Council on Aging Board - June 9, 2026

Okay.

Okay.

Y All right.

I It's um we're ready.

Yes.

All right. Good morning. Um, I'm calling the June 9th meeting to order from the of the uh Council on Aging Advisory Board. And I wanted to just make a note that we have Carol Scarbor with us today, president of the Friends, um, rather than Cindy. So, um, let us all rise then and pledge our allegiance.

I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

All right. Thank you.

All right.

Moving right along. We have the May minutes, May meeting minutes to look at and to approve.

to make corrections.

We've all had a chance to um read them over.

Do we have any comments, suggestions, corrections?

Uh Miriam, I want to add something to it. Um, you you stated that the five uses of community foundation, would you put the five uses down in the minutes so we know what they are?

Um, okay. Oh, I see here under old business.

Yeah.

Okay.

It says five uses, but it doesn't list which ones they are, which would be important.

Okay. Do we have that?

I I I can get it. I I just want to make sure I have it right because we've changed them on occasion. That's right.

So, I I will make sure that I put them in because usually we put that in the minutes in the Okay, good.

Accountant uses that to go through with what we submit.

Yeah, good call.

Yeah, I can I can I can add those.

Okay. Any other comments or additions, corrections?

All right. All those in favor of accepting the minutes as amended. We need a motion first. I'll make that motion if you want.

Yes, I would. Thank you.

I'll second.

All right. All those um in favor?

I I Any opposed?

We have an abstension.

Okay. Thank you. Done.

Who abstain?

Did you abstain?

Lisa wasn't here. session. Oh, okay.

That vote.

All right. So, treasures report Ariel.

Here's something extra.

Thank you.

Okay.

Colleen, do you have an extra one of these?

Do you have an extra one of these? Yeah, pass that now.

Oh, I got it.

I can I can No, that's okay. She'll pass it to me.

Okay. Thank you.

This is gay. Yeah, I have this. And then something Yeah, it's an extra.

Okay, okay, there's an extra page.

Here's my minutes.

My treasures report. The financial report shows the town uh county budget has a negative balance of 8,4844.17.

I received an EOA which is end of year budget transfer to request to transfer 3340 which goes to the board of selectment and the finance committee for approval.

After I calculated the amount needed for wages until June 3rd, it does not seem to be enough to cover that transfer.

Okay.

So, I contacted Nicole and she's going to review it and let you know if there's enough money.

Okay. I I I talked to Joanne. She gave me the balances. So, that's what the balance, but you got to figure out how much you need till the end.

We We did. We did. We did the three. We did the We have We had three. We did it.

We did it. We'll we'll talk to Nicole and see where where we at.

She won't be back till um Thursday.

Okay.

She's at a conference.

Okay.

So, okay. I believe that second item is I believe that not enough money is being charged to social day for expenses that are used by social day, normal town expenses. And that's why you're overdrafting. That's one of the reasons.

And that schedule shows how much reviews so far. How much I don't have one of those.

I had Did they pass them down?

They did, but they didn't get to her.

I had 10 copies. How many?

Oh, they didn't get to her.

They didn't get anyway. I have it now.

You have the I have it now. You got one.

Probably ran out. Thanks. Well, don't forget I'm having that.

Oh, I might have another.

Oh, that's okay. I'll share it right here. We got it.

I have another one.

As long as I got one to read from.

There you go.

Okay.

Dick, have one.

We're sharing it right here. Sharing it.

Yeah, you can have one.

I had more than enough. They use it.

So I did a comparison. So and um check out you didn't use anything for postage social day. Don't you mail stuff on social day?

Yes.

So you should be charging some postage to them and we've left that for the end of the year.

Well, it's easier to do it before.

Listen, let me just interject. This is not a supervisory meeting. No, this is an advisory meeting.

Okay. Then the balance of the SCD supervisory meeting is not this special day program is getting low, right?

And the revenue is staying stable. So not many new clients are attending. What is holding back? Getting more people.

People are we had a real rough winter.

Yeah.

Um no. Now, now, right, people have been ill and have dropped out. So, we've had more people drop out than we had in the past. Um, we have some newer people who are starting.

Um, but some people are only doing one or two days a week rather than before.

We used to have people wanted to do three.

Could it be because of the cost involved?

It could be, but if we don't know, it is because I know a couple of people, but there are people who have there are people who were not happy that we raised the cost. We hadn't ra the raised the cost. I know across the board since 2021 we're lower than our 50,000 mark of a balance theif the 50,000 was the um like the safety net we to which we're always

trying to keep 50,000 and that was our safety when we've been lower almost all year.

All right the other thing is I got questions. Are we getting the elevator fixed?

I have been trying to I'm waiting for Nicole at Atlantic Elevator to send me a second. Um they did a bid on it before and told us how much it was going to be.

So, they're supposed to update it and I sent out an email and I've just been waiting for that.

Okay. And when are you going to put the agenda and minutes and reports on the town website?

When I meet with Carol. Um the prior administrator wanted two years back. You're not even putting the current ones on. We can talk about this.

Mariel, this is not financial. Let's let's sort of stick to the financial put the financial on the website, too.

Okay. But I'm not sure that that's what we're here for right now.

Okay.

That isn't that isn't our job.

Right. I I think that there's been a lot board.

I'm advising her to put it on the agenda.

You're making a suggestion.

Yeah.

Or a suggestion.

Okay. You're making not a demanded suggestion.

But the You're making a suggestion. Is that correct? The administrator wanted it on two years before. The prior administrator, we haven't even done it. We're not We're not What's your point?

Wait, we're not David.

People don't see what's going on.

Well, they you have a a valid point, but I think part of it has been ongoing training and discussion of the website and how to do it.

Everybody else has been trained. You look at all the others.

Well, okay. But but that's not what we're here for. Everybody else here.

Okay. My other question, do we use QuickBooks yet for uh social day?

Yes.

Okay. Um and the graph that was submitted last time, there was a number missing. Could I have that number for April for town wages?

Email me and let me know. Send me a copy of the I wasn't here. Uh oh, no. The the You were here for the meeting.

The meeting where you Yeah, she wasn't.

No, the meeting that you wanted the number for. Okay. I did the joint meeting the joint day. Not the joint meeting.

It was the board meeting that she submitted the the draft and there's a number missing.

Okay. Email me. Email me. Let me know what you need and I'll be glad to give it to you.

Okay. And um could you submit us a transportation um total cost of the budget like we did last year? You know the total cost because I can't do it anymore. I don't have that system the numbers for fiscal 26.

Yeah.

And one of Well, the fiscal 26 isn't over yet, so I don't have all those numbers in. But when I Well, at the end of June 30th, June 30th is around the Okay.

And one other question. Are we getting a new van this month?

We're supposed to. It's supposed to be delivered sometime June of 26. It goes anywhere from June to maybe August. It depends on the company.

Just curious to see if we're getting it.

I have a question about the budget.

Okay let's because of our driver shortage, is that going to impact that line item because uh the other drivers, are we able to hire them like on overtime and No. Are we going to see that?

We we ended up making some some changes.

What we did was we asked people that were um in supportive day program if their families or caregivers could drive them so that we were free up to to you know to do but Paul should be back July 1st. Yep.

And we did hire a new person and the new person Joel was working out really well.

So it it's sort of I figured we might need to manipulate that line a little bit.

Yeah.

Be shorten short drivers for a while.

Yeah. Yeah. No, we're trying not to. I mean, no matter what I do with drivers, so someday some weeks they're over and having two drivers down, you know.

No, it's understandable. I just didn't know if we needed to adjust that before the year end.

No, I think we're good.

Okay, good. Did you We're low but we're I mean we're low in transportation revolving but I have I'm listening to the question. I did I gave him to there was a question um um the the transportation revolving is lower than what it has been also just like supportive day it's below what our um safety net is it has been right so okay is that due to the fact because of the

grant money has decreased and is not as readily available yeah we didn't get we didn't get two of the grants last year so and then expenses obviously went up across the board um I I think the expenses for the gas did um this year. I think those are higher than what they had been. Okay.

So, and we have more and more people calling for medical appointments and for shopping and you know there's been uh more people who have used the vans for support of day than did in the past. So, so we pri prioritizing um transportation based on need and and then staggering it accordingly to Yes. Yes. We're doing the med we do the medical's priority.

Okay. And then we try to get families to bring their folks in if they somebody needs to use a podiatrist or somebody wants to come in for supportive day. We we did call and tell everybody that um we were down two drivers and we asked if they could help us for for the short term until we got a new driver on and until we were, you know, more status quo

and they most of the people said yes.

I know drivers have been tough this year. So yeah, it's been tough across the board everywhere like all all companies.

Yeah.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Any other questions? Um, could you please pass around?

This is Muriel's um list of statements and questions that Mr. Brewer.

Madam Chair, this is uh this will be like an outsider's comment, which is kind of kind of what I am. But anyway, insider outsider.

Yeah. So, I've I've wondered I should have asked this question a long time ago. I've been here for a bit. um as to uh I assume the town accountant using the uh format for municipal accounting as their reports.

Mhm.

Uh so I got like a couple of part question here. one, do we take a look at that? And the second part of the question would be then how does this report here which is for us really dovetail with the uh the town accountants reports because at the end of the day the true financial position of the organization would be found by the town accountant. Um so I'm not saying do away with this or it's not

necessary because I think you have to keep track of these items separately.

But I'm just wondering it's like we have two reporting systems here and and of course as you pointed out I don't know how deep this group which is advisory needs to get into this in the first place.

That's right.

Um but I'm more interested in what does the town accountant do and do we look at that material and reconcile it with this?

Right. Um, I think that that's something both Beverly and Helen do, the principal clerk, that that is their function as staff members for the town. Um, I think that eventually the figures that, you know, I mean, we're looking at year end, but it does seem like we have two systems going on at the same time of like one's up to the minute, one may not be. I think what we have asked for as a

board is to see more what of trends like really where are we and maybe not down to the the penny but but I think something that we can um digest more it it just maybe more simplistic. So, um, but I think Beverly could probably answer better. There are two systems, right?

Helen is doing, um, her reports. Um, she and I both review them. Um, sometimes on a weekly basis, sometimes every other week, depending on what time of year in June, we're going to do more more review. We've also been in touch with Joanne and Nicole, and we go through and and we'll compare balances to make sure that what they have is what we have. And that's how we did our year- end because

I spoke with Joanne and she gave me the numbers that she had. Um, and we compared the numbers and we had the same numbers. So, we did our year-end projection to see how much we needed um how much we needed going forward. We knew that we were $844 negative in our expense um line item and um um I had to put a um request in uh to FINCOM to take

some wage money and put it into the expense account. So we've done that.

We're just waiting on FINCOM to approve it. and the amount that um Nicole said, they're going to want a reason why you're overextended, why you have more money in um uh wages than than what you would have needed. But when I do the budget, I'm doing the budget in October, the year before. So, I'm taking the salaries from, you know, projecting what the salary will be and I do it based I

don't Nicole does her budget based on the number of days of the year. I don't do it on the number of days of the year because I don't always know the next year what the number of days are going to be. I don't have that. So what I do is I just do it based on you know 52 weeks how much the salary is going to be. So that's why my wages and my salary

line items were a little bit higher when I projected what it was going to be compared to because I do like a lean salary and my well my salary and I do it based on 52 weeks or 26 pay periods or whatever it happens to be. So that's why it was a little bit higher and that's why we want to um change u um take some out of wages and and transfer it into um

expenses. So my expenses are a little in the negative and I do have we hel and I have already done a report on how much each um uh what we have left to pay. So we have the wages left to pay. we have the 3 weeks plus 7 days that we have to do before June 30th. Um so we have that all calculated out. We did that. And then

the other thing that we did um was we figured out we we it's just a an estimate of how much we're going to get in expenses because you never know when you're going to get a bill, when it's going to come in. Is it going to come in? You know, is the June bill or is it going to be July 1 bill or whatever?

Especially for Projectto and Verizon and Nunan, I think. And that's the oil, the the phone, and um um electricity. So I don't get those. Nicole gets those and she does those for the whole town. So it's just about estimating when we're going to get the bills in and who's going to pay. And usually at the end of the year, we always have supportive day pay those bills because we don't want to

encumber any money. We want to spend all the town money and then instead of encumbering anything, what we do is we reassign them to supportive day or other our activities or whatever whatever else it happens to be. So, and we've been doing and we've been doing question if I could continue this discussion to to conclude.

Absolutely. Yeah.

So, the the things you're talking about are really u a level of detail that would be part of the town accountants report or at least there might be totals there that include all of this.

Yes. Yes. And but the the the financial discussions that take place I think would be between you and your direct report which is uh the town administrator. I mean is I I does that occur? Let me No, I I really don't have direct communication with the town and I never have about the budget unless there's something glaring that we're going to be short and I need money. But if we do the

transfer or any of that, I haven't had in the past, haven't needed to in 12 years to go over anything and to to ask for the request. And I'm sure the town administrator must know when departments are asking for requests to transfer from one one from wages to expenses other than that. So I don't really have when we do the budget every year the the new budget kind of go through it tell them

why I did what I did why I added more on a certain line item like we did for transportation this year but I don't really do a indepth I usually spend that time with my principal clerk um the assistant treasure the assistant town accountant and the town accountant and that's kind of how we we go through it.

Okay. So, I mean, the ultimate responsibility for financials here would would be you, but with with the town administrator. Yes. That you report to.

Yes.

I was just wondering what what reports is he looking at when he when he looks at them or does he not look at them?

I I think I I don't know. I I've never had I I've never asked I've never had nobody's ever come to me and asked me.

Um I don't know if he just goes through with a town accountant. We have a department heads meeting every um once a month and we talk about where we are and everything but we don't usually go over especially at the department heads meeting anything like that. Um I think that would be an individual meeting that we would have if I needed to if there was some things that were um

you know a problem but other than that Yeah. Okay.

Yeah.

Well, I'll just leave it at that. I'm still a little confused as to how this all works because it to me is duplication of effort and it's also what I would be interested in is uh how this works with the town accountants reports that that would be the true financial picture. This is supplementary to it I'll say which has items that you like to look at and need you need to look at

to know how we're doing with say the Salvador fund you know supported things that's that's some good it just seems that there's a missing part here that is part of the town accountant and town administrator who should be discussing the fin overall financial position of this department you know just that's but that's probably a different story but and that that might ch that might change

with the new town administrator and the new dire like those those he's I know he's trying to make some changes globally across the whole town and trying to make things standardized so he's working on one thing at a time so that could be something that he might be working on um I I don't know it doesn't seem that in the material I read for statewide the state website there You've sent some stuff lately, but

I looked at that before.

I didn't see anything there that requires Council on Aging to be involved with the financials, right?

It seems to be more driven by programs and satisfying senior needs. I'm just wondering if it's duplication of effort.

That's their own. But it's not a right I'm not not on a burning desire with you. I'm just saying it seems to be out of pattern with what I'm used to.

I think you're you're correct. I think that when we have gone through what the um Massachusetts Council on Aging their handbook says if you have the staff to do it, you know, we're an advisory group and we're to be prepared to discuss trends if there's problems is the way that I think that we have read our handbook and that I think in the past the treasurer has had to step in and and

do more um detailed work than than trends. Um, but since we have a pr um a a staff member who works directly with the director, it it we do not need a treasurer um as on our board. According to the um Massachusetts Council on Aging, it's it's you know, it's duplicate that it's duplication of work.

And um I think that um We we've touched upon it before, but I think that you've highlighted that now.

You brought that back to our attention.

I think it's important that we know where the I I think that we're always concerned about money because the town gives us about a third of our budget and we're handling so many other funds, donations, uh grants and um it's our our budget is our our working financials are probably a lot more complicated than any other department maybe outside of the school.

is my would be my guess in that so much of our money comes from other sources, fees, you know, grants.

Yeah.

So, in year in years past, have we always had a treasurer?

Yes.

Um, like has there ever been a year that we've not had a treasurer on the board? Yes, that was when I started. We had a treasurer. Yes. So, we've always had a treasure because I think when we had questions the last time and Tony explained it uh very well is that you guys do the daily the daily portion of it, you know, daily operations, you know, you and Helen.

Yeah.

And then Muriel is responsible for the monthly or or gathers the information.

No, no, that's not right. I the way that we understand it and and help me Beverly if I'm incorrect is that these two report and work together with the accounting office here.

So what does Muriel do? What's what's Miel?

The accounting office, right? I have this report equals the print out the totals equal the print out of the accounting office.

So it's a summary of it basically.

Well, it's 50 pages, right?

Right. and the total and this equals my total, right?

Each individual thing equals what she's got, right? And and it's just it's it's it's so that you can see what the balance is of.

So, is it like a safety net for us?

No, it's a duplication. It's a duplication. It's not a safety net. It's a duplication.

And I think that and about the time you had come on the board, I think we were saying like this is too much to digest in an hour or two meeting that really um and but we we really need because of our our work as advocates and and support people is to have trends. We need and up-to-date trends. If there's a problem, I would imagine that these two would get called on the coffish

that they they would be um accountable to the accounting office. But um you know or or hi you not comment while we're somebody else is talking. Please would you talk to me that way?

Okay.

You have to be all right.

No, she's not.

Say that again.

No, I said let's not be out of order. Both of you.

Please shut your mouth.

Shut yours. Okay, let's um get back to business here, please. You're both being out of order.

I apologize. I'm not going to tolerate comments when other people are I know it's hard to hear in in this room if you Anyway, I think that um what we're seeing and I think what what Mr.

Brewer has brought there's a duplication of information and um this is up to the minute for the day of our meeting which is the second week of the month. So we're not seeing it all the way through the month. This is um and um this is as a matter of fact it's to the end of May.

Yeah.

So it's hers is the end of May right and those are the numbers that are available.

So, okay.

And and there's there are times when just so people know, there are times when a deposit doesn't come into uh get on the books for the town, but we've got it in ours. So, you know, I mean, it depends, you know, if we do a deposit on May 30th and the town hasn't put the revenue in or even an expense depending on when the the bills come in and depending on So, there's always that,

you know what I mean? There's always a little bit of leeway. We're not always exact, but if we have the town's balance and we look at ours, if we take out that amount, then we match, then we're okay.

You know what I mean? So, it's just it's just about but again, it's it's, you know, it's every month we have to go through it and every month we do it. you know, we we put everything in on the spreadsheet, we do the trends, um we look at it, and that's So, is it safe to say like if you purchase something or paid something that you and Helen would be more up to

date than the than Nicole? She doesn't see the daily stuff. Is that safe to say?

Well, it it depends on when they're doing their input. They try to do their input. We send them the bills. I'm not exactly sure of the date that they do it. And it's it's just you know there yeah there there can be there can be some discrepancy when we're looking at the numbers and if there is then we called Joanne right away and we called Joanne and say hey because we found we

found issues back and forth you know we've looked at them and said this number's not coming out to what their number is you know we'll do the report and compare the reports and we're like how come that number is not and we'll call and they'll it'll be it'll get put in a different line item or it'll get put someplace else so the balance is different. Um, and that happens sometimes just because you're a number

off or not on the the dollar amount but on the codes. So sometimes it gets put in incorrectly. So then accounting is putting it in incorrectly because we put the wrong number on. So again those kind of things happen. That's why we do journal entries.

I mean I think Dick asked the right question right?

Quite frankly and it is duplicatus at this point. I mean there is a structured system within this governmental bureaucracy to monitor what's going on.

Quite frankly, I don't think it's our job as an advisory board to be in the minutia and the wi in the weeds. And we we some of us have expressed that hence trends versus detail because I believe as an advisory board we're need to see what the landscape is, where we're going, how we're going the minutia and this is a complicated system because of fees and because of all the just just

listen to the conversation we've had.

It's complicated. Okay? And I do think at some point historically Muriel stepped into the breach when it was necessary and it wasn't there.

Yes, fine. I think it's wonderful. But today, 2026, there's a structure in the town.

The dialogue should not be with us unless it's some thing that we need to make a policy decision. We don't even make policy decisions. We're an advisory board.

We just say, gee, this doesn't sound good. This sounds bad. We do not manage Beverly. be advised, Beverly. That's our job here. And so I I agree that maybe finally the the internal structure that you have jurisdiction over, Dick, is the town manager and the treasurer and the department head are talking about finances.

Okay? And we're here saying, gee, good, bad, or maybe how can we help or whatever.

Me personally, this is enough because it's telling me where we're going.

Okay? Mhm.

And I don't have the power to tell Beverly change this number cuz it's not right. And nothing to do with Muriel. I just don't think that's my role or my job or I don't have any jurisdiction to say that.

Right.

Really, if I may, is our accounting system that we pay for uh that you do the everyday data processing compatible with the town's system or is this something where you have to literally enter it into a totally different system? We enter in we do Excel spreadsheets.

Okay.

So our Excel spreadsheets um are sort of similar to the new the town got a new accounting system in July. So we're working this year on figuring out how that system works, how it system works for us, how it translate from RXL to theirs. So it's been a process for all of us. uh Nicole, Joanne, and they've been wonderful to help us with stuff and put reports together.

I think that's one barrier.

It's just it's it's new this year. This is the first year end. So, even there even Joanne told me that they're it's like, okay, we're doing the year end stuff, but it's new for them. So, they're trying to figure out how do I get this report? What do you know what what do I do? So, again, it's it's you know, it's just a process.

Another a it's just a process. Yeah, I think that whole area is extremely complicated.

Absolutely.

One, because of the type of income that we get.

Our process, our computer system is not super compatible with the towns. There's constant data entry, not only entering it within our system, then it's within the town's processes, uh, how to pay bills and all that. So, it is very comp complicated. Yeah.

Um, and I I agree with you. We don't need to get in the weeds. I do like knowing some budget numbers because we could like the for example transportation uh when you notice that it's going a little low. My concern was maybe it's the drivers. Is this something we can help her get kind of ahead of that curve? Um so I think the numbers are important but not to that level of detail that can get

extremely complicated.

I think I think Beverly though brought up a good point if I may. Um she indicated that the powers to be if you will like the town administrator has never really been involved over the years and that has not changed even with the current new administrator. Yes.

So I think what Mr. Brewer is saying that the powers to be should be more involved. Is that what I'm getting?

Well, yeah. I mean the town administrator has clear responsibility day like he does with any department and it doesn't seem the normal conversations on finances take place.

I know Jim Hartett was somewhat passive in that respect and I I brought it up a number of times and I was never sure what the complete picture of the council on aging's finances were because we wouldn't get those reports.

You I'm looking to get what I call the normal reports. They're primarily budget, but in this case, because there's grants and everything, it's probably more like a school budget. It's got a lot of moving parts.

It all has to come together at some point right?

I guess it does, but I don't I don't know that. So, I'm kind of like there's a gap here in terms the select board doesn't really pay attention to this and trying to get them to be a little bit more active. But it really is a town administrator.

And I and I do have to say I can't tell you that the town administrator doesn't look at my report every month either because I don't know. He doesn't look at it with me. Yeah, but that doesn't mean he's not looking at it and he's not going through it with Nicole or Joanne or whatever and gets a monthly report to say.

Wasn't there something brought up not too long ago, refresh my memory, be that you were sending reports and didn't they didn't even get to where they needed to be.

That was a surprise to all of us. So I think that was my narrative report. That was this report. Yeah, didn't have anything to do with the No, that was just the that was the narrative report. It does. I mean, it does have in my narrative report the financial stuff and if we're low or if we're whatever, it does have it in there, but I've never gotten any response or or question, but

then again, also people weren't getting the the rapport, so people wouldn't have known. Right.

So, right.

That's so growing pains. Growing pain.

It is growing pains. And I think there's a lot of there's a lot of moving pots.

there's a lot of duplicate efforts that that are not on the same timeline, not happening at the same time.

And yeah, we're doing the best we can. And I think that it's it's very helpful to have the trends, but it's also helpful to have the whole picture if you have time to study it and and to bring up the questions. So, I appreciate getting it a a day ahead of time to be able to to study it um before we have our meeting.

Um, but I'm I'm not worried about down to the penny because that's that's what Beverly do. And and you're you're in communication. I mean, I've been by the office and you know, you're working on your numbers.

Oh, yeah. Always.

Always. So, all right. Anything else on the treasures report?

That was certainly in detail. So, um, do I have a motion to accept the treasures report?

I make a motion to accept treasures report. We have a second.

All in favor?

I.

I.

That's unanimous.

Thank you. All right, Beverly. Thank you all. The director's report.

Uh, there were a couple of grants that I applied for that I was not we were not awarded. the $200,000 grant from the cultural mass cultural council. We didn't get that. And then I applied for two AARP community challenge grants. One was for the emergency management category and it was for 15,000 and we did not get that, but we were awarded the second one that I applied for which was for the outreach department.

Um and uh this fund would be uh beneficial to many seniors who need repairs on st. It's a repair um uh program. So, what we did was we presented repairs on stairs, railings, screens windows doors locks handles things like that that people need. Um and uh most of them are like for safety, and the maximum benefit would be $2,000 per project. I did get all my paperwork from um AARP, and we are now an e-registered

vendor on their uh website, so we should be all set. They did say that we can't announce um because they do a big announcement at the end of June and it starts July 1st. So they said they said I mean I could speak about it in here but it's not something that they want it out there. They they're hoping. So we got a whole bunch of uh red on TV.

Yeah. It's on TV. Yes.

So there is it out there? Did they already put it out there? Okay. So, um, but it's I mean they've been advertising about getting it anyway, but they're kind of like, hold on. So, um, but we did get that, um, which is really going to go a long way because I already have my outreach staff working on the names of people who have needs. Um, a lot of it is, um, stairs and railings and things like

that, especially outside stairs. Um, and it's mostly a safety thing. So, um, um, we need to reattach for the building. The only thing we need to do is reattach the down spout on the northeast corner of the building. We're going to have to get the highway department to bring in um their lift.

Yeah, they got a bucket truck.

Yeah. So, we'll we'll use the bucket truck. Um the average daily census for supportive day in May was 16. At one point it had been 20 or 21 and we went down to about 12. Um but we're back up to 16. So, we're seeing a few more um uh folks attend. Um transportation, uh we're we're down a little bit. Um but again, that's currently from having the two drivers who are out on medical leave

and and cutting back on um some of the supportive day people with their caregiver or family member can bring them in. Um volunteer hours are going up. We had a a number of uh volunteers um for the landscaping when we put the ad in the newsletter. We got some new people to come in for that. Um and uh we have quite a few um volunteers for support of day two. We have quite a few hours for

them. Um the outreach department's been very busy. Um SNAP continues to be very busy because of food insecurity for sure. Um and um insurance also that's just a constant that goes all the time. people are calling all the time about uh Medicare and Medicaid and and their Blue Cross and asking about those things. And we also had we still had um 11 on fuel assistance for this past month. Um which

is a high amount because usually by this time they're they're done filling out their applications because I think the applications end in April. I think they go from November to April. Um but I think a lot of times the people called because they hadn't heard anything because sometimes it takes a little bit of time. you fill out your application from November to April, but the money

doesn't sometimes come out till maybe June or July. I'm not really sure. Um um we still have the one board vacancy and um I have the bios. I sent people the bios. We'll talk about that after for the possible candidates. Um, Andrea is taking a vacation next week and I'm on vacation the 29th to July 3rd. Um, activities have been very busy um with 2630 hours of activities. Um, so

we we continue to be busy but we continue to have a big weight list. I have about 12 12 to 14 people on every exercise class except for Taichi. I think Tai Chi is the only one that I don't um we have more many more people in yoga already. Um so, you know, that it's picking up. So, we're we're we're hoping, you know, we get to move. Um Bristol Aging and Wellness on the board.

Um they talked about staff promotions and new hires. The staff promotions, they had a lot of staff promotions, so now they have vacancies, so now they're filling those vacancies.

um incident reports they talk about every month um or every other month when we meet um and they have a list of incidents and I think they only had two last month. Um one client passed away, somebody went into their apartment and found the person and somebody else had a fall. Um and I I think they ended up hospitalized for a short amount of time.

Um they talk about budget and finan uh financial balances and title three grant funding. um they do a spotlight presentation and this time it was on the assistance for the Gabriel House Fund.

They got the Bristol Aging and Wellness got $600,000 for the Gabriel Fund uh rebalancing the Gabriel House rebalancing fund. But what they did was they got it late, very late. So people couldn't get they didn't have any of the funds in another account to assist them. So they were late in assisting people. So people were were but they did were able to assist clients with the personal property replacement including

appliances furniture clothing housing and they did assist two clients obtain new living arrangements.

Be what is the Gabriel House?

The Gabriel House is where they had that big fire in Fall River.

Yes. Yes. So it was a um kind of it's kind of it's kind of like a congregate lodge. I used to run a congreate lodge which is a one bed roofing house is kind of what they have.

Um that's I think what Gabriel House is.

So um and but I guess the money came in a little bit late so it took them a little bit of time but they were able to um assist with people um and age um age which is the um executive office of um aging and independence and they call themselves age um completed a compliance review of Bristol aging and wellness and the review identified Bristol in compliance with all areas. I think they

do that every year or every other year.

So and that's um I do have I have correspondence. I thought I did.

Maybe I don't. I think I have it on here. Um the other things that we want to talk about. So, that was it for my report.

Any questions to Beverly on her report?

I just have one one notion. Uh um I often wonder when we watch the news we all we hear is the economics the Dow Jones how's everything doing we're obsessed with finances in our country which is fine I working in human services I always wonder we needed a comparable Dow Jones for human services how's social condition no one ever talks about that and of course social condition costs this country as much

money as anything else so to that point I'm I'm just curious. I was involved in my hydrangeanger project in Fall River and I got invited to several neighborhood meetings and the first t first thing at the meetings, which I thought was a little weird, but anyway, the first issue at the meetings, the police would get up and tell everybody everything they did, how many robberies were stopped, how many this were

stopped. And I thought, God, this is a terrible way.

The first thing you talk about is all the things that were wrong that they stopped.

Where am I going with this? I I guess I'm trying to reverse this or connect connect what we're doing to issues that are gerine to the town. Sort of like a a compre a comprehens comparable to an economic report, a social report. Okay.

where because I remember when I was talking to early on talking to Rick Mundy when he was running for select board and I said I had a neighbor who had a problem.

Okay. And he kept calling um because he couldn't find his whatever reasons there were and there were many.

He'd call the the fire department or the police department and I'd go outside and there'd be the fire truck, there'd be the there'd be the EMT. Okay. over and over like weeks. Okay. I finally said, "Gee, you know, we have services over at the Council on Aging that might be able to address some of the issues you have so you don't have to call the fire and the police department. You we can and we

hooked them up with people at the council on aging and narrow again a fire or police department came to the house."

Okay? And and my point here is that until you connect these things, they're disconnected.

And and I think at some point it would be I I don't want to say all the bad things, but all the kinds of issues that that that connect a community of services to to the community by the community that if you're not calling the fire in the police department, you're saving, you know, they're saving money. and and so there's a connection and I don't think we we we articulated enough in either some report. I don't

even know how what it would look like quite frankly, but I think it's important to say last month we we went out to five houses and did X Y and Z. U I mean just so there's we start to build some connection between our place in the community and what its value is. Not just service, not just to those people in the house, but to the expenditures that the town

has to pay to keep the town safe. Mhm.

Do the does outreach already do that or no?

I don't I'm not quite sure.

I don't know.

Outreach puts uh Andrea puts a report together for me every month on the AR folks. Okay. Because we get their grant to pay for their that program. So I have my outreach report so I know how many all the different things that how many phone calls they made to each person, how many office visits they had, what kind of things that they worked on, what kind of tasks and things like that. We

also have those numbers when we do the Medicare open enrollment because we're doing Medicare open enrollment. Um on my report I put down on the outreach how many service it's service units. It's not necessarily an hour or a half hour.

It's a service unit. Yeah. Um so one service unit could be three hours, four hours. It could be more than that, you know. Could be four days depending on how many, you know, four four hours, four days in a row. Um so that's about what I do report. I don't report. We do have a a number of um referrals and who they come from and we have probably about 12 maybe 15 referral organization

referral places that organize that send to us. So I have the police, the fire, the border of health, um family, you know what I mean like um doctor's office. Yes. So I know so we have that kind of information. Um there's a lot that we don't get. the gentleman that David's talking about. Um, we didn't get it from the fire department, but I know Tony has gone over to the police department and instructed them on what

outreach does. And my outreach staff, each one of them have gone over and instructed the police on what the outreach does and to contact them and what we could help with. Um the fire department um Amarie Peekham and Glenn Nunes both know us you know very well and some of the others do too but some of the younger ones don't know to let their um department head know or whoever

to contact us so that we can go in and do services and again if they don't know that's that's the pro you know what I mean so it's about but this um Friday my outreach staff are going to be they're going to have a table at the whites of Westport celebration of seniors Um, so they they're out in the community and people know about us. Um, they go to the community rooms in some of the housing

places and do outreach reports and let people know. Um, so it it's out there, but I I think people don't always some people are reluctant to call. Some people are reluctant to get help. They don't, you know, they think it's government. They don't want to, you know, the fire or the police come over, help them get up. They're in their chair. They no, I'm fine. I don't need to go anywhere. And and they don't do

anything. So, um, that's part of the problem, too, is is trying to make people less fearful, you know. That's why we try to get out there as much as we do. My outreach staff is always out there. Um, I've gone to different places, too. Uh we did an um Andrea did when we went to the ARW annual meeting, Andrea did a really nice presentation on what we do because that we had all 19 um

uh partners there and every one of the partners that went to the program um reported on what they did and how we partnered with some of the other groups there too. There's 19 and we probably um partner with I don't know maybe five or six of them already. Um, so it's just different, you know, those are social services. Those are things that we help with. Um, but it doesn't always reach

people and that's the problem. Border health too, the board of health will get into somebody's house and it's a mess and we'll get a call, you know, we'll get a call from Matt, we'll get a call from the nurse, you know, so we do get those calls. Um, but I don't necessarily know that we have a one particular report. Um, which might be nice, you know, which might be nice to put

together. and put a report together and um you know maybe what I'll do is I'll send out to this group here um send me items that you think should be uh reported on and then maybe we could put something together and Andrea on her outreach report could put things in but sometimes we get outreach from my receptionist somebody comes in and I mean you know the receptionist people come in and they're asking for help and

then they refer them to outreach too but you know um or they'll come in for supportive day and supportive day refer them to outreach because there's more more things that they need at home.

There's more uh opportunity to assist people.

It happens.

Just a suggestion now that we're on TV.

TV. Yeah. Now, we've had some staff come in and explain programs and what they do. Yeah, maybe we could, you know, towards the end of summer or something like that, reinccorporate that where we could get staff come in and they could not only tell us what they offer and people could see that, but maybe drop some stats and, you know, we've done this, we've done that. That could be something we routinely do.

Um, yeah, not not to be repetitive, but just to get the information out there and we could also explain to folks what we offer and how it's accessible, so that might not be a bad idea.

A newsletter as well. some of those occasionally maybe I think it's remarkable the amount of equipment that is loaned out you know it just it's it's it's sometimes you know and such a benefit to it is and I had not realized that there's such a different um I don't know variation on on walkers and and these these different um pieces of hardware that are very expensive to by and you know and we call them durable

durable medical equipment, right? And that doesn't mean that's not the same as my mother needs a better cane. No. Yeah. You know, and and I think that I think I think you're right.

I think we we need to I mean because then one Joan or Coral or or Jerry will run downstairs and say, "Here, this is these are three or four to choose from." And and some people have better insuranceances that will buy a better cane for them, but most don't. So they get the the Ka the government issues and it's there's an issue right there. I think if you said if you said tomorrow by the way

last month whatever the word is durable medical that we lent out 50 and then the year month before we lent out 30. I mean, I think just knowing the number would tell you Mhm.

that there's a service a we have we have a form and they have we fill it out and they we check off what equipment they used so we could keep track of that those numbers and say this is this is what we lent out and we actually have doctors and um visiting a lot of visiting nurses from all over. It's not just Westport, all over call us and physical therapists and they call us and

they say, "We actually had a physical therapist come in and he wanted to he wanted a wheelchair and it didn't have the correct footing foot on on the bottom of it and he and we have um cubby holes downstairs. We had a whole bunch of the different uh paddles and he went downstairs and he put them all together cuz he said at one point he worked in the emergency room and he learned what

ones went with what and he said I'll put them all together for you. I said go for it. That's great. I mean he was wonderful. So we had all the chairs with the correct ones. Um and again it's it's out there. Um but getting to everybody great people in town who donate that equipment always.

Nobody knows about it. That's my point.

Passes or doesn't need it. That's a big benefit to I think that that's something that we'll be discussing later that when we had our joint meeting I'd like to add to that. I mean my my introductory to um the Council on Aging was through those services after I had my stroke. So, um, South Coast and my physical therapists and my nurses that did my homebound, uh, care for me, uh,

was the ones who went to the Council on Aging and got what I needed.

Um, because they're here in town and I had I had no idea they even existed.

When I finally did get on my feet, I introduced myself to Beverly. Um, and the cane that I still carry today, five years later, I still have. So, you still have my paperwork, right? um got your paperwork.

Yeah. But the nice thing is is that through my experience, I have been able to um encourage other people to utilize it. It's not based on need. It, you know, it's available and and not that I couldn't go and buy one, but it was nice because that's how I started to donate to the COA personally because they didn't charge you. And I found that to be remarkable. I was like, "What do you

mean you don't charge?" I thought I was buying it secondhand or something, you know? But I think that it was impeccable. Everything that I received was literally brand new or just used, you know, for a short time, but grab bars and seats for showers and wheelchairs and and through my progression, I was able to use and return. Um, and then Beverly uh helped me with another lady. Uh, her dad um needed a wheelchair. she

lives in in Westport and we were able to assist her and I didn't really know how to go through the process as a board member. Um, but I think you're right. I think the community outreach does help me personally. It touched my life personally and it was very very helpful and it wasn't embarrassing because you only need it for a short time. And then that there are some people that financially aren't avail

don't don't have the extra money or the coverage. So, it is a godsend when you can use it and then return it and hopefully it will help somebody else like a lending library.

Exactly. That's right. Maybe that's another data Yeah.

sheet we can keep on on, you know, but we we can talk about that.

I think Beverly had asked if we have ideas for this then then we should let Yeah. Send me any ideas that you have if you want another like a social services report put together and kind of what what things and lend.

So any further discussion on on Beverly's report, Madam Chair?

Yes.

I just wanted to be clear on one thing.

Uh Beverly, you on your report you me you mentioned the uh a job vacancy and uh you say you were going to discuss it later.

It was a board vacancy.

We've had one for vacancy. Yes. Yes.

Okay.

Board vacancy.

We've had one for almost a year.

Yeah. Carol Fidel passed away last July.

But you have we have two things going on here.

The one I'm referring to is really into old business.

The director's job at placement and update. So that's the in other words the uh the question I was going to ask if I may is we received two uh resumes in the mail and the email and were those for director's job or for the for the candidate for the candidates?

No, that was for the board. Those are bios for the board. The board of vacancies the vacancy, correct? The COA.

The board. Okay.

COA board.

Okay. Yeah.

All right. That that that Good question. Good question.

I I thought it was for the uh the director's job was I think one of the C I read one of them was talking about Yeah.

She could do the job and everything which but anyway that's that's different. you you those bios are the ones here for the vacancy that we vacancy. Yeah. Okay. Got it.

And and well, we'll get to that.

All right. Um no more discussion or questions for the director. We'll move on to old business.

Beverly once again. Uh update of the usage of the former high school. I think we just got code review this I think last night.

Yes. um rabbit um I can't pronounce his last name. Um I think it's Cassetti or Casetti, something like that. Anyway, he's the architect and he put together the code uh code 10 synopsis and there's quite a few pages on here. Um and he um uh sent it out and it went to um Chris Vitali Eileen and Ralph I think. Um and then I did send him an email to find out about

expenses if anybody had any questions and we could possibly do a Zoom meeting or something to find if anybody had any questions about this report and what it means. Um, I'd like to get Ralph's input, I think, first because I think if Ralph reads it, he might know whether we need to go to Boston to ask for any kind of a um, waiver or anything on something. Um, but it didn't look like

there was a lot of waver things. When I looked at the report, it didn't look like there were things um, you know, like, and I'll give you, it says automatic sprinkler protection, and it says conclusion. I'll just read the conclusion so I don't read everything.

Um, the installation of sprinklers is not required by the general law or the building code due to the change in use because the change in use is very limited from an E for education to a B for business and the code is the same.

So, it didn't require sprinklers that was on that part of it. So, he's he's got some really nice conclusions in here. There's a lot to read because he talks about gen the general laws and everything else. Um um under um evaluation for accessibility entrance and everything he put because there's no work there is no access accessible upgrades triggered. But one of the things that I did want to talk to

and I'll talk to Lisa after too is about putting in a handicap door on the north side because I think that would be electrified. Yes. Yes. So we wanted to talk about that. Um but um but the report's in and it's in the hands of those who make decisions and um there'll be um people who will take a look at it and and um you know I know on June 6th

they had um the select board meeting approved the the old high school to be utilized to say to keep it in town to save it and utilize it and hopefully the COA will be able to go in there. That was one of the things that they talked about. So now that they have this report and they have something to go on um then we can hopefully go further.

I have a question if I may.

You may.

Um and I know that you were at the meeting uh David because I I caught the tail end of what you were saying.

Is there in fact a limit? I never really got the clear picture of how many seniors can go in because it seemed like my interpretation of it was we have access.

Correct. But then there is a concern about children versus el before the seniors. And then I thought that there was a limit on how many seniors could go into the building.

No, I I don't think it's seniors. I think it's people.

I think I just wanted clarity on I don't think it's I think that um Beverly I was included in in that and I think that um it came in late yesterday. I didn't look at it till late last night. The report is um I printed it out and I read it and I feel like I I need some interpretation in places. Um however, I think that that this is something that we need to meet

with with Ralph Suza and and to be sure that we're interpreting the thing we're doing what we think is right. So, it looks like um we could be very much in compliance um and things like limits and not I think um there's a lot of rumors around what what is pertinent and what isn't and and I don't think that um we're going to hide anything. This is a public report,

but I think that um we want to be sure that we understand it first with with our local and we and we talked about we're using the whole north part of the north end of the building. Yeah.

Okay. to a certain point and we wouldn't go any further. This was be our and and that door toward the middle piece I think we would lock so you can't get into the other side of the school.

Right. And the the school the children and the basketball they all use the other side with the So the north built the north side is closest to the ball field.

Yeah. Yes. Okay. the cafeteria, the auditorium.

And and there's a atrium and then that hallway and at the end of that hallway there's a door and we had proposed locking that door so that people can't go to the other side of the building without going outside. That's right. So that way the kids are on one side, right? And there are fire doors that that throughout that would make it a discrete separate unit almost, you know. So, right to the library when you walk.

Oh, way down. Yeah. Way way down. Yeah.

But I think that I think that No library.

Yeah. We're talking extension, right?

The walkway.

Yeah. The walkway. Only the walkway.

Yeah.

It doesn't go into the main building.

Does not go into the main building at all.

Yeah. It actually stops.

It stops before that. Right.

Like if you're looking at the school, there's a bunch of glass on the right.

That's the hallway.

That's the hallway.

Yeah. Watch.

Yeah. Watch how you're not Italian. But but I think that that um the fact that it's done, the fact that we we're waiting to see if we could have a Zoom meeting I think with Ralph and all as we started this in December with with Ralph. Um you know, I think that would be very appropriate for us to touch base. So stay tuned. It's very interesting.

At least it's moving.

It absolutely is. I can I just add one one last thing and I think maybe Lisa caught it at the moot and I think I raised the issue intellectually that at some point we have to reconcile cohabitating with children in recreation where we've had this history that there was this tension I don't believe there is a a tension you know I met with with Evan Jendro chair of the school I mean I think we can

collaborate in how to coexist this without any serious problems. I think that we have also made it clear through our discussions that we keep different hours by and large that we we we're early birds.

We're right but there would might be issues during the sun. Well, I mean like the council on aging's exercise classes start at 8:00 in the morning and would probably be through all of our programming by two through the school year. That that um would be fine. There'd be no overlap.

perhaps during the summer or or school vacations. That's where it really has to be clear. But as as Tony had pointed out, what we're we we have a very discreet area we that is almost encapsul and no roaming around. You'd have to go outside. There's only two cores to even get into the main building and one is through the admin section which we would just hall.

Is there a limit to the amount of space or is it based on need?

We haven't got there.

We haven't got we can get in the building.

We we're just asking for this to get in.

Yeah. And and and it's it's a small amount of space relative to the size of the school. I think well and and we'll continue on the report too there is a picture of uh and it's colorcoded and it says this is COA space this is what the school administration's using this is what the kids are using so it's all kind of mapped out on that so it does show there's still a significant excuse me a

significant amount of space through the middle that isn't being accessed so again but that's available to the town to for whatever you know whatever they want that diagram is uh I believe if it's on his report, but if it's not, um I think we've had we've had it. Uh do we have access to the report, P?

I don't know.

You have access to what the report do we I think after we I think after Chris looks at it, he can decide who I mean, I don't mind sending it out, but I don't want to send it out without approval. Send it out. So, but this is the this is what we would use.

Then they have this with the whole school and color coded um so that you can have it.

So the story continues.

Okay. Thank you.

Um the director is job um ad placement update. Um it's been placed in a number of different places. um the MCOA, the MMA, um I believe several universities that are in the local region and um through uh indeed and that's coming through the um uh Paula Brown's office. Um and there is um with um Mr.

Brewer. Um we have um there's been a search, not a search. Is it a search comm? It's a review committee.

Review committee and and um we will be maybe convening sometime next week to go through resumes.

It was a date that was traffic, but we didn't get a conclusion on that.

That's right.

17th, right?

I don't know if there's any resumes to look at. So, I don't know if Yeah, that's what I was going to ask.

That was a question we were going to ask. Are there any resumes?

I know that there are at least two.

Oh, okay.

Different from these.

Yeah. This is for for the real for the real position for the um director position. The two that Beverly sent out were for the board vacancies. This board. Yeah.

Okay. Um question.

Who's on the interview committee?

I didn't get it.

Um it is two of us.

Two of us.

Yeah.

The the um town clerk. Town clerk.

Miss Stewart. Dana Stewart.

Yeah.

Yeah. What's her name?

Dana. Dana Stewart. Dana Stewart who's a recreation and someone from the personnel, right?

No. Someone from the personnel board.

No, I don't think so.

I don't I don't remember. I remember the five names went through fast.

Kristen, who is the town clerk?

Kristen.

Yeah.

Okay.

And I think the town administrator I don't know who the fifth one is.

Townrist.

Okay. So, that's it.

So, and we're not sure what the format.

We're just still trying to get the date for sometime next next week. Next week.

Yeah. So that is moving along.

Okay. All right. We had um on the 16th of last month uh our annual friends and combined um joint meeting and um Carol it it was fabulous. I think I've enjoyed it more than any other meeting we ever had. And uh so a little bit of information exchanged of course highlight is talking about where we were at that point in time with the former high school and a lot of people had the opportunity to express

their concerns about how the process was moving. I'm delighted I'll be going into a meeting in a week and a half and be able to u tell them some of the things that you just reported Beverly um we had a presentation on the COA budget because that I don't think the average folk on the friends committee have any idea the different sources that you have to balance for income and

so that was uh very enlightening as well and mostly we had a really good time.

Yeah, I think that um some of our key things that we came from finances I think that that was something Bev put together that chart just of of where all the different sources have been since she's been here. Um, and I think that that was that's a surprise to everybody of just where the income is coming from. And I think the the really outcome and maybe the goal for next our next year till our

next meeting is um marketing or public information of just getting out there what we do what we've talked about today of just people don't really know what the Council on Aging does. Um I so I think that that's uh behooves us that we really have to move in some of those directions. Um and anything else? I I was one big one.

Oh.

Uh oh.

Oh yes, there was the elephant. I was I was uh persuaded by the French groups, several of the young ladies there to remain on for especially during his transition of a new director.

They were very vocal in talking me into uh she has no idea.

I mean, I sat right next to them, but I didn't know that.

Oh, yes.

I was cornered. But um anyways, but that I appreciate that. I appreciate that.

Right. That was big news. That was that was great. Well, you got me at that coffee pot. That was That'll teach you to drink coffee, right?

It was spiked.

It was It was good. But I think that um the other um point of discussion, I think, is is how we will work with whoever the new director will be and and um perhaps being open to meet that person, he or she in the fall. Mhm.

So, it was a very it's always a very pleasant meeting, but I agree. I think that we all learned a lot.

And I have to say this, as long as I've been on the board, um I think this is the closest as far as a relationship we've ever had with them as a whole group. I I know that certainly leadership and both organizations were close, but um it was good to see many members there and I think a very interactive discussion. That's right.

And we're kind of on the same page, which is awesome. My point is that we are all ambassadors for the Council on Aging. Whether we're the friends, whether we're on the board, is that we really need to be equipped to understand what is going on. That's our responsibility, our role. So that was really great to have that many advocates in the same room and we're all on the same.

They were very important and great group.

That's right.

Yeah.

So any I don't think there's anything else.

Um should we move to new business? Um I think there's been sort of a discussion around Beverly sent we have um COA advisory board vacancies coming up and you were sent um by email the bios of two people um at the end of this month we will have two vacancies. We have one vacancy now that we have had since last July when we lost Carol um Videll and um Marie is is resigning her position. So

there will be an opening. So there's we know that of two positions, two vacancies on the board. And what Beverly had sent were the bios of two people who I've spoken to a a number of times. I know that you have spoken to a number of times. And um I guess what we would ask you hope you've had a chance to look at them. There are two women who have been

very active in the community um very uh for decades I might say and um very professional people. I don't think we should use names here until um and but I do think we should either approve them through a vote or consensus that these are the names that we'd like to see go to the select board um to um um approve.

Are these the only two names we have?

Yes, at the moment.

I'd like to make a suggestion. Um, I know that when we uh have someone that's interested uh with the Westport Commission on Disability, um what's helpful for us is is that they come in and we get to meet them because I think looking at someone on paper and getting to interact with them kind of gives you a sense, more of a sense. Um and then it also allows you to ask questions with regards. I know that

we did that just recently. Um, and we were able to uh bring on board uh an amazing young woman that actually works uh within her realm. Um, and she then was uh referred to the select board for appointment. I just think that that's helpful.

Um because I think sometimes things can get missed on paper and I think the genuiness from the people who do want to come because it takes a lot for someone to want to volunteer your time and I I commend all of us for doing that but also the newcomers coming in too so that we get to to get to meet them. These are both people, both women that have been served

on boards and commissions for the last two or three decades on and off, you know. Um, and sort of feel a commitment now to the COA because of where they are in their life. I think one was on the board of education.

Well, I would I don't I don't sort of I I agree with um with Lisa. I mean, I had to come here. Had to. I mean, I came here. You came here.

Yeah.

Um, I met the board.

It's not a burden. I think it's I think it's it's appropriate for them to be here, sit here, listen to us, go on.

Well, just get to meet us as a group, you know, just so that Yeah. So, I mean I mean I I know these pe both of these women.

Okay. And I I they're cracker jacks.

really good, sharp people who are committed to these kinds of human service issues. Okay.

Strong advocates care about what's going on. But you don't know that. I do personally.

So I think just seeing the two of them you you anyone can come to our meetings. That's right. So if someone's interested, you know, they can they can show up.

That's right.

They don't have to be part of Right. No.

Can I The only two names though is my point though, right? We've had this vacancy for a while. Yeah, I know the selectment on a regular basis is always looking for people to It's not like we have a competition for this.

Oh, no. But we have we have been advertising and and trying to get this one position. Um do we have it in our newsletter?

Pardon me.

We had it a while ago.

It's been in the newsletter in the past.

I think we've talked it up. Um there is there are one or two other people that are thinking about it um but not ready to commit right now or can I make a suggestion that for the July meeting because we have our July meeting and we can invite one in the beginning and one at the end so that I mean I don't necessarily know that they would mind you know they probably know

each other for that matter. But again, it might be nice. You know, we do have invite them to the meeting and absolutely.

I don't I think that's a great idea. I mean, I think we should we should meet them. Um I think anybody willing to volunteer on a board, I get their credentials are great, but at the end of the day, some diversity doesn't hurt either. I mean I'm a cop and I'm here and I I bring a different perspective. You know, we have an attorney here. That's a story and a half. But

I'm not I'm not opposed to some diversity. You know what I mean? I think there's certain criteria. But do you have people willing to give up their time?

We need not only to encourage that, but we need to be thankful of that.

That's absolutely someone who's willing to give up their time.

Yeah. Right. So I'm I'm If anybody out there is interested, I've done I'm sorry. I didn't I forgot to tell you I need to leave early.

Okay. All right.

Well, I'm current now. So All right. Good.

Very good. Thank you. Thank you, honey.

Thank you. All right.

Um, so we'll invite him. So that's Yeah, invite him for next week. Yeah, next meeting.

Next meeting.

I'm ready to approve them to be honest.

I know that that's a part of our protocol.

I'm ready to approve it. Is in July the start of the term?

Yes. And that's what I wanted to say is that um this is our last meeting with Marie and uh Marie.

Well, how come it was a secret? We didn't know. I didn't know you were leaving.

Well, I think it's just come out now. So this is why her term is up at the end of the month and at the at the end of the month um well done we have we we won't have her anymore but I don't know that people know how um Marie has uh had amazing background done amazing things for the COA and for this board in seeing through our strategic plan the

leadership to and to put put that together and we've been using that as our um road map.

Our road map exactly for the last um absolutely two years and it it was a it was a lot of work putting it together. So a calming voice on this board.

So well thank you. Thank you. It's been a pleasure.

It's really been a pleasure and and and great getting to know all of you and an education too. So good to take with me.

We definitely miss you.

Yeah, that's right.

So you'll know who to refer when you people talk to you or ask you questions, you'll know where to refer them and what we do.

That's right.

No, I I think that that that's up to other people to decide other than ourselves, but I think that the appointment is for um period of time, a discreet period of time. I always thought the terms were July to July.

That's right.

No, they when when somebody's appointed, they're appointed for three years.

But if like Carol um Carol Videll's position, I believe she doesn't her position was through till 27. So one person will be take over that position till 27 and the other person would probably do the three years because Maria is leaving. So that would be three years. So I believe that's how that I believe that's how it works. I I just know all all the terms are July.

Yeah. July July 1st for four years. I think my my three-year term one more year. Yeah.

I don't care. I was just trying to make it.

But and I think Lisa asked for maybe we should have at least our our terms. I don't know when my term is.

I thought somebody just sent that out.

I did you asked me.

Yeah. Somebody said I know I I got the we only would send it out once a year with the update of our our addresses our contact making sure that I had the right but I also think but don't quote me on this because I know that we had someone unfortunately on our commission that passed away and um because we're allowed by the state no less than five maximum of 13 that

they don't have to take over someone else's role. they can actually come in separately as an independent.

I don't think that it's our decision to make here. I think that's something I'm just saying that there is an opportunity that you can explore that they don't have to if if if you're not capped. See, we have to we are capped. We are Lisa. We are capped I think and and but that's something that um it's when we were established they pick the numbers and then yeah who's on it and that's where the

liaison come. I think seven is what we have and but yeah whatever we need to do to get these folks that's right we we need to do that and that was one of the things that I had um proposed is that technically well we meet in July I don't know how soon we have to post for an August meeting but given that we're in a time of transition I would I'm recommending uh um that we

meet in August which would be um oh I looked it up um the second Tuesday in August I don't have my calendar.

So, skip July.

No, no, no. August. Come on.

Come on, Tony. Jeez.

Listen, I'll get I'll bring you an ice coffee.

I got to get it. Come on.

Um I think that that Want the date? I'll give you the date.

August 11th.

August 11th. Okay. Thank you. that if if I don't know what people's August looks like or if you're planning to be away, but it might be um since we're in a time of transition, if the timing goes right, maybe we would have the opportunity to meet the new director. Yeah.

And while the old director, the former director or the current director, you know, you're not that old. You're not that old. Um but it just so um do I have a motion or consensus to meet in August?

I move we have a meeting in August.

We add a meeting in August. I don't know who we have to let know, but I think it's the town clerk. And don't we always have I'm confused. Don't we always have a meeting in August?

No.

No.

Is that the month we skip?

That's the month we got excited about July. I thought it was July.

Yes. No, it was August.

August. August. Giving us a month. A month.

Okay. I have a motion on the table.

Right.

All right. A motion. Do we have a second?

I'll second.

All right. All in favor?

I I opposed.

Anybody opposed?

Nobody's opposed. All right. Thank you everybody. That's really I think important. Pickle ball. Are we anywhere with pickle ball or are we should we table that to next month?

Table it.

All right. And um the only other thing for topics not reasonably anticipated 48 hours in advance to the meeting is that we have a special guest and AI for seniors. Um it's a topic discussion our last tech class for the season um June 17th and this is a fellow who is um kind of the local Massachusetts expert if you will on what is AI and this is the agenda and uh what he's going to cover

in about an hour and he he comes highly recommended um so please come. Yeah, the Henry Quiddler or that's his um but it's June 17th.

Um it's a Wednesday. It's our normal tech class time. But we would like people to um if they would register please so that we have enough seats for everybody so we know where we're going to be.

And the the tech group had already decided that they were going to do this class on AI and this gentleman just happened to reach out to me. It was just a perfect timing thing. And I said, "Is he available from, you know, for the 17th?" And they said, "Yeah, perfect.

Perfect."

Where do we register?

Uh, just call the COA and talk to Jonah Coral and we've got a list already.

Yeah.

A list started. So, yeah. Whether which one we have.

So, ne next next Wednesday. Not this Wednesday. Next Wednesday.

Tomorrow. The week from tomorrow.

So, you're going to put this in the paper?

It's should be. It's It's pieces have gone out. I put I put it on Facebook already. It's been on Facebook, but I can add it again.

Good. This is good.

Close.

Yeah.

And I I have um and I just lost what I was going to say.

Um well, a reminder that with the Whites of Westport Celebration of Seniors is Friday, okay, from 9 to 11. They have a breakfast, so you can call and register if you want to with um cosign elder services. And um on Thursday, the um Westport Art Group is they're doing something for I want to say it's 15 or 20 days at displaying their art and and talking about the history of the

Westport Art Group. And we have uh I have a driver and a bus available to take people there um Wednesday uh Thursday afternoon this week, Thursday afternoon the 11th at like 1 or 1:30, something like that. But I haven't had anybody sign up and I did put it on Facebook and I did post it and um but if anybody's interested and anybody out there listening to this um please call

and register because I think it would be a really nice event. It's free for everybody. Um they're going to do a presentation. It's local artists, local artwork. Um and it's Thursday afternoon 1:00 after 1:00. Yeah. But we we're going to provide transportation in the van. Westport Art Group. It's on uh the center is on main road.

Main road it's further down towards the point.

Yeah.

So people can park there. Do you think that's the issue? That's No, I No, because there's not a lot of parking. So we were going to have people come to the center and have people come in and they said they would have a a a person um to talk to our group, but I don't have anybody. And we've we've advertised it for a couple of weeks already. But again, you know, people get

so busy and they just don't see all the, you know, all the advertisements or they think about it and then by the time they think about it again, it's over. So, I just wanted to announce that that was, you know, and if they can't come through us, their Westport Art Group is um still open for I think it's 10 or 15 days that they're doing their um Oh, they're they're open on um

Wednesday. I think Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 1 to I forget what time, maybe seven or something like that, but you can look on their website and find the dates and times if people want to go and it's free to the public.

Um, but I think it'd be I I really want to go because I've been trying to coordinate the Westport Art Group with our art group and and see and um so I might just head out there, but I have a follow-up dental appointment again on Thursday morning. So, who knows how that's going to be. Dental surgery is not fun.

You keep going back. So, it's like, okay, Lisa has something else.

I'd like to add a couple of things. Is this appropriate?

Absolutely. Yeah, this is the time. So, one is um National Night Out, right?

And um I think it would be good National Night Out is the end of No, first part of July.

July. Yeah.

And it's a remarkable time and I've had the pleasure of representing um obviously the Council on Aging with Stroke Buddies and we've passed out things for the friends as well. Um, so anyone who is interested, Tony's gonna look up the date. I did.

And then we also have River Day and I've always participated in River Day and I always take along the Council on Aging and the Friends. Um, and we have activities for the kids. We have a tent um, and with the Commission on Disability. So, our booth is pretty full because we're representing the Council on Aging with Stroke Buddies and then of course the Commission on Disability. Lisa, the

friends are going to have their own um tent and and so we won't burden you with a whole bunch of green brochures this year.

Yeah, it was a pleasure having you.

We had the opportunity to do it this year.

Wonderful. Thank you.

But I just kind of wanted to bring that to um to the table and also um just to let you guys know that Stroke Buddies and Friends is being honored by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on the 24th of June. Oh, we're receiving the hero award for my group. Um, and we're being honored uh in in retrospect with the Council on Aging as well as the um Oh, as uh Stroke Buddies and Friends where

at the state house at the state Oh, you're going to be in Boston.

Yeah, we're going to be in Boston. Okay.

Cuz that's that's the 26th.

I think it's the 24th.

24th.

Oh, 24th is a Wednesday. Okay.

It's a Wednesday. Um um it's unfortunately by invite only two recipients that can come.

Um but the bottom line is is that we're going to have it um videotaped so that we'll be able to play it here in town.

Perfect. Great. Um and so I just wanted to let you know that was a complete surprise of of us being nominated and then of course being accepted and being awarded it.

Terrific. Congratulations.

Very nice. Congratulations.

Um I think the river day is the 20th, Saturday the 20th and that's a big a big and we have um we have a driver who's going to work the the event to be able to shuttle people. We do that all the time. We we provide it. So um who who sponsors National Night Out?

What's that?

Oh, okay.

And that was something that was approved at the last select board.

Yeah. Did we get they get like the credit union we help?

Yeah. So, did you get And where does it happen? Where does that happen?

I didn't put it in my It's at the old high school.

Oh, the old school. It's in the back.

I know. I think I know where that is.

The old Yeah, you've heard of it.

The nice thing is is that, you know, like even brought it up. You know, maybe we could have like maybe some members if they're available to introduce themselves. They bring a big crowd so that people might be able to know Andrea by faith and outreach and you know different different departments if they're available. Maybe not stay for the whole time but maybe stay for 30 minutes or so if they're available. I

think it might be something that we've participated in before. It's a national it's a national event and I think that it's terrific that we here in West Point take part in this national event. you know, of the our police force.

I'll look for the I'll look for the date and um see if my any of the staff I know last year I went we we had the van. We brought the van. The van's easy to market the side. It's got the name on the side. So, it's all right near the table. Put out our skirt.

Okay.

I don't think they really publicize it much on the website. I can't find any other topics.

Okay. Hearing none, do I have a motion to adjurnn?

Motion made.

I second. Third in favor.

I favor.

I opposed. I don't think so.

So, thank you everyone and uh we'll see you.

How do I sign up for this AI thing? Who do I see? Go downstairs.