “Unsolved History: The Chicago Fire” @ 12:30
Friday, October 22…Veterans’ Meeting @ 10:30
Wednesday, October 27…Decorate a pumpkin for Halloween @ 10:30
Thursday, October 28…Movie “Did You Hear About the Morgans?” @ 12:30
Flu shots will be given out on Monday, October 18th. We received the date after the October newsletter was printed, and Louise is doing her best to P.R. it.
Louise is in the process of writing thank you notes to those who made it possible for the staff to attend the MCOA Conference. Firstly, Barbara Anger who scheduled the volunteer coverage and was here every day herself. To the volunteers who helped cover the office, Barbara, Helen Holmes and Barbara Diesslin. Also to Adam Hickey, who by all accounts was always accessible to the volunteers and came back on Wednesday and Thursday to secure the building for the night.
Louise also thanked Sterling Healthcare for the pastries they brought in yesterday, which are being shared with the board members this morning.
All of the staff, except Paula, attended all or some of last week’s MCOA Conference. Some of the workshops were interesting and informative, but a few did not live up to expectations. Louise noted that she attended at least part of Cheryl’s two (2) workshops. We have every reason to be proud of her. She’s an excellent teacher and facilitator and actually has a few “groupies” that followed her here and there throughout the conference. One of her fans told Louise that she’s “an event.” The best workshop for Louise was “Best Practices-Behavior Policies” which was facilitated by Emmett, 2 representatives from the Ombundsman Office, and 2 COA Directors. Next year’s conference is October 5-7 at
the Sturbridge Host Hotel.
As Louise reported last month, we are trying to change the building use policy, which may or may not include fees. The plan was to bring this suggestion to the Board of Selectmen after the November election; however, a Brownie leader contacted one of the selectman who brought it up at a recent meeting. When he brought it up, he had been given incorrect information; however, the Town Manager assured him that we did not charge $100.00 per meeting!! Due to having this on town-wide television, we have received a good amount of inappropriate feedback. As of now, Louise believes the plan is still to bring it before the Board of Selectmen sometime after the November election. The way we are operating now, will continue, which is groups have to schedule their meetings on a
monthly basis rather than for the entire year, with the exception of town committees.
OLD BUSINESS
None
NEW BUSINESS
Jim Robinson thanked the Senior Center staff on the tremendous job they did with the Public Power Week Luncheon. It is the first one Jim attended, and he said it was a fantastic event. The Light Dept. received a couple of thank you notes from people that attended. Denis allowed a couple of the DPW guys to help out. Louise added that it was a nice example of three (3) departments coming together.
Per Jacquie Kelly’s request, Louise let the board know that there will be a special town meeting on Monday, November 8 at 7:00 p.m. at Mountview School. Two items on the agenda are a study to replace or repair Mountview and acceptance of streets.
Louise also informed the board that Librarian, Jane Dutton will be leaving in February. She’s leaving not because of the job itself, but rather because things in her personal life are changing. Clare is going to try and get her here one more time before she leaves.
Al Ferron suggested that something be done with the old van before the snow comes. It should be declared surplus. Louise will remind Jacquie Kelly. Louise also mentioned that she and Jacquie submitted a request to the Capital Planning Committee for a future van to get it on the planned list.
Jerry Heslinga came over with some of the people from the Church to do trimming around the senior center sign in the front of the building and weeding and mowing around the islands.
CITIZENS’ ADDRESS
None.
ADJOURNMENT
It was unanimously voted to adjourn the meeting at 8:30 a.m.
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, November 4, 2010 at 8:00 a.m. at the Holden Senior Center.
Respectfully submitted,
Maureen Buffone
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