COUNCIL ON AGING MINUTES
September 9, 2015
Present: Council on Aging Members Irving Goldberg, Marijo Gorney, Jean Noussee, Ernest Cornelssen, Virginia McIntyre, Norah McCormick and Council on Aging Director Lynne Waterman,
Absent: Jack Jordan, Mary Gaffney and Outreach Coordinator Darlene Perkins
Chairman Irving Goldberg opened the meeting at 8:33 a.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES – August 12, 2015
Motion: Ernie Cornelssen moved to approve the minutes of August 12, 2015, seconded by Marijo Gorney. Vote unanimous 6-0
Public Comments
None
COMMUNICATIONS AND CORRESPONDENCE
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Director Lynne Waterman distributed her report for the month of August. She reported she and the Outreach Coordinator met with the new clinical director of South Bay Mental Health to plan future programs and how to work with Mashpee seniors.
She thanked DPW for changing the batteries in the van and addressing issues with the heating/air conditioning unit.
The Director also thanked DPW staff who replaced lights, repaired an electrical outlet, completed the summer weeding/cleanup and replaced ceiling tiles. She also thanked IT who provided computer equipment to the Director and Office Assistant. She noted the audio/visual equipment is out of date and has met with staff from a local audio and visual company to begin the process of updating.
The Director reviewed the meetings she attended this past month and highlighted: Department Head, Staff, and Parkinson’s Support Network of Cape Cod Board of Directors.
The Director and Volunteer Coordinator met with a volunteer who will be doing computer instruction and also she and the Principal Clerk met with a new volunteer who will be calling our newsletter volunteers on a monthly basis.
The new Elder Services of Cape Cod Mature Workers candidate began his duties at the Senior Center in August. He will be working 20 hours a week to help with set up and cleaning. The Director also did the annual drive along with the two van drivers and completed the annual evaluation for one of the drivers.
The Director and Office Assistant met to begin updating the Access database. She worked with two Cape Council on Aging Directors to plan for future programs. Their goal is to educate Cape legislators regarding the needs of both elders on Cape Cod and the Senior Centers on Cape Cod. The Director met with several seniors to provide assistance while covering for the Outreach Coordinator when she was on vacation. She submitted to the Town Manager her goals for FY 2016.
The Director reported her goals are to begin the process of the new Property Tax Program which starts October 1 and to begin planning for the annual budget submission.
Motion: Jean Noussee moved to accept the Director’s Report, seconded by Ginny McIntyre. Vote unanimous 6-0
TREASURER’S REPORT
Director Waterman distributed the budget report and reviewed the budget figures with the members.
Motion: Ernie Cornelssen moved to accept the Treasurer’s Report, seconded by Marijo Gorney. Vote unanimous 6-0
VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR REPORT
The Director reviewed the Volunteer Coordinator’s report for August. She reported she enrolled four new volunteers. The Volunteer Coordinator worked with the Activity Coordinator to develop a grid schedule to assign volunteers to activities. A mailing has gone out to all volunteers to announce upcoming workshops. The first one will be held in September to discuss volunteer positions relating them to volunteer policies and to receive their input about their positions. There will also be two more workshops in October. One will be on Emergency Preparedness and one for volunteer drivers who drive people to doctors’ appointments.
Motion: Jean Noussee moved to accept the Volunteer Coordinator Report, seconded by Ginny McIntyre. Vote unanimous 6-0
ACTIVITY COORDINATOR REPORT
Director Waterman reviewed the Activity Coordinator report for the month of August. She highlighted several of the programs and noted the new activities that are planned. She reported the quarterly birthday party had a large turn out, the Cahoon Museum of American Art presentation was well attended, the Garden Contest was a success as was the ice cream social and the Singing Seniors started again after the summer break.
Motion: Jean Noussee moved to accept the Activity Coordinator Report, seconded by Ginny McIntyre. Vote unanimous 6-0
OUTREACH COORDINATOR REPORT
In the absence of Darlene Perkins, Outreach Coordinator, the Director distributed her report for the month of August. The Outreach Coordinator had three home visits and 5 recertifications for fuel assistance as well as 2 hoarding issues. Eight Mashpee Seniors turned 90 plus and received flowers delivered by volunteers. The Outreach Coordinator attended the monthly Hoarding Task Force meeting and listed her goals: planning Holiday Gift Giving, Implementing Mail Box Stickers, Increasing number of Brown Bag participants.
Motion: Ernie Cornelssen moved to accept the Outreach Coordinator Report, seconded by Norah McCormick. Vote unanimous 6-0
Old Business
The Director thanked Ernie Cornelssen for preparing the letter from the Council on Aging Board regarding the Domestic Violence Special Police Officer Grant. Ernie said he interviewed the police officer so he could better understand the issue. One area of priority is to alleviate domestic violence with the elders. The letter was to ask not to decrease the funding.
The Director referred to an editorial in the Cape Cod Times which spoke about growing older and lacking services. She read parts of the article. She felt it was a little disappointing not to see some reference to the cape cod senior centers and council on aging. She felt we need to respond to these types of things in the future so people are aware that the senior centers play a role in terms of helping seniors on Cape Cod.
None
New Business
The Director spoke about how to connect with people between newsletters through group emails. If something comes up between newsletters we have no way of doing that. We have about 2,000 seniors on our mailing list and 900 emails. Our mature worker has been working on updating the email list. She noted Constant Contact is a program that works well and she is looking at it.
Massachusetts Association of Councils on Aging
The Director discussed state agencies seeking Councils on Aging in Massachusetts to assist them with their work
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The Director announced that Sunday September 27 at the Cape Codder, sponsored by the Parkinsons Association on Cape Cod, there will be a fundraiser to support programs and scholarships for Parkinsons.
Motion: Ernie Cornelssen moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Jean Noussee. Vote unanimous 6-0
Meeting adjourned 9:16 a.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Judy Daigneault
Recording Secretary
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