Council on Aging Board - September 8, 2026

We'll call this meeting to order. I would ask that you would shut your phones off or silence. Put it on vibrate. Um just so we can then you can just put them away. You don't need So, calling the meeting to order. Um, our first item is to our pledge of allegiance 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.

So, thank you.

All right. So, we are very fortunate today we have with us Cindy Zumbbo and Cindy is um um been on the agenda for months now. I think I spoke well I think I spoke to you it was still winter and um we had postponed our our meeting until you got back and that was more or less in the spring. So, we've been in the process to bring Cindy um uh on board. Um

Cindy uh has volunteered to be a board member. Uh we've had your agenda, your um your resume or your your willingness to serve and your background um from I think May or June. And um so this morning I think we'd like to we we've had a chance to certainly look at your background. Quite impressive. And uh welcome aboard. And I know that people had wanted to ask you questions.

I'm ready.

Cindy, why don't you tell us what you've done in your path, your professional career?

Um well, I excuse me. Um I'm a registered nurse and um I was also a lactation consultant. I did work in maternity care for um the bulk of my career. Uh and I understand that is you know the opposite end of the life cycle.

Um but I think there's a lot of similarities because um I really feel like what I've learned in that area around um keeping families healthy uh with as much self um advocacy and autonomy as possible. Connecting with community, accessing resources um is essential to that stage of life and it is equally essential to the later state of life stages of life when um you may need more

help and support and your life situation has changed. You know, you no longer have your work community and things like that. So, um I feel like those I've always been I was felt like when I was done with my professional career and retired that you know, attending to this stage of life was going to be the next um you know logical progression. Um I did also start a program. I saw the need for um improved

lactation care at the facility I was working at in in um Rhode Island. And so um I tapped a colleague and um we put together a proposal to start a lactation program. and we were the first lactation hospital-based lactation program in Rhode Island and it's still still there.

Um, and so I'm proud of that work. And um, and I also did some um, uh, national um, hospital assessments through a nonprofit organization around um, standards for excellence in uh, maternity care and and breastfeeding. So I got to see you know other parts of the country and how um things worked uh in other facilities. So um so that was basically my my professional career. It was an honor and um a delight to work in

that in that setting and um so I'll stop there unless there's other questions. I mean I got lots of stories but maybe not relevant to today.

Can I ask a question? Have you had any um experiences with the Council on Aging as far as classes or anything like that?

Have you participated in anything with I have not participated in classes myself, but I have um accessed services um you know when we my husband and I had to sign up for um uh for Medicare that was very helpful. Um and I've um accessed when my I've had um my mom uh who requires some assisted devices when she comes to visit. I was able to get um you know a walker for her, borrow a

walker. Um and um I um helped a uh a Westport resident who sadly has recently passed. Um but she she needed some assistance and um so you know went through the Council on Aging to find out about um um the the home meal delivery things and just accessing services uh for her. And so that's that's been my interactions with the council and I've always been very impressed. Um my uh I know people who do

take the exercise classes there. It just hasn't been something that I've I I row and so I haven't had time to do that yet.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Lisa, you had questions.

Um what actually um encouraged you to join the board? Um well, talking with David and learning more about um you know what what needs to be done or maintaining things that are being done.

Um and as I said, I've had an interest in getting involved. Um I mean, I've only been retired for about three years, which I know sounds like a long time, but it flies. And so um you know I I knew that I wanted to do some kind of volunteer work in the community.

I had been very much involved with um the administrative end of the rowing uh organization Dharma Voyage and I'm not so involved in that anymore. And so I like to stay active and this is a very worthy um organization and um and also you know my mom is an elder. She lives in Florida. She lives in a retirement community and seeing how vibrant um her life is for the people around her um

and you know seeing people a able to age in place um well it really made me want to be involved in making sure that happens for for people in Westport. Yes.

You said you're involved in a a rowing organization.

Yeah. Uh Dharma Voyage. It's a rowing organization uh in town. Um we row in the Westport River uh and it's, you know, it's a nonprofit organization.

Yeah.

Yeah. Um any other questions or I think that we invited you here. I also um know from your um background and what you had told us um you live in a multi-generational home.

Yes.

And I think that that checks one of the boxes. We were looking for when we came up with the strategic plan and how we wanted, you know, we're trying to get more connected with people that are under the age of whatever, you know, and and just happy that that um you know, you have u real life experience that that is going on.

So that's great. I also wanted to um remind the board that um Cindy's name came up last month. We approved it and it's on the um select board's agenda I believe for the next meeting and you've been in touch with the yes proper channels that that needed to be.

So I think that that is is great and we welcome you.

Well, when you get finally appointed then you get sworn in and then you can I guess you can sit at the the grown-up table.

We need a few more chairs but that that'll be great. Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Okay. So, um our next order of business is the approval of the August minutes. And um Lisa has passed those out for us. And did um you emailed them out last night?

Um I did. I emailed them out last night because I had an issue with being hacked. So, I had some challenges with regards to that. So, if you did get an email by I don't even know what it's called, Punch Group, Punch Bowl or something.

Yeah, ignore it. Uh, you can't open it anyway, but it did hinder my um ability to send this out. I did speak to Lauren, let Lauren know that um my hope was to get it out on Saturday. Um but we had a death in the family so that was unfortunate. So um we finally rectified the situation. So it went out very late last night. But as a result of that um

the reason why unfortunately it is as long as it is is because the documents weren't available as attachments. So it was it had to have been all included in the minutes um themselves. So you'll see that some of the um information if you did get the attachments prior to this meeting um they would have been separate documents which I did not receive those so it's actually included in the minutes

and then of course um I also took the transcript from our meeting to make sure that all of the information is correct and accurate uh including the numbers um you know when when it came to the financials and all of that. And then of course it is recommended that we have membership in attendance. You know obviously I did a template for the meetings uh the minutes moving forward because whether they're present, absent

or participating by remote that should be recorded. Um and basically it's just an all-inclusive document.

Um can I um going forward my I did not get the minutes last night because my email wasn't on there. Um, so I thank you.

Absolutely. My apologies for that. No, that's okay. Yeah, that's okay. I got them.

Yeah. I just wanted to make sure because normally, to be honest with you, we've always gotten the meeting uh the minutes prior to the meeting.

Absolutely.

So now moving forward, we should be getting them with Jean, you had a question or comment?

No, just that about it.

Right. since everybody did not get them and they came very late. Um there is a I will say that in the um uh handbook that we were we received a few weeks ago from the town administrator's office, there is a a um um a way to set up the agenda in in one of the pages. And um and so I I didn't know I was surprised to see this. This is a

lot more paper, I'm sure, than than you intended to.

No, but it should be all encompassed of what's being discussed. Um I know that when I did speak to Chris, it's a guide, you know, that the the uh book that he put out is a guide.

Um and I just based on what the uh Right. Okay. Um it just um usually um it's just stated if you see other the format of other um minutes of other boards and commissions and our own our previous boards and commissions. So um you know I appreciate your your willingness to take um take on the minutes are not easy. Um my understanding is that we do not have to have every attachment that comes with

the minutes uh meeting minutes. they are kept in the town uh the the the um director's office. I mean, I think that's where um you have years worth of meetings and um the attachments and the handouts that have gone with it. That's where they're housed. That's been the tradition of how how they're done. Um and you know there's just a few things here that um are um you know uh spacing you know just it's

there's a lot to it here that um well the other thing too is is um madam chair I made it larger because people um like myself I need it in a larger print with my disability. So it it is a larger print so that I can read it uh easily and um you know obviously we're supposed to be posting these uh on our own uh format from what I understand

um and I think it's important for other people to be able to read them whether or not they have challenges or not. So um my understanding is that the past that the I mean if you go through our webs our town website not all minutes for all boards and commissions are there. Um several of them are missing for years.

Um so it just it's been I think that it's been inconsistent. So we can post them at the um COA.

Well before Mr. Hartnett left, he had uh sent out an email and I believe I I sent it to you because you hadn't received it. Um that they were asking that all the departments and organizations, commissions and boards post two years.

Right. Right. I'm aware of that. I think we've discussed that before that the COA was not given the um passwords to be able to po to post it and the website.

Can I just use a fax machine?

Of course you may.

I was just not working at the time. Um, no, but the the COA and I think um um uh several other departments in town were not given passwords or permission to to post. So, um that is why there's such disparity of of um where and how things are posted.

Look into that.

Yeah. Could you that would be great. So that's like it's it's been it's been the will to do it, but it's not been the the capacity to do it. So I think Colleen, if if you could also um follow up on that.

Yes.

And you two are go to those meetings.

Yes.

Okay. So for this um agenda meeting minutes um do I have a recommendation or any other comments? Do you want to table this till next meeting? So if she didn't get it till just now, but if it's a read, right?

Just to give her a chance to read it or do you want to No, I think it's read it.

You did read it regard.

Well, I think I just didn't want to pressure you though to Thank you.

Okay. Um, any other comments?

It's very detailed and this was going to be a lot of work.

I know this was a lot of work.

No, I understand that. But I'm just saying because the this was the first time that I did it. So obviously I know how how we operate and I wanted to be sure that everything was inclusive so that if there was any challenges I did bring the transcript um to support you know the information that's here right um and I think you know moving forward it can be much more simplified. I agree with you 100%.

But um in we are we've had minutes before that were not inclusive. um and that did not represent all the minutes, right? Um or everything that was discussed was not in the minutes. Um so I wanted to just be sure that this in fact we do not have to provide a transcript, but minutes have you're absolutely right. Minutes have gone back and forth.

Um we our our former secretary was very much um simple.

this was the vote and would maybe give a sentence or two of what would and so there's there has to be a happy medium and I think we're we're figuring that out. So, um do I have a motion?

I have a I'll make the motion to accept these minutes.

I'll second.

Okay.

All in favor?

I.

Any opposed?

No. Okay. So, thank you.

Now, Lisa, are you interested in doing the minutes?

I am. And just so and I think we discussed this before that a um member of the board um should be taking the minutes.

I think nobody wanted to. So, right. I think and I think as we're bringing other people on on board, we'll have more um uh capacity. I think when but I'm just saying moving forward um a member of the board is supposed to be a secretary and taking Right. I I agree. I agree. And I think that that was something that we had said the last time that and and happy to have

Helen do it. We have had um J not Jason um Josh do it for years before when we met at at the um COA building. So um you know it's it has been it's gone back and forth of who actually and I believe in most places whoever documents them is one thing but then it would go to whoever our secretary is prior to all of us for approval and review and tweak it.

Exactly.

Which if that's a position you want somebody's got to tweak it right like you said.

Can I just say then it comes to the whole board then it becomes official once we all vote on it.

Right. Exactly. I think from a larger perspective um the statute the enabling statute chapter 40 section 8B does not specify the towns to the composition of the council on aging boards. It does not.

Okay.

There is no language in the overarching thing. We have to live in a town that had a bylaw in 2005 and then to 2000 or 2007 maybe even earlier to 2015 where they passed a bylaw for four members specific members to be included in the council on aging chair co-chair secretary and the treasurer. Okay. No job descriptions were ever enumerated for those four positions. So this particular council on agents in Westport

was mandated not by a state but by a town by law. Okay, without any underneath under underarching what should you do with these positions?

What are their jobs? What are their requirements? Well, it's 2026.

Okay. And I think it's clear we've had this evolution here for years. Now we have a new director. Um, and I think it's maybe important at some point there will be a town meeting and I think the subject of the composition of the future council on agings might be a subject for town meeting. Should we have a chair?

Should we have a co-chair? Right.

Should we have a treasurer? Should we have a secretary? None of this is mandated. None is mandated. It's up to the town I believe not up to this room either. I think it's up to the select board, the town administrator, and the director to say, "What would you like?

What should we do? How should we be governed?

What do you want to use us for as a as an advisory board?"

And that'll be a town to me that'll be a town meeting issue because we've made it a town meeting issue by h putting it in bylaw, not in the state law because the state doesn't mandate us to do any of this.

Good suggestion.

So, I just want to be clear. Yeah, that this is where we are and and if anything between now and the next town meeting, we should be trying to figure out what these roles are, what we need them for, why do we need them, and and who should participate, right? I think I think view of this. I think that uh Lauren has been two weeks on the job maybe, you

know, and so so we need to give her an opportunity to to um decide how how she thinks she would like her board to be and um in compliance with the town and state regulations, of course. Um and we have not had really an opportunity to spend much time together or or um I mean there's been a lot of vacation, a lot of illness, a lot of things going on and it

has been two weeks or less, you know, with the holiday in there. So I think that's a a point well taken. So if we to go back to our agenda, we have um tabled the August meeting uh minutes for um Lisa Oh, we voted on and we voted on it.

We voted.

We passed it.

Yeah, passed it.

All right.

Um, that now we It's not true. There's something in it that's not true.

All right. So, let's let's let's vote on that again.

I don't know if we approve the August meetings. You second it.

August. No, August meetings were the August minutes were approved. Next one says July, but they're incomplete.

No, but we the August the August ones are complete.

No, I think Yeah, Lisa is right. We we Tony Tony made the motion.

Okay.

Now you're talking about July's me meeting minutes.

All right. So, we're saying that they were I have July one references.

You table them.

No. Right. So, there's two different that we're looking at. August August was approved and now we're looking at July.

I made a motion.

about the He seconded it and then we all Yeah, we all voted. I I forget what the vote was. I mean, did we we voted unanimously?

Is it unanimous?

Yeah, he he made the motion, you second it, and then we all voted.

Okay, so the next item five is the approval and tape of the July meeting minutes. And so, Lisa, you had um some issues with the July um minutes. Well, I think I think um my colleague David actually brought up, you know, his concerns with regards to um the elections. Um David did.

Well, no, I I think I I shouldn't say elections, but the agenda that was discussed and the minutes that was put forward, um there was some information there based on um the bylaw not being correct. Um and it it wasn't anything that you said but these were things with regards to having a treasurer and having a secretary and all of that um was discussed in the July meeting.

Correct. And so with that being said, the bylaws itself which I shared with everyone um and there was a comment in the in in the actual um minutes that this particular document which I believe everyone received. I made a copy of it.

It actually shows um where the bylaw actually um states that this is actually our bylaw um and what is required and it it made a reference that no one knew where this document came from.

No, I had said I'm used to I said with my background it's in our minutes Lisa Lisa I had said afterwards that I wanted that for all it everything needs to be cited. where does it come from? And I have that as well uh from the the um July meeting. And I had said because we don't have a secretary, I lug this bag around with as much stuff as possible because

because I do. But I do have that um you know, we did we received this as this copy and it wasn't cited other than what you said. And all I'm saying is that if this is to be a document that you want to be considered, it needs to have on it. You know, it says right there bylaws.

Well, it did not. The handout that you gave us did not. I wrote these two.

No, I I only have one. Well, there and and then there was an email that it is that you received the um the day, excuse me, it was there was an email that had come to you the day before at 9:30 in the morning and it is cut off from where it came as the authority and that's all it just that I'm just if we're going to be let's be consistent

about the documents. If we're going to have documents, they need to be cited.

We need to know where they come from, where the origin is. That's all I'm saying. I'm not not questioning that. This is of course, you know, from from going into the bylaws and we had a bylaw discussion in July and then again in August. But nowhere on this piece of paper, if we were to use it as a document, is it cited? That's all that's all I'm saying. Nor is the

email that you handed out cited. And the month before, Muriel, you're a bad girl, Cindy.

You're in trouble, Cindy.

My watch. I don't know how to turn it off.

Okay, but any anyway, I think that that you know, we if we're going to We need to be consistent. Everything needs to be cited. Muriel handed out a paper of 12 questions the month before. You know, that is that part of the May minutes documents. I I don't know. I have not not checked. And so I think if we're going to be having the handouts, they need to be cited where they come from in

the order. It's just But as of as of right now, right, this is nobody has an issue.

Nobody has an issue. This is in fact, but at the time, would you like that reflected in this minutes? That is correct.

What was reflected in those minutes is there were two pages and the second page does actually say where the origin came from. In the minutes that Helen had had submitted, it said that it did not document where that where that they did not all get the second page.

And that's where getting Yes, they did.

Well, I don't have it. And okay, all I'm saying is and and let's let's see how if we're going to be discussing how we're going to manage meetings that we should have these all of our documents for consideration the same time, 48 hours ahead of the meeting. That way we have a chance to read the things thoughtfully to make sense of it to make sure if you do not

get it as Jean did not get it or there's trouble with transmission um we have time to to make a phone call to to to rectify that. I think that that has that is the practice of most um boards and commissions. I know the select board gets their packet. They call it a packet 48 hours ahead of the meeting. Um and then when we have the new business or um topics not reasonably

anticipated, then we can then we can also then include it. That way we have all of the documents, all of the supporting documents and and that would be my recommendation. Anybody else have any other thoughts on that or comments?

Well, the other comment that I have Well, I think Jean will have the floor.

Jane, I agree.

You agree? Okay.

Have you been on other boards and commissions that have Yeah, they've done.

You have the information well before.

So, I think that's something that we should that's a best practices I think that we should follow.

So, okay. Any other comments? Lisa, you had something to add?

No.

Okay.

Okay. So, let's get back. The July minutes were tabled in August and you had you were the only one that seemed to have questions that about I do and I don't think it's being received appropriately. So, what I'm going to do is I'm going to request that I I will send everything with regards to um the the minutes things that were not documented that were discussed.

Okay. Um, Mr. Vitali actually um summised the information um and I actually had him overlook the bylaws with regards to the two positions which is the treasurer and hold on a second David with the treasurer and the secretary to make sure that my understanding was um true and factual and I have those emails from him which I will submit um for everyone to read in addition to the requirements when when

you are actually going to be eliminating a position and what you have to go through, right?

Um in addition to what the bylaws actually say.

Lisa, I think we discussed this before.

We weren't trying to eliminate a position. We're trying to give our new director the opportunity to define the positions that she wanted in the secretary and the treasurer. That and and that's where we that's what our discussion was around which is fine, but we have to follow the bylaws.

I I agree. I agree. I'm not, as I said, I'm not going to jail over bylaws, you know, an infraction of bylaws from the town of West Point.

I wasn't here for the July meeting. So, um are there things in the minutes that some that you want changed in the July meeting?

In the July minutes?

Yeah.

Yes. So, can't you could shouldn't she make a motion to request whatever that change is or is it in depth more than just a piece of language or I would like I think I'm I'm confused.

I would like to submit the support material because David is saying I don't know what you keep looking at me like I I don't know what I said or did that is what's the direction to me through the chair.

Yeah. Yeah. Let's do the chair please.

Okay.

Regarding the minutes the minutes themselves, is there any language you want changed? added or you want this whole the July minutes that was submitted are not accurate.

Okay. So, is there something specifically you want to change?

I have the supporting documents that support the correct information that I would like to be able to submit.

Okay.

It's not just a quick thing.

Okay. That would support material um that I had received from Mr. Vitali with regards to the meeting itself. Okay.

Um and then I interpret.

So this was something that was discussed in July's meeting and you want the supporting documents to go with those minutes.

I think we received the minutes um in the for August meeting for the August meeting.

That's when they would the July. Yes. And so it would end it would have been a month later.

Right. Right.

Right.

Jean, you have a question. Can we table this all of this and get the information to review before our next meeting so that everyone has the opportunity to agree review it and then good recommend finalize it so we can move on to Okay. So Gan has made a recommendation.

Do we have a a motion to table the July minutes?

I I'll make a motion. I'll second you.

Yes.

Okay. First and second. Okay. All in favor? I I All right. No opposition.

Hearing none, then that has passed.

Okay.

All right. Um Oh, that's the July meeting agenda to get to today's agenda.

Okay. So, um number six is the financial report. Lauren, we're going to let you All right.

And Helen present.

Um, so Helen has been um a great support. So I just wanted to share that all the staff has been super welcoming and it's going to take me time and as you had mentioned um just to kind of really get my feet wet and figure out what's up, what's down. Um but I I thank you all for welcoming me into you know being able to help support our seniors

as well. Um but so Helen was able to um help me run this report. Um so basically um for the South Coast Foundation revenue um we are um you know starting to get low on that. So eventually we'll have to pay um and that's for a supportive day aid. We'll have to pay um out of the supportive day fund for that um for the A-RO grant. Um that is also

for um staff. We'll have to u pull from formula grant eventually for that. Um and then the SNAP revolving um that'll also roll over to formula grant eventually once um we're already one you know payroll cycle in. Um so eventually we will have to start pulling from formula grant.

Um and then we did use 20,000 from town articles to pay for the new van.

So I just wanted to share that as well.

That's part of my uh director's report as well. So more to come on on the new van. But um I don't know if anybody has any questions. I know that's a very brief. I know you're used to Bev's very thorough reports and I'm again just trying to really get in myself engulfed in everything. So, okay, I have a question through through Eileene.

Um, what is the appropriation for um the town? How much so that I have a balance and the town finds?

I don't have that figure.

I don't know what the question. I didn't hear the question. Mary Hill.

Okay. The town, how much is the appropriation for this town for this fiscal year?

From the town to Washington.

Yeah.

For the budget.

In the budget.

Did you look at the graph?

H.

Did you look at the graph?

The graph has I can't figure it out on the graph.

There's no appropriation on the graph.

Well, I didn't do the articles general fund. Is that what you're referring to, Helen?

Yes. Yeah.

So, that's 105,000.

No.

105 is the articles.

The this part.

Okay. I mean, you got another graph.

Oh, okay.

I just put what we Oh, that's the articles.

Yeah, I just put what we spent.

She doesn't have balances.

Okay.

But I don't know how much the appropriation is. I wanted to write it down so I know what the balance is.

Is that our total budget?

I'm sorry, Madam Chair. Is that our total budget? What is our total budget for what?

I don't have that figure. Oh, okay.

It's usually about 200 I want to say 50 60 70 80,000 somewhere in that range that was approved at town meeting in May for um stock.

So that should be part of this this report so we know the balance you would like it to be part of yeah because then you know how much is left in the town budget.

Okay.

You have no idea. I'm just asking making a suggestion.

And then um I have one other question.

Salvador that 10 that you label as an expense.

Wait.

Okay.

That's market value.

It was added to the account in end of June and subtracted the beginning of July. It's market value. We don't deal with that. It's not a real expense cuz the money came in and goes out.

Okay. I don't and I think we we've discussed and this is where um I think Lauren and I just well and I just want to you know just I guess kind of explain myself. I'm reporting on a month that I wasn't here for. Um so moving forward I can make suggestions and um I will take in suggestions as well but I'm you know I only had one full week with

Bev and last week was my full week by myself. So I haven't really had a chance to dive in. Um so I just I'm looking for a little grace to kind of just get through this first meeting and you know, we'll we'll take it from there. But I am reporting on a month that I wasn't here for.

Right.

And you forgot the formula grant. It's not in this list. I think that as we've said in the past, what we we want to see trends and I will assume if there is and I think we can all have a healthy assumption that if there's a real red flag or a problem that we would you would hear you would hear or from the a treasurer's office immediately if that there was something that they were in

question. I if I understand people's roles and um I think for our purposes we've asked to see trends rather than an an account um balance. So that that's where the graphs come in that we had asked that's what we had asked for a couple years and so we I guess this is a a work in progress that we'll have to so I think thank you uh Lauren and Helen for putting this together.

And I have a question consideration.

Um I have a question for Lauren if I might.

So Lauren, this document that you're producing, right? Did you produce this document?

I did not.

Okay. Who produced this document?

Helen.

Oh, Helen. Okay. Helen. Okay.

That's her by by the way that is her job. That is her job description.

I'm just trying to with the And I understand that, Madam Chair. I'm just trying to fundamentally understand.

I'm not I'm not a um treasurer, nor am I an accountant. So, I'm just trying to get a gest of what this document helps us do. So, it says the town operating budget obviously at the top, which we don't have that number, but wages, is it for people who work for us?

Yes.

Okay. I'm asking in simple forms like what is this document supposed to give us like a well-rounded for So I can go line by line with you. So for social day rate revolving special funds social day revenue those that's the revenue for July that's the revenue for August the so far we've collected that much fiscal year 27 year to date wages that's what we're paying out of social day for the

wages for the people that work there right for the expenses that's what we've paid and then the net amount that we have left in the account for the balance after August Okay.

And then each one follows suit.

So the act activities revolving revenue at $3,765 is that was July.

July activities and then in August it's $1863.

Actually you read it across.

So July we made money, right? Just just we made $1,000 between expenses and revenues.

Correct. I'm I'm trying to and then in August it looks like we lost some revenue from but that has to do with like deposit date like just to make it easier for I'm just trying to use Yeah. But it like it's not hard to pass like if I if like say August 31st was a Wednesday because I can only deposit Tuesdays and Thursdays that minute went in there could have been an extra pay

period. There's a lot of issues in that but just to simplify it and then at the year end we're ahead whatever till now is we're up that 580 right $9 with the balance after August being so you have Can I just make can I make a comment if I sure I think at some point we need to defer to Lauren Lauren absolutely around I mean we I just see myself here

as an advisory board. I'm not here to manage your minutia. Okay? And maybe some of you want more detail. I do not need more detail about accounting. I need trends where we are, where we get our money from. Do we need to give more?

Do we need to get more money from the town? Do we need to get more money from the friends?

Yes. And yes, I understand. Um our grants um def what's the trend of grants? I mean our role here it seems to me I'm just saying for me my perspective is that we are not the manu we are not the interrogators in minutia of what's going on well that's treasurer's office and the town Lauren answers to Chris and the select board she does not answer to us we are not her boss we are her adviser

and we I guess we're going to have to figure out we have a new director we have to figure out how to advise is what you want from us, right?

And what we want from you, right?

And you'll see a lot of stuff here based on old the world we used to have. And now this is the world we have today.

Notwithstanding existing bylaws and trends and past history. We're in a new era. I think that's all I see.

No, I think that we have asked in the past for for trends. I think that Muriel has done a great job of giving us an accounting if we unless we have time to really delve into the accounting. You know, I'm leaving it to the in the hands of the staff people who are responsible to figure it out. But I think the trends I think that's what we're we're asking

for. We want to know like how do we have to be exploring new um grants? That's part. Do we need to be exploring different funding sources? Do we need to have a bake sale? You know, are does do the friends have to do a bake sale?

Cindy, I'm sorry. More work to do, but yes. Um, but you know, I think that those are the types of things that we need to know in order to be an advisory board and and I think that's what we have asked for um for a couple of years now, at least since I've been chair.

And there'll be some growing pains during this transition. Absolutely. The only thing is that when we get something like this, it's just it's helpful if someone does not understand a sheet like this, ask because what happens is that's what I was trying any of this mean.

Well, none of us I don't think any of No, but I'm just saying you know when we're given this and you know it's wages, wages for what? So if I'm asking fundamental questions just so I can kind of like have a basic information as to agreed.

No, no, that's agreed. I think I don't think it's I don't think it's far-fetched like like Tony said, if you don't understand something, then we should be able to be able to ask.

Absolutely. And Lisa, I think that that that was very appropriate of you to ask because this is a whole new format for us to look at and it takes a few minutes to wrap your head around. Fortunately, it's only two months. Um but I do think this is another argument to have the documents 48 hours ahead of time so you can study and come to the the um these meetings. Um my predecessor

had a timer and we only met for an hour.

Remember we only met for an hour and then if there was something else oh well that would be table to the next time. So I think that this is something to consider. I mean, I think we can be more expedient and more focused on the things that we want to be involved with as an advisory board. So, if um these reports could come to us, I understand there's a holiday and you're new, but I think in

the future that would be helpful. Okay.

So, anything else on the financial report?

No. All right. Moving on to the next item, the director's report. Lauren, it's it's all up to you now.

All right. Um, so just some follow-ups.

Um, I know last meeting Bev had mentioned that um, Samco was coming out to work on the spots. So that is in progress. I spoke with Wayne this morning. Um, and they have been out. Um, and they're maybe like a quarter of the the way through, but they have been out.

They're on site. Um, and we're still um, you know, working through that. And then also we're awaiting Altech to come out.

So the the partition wall between social day and the main um, function hall, there's a door. Um, so I guess it's been some time since the company's actually come out to inspect it. Um, so we're awaiting their arrival to um, I guess like the track gets all, you know, messy, junky, and all of those, you know, fun things. So, they're going to come out and, um, address that. Um, so any day

that they should be out. Um, for the supportive day program, um, our, uh, average daily census was 15 uh, participants for 13 days that we were open for social day. um with 23 members logging in 200 times or checking in 200 times.

Um in the transportation department in August we provided 439 rides um for the 21 days. Uh the greatest amount of rides was for social day totaling in 295 rides for the participants followed by 85 medical rides um and then 36 rides for shopping. And then on Friday, August 28th, which was coincidentally Bev's last day, uh we did receive our new van and that was through the Mass DOT

community transit grant program. So I was happy actually that she got to see the van um you know, bright and early first thing in the morning. They delivered it from u I believe upstate New York. So she was really excited that she got to see it. Um so this is our third van um through that program. So I'll continue with all of the um the reporting through uh the the Mass DOT uh

transit grant program. I'm actually familiar with it um from uh Cushnet as well. So, it was an easy um you know transition through there. So, did they deliver that mocked up or is that something we have to do?

Oh, no. It already has They mocked it all up for us already.

Okay. I haven't seen it yet.

You got to swing by and see.

Yes. We got to come up with a way to put ads on those things and make the money.

Make the money.

Like the bus. Certus has a big sign on it. Goes a commercial. We got to figure something. Sorry. Go ahead.

No, that's okay.

Down the road. Down the road. and all the paperwork has been submitted um to town hall. So, we're just waiting for that to get registered and it'll be on the road. So, I'm sure that there's going to be a fight of what driver gets to drive it.

But, I just wanted to at least um be able to deliver, you know, some good news.

It really is exciting because that has been a work in progress for a couple years now that the grant was approved, but we had to come up with matching funds, right?

Or a certain portion of it. And I think that's where the 20,000 came that we were referencing. So it's something we've been watching the line items and pocketbook closely like that was restricted for the this van, but I think the it was probably about the grant was probably for about another h 100,000. I mean these these vans are extraordinarily expensive.

It's not just buying a minivan. It's it's um and we do a good job maintaining the that's key too because sometimes you leave vehicle not being regularly maintained and then that's when they specific that's when we need a new one. So specifically with the um community transit grant they um because we don't officially flat out own it. Um they are very thorough with um the documentation

to prove that we're maintaining it. Um so of course once we um take over the ownership of it then the goal is to continue to maintain it.

Very important.

Beautiful.

Great. All right. And then um in the volunteer department in August uh 14 volunteers logged 305 hours um and this was a combination of the supportive day um admin and then um even the the maintain maintenance of the the grounds.

I know I got to speak to a few of the ladies outside um you know weeding the yes weeding the the flower beds and um so that's all very well um received through the through the center. So thank you to all of our volunteers. Um and then in the outreach department in the month of August, we had a total of 115 logged hours for outreach services. Um so that could be a number of um

different things through SNAP, um insurance assistance, anything of the like. And then in miscellaneous, um in August, we had a total of 106 seniors who registered 876 times and attended 2,823 hours of activities for the 21 days.

Terrific. Thank you. Thank you very much.

And if um I'll I'm open to feedback to you. I know Bev's reports were, you know, more involved. And of course, once I'm really into the nitty-gritty of things, I'm sure I'll have more to share, but if there's anything specific that you would like or anything that you don't feel that, you know, is necessarily um needs to be shared monthly either, um I'm open to suggestions that way, too. So,

terrific. Thank you very much. Any questions for Lauren?

No, I have a question. See, um just out of curiosity. Um how often do you meet with Chris?

Um so I know he wanted to start meeting monthly. I met him after my first week um when my week ended with Bev um just to kind of touch base on things and then he wanted to do monthly meetings just to check in.

Um do you have I mean is I'm sorry. Do you have individual meetings or department head meetings or both?

Both. You have both.

Yes. So we I actually attended my first department head meeting um last week. Um it was actually Monday morning. Um and then um in addition to that, he wants to meet monthly. I don't know if he's doing that consistently with all department heads or if it's just because I'm I'm new. Um but at least once a month, I would be meeting with him individually.

Good. Good. Thank you.

Okay, Jean, you had a question.

Um well, it's it's a it is a question.

As a new board member, I would like to feel that I can um do more and I'm wondering if there's things that you see us being able to do beyond what we're doing here. I just feel like I come here once a month. It's this is only my second meeting, official meeting, but I would I would like to be able to do more. So, um I'll leave that out. we could be ourselves meet,

you know, or you could come back with suggestions or I think that our committees that we have and I think that was one of the things that Lauren and I on our my agenda of of things to discuss with Lauren um so that everybody knows we have had committees in the past and um now that we have a full we will soon have a full membership then we could continue with that. I

think that um also we wanted to um we're following our strategic plan and there were four items that we really had said that we would focus on. So there will be more coming. Okay.

I also want secondly I also wanted to um talk to Lauren and and this is no surprise that I think because we have some new members we need board training.

we need and there is board training assistance from the MCOA and so that would be I think helpful for all of us that that we could go through like really what's what we expect and maybe that's something that we have to do as a a separate seminar or workshop or however it is allowed by the town that that we can do that would be very helpful I think for all of us you know

to hear the same thing and something else that I most of us have done too you'll see different events will come come up and the director will tell you we're doing this this day and that that day.

And if you have an opportunity to go by, just help out that day and stuff like that. That happens quite a bit.

Yeah.

I've driven vans, you know, there's different things to do. Um and they'll come up at the meeting and then if you want to help out, you come in and once in a while, honestly, I used to just pop in.

Yeah.

I I just pop in, say, "Hi, how's everybody doing?" Talk to the girls, you know, in the front there. And so feel free to whatever you're comfortable with, too. Some people have more time, some people have less.

Lauren, and I'd also just suggest, you know, you're out in the community. You're you're speaking with people. If you hear things that, you know, there's a need for or a want, you just bring that to me. I'm Yeah, I you know, I'm I'm here.

I'm I'm here for everybody. I'm here to listen and and take again suggestions.

And we're only as strong as our community. So, really, Dave had a good time. I forgot what you called it. We are the something of the in the community advocates or ambassadors. That was the word.

Ambassador the ambassadors. We are the ambass for you and for the organization.

That's right. And and we are the ears. I mean, we're I think that that's a good point. We are out in the community. And I think that we can we we also need to have each other's contact information, you know, um so that we can be in touch with one another.

Uh I know there've been a number of changes in the last few months, so that that would be helpful for Lauren to contact us as well. And I know that we are all in other organizations. We're community people. We have our ears to the ground. And so that's that's helpful.

I would just say I think we have a very unusual even if you read the across the Commonwealth, if you read all these statutes around committees. We are a very unique in in the legislative statute. We are very unique as a COA. as a COA because you know the towns can have these and we chose to have it then they give you a very broad very broad definition of what

you the town can do with a council on aging. Okay. And I think we are sitting at a place 2026 where a lot of things have gone on a lot of times gone by. The cohort of how many people are elderly is larger than ever in our society. Okay, we are at a precipice of a new way of looking at the world. Okay, frankly, um I think and I'm I'm going to shift the burden. I don't

think the burden's with this advisory group. The burden is with the select board and the and the town manager and and the director to say what you want from us. What do you want us to do?

We're an advisory board to you. You can have managerial boards. There are very few managerial boards of COAs. very few had very specific kinds of demands.

Majority of them are as sort of advisory role.

I think the town's going to have to examine our status visav the bylaws because they're just not in sync with whatever we're doing right now. Okay. defining why would you have A B C D and I don't think it's us to tell them I mean maybe you can maybe maybe the select board wants us to recommend back to them what we should be doing but I think it works the personally I think

it works the other way I think the town through the the five elected people this town manager and the person they've selected to run the council on agent to say this is what I'd like you I don't know or we have a or we have a discussion and we have a group discussion with the advisory board the select I don't know but we don't have we've yet to have a conversation

I've been here almost two and a half years and I'm pretty good at sorting out complex issues it's a mess because it's not clear we we've had historical roles changing society board members okay trying to work in a way where feel some days I feel like we're working against each other days we're working with each other and I think it would be helpful if we work together and figure out what you need

and how can we give it to you that that's what I and I don't know who's that's a conversation you may have to have with Chris and the select board about where we're going what do you want us to do right because I don't know right we'll give you another two weeks wave your two weeks I mean I think that's really what's happening here I think you're Yeah.

It's why it's so, you know, it's just not clear yet, right?

Well, and and this is where I think our getting together and and all hearing the same training at the same time or at least where what our role is and and then how Lauren would like to work with us. Okay.

Anything else for Lauren under her?

Good job for your first one.

Yes. Thank you. Yeah. Thank you.

Good report. Okay. All business. Well, Lauren and I have been together on Zoom on a you know in her two weeks um the use of the former high school. I um will just share and you can help me that there is a mass a group that has been was hired for a master plan for the old use of the old high school and I think I reported last time that there is

a that this master plan included all the departments of the town and really it was more of not what is it going to cost but really looking at the future how where what do you need needs assessment and where do you see yourself in a few years? And I had the privilege to be invited to walk that uh in the high school with the person who led that plan and I reported on that last month. And

um there is a plan that will be presented to the select board at their next meeting um which is next Monday which is Thank you. next Monday. Um and um this will be very important to hear um we have seen a draft of things and I will just share that I'm very pleased right and I thank you. Yes and we cannot share with you any more than that. So it's like so that is is

simply but I think that it's something that I'm very encouraged how the town has moved on this um we have been a the one in the side of many people over this but we're not alone and I think that this is because this you know and I say this is my my my background my Scottish background this is a waste just sitting there and paying for something that's not being used but

I know that I'm not alone has nothing to do with my ethnic background or my upbringing, but I think it's something that we see. We we've seen it. We and we had David and I had have been at this for about three years.

And to be told that it's not being used when you see people in the building using it is just something that we both find very irritating. So, I think we've come a long way in the last few years and I think that this is something if you can um come to the meeting or go to the meeting on Monday evening um it would be very good to not only support Cindy's name that will be coming

up but also for to see this yourself to see this this um draft and then I think that it'll be open for comments. So, that is um and it's going to be beneficial for all concerned. Okay, good news. So it's super um you need to want to add anything to that.

As much as we can say as much as we can say. You had to be sworn to secrecy but okay. So topics new um topics not reasonably anticipated 48 hours in advance of this meeting. Do we have anything? I have a few things as always.

Um the handbook. You were given a handbook. you were sent that two weeks ago. I urge you to read it. Um it's a great resource really for for what to do and um uh how to do it and who has what authority. I think it really helps to um uh sort of give us direction I think as as boards and commission members and and so that handbook is to be um acknowledged

and sent to the town clerk's office as soon as possible. And that that is um I think a very important um time timely piece to have. I had said that we were going to talk about committees. We're not doing that today.

Um but we will have a chance to get together and to really uh work with our board to have subcommittees, if you will. Jean, um, are there specific committees that you already have that you're looking to have people join or are you open to creating new ones? We're I'm not sure that Good question. I think that there had been historically committees. I think there had been a finance and grants

committee and Muriel had been on that for years. There had been one on the building and Muriel had been serving on that subcommittee for years. I think by yourself, you know, but one, but I think, you know, but I think that that, you know, um there's more of us now and that we can um maybe help Muriel. Um I think we wanted programs. Yeah, that that was something and that was

something that we had had. And then we need to by our strategic plan have um an open house every quarter, invite the public into the building every quarter.

and and I think that we're working on that and um that I would like to host have us host uh maybe with the friends um a meet and greet so that the community could come in some maybe Friday afternoon maybe after yoga um to actually meet Lauren and to to see what um what's what here in the building and that we have not we've had committees but we've been poor on attendance.

Okay. Um, some of that was people leaving the boards and stuff like that.

So, I think that's a great idea. We should start from scratch again, try to get some commit and then try to meet, you know what I mean? With specific objectives, but um, we were just, we were bad at attendance for those in the past. There was a lot of issues a lot of issues. I don't mean that in a derogatory way. It's just those kind of so I think it's a great idea to restart it.

But I think if you have ideas, you know how to reach me.

Yeah. and and you know please any recommendations and we we'll put that in the mix but I do think that some of the committees that we had had um before we had I think Lisa you were on a bylaws and administration uh um committee and um with Carol right yeah and we completed that but it never went in well I don't think it ever came to the board I don't think we ever got

we we we we completed our research I should say right and but it never really came to right because because of because yeah I mean it was exactly what Tony had said yeah I mean things fell apart it needs to come to the board and and we need to have time to be able to think about these things but I think in terms of let's start fresh if you have an idea let's hear it

there's a marketing one which I thought was important me communication sub that's a big void for us okay good huge huge okay Um I'd like to add something, Madam Chair.

Sure.

Um so with regards to Stroke Buddies and Friends, um we are going to be doing uh some river cruises uh for people that um either have uh um a challenge in their life or anyone who is just um aging that wouldn't necessarily get to have a little river cruise with our harbor master. So we're going to be doing two river cruises. One is going to be in September, one is going to be in

October. Um, so if anyone is interested, we're going to be actually putting a flyer at the COA in addition to where we have our meetings now at the library because we've outgrown the COA uh based on room uh for us. Um, the room that we were originally in uh couldn't support us. So, we're now in another room that supports 60 people um at the library. So, we're really excited about that. Um, Captain Chase

has offered his personal boat um along with his Bosen's. Uh, so the kids in the community are going to be helping our seniors. Um, and it's they're really excited about it because um I've never been in on the Westport River myself, but um and we're going to make it accessible um with the uh town boat ramp, I believe, which is near the Betti um for easy access. Um and so we're

we're planning that and so we're really excited about that. And then the other thing too is the what's buzzing in Westport um little show that we have is getting much traction. Um we average about 30 to 40 calls in support of what we're um interviewing. Um, and we've interviewed uh so many different people either um whether it be our senator, our representative, or other boards um the

conservation uh board and what they're doing uh because like David said and and we've all said this, there needs to be more communication. I think with our show, we do a lot of drone work as Tony knows and we go out into businesses as well that support people that are aging in place in addition to people um that have disabilities. So, it kind of works hand in hand. Um, and our upcoming, uh,

interview is actually going to be with our new superintendent. Um, we're actually born and brought up in Fall River, so it's kind of nice to have a little kinship there going on, and um, she's agreed to come on as our next uh, interviewer. So, we're trying to get the word out um, as best we can with regards to our videos. So, terrific. We're doing very well.

Terrific. Thank you.

Um, I guess if we're making program announcements, the technology classes are going to begin again, um, uh, one-on-one sessions Tuesdays and Thursdays, um, 22nd and 24th with the first class on Wednesday afternoon, um, on the 23rd and that is keeping up with technology and then we go from there and every Wednesday afternoon 1:30 to 3 And if someone wants to do that, they should do what?

They have to just call the center and get on the list so that we have that.

Our one-on-one sessions are by appointment and there's usually two volunteers that will be there on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:00, 10:00, and 11 o'clock, and we're done by noon.

We've had a few um technology emergencies over the summer. We took um part of July and August off and uh and some of the volunteers responded nicely to that. So, um, and then one-on-one sessions are are very interesting what comes up. There's no questions that if we don't know, we find out. That's plain and simple. So, there's a lot that's happening at the COA building and it's maybe been quiet when you drive by. I

know that people say, "Well, there's there's no parking out in front.

Nobody's there." We say, "Oh, oh, contr.

look in the back and you would see that the that the many times the parking lot is quite full quite full. So people drive by and see nothing. And that's not just Can I ask because there was a time about a year ago you asked me to and I'm feel remiss about this um to do a repair cafe which cafe talked about a repair cafe which is um a little more complex because we're repairing

lots of different things from a chair to electrical to you name it. Okay. But um I don't know if we're still interested in trying to pursue that and which building we would be pursuing it in. And I'm sort of reluctant right now to push this until we know, you know, where we would have space.

Where are we going to go look at one and something?

I've been to a couple of repair cafes.

Um they're you and and one of them is in my old town in Connecticut that's done I think the first Saturday of the month every other month.

and they work with the Rotary and I thought we were as a group were going to one and then it got cancelled.

Yeah, they get they had canceled it.

Wasn't that recent? I don't I don't remember but I think we should resurrect an idea. I mean the idea is a good idea but it just I think those are some of the ideas of programs that are ongoing for discussion. We didn't have the space. We couldn't open on certain Saturdays that required opening up the building and and budgetary things. So we So I mean part of it is it comes right back again to space.

Yeah. Or could that be a collaboration with the rec department? Is that something that would be under their That's a good idea. I think that there was a repair cafe that did happen a few months ago at the Graange and I don't know and it's a national in it's an international organization the repair cafe and so it's something that we could uh do in collaboration maybe at at the Graange the information came out

well we can look into it I think I mean I think subcommittee would be a great that's right this is subcommittee work so um but I'm I'm encouraged by your enthusiasm that we we really get to do things.

Yeah.

Okay. Anything else that we would really want to Okay, then. Do I have a motion?

Motion to adjourn. Second.

All in favor?

I.

All right. None. Put your phones back on. Put your phones back on.