HomeMy Public PortalAboutCouncil on Aging Board -- 2023-06-15 MinutesTown of Brewster - .i;� n 10
Council on Aging Board Meeting
Thursday June 15, 2023 -1.00 PM 1_1T T il4
Brewster Town Hall, 2198 Main Street, Brewster, MA 02631
Board members attending: Andrea Nevins, Sharon Tennstedt, Jill Beardsley, Jay Green
Board members absent: Penny Holeman and Laura Usher
Others Attending: Elton Cutler, COA Director, Annie Rapaport, Program Coordinator, Honey
Pivirotto, Finance Committee Liaison and Marilyn Dearborn, President of Friends
of Brewster Seniors
Absent: Cindy Bingham, Select Board Liaison,
1. Call to Order
Co -Chair Andrea Nevins called the meeting to order at 1:05 pm.
2. Declaration of a Quorum
A. Nevins declared presence of a quorum based on the number of board members present.
3. Meeting Participation Statement
The meeting participation statement was read by A. Nevins.
4. Public Announcements and Comments
No members of the public attended the meeting either in-person or virtually.
S. Approve Minutes: May 18, 2023
The minutes were reviewed and no revisions noted. S. Tennstedt made a motion to approve the minutes;
J. Beardsley seconded. Minutes were approved.
6. Policy #45 on Remote Participation
S. Tennstedt reviewed the policy and implications for COA Board members. She noted that members can
attend Board meetings remotely for no more than 50% of meetings, and that a quorum must be present
in-person. The Board Chair must attend in-person.
7. Director's Report
Highlights of Elton Cutler's Director's report included the following:
• The Director attended a number of events, including the ESCCI Annual Meeting on May 2, a meeting
with BLL about age -friendly programming on May 3, a meeting with Jill Scalise on May 17 about
housing options, the Sea Camps Forum on May 20, and the COAST meeting on May 23
• 58 households received food distributions on May 10th. YTD, 83 households have been served and
987 food bags provided.
• COA provided 47 rides totaling 1,332 miles.
• Both part-time van drivers completed CCRTA Driver Training on May 23.
• SHINE served 31 clients in May. Both Outreach Workers will be SHINE certified on June 28; therefore,
4 SHINE Counselors will be available during the open enrollment period.
8. Program Report & Review of FY23 Programs
A.Rapaport presented highlights regarding recent and upcoming programs included in the Action Plan
implementation report.
• 24 vendors participated in the Wellness Fair on May 19 at the Brewster Baptist Church. The
availability of COVID boosters increased attendance this year.
• The last program for If I Live to be 100, where will I live series on in-home services and long term
care will be rescheduled.
• Trips to Highfield Hall, Chatham Railroad Museum, Cobb House Museum and Pirates Cove
Adventure Golf are planned for June.
• New programs starting in July and August include Essential Oils, yoga for healthy joints and yoga for
finding balance with Janet Bettey, weekly Beginner Line Dancing, a Mah Jong Day, Creatures in the
Night with Brewster ladies Library, Geography Gameshow with Rec Dept and the Nauset Youth
Alliance, and sailing and a floating classroom with Pleasant Bay Community Boating.
• The weekly acquatic exercise program provided by the VNA at the Town pool will start after the
pool opens on June 25.
• Programs on conversational French, chair yoga and Know Your Numbers are being planned.
• The Labor Day barbecue cohosted with the Friends is on September 1 this year.
S. Tennstedt noted that programming in the previous year is reviewed at the June Board meeting. There
has been positive feedback on the wide range of programs offered, with a good mix of educational, social,
fitness and wellness programs. Factors that have affected attendance are primarily timing issues.
9. Review of the Social Security Symposium
Approximately 100 people attended the program on Social Security at Crosby Mansion on May 31. The
event was scheduled to celebrate May as Older Americans Month and to kick off the COA's 50th year. The
presentation about the current and future state of Social Security and Congressional considerations by Bob
Blancato was very well received. Many positive comments were received about the reception that
followed. S. Tennstedt thanked Marilyn Dearborn and the Friends for their support and assistance with
publicity and the reception.
10. Discussion of 50th Anniversary Events
A. Nevins noted that planning of events to mark the COA's 501h Anniversary next June should begin.
Another symposium on a national topic like Medicare might be of interest. Smaller events through the
year can also be planned. A large social event next June was suggested. E. Cutler suggested that a work
group be established to brainstorm ideas. S. Tennstedt reported that the COA can request capital funds to
support events and asked E. Cutler to discuss this with Peter Lombardi.
11. Update on UMass contract for Needs Assessment Survey
S. Tennstedt reported that the survey will be live from June 8 through July 12. A postcard will be sent to
residents age 50+ to request participation online. Everyone age 75+ will receive a copy of the survey in the
mail with a stamped, addressed envelope to use for returning it to UMASS.
12. Fundraising Updates
CPA funds to purchase ADA accessible picnic tables and benches for Freeman's Way Fields will be available
on July 1. S. Tennstedt met with Mike Gradone, Director of Recreation, and Griffin Hyder, DPW Director to
walk the fields and determine placement of the furniture. A new distributor has been identified with lower
prices that allows for purchase of 4 picnic tables and 7 benches.
A. Nevins reported that the funding request to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) for benches on
Brewster Road was finished and approval received from the Board of Commissioner. However, NAR just
informed her that all funds had been awarded and applications were closed. Therefore the application will
be submitted when funding is available again.
13. Status of Filling Board Vacancies
C. Bingham has informed S. Tennstedt that the applicant for the regular position and the 2 applicants for
the alternate member positions have been interviewed. Their names will be presented to the Select Board
at their next meeting with vote to approve at the subsequent SB meeting. Therefore, we should expect to
have these members at the July 20 meeting.
14. Committee Reports
a. Recreation
No report.
b. Vision Planning Committee
S. Tennstedt reported that the draft LCP is with Town staff for review with comments requested by
mid-July. Efforts have now turned to developing materials and scheduling community outreach
activities through October.
c. Bay Property Planning Committee
S. Tennstedt reported that a ribbon cutting for the pool will held on June 25 and the pool will be
open at least through August 15, contingent on staffing. Several hundred pool passes have been
sold. The consultants will present results of the May community forum and subsequent survey to
the committee on June 20. Another community forum will be held on August 5.
d. Board of Health
No report.
e. Housing
No report.
f. Finance Committee
H. Pivirotto reported that the Select Board has asked the Nauset Regional School Committee to
reopen discussions of the agreement with Brewster. She also announced that she has resigned from
the Finance Committee effective June 30.
g. Select Board
No report.
h. Friends of Brewster Seniors
M. Dearborn reported that the Volunteer Luncheon co -hosted with the COA on June 6 was very
successful. Several trips are planned thro9ugh December, including a whale watch in July, the CC
Railroad in August, a lobster roll cruise in September, the Museum of Fine Arts in October, and the
CC Symphony holiday concert in December. For a second year, a cocktail party will be held at Crosby
Mansion on September 24.
15. Questions from the Media
None
16. Matters Not Reasonably Anticipated by the Chair
None
17. Next Meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for July 20, 2023.
18. Adjournment
S. Tennstedt made a motion to adjourn the meeting, J. Green seconded, and adjournment was approved
at 2:15pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Sharon Tennstedt