HOLDEN COUNCIL ON AGING
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Conference Room – Senior Center
Present: Richard Mansfield; Susan Sullivan; Faye Ellis; Barbara Anger;
Louise Charbonneau; Maureen Buffone.
The minutes of the April 5, 2012 meeting were approved and accepted.
F.H.C.O.A. REPORT ~ Barbara Anger
Barbara reported the account balances as of May 31, 2012 as follows:
Commerce Bank $10,877.93
Leominster Credit Union $4,632.59
Leominster Credit Union CD $23,418.38
There were a lot of expenses this month, including repair to the pool tables in the amount of $1,400.00.
HELP AT H.O.M.E. REPORT ~ Jim Robinson
Jim was not available for today’s meeting, but submitted a Financial Report for the period ending May 31, 2012. The combined balance for the Help at H.O.M.E. Fund and the Welcome Aldrich Relief Fund is $26,781.02.
Louise reported that there is a question about whether the town will allow Help at H.O.M.E. to continue to fundraise next year. Rick commented that the more the town gets involved, the more it does not look like a 501c. Louise will get an update before the September meeting.
BOARD OF ELDER SERVICES REPORT ~ Richard Mansfield
Rick reported that he attended the tour of the new Elder Services site on Millbrook Street. They now have more room to provide additional services. Parking, however, is a bit of an issue.
The Executive Office of Elder Affairs implemented a waitlist on March 1, 2012. At this time, there are 35 applicants on the waiting list, 29 Priority 3’s, and 6 Priority 4’s. As of May 14th, 14 Priority 2’s were opened for services and there were 4 exemptions from the waiting list.
Rick also talked about the Integrated Care Organizations (ICOs), which are similar to SCOs, but for individuals between the ages of 21 and 64. This is a large population which includes disabled individuals, developmentally disabled individuals and individuals with behavioral health issues. Those who are on Mass Health will automatically be assigned to an ICO. Mass Home Care is advocating for ASAPs involvement with ICOs, as they have experience with the coordination of community services and vendor relationships. There was discussion at the Board of Elder Services meeting as to the need to review the agency’s bylaws, since ICOs are a different population than the elder population that is currently served and their mission. The Board reviewed Article II,
Purposes of the Corporation, and agreed that the language in the bylaw allows them to serve a broader population.
Louise let Rick know about the issues we are having with the daily Meals on Wheels sheets. Rick will bring it up at their next meeing.
DIRECTOR’S REPORT ~ Louise Charbonneau
Paula has been in contact with Mr. Ferron. He is at Beaumont Rehab and slowly making progress. He asked her to tell the board that he’d love visits or phone calls. He is in room 401A and his phone number there is 508-459-5149.
We have been working on a few Welcome Aldrich cases. One is far more serious than the others and has demanded a lot of attention, but is progressing slowly. We feel that because there is some misinformation out there that Help at H.O.M.E./Welcome Aldrich will help pay a bill whether you have the funds or not, we are receiving some applications with balances that are quite high, but when people realize that we have them talk with Donna Cross to make a payment plan, etc., then some moneys magically appear – one started at over $1000.00 and is now down to close to $100.00 or $200.00. That is thanks in no small part to Donna’s hard work. Both Paula and Louise enjoy working with Donna and could expound for hours on her dedication.
The Town of Leicester Council on Aging is offering a Board Training on Friday, June 15 from 9:15-11:45 a.m. at their Senior Center at 40 Winslow Avenue. Registration will be from 8:45-9:15. Facilitating the training will be Emmett Schmarsow, Program Manager for COA’s and Senior Centers at the Executive Office of Elder Affairs. Louise asked the Board to let her or Maureen know if they would like to attend, and they will call in their reservation.
Next Wednesday, Louise and Maureen will be going to Leominster to attend our annual Formula Grant training. Louise will be writing the grant over the next few weeks, or so. We will probably be using it for what we currently use it for (salaries, conferences, newsletter mailing, and volunteer recognition). If any of you, however, have any ideas on how we should utilize some of the funds, please feel free to call or e-mail Louise with your suggestions or questions.
The MCOA Annual Conference will be held on Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday, October 3, 4, & 5 at the Sea Crest Resort in North Falmouth. If any of you would like to attend, Louise is sure there will be time in September to register for a day, but if you’d like to go and stay at the resort, Louise would suggest you let us know so that we will pass the information along to you in August when we receive it. The block rooms reserved by MCOA have in the past sold out.
The MCOA is now holding their annual meeting and presenting awards, etc. in June (in fact it’s today) rather than at the conference in the fall. This year it’s in Norwood. Several of the directors Louise has spoken with were disappointed with this decision in that it creates another day that we have to be away from our centers. They felt that having it at the conference was preferable in that far more people attend and enjoy being able to congratulate award recipients, etc.
We received a generous donation from a Holden resident of a charcoal picture of a Grandmother’s hand picking roses and a Grandmother and Granddaughter holding hands. It’s very lovely. It is hanging in the dining room. If you have a minute on your way out, please stop and see it.
SOME STATISTICS FROM APRIL AND MAY
Meet the Artist, Joan Erickson – 15
The First Ladies (Part 1) – 85
Senior Prom – 53
Legal Presentation – 95
Author Virginia Heslinga – 31
Katie Green, storyteller – 30
Mystery Home Cooked Lunch – 34
Mother’s Day Breakfast – 26
OLD AND NEW BUSINESS
There was no old or new business to be conducted.
CITIZENS ADDRESS
None.
ADJOURNMENT
It was unanimously voted to adjourn the meeting at 8:55 a.m.
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, September 6, 2012 at 8:00 a.m. at the Holden Senior Center.
Respectfully submitted,
Maureen Buffone
APPROVED:
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