Middleton Council on Aging
Regular Meeting
November 30th, 2011
9:15 AM
Middleton Senior Center
Members present: Donahue, Fucarile, Goodwin, F. Leary, LeMay, Martinuk, and Walczak
Members absent: Mr. Cowie, Mr. D. Leary
Presiding: Ms. LeMay
Others Present Susan Gannon, Executive Director
Ms. LeMay called the meeting to order at 9:27.
Minutes –Ms. Martinuk made a motion to accept the minutes of the October meeting. Ms. Donahue seconded the motion, and all were in favor.
Chairperson’s Report – none
Director’s Report – deferred to new business
Committee Reports
Trips – Trip are listed in the newsletter
Activities – Ms. LeMay has favors planned for Christmas. They will be candy canes and ribbons.
Newsletter – Ms. Gannon said there would not be a specific newsletter for December. It will come out in mid-December and be a December-January issue. She is planning on putting out a newsletter about every six weeks
Friends – Ms. LeMay said she would go to the next meeting. Ms. Martinuk asked about the money that the Friends Group raises. Ms. Gannon says that they will not discuss their accounts with the Council. The Council needs to write proposals. Ms. LeMay added they do provide 99% of what the Council asks for. They are Friends for all senior citizens in Middleton not just the Council on Aging. For example, they work with the Fire Department to provide lock boxes where a key can be stored in case the Fire department needs to get in. Mr. Leary pointed out that the Friends Group is a separate entity that has nothing to do with the CoA.
North Shore Elder Services (NSES) – Mr. Leary reported that he is no longer involved in NSES though he is still active in AAA. He thinks that NSES must develop a “for profit” entity is they are going to survive. They are making it more difficult for people to get services. They are doing a survey to see what services people need and want. It appears that the revenue from the State is better than expected.
Mr. Leary said that Joan Shea-Desmond of Middleton is now Vice-President of NSES. She has a lot of responsibility
Triad – The main business before Triad is the Spring Health Fair at Masconomet. Ms. Gannon will be coordinating with the Topsfield and Boxford CoAs. She added that though it is not a Tri-Town Triad event, since it is at Masconomet it made sense to involve the other two Towns. She is expecting participation from Beverly Hospital, NSES, Visiting Nurse Association, local Health and Fire Departments and an ambulance service. Ms. Gannon is serving as President of the North Shore CoA Director’s Association and has invited all the members to attend. Additionally both CVS and Walgreen are interested in running medication management clinics.
Old Business
Grants - The Title III-B Outreach grant has been level funded at $4500. The III-C Nutrition Grant will be $9000. It was $11,751 in 2008. Ms. Gannon said that she would look for an increase in the budget or a warrant article looking at foregoing the Nutrition Grant if it turns out the donations exceed the Grant. The paperwork for the Nutrition Grant costs about $3000 in administrative overhead. Ms. Gannon does not have the final figures from NSES for the fiscal year that ended September 30th. She added that even if the Center breaks even on the congregate meals, it would not break even on the home-delivered meals. She is exploring options with the jail, the Peabody CoA and the schools. Mr. Leary asked about the increased labor costs. Ms. Gannon said
that picking up from Peabody would only take an hour. Mr. Leary noted that with other departments being cut back, it is difficult to ask for an increase.
Fall Conference – Ms. Gannon passes out a list of the topics that were covered at the Fall CoA Conference. She was particularly interested in a session on Nutrition and the Okinawan Lifestyle. 20% of Okinawans live to be 100 or more. The individual who made this presentation will be here twice in the upcoming year through a grant from the Cultural Council.
Building – The painting is done. The next project will be the front door and stairs. She hopes to get funding for this project at the May Town Meeting. The Building Inspector checked the building yesterday. The only problem was a light on the third floor. Some landscaping is planned for the Spring.
Ms. Martinuk commented that there is no private place for consultations such as SHINE. Ms. Gannon said that they are trying to get the Recreation Commission to vacate the office downstairs so it can be used by the public health nurse and other services. Mr. Leary added that the Food Pantry is only used on Friday afternoons so it is available as a temporary solution. The AARP tax program will begin soon and will also need space.
Holiday Party – The luncheon will be December 13th at Angelica’s. It is capped at 150 participants. The cost for out-of-towners will be $22. The Tri-Town Rotary will join the CoA, so they can share the Masco Chorale Group. The students will be invited for dessert courtesy of the Mansfield Fund. More people are expected because there will be no January Thaw. The Board of Trade will distribute gifts at the luncheon.
Adjournment – Ms. Martinuk made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Ms. Donahue seconded the motion and all were in favor.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:15.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Jane Morrin
Mary Jane Morrin, Recording Secretary
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