DRAFT
Council on Aging
Minutes of Meeting
Date and Time: Wednesday, April 20, 2011, 6:30 p.m.
Meeting Location: Parks and Recreation Department, 5 Broad St.
Members Present: Chairwoman Pat Donahue, Elaine Herideen, Pamela Greaves, Dolores Nangle, Donna Clifford, Alice Williams, Joan Lovely
Members Absent: Domingo Alvarez, Pamela Greaves, Jane Sarnowski
Others Present: Doug Bollen, Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Services and Bill Woolley,
Assistant Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Service
Recorder: Stacy Kilb
Also Present:
1. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
A vote will be taken to waive the reading of (or read) and accept (or amend) the Minutes of
The previous meeting held on Wednesday, March 16, 2011.AW motions, EH seconds to waive the reading. All approve
2. COMMENTS/RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CHAIRPERSON
Guidelines for emergency assistance were passed out at the last meeting; PD asks for comments. AW comments, asking if all staff are CPR certified, as guidelines have changed to compression only. Woolley comments that they seem to change yearly; all staff were certified two years ago, but the rules have since changed.
AW also comments on “heart attack – call 911” - some symptoms are listed but vomiting should be added. DC comments that there is a lot of intervention listed; even though staff is covered by the Good Samaritan law, they will be obligated to perform first aid if trained, and there is a lot there when 911 really should be called.
Woolley says that they surveyed other municipal agencies across the country; the range of intervention was very broad. DC wonders how comfortable the staff would feel performing these treatments. Woolley points out that they are guidelines, not policies, and not all circumstances will be covered. Certain people will feel more competent than others. No one would ever be faulted for calling 911. PD comments that a scraped knee is different than applying a tourniquet. Woolley reiterates that these are guidelines; why not call 911 over a scraped knee? DG comments that you could give someone an infection or there could be other issues. An audience member says that if you call 911 the injured can refuse treatment, but the department would be covered.
PD also mentions chemical burns; the eyewash station at her hospital has a specific water/saline wash and she feels there are certain times only medical people should intervene. Woolley points out that there is a spectrum and wonders where the cut-off should be. He was simply called upon to write some guidelines; almost every incident listed says to call 911.
JL comments about allergic reactions – it says never to use someone else’s Epi-pen on someone having a reaction. DC comments that you would not use such things on others because dosage could be different; it could have been prepared differently, etc. Though, if someone is in anaphylactic shock, it could be used in a pinch.
Woolley also says that there was a gentleman with a scraped knee; should 911 be called, then staff step aside, or should they try to bandage the wound? PD says that sterile gauze should be applied. JL suggests running the issue by the legal department. Woolley wonders what is the policy in other city departments. JL says to reach out to Beth Rennard first, and ask if we should move forward and ask for suggestions.
JL says that under the comments/recommendations, topics of discussion should be listed, it cannot be left blank under open meeting law. PD will have to communicate with Bollen ahead of time.
PD asks if there is any further discussion about the first aid guidelines. Woolley will look into it further. DN says that one of her concerns is when people go to committees; we should spend time trying to help people, not just working on guidelines. People can tell the difference between a scrape and serious wound, but we must consider that we are not doctors; women and men differ in symptoms of a heart attack, for example. It is good to have a guideline but people should not be afraid to call 911. Woolley agrees and says he did not want to get weighed down by details, but also tried to imagine the circumstances. Discretion should be used.
DC asks who would administer first aid. It would be the staff, referring to the guidelines, but they would have to take it on a case by case basis. DC doesn’t feel we should use the document; Woolley says that calling 911 for every little issue seems extreme. Other senior centers range from lots of training, no training, call 911 all the time, don’t call 911. They run the gamut. JL comments that, with the elderly, you don’t know what else can happen after an incident. Woolley brings up the Good Samaritan law again, but JL says that if there are guidelines in writing, and you don’t follow them, that does not apply. DC says 911 should be called in all cases, otherwise it must be known who will be doing the first aid.
DN points out that everyone should have and know the location of the first aid kit. Many places also have a blanket available for victims going into shock. Gloves should also be available. There is an Automatic Defibrillator in the other part of the building, and several first aid kits.
PD summarizes, saying that Woolley will check in with other City agencies to find out what they do and get back to the COA.
3. REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/Assistant Director
·New Senior Center – update on status of new Community Life Building
Fundraising ideas are being generated. That’s the main update. JL comments that they will come up with names to be approached for large donations; nothing has been announced yet but some other funding sources have also been identified. They are trying to narrow down a figure of how much to raise. There was also talk of hiring a professional fundraiser. They will report back to the mayor soon. There will be a groundbreaking in late spring or early summer.
·Activities, - Update on Programs and Special events coming up
Rec booklets were sent to all residents; different staff members work on different programs and put them together. Ads from the Chamber of Commerce are solicited; they sold out on ads this time. The entire book cost $5000 with $2500 in mailing costs; the remainder above what was not covered by ads comes out of the Rec revolving fund.
There will be a potential new board member, Julie Carver, who will hopefully be approved at the next City Council meeting and should be at the next COA meeting; more are needed. There is a local COA board training coming up in Danvers on Monday the 25th from 1:15-3:45. Bollen has not yet spoken to Jane Sarnowski to sort out whether or not she will continue.
Announcements:
Bollen thanks the Friends of COA in meeting some requests to help victims of Salem Common fire victims. They also requested funding for some LoJacks and the Friends deserve recognition.
The tax aids just wrapped up, having served 451 people.
·Discussion and vote on First Aid policy
See above.
·Attendance Report - Transportation, Social Service & Nutrition attendance will be reported
Service |
March 2010 |
March 2011 |
Joined Council on Aging |
45 |
50 |
Social Services – Over 60 |
273 serviced 462 times |
310 serviced 517 times |
Social Services – Under 60 |
9 serviced 14times |
13 serviced 20 times |
Events |
2054 |
5094 |
Transportation |
1498 |
1516 |
Meals – Congregate |
575 |
676 |
Meals on Wheels |
2311 |
2240 (a decrease) |
·Discussion and vote on deleting amendment on appointment to North Shore Elders Board
The amendment in the bylaws will be deleted since these are appointed by the Mayor; but PD says that the fact that these are appointed by the Mayor should be in the bylaws. PD explains the current wording, which states that the COA elects representatives to North Shore Elders Board, when in fact they are appointed by the Mayor. The rest of the COA thinks the comment should just be eliminated.
A motion to strike the amendment (Article 5, #4) is made by Donna, seconded by Elaine, and passes unanimously.
Woolley notes that funds for the Spanish outreach effort received from the state have all been expended; it was a grant for $6K/year for three years, but only two years have been funded and no more funds will be forthcoming. The next fiesta will be the last one that will be free. They are now looking at maintenance, trying to integrate access to programs that have appeal to the Spanish speaking population. Foreign language films at the Cabot Cinema in Beverly are discussed. Frasier Field in Lynn is the home field of NS Navigators, affiliated with Major League baseball, which will have 2 All Star games there, which will be Latino.
Woolley discusses the learning process for acquiring Spanish and how his French from high school interferes.
He is also trying to normalize the printing of a Spanish newsletter, making it more regular. He hopes to have advertising in it, too. There are enough volunteers to do translation. It would also be cheaper than the way they do it now, if it is printed via Liturgical Press, who would do it for free but keep the money raised from advertising.
State formula is going to be level for next year. There is still a concern over Community Development Block Grants, which may be cut. Budgets will hopefully still be level-funded.
Program Update:
Volunteer week just wrapped up; there was a recognition dinner with 80 or 90 people present. Sidekim, the caterer, donated the meal. Sandy coordinated all volunteers that helped in the past year. It has been done outside; this year it was inside at the Parks and Rec building; consensus was that people liked it here.
The last free Fiesta will be Thursday night; they will try to continue them but may charge a nominal fee.
There was also a pizza party a couple of weeks ago; the book sale is next week and they have many books. It runs Tuesday to Thursday. It runs from 9-3:30, later on Thursday. They will be $1 a bag on Thursday.
There will be a trip to Toronto to see the Red Sox in May; there was a trip to Ellis Island also. It went on despite the possible government shutdown. Niagara Falls and Toronto will be in May; Bollen also outlines other classes and programs.
4. TREASURER’S REPORT
·Update on budget and accounts
5. COMMITTEE REPORTS
6. NEW BUSINESS
7. VISITOR COMMENTS – Opportunity for Visitors to speak
Pat Liberti is present and announces the 3rd annual spaghetti supper at the Moose hall the 23rd of June; tickets are on sale at NS Bank and Salem COA. They are sending out their annual appeal letter next month, going to anyone over 60. JL thinks they should broaden it as those under 60 would probably be willing to donate. She thinks it should go to those 50 and up. Pat says that last year it was a very successful appeal but she will speak to Dennis Coleman.
Pat also comments that they will start sending them out to businesses soon as well.
Teasie Riley Goggin asks about what is being deleted from the bylaws and if they are being revised again; they are not, just this one item. Ms. Goggin asks if the Mayor must appoint from this board, but that is not the case. She can appoint from any source and this is not relevant to our bylaws as we are not involved. We have 2 representatives on NS Elders who will, at some point, come to the COA to report.
8. NEXT BOARD MEETING will be on Wednesday, May 18, 2011
9. VOTE TO ADJOURNMENT
A motion to adjourn is made by EH, seconded by AW, and passes unanimously.
The meeting ends at 7:40PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Stacy Kilb
Clerk, Salem Council on Aging
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