HomeMy Public PortalAboutHHS Meeting Packet_1.3.2024Town of Brewster
Health and Human Services Committee
MEETING AGENDA
2198 Main St., Brewster, MA 02631
(508) 896-3701
Wednesday, January 3, 2024 @ 5:00 p.m.
This meeting will be conducted in person at the time and location identified above. This means that at least a
quorum of the members of the public body will attend the meeting in person and members of the public are
welcome to attend in person as well. As a courtesy only, access to the meeting is also being provided via
remote means in accordance with applicable law. Please note that while an option for remote attendance
and/or participation is being provided as a courtesy to the public, the meeting/hearing will not be
suspended or terminated if technological problems interrupt the virtual broadcast or affect remote
attendance or participation, unless otherwise required by law. Members of the public with particular interest
in any specific item on this agenda, which includes an applicant and its representatives, should make plans for in-
person vs. virtual attendance accordingly.
Members of the public who wish to access the meeting may do so in the following manner:
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To request to speak: Tap Zoom “Raise Hand”, then wait to be recognized.
When required by law or allowed by the Chair, persons wishing to provide public comment or otherwise participate in
the meeting, may do so by accessing the meeting remotely, as noted above. Additionally, the meeting will be broadcast
live, in real time, via Live broadcast (Brewster Government TV Channel 18), Livestream (livestream.brewster-ma.gov),
or Video recording (tv.brewster-ma.gov).
Please note that the Health and Human Services Committee may take official action, including votes, on any item on
this agenda.
1.Call to Order
2.Declaration of a Quorum
3.Meeting Participation Statement
4.Recording Statement: As required by the Open Meeting Law we are informing you that the Town will be video and
audio taping as well as broadcasting this public meeting. In addition, if anyone else intends to either video or audio tape
this meeting they are required to inform the chair.
5.Approval of December 6, 2023 Minutes
6.Review of Proposals for FY’25 Funding
7.Presentation: Pause a While
8.Matters Not Reasonably Anticipated by the Chair
9. Next Meetings: February 7, 2024
10.Adjournment
Date Posted:Date Revised:Received by Town Clerk:
Health and Human
Service Committee
Members
Suzanne Kenney
Chair
Sean Parker
Vice Chair
Lisa Perkins
Secretary
Deborah Blackman
Jacobs
Patricia Hess
Mary Jo Murphy
Anne O’Connell
Robert Ziegler
This
Town of Brewster
Health and Human Services Committee
2198 Main St., Brewster, MA 02631
(508) 896-3701
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
2198 Main Street
Wednesday, December 6, 2023 @ 4:30 p.m.
Present: Suzanne Kenney (chair), Sean Parker, Mary Jo Murphy, Deborah Blackman
Jacobs, Patricia Hess, Anne O’Connell, Robert Zeigler; Conor Kenny (Town office
liaison), Kari Hoffman, (Select Board liaison)
Absent: Lisa Perkins
1.Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by Chair Kenney at 4:35 p.m.
2.Declaration of a Quorum: A quorum was declared.
3.Meeting Participation Statement was ready by the Chair.
4.Recording Statement was read by the Chair.
5.Introduction of new committee member Robert Zeigler
Suzanne asked Bob to introduce himself to the committee and for the other
committee members to introduce themselves as well.
6.Approval of November 1, 2023, Minutes: The minutes were approved as
amended with a vote of 6 people. Robert Zeigler stated his desire to abstain
from voting in his first meeting and that was approved by Suzanne Kenny
7.Review of Proposals for FY’25 Funding:
Suzanne proposed discussing each of the 20 grants, 3 of which are new this
year, in alphabetical order. Each member had been assigned 3 grants to
review, noting in detail how many Brewster residents had been serviced by
the nonprofit and a breakdown in the cost per service. Each person spoke
about their 3 grants making a recommendation for funding, including where
applicable at the increased request, funding at last years level or not funding.
The total dollars for all the grant requests represent a 45% increase over
last year’s budget, if all grants are funded at this year’s requests. Connor
Kenny said there is an additional 10% that can be added to last year’s total
budget bringing the amount available to $144,177. The three new grants
total $37,000.
The individual discussing their 3 grants is asked to justify an increase in
the nonprofits budget increase.
Sean Parker
AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod
Sean supports funding. Others spoke in favor of the grant and a motion
was made to approve at a level funding of $5000.
Alzheimer’s Family Support Center
Sean supports the increase funding of 9%.
A motion was made and passed for the increase of $1,000 for a total of
$12,000.
Cape Abilities
Sean approved of the level funding of $7,000. A motion made and
approved level for funding at the $7,000.
Lisa Perkins, absent, passed her notes and recommendations to Suzanne Kenney to
present.
Cape Cod Children’s Place
Lisa supports increase funding of $1,000 for a total of $11,000.
A motion was made and passed to support the grant for $11,000.
Church of the Holy Spirit-Food 4 Kids
The organization requested a 64% increase in funding based on inflation
to $5,750. Suzanne recommended a 5% increase. A motion was made
and approved to fund the grant at $3,675.
Consumer Assistance Council
Lisa supports the requested increase in funding of $1,175. Suzanne
pointed out it is a 96% increase from $ 600. Suzanne recommended a 5%
increase to $630. A motion was made and passed to fund at $630.
,
Patricia Hess
` Duffy Health Center
Patricia supports level finding at $1,000. A motion was made and
approved $1,000. Mary Jo Murphy abstained.
Elder Services
Deferred, pending the completed application.
Family Pantry of Cape Cod
Patricia recommended increased funding at $6,000, $1,000 over last years
amount. A motion was made and approved for $6,000.
Deborah Blackman Jacobs
Homeless Prevention Council
HPC requested $18,000 a 20% increase over last year’s funding.
Deborah recommended funding at the requested amount and Suzanne
proposed a 5%increase. A motion was made and approved for $15,750.
Housing Assistance Corp.
This is one of the three new agencies. They asked for $10,000 and because
it is a new agency, a motion was made and accepted to fund the first year
at $5,000.
Independence House
Deborah recommended to fund the slight increase of 3% to $12,360. A
motion was made and seconded to fund them at $12,360.
Anne O’Connell
Lower Cape Cod Outreach Council
Anne recommended LCOC be funded at the 25%increase of $15,000.
A motion was made and passed to fund at $15,000.
Nauset Together We Can
This nonprofit generated the most discussion. Members felt the program
served a need for a specific population, but the numbers aren’t there to
support it. Patricia offered that NWC is not well established but we
should support it none the less. Suzanne felt more should be done to
increase numbers by way of outreach. The group compromised between
no funding or addition funding by funding at the current level. A motion
was made and approved to fund
at the current level of $1,500.
Nauset Youth Services
Anne supports the level funding of NYA, which works with Brewster
youth. A motion was made and accepted fund at $16,000.
.
Mary Jo Murphy
Outer Cape Health Services
Mary Jo recommends funding them at an increased level. Suzanne
thought the 20% increase was too steep considering all the other
applications. A compromise was made to increase the funding by $1,000.
A motion was made and accepted to fund at $16,000.
Pause A While
While the grant was missing some information, we all agreed they
provide a valuable service in a space in Brewster. They will present at the
next meeting of HHS and we’ll be able to obtain more information. A
motion was made and approved to fund at $2,000.
Sight Loss Services
The group supports this nonprofit. A motion was made and approved in
the amount of $2,000 which is level funding.
Suzanne Kenney
South Coastal County Legal Services
The group supports the nonprofit and Suzanne noted staff visits the
Council on Aging that was not mentioned in the grant. They are
requesting an additional $100. A motion was made and approved.
St Vincent’s De Paul Society
This is a new agency requesting funding. They are a catholic lay, all
volunteer agency who work with many of the other nonprofits we fund.
Although there were concerns voiced over issues of separating church and
state the group was satisfied the agency did not require any religious
affiliation to receive services. A motion was made and approved to fund
the organization at $2,500.
8.Justification of increased amounts of funding to specific agencies:
Alzheimer’s Family Support Center received a 9% increase of $1,000 because
of increase in need due to an increase in the aging population as well as
uncertainty of Medicare and Medicaid funding, and the lack of public
support for care givers.
Cape Cod Children’s Place received a 5% due to a dramatic increase in Early
Education and care tuitions across the region.
Food 4 Kids received a 5% increase due to expanding their service to
Brewster, and they are providing a paid employee for the Brewster
Recreation Program.
Consumer Assistance Program received a 5% increase because they are
making their services more accessible, plus they have an increase in more
cases affecting the elderly and scams.
Family Pantry of Cape Cod received a 20% increase because of greater need
of nearly 71% in visits to the pantry.
Homeless Prevention Council requests was increased 5% due to a 41%
increase in services.
Housing Assistance Counsel is newly funded this year in the amount of
$5,000. We strongly support their mission.
Independence House funding was modified to $12,000, because there has
been a slight decrease in services in Brewster.
Lower Cape Outreach funding was increased by 25% because of the
substantial increase in need for services given inflationary issues.
Outer Cape Health Services was granted a 5% increase due to the rising cost
of health care.
Pause A While is a new nonprofit to HHS. They provide a very useful
service, a place to meet for individuals in recovery from substance abuse
including Brewster residents as well as residents of surrounding towns.
St Vincent DePaul, another new nonprofit, was given $2,500 for services
received by predominantly Brewster residents. The organization stated they
supplied $70,000 to residents this year.
Financial Summary from Sean Parker
With a 10% increase from the town, our budget is $144,177.
With our preliminary recommendations amount to $147,925.
The gap is $3,748.
If there were no new agencies and just the agencies from last year, based on
our preliminary recommendations, we would be increasing our budget by
5.61%. That’s twice as much of a typical budget increase of 2.5% and it’s a
little more than half as much as our allotted increase of 10%.
9.Matters Not Reasonably Anticipated by the Chair - none
10. Next Meetings: January 3, 2024, at 5:00 p.m.
Conor will reach out to Pause A While to present at our next meeting with
Housing Assistance Corp (HAC) as a back-up should Pause A While
representatives not be available. If Pause A While presents in January HAC will
be asked to present at a later meeting.
11.Adjournment was at 6:15 p.m.
Date Posted:Date Revised:Received by Town Clerk:
Foot note
FY25 FY25 FY24 FY23 FY22 FY21 FY20 FY19 FY18
Agency Request Recommend Recommend Recommend Recommend Recommend Recommend Recommend Recommend
Aids Support Group of CC $7,500 $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 $4,000 $3,000 $2,500 $2,500 $2,500
Alzheimer's Family Support Center $12,000 $12,000 $11,000 $11,000 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $9,000 $9,000
Cape Abilities $7,000 $7,000 $7,000 $7,000 $7,000 $7,000 $7,000 $7,000 $7,000
CC Children's Place $11,000 $11,000 $10,500 $10,500 $9,000 $9,000 $8,500 $8,000 $8,000
Food 4 Kids Church of the Holy Spirit $5,750 $3,675 $3,500
Consumer Assistance Council $1,175 $630 $600 $600 $600 $500 $500 $600 $500
Duffy Health Center $1,500 $1,500 $1,500 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000
Elder Services $10,500 $9,120 $9,120 $8,600 $8,600 $8,600 $8,500 $8,500 $8,500
Family Pantry of Cape Cod $6,000 $6,000 $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 $4,300
Homeless Prevention Council $18,000 $15,750 $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $13,500
Independence House $12,360 $12,000 $12,000 $10,000 $9,000 $7,300 $6,000 $6,000 $5,500
Lower Cape Outreach Council $15,000 $15,000 $12,000 $10,000 $9,500 $9,500 $9,500 $9,500 $9,500
Nauset Together We Can $3,000 $1,500 $1,500 $1,500 $1,500 $3,000 $3,000 $3,500 $2,500
Nauset Youth Alliance $16,000 $16,000 $16,000 $16,000 $12,000 $10,800 $10,800 $10,000 $8,500
Outer Cape Health Services $18,000 $16,000 $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $15,000
Sight Loss Services $2,000 $2,000 $2,000 $1,500 $1,500 $1,500 $1,200 $1,200
South Coastal Counties Legal Svc $4,350 $4,250 $4,350 $4,250 $4,200 $4,120 $4,134 $4,120 $4,240
Totals:$151,135 $138,425 $131,070 $121,950 $124,900 $121,620 $114,133.50 $110,720.00 $105,940.00
Percentage Increase 15.31%5.61%2.38%-2.36%2.70%6.56%3.08%4.51%
New Agency
Pause A While Inc.$12,000 $2,000
Society of St. Vincent de Paul $15,000 $2,500
Housing Assistance Corp $10,000 $5,000
New Agency Sum $37,000 $9,500
Total Sum New and Historic $188,135 $147,925
12.86%
To Meet 10%$144,177
Difference $3,748
Mission
The Pause is a Community Center for Recovery which supports both alcoholics
and addicts as well as family members and loved ones of those suffering from
substance misuse. We facilitate this by providing a dedicated space for 12 -step
meetings and year-round sober social activities.
Who We Are
The Pause is one of the largest facilities of its type in Massachusetts serving people from Hyannis
to Provincetown year-round as well as seasonal visitors from around the world. Pause A While, Inc.
also facilitates daily online meetings.
Why We Are Here
Since Covid, relapse rates for substance misuse have increased 30% nationwide, as have deaths
from overdoses. Alcohol related deaths are up 25%. Within Massachusetts, Barnstable County has
consistently had one of the highest levels of substance misuse. It would not be an overstatement to
say that substance misuse has touched virtually every family on Cape Cod and is now endemic.
12 -step recovery in -person meetings held at The Pause serve all social and economic groups,
genders, religious affiliations, race and nationalities. Participants range from 20 to 80+ years of age.
Average sobriety within these groups is well north of 10 years of continuous recovery and can range
from day 1 to 50+ years of sobriety.
Successful recovery depends upon developing a sober social network, especially for young people.
Having a single facility which offers a continuous range of meetings and activities fosters that
network development and limits the time a newly sober addict/ alcoholic spends alone. 12 -step
meetings are known for the adoption of new members into their folds. In fact, it is their mission to
help the newly sober individual. According to Alcoholics Anonymous' statistics, close to 40% of
meeting attendees received their very first day of sobriety directly through attending a meeting
versus from a recent hospitalization or rehab visit. The sharing of life experiences is a critical factor
in successful 12 -step meetings.
Our Alanon Family groups are working with local schools to provide a secure and supervised
meeting space for Alateen, which is a fellowship of mostly teenagers whose lives have been affected
by someone else's drinking or substance misuse. It is important to introduce this vulnerable age
group to the lifesaving messages delivered in recovery meetings.
Pause A While, Inc. is an all -volunteer organization. To further enrich recovery services at The
Pause, we are collaborating with other local non -profits such as Recovery Without Walls and
Wellstrong to offer modalities such as acupuncture, meditation and yoga.
How You Can Help
All Donations to Pause A While, Inc. are tax deductible and will help:
• Replenish our operating reserve, to cover annual operating expenses and
ongoing maintenance of The Pause.
• Pay down the mortgage, making The Pause sustainable for future generations.
Donate online at pauseawhile.org or
send a check to Pause A While, Inc., P.O. Box 1973, Brewster, MA 02631.
The Pause
pauseawhile.org info@pauseawhile.org
P.O Box 1973 / 250 Underpass Rd
A Community Center for Recovery Brewster, MA 02631
Pause A While, Inc
Board of Directors
Joanne Wisniewski, President
Kurt Hauge, Secretary
Allen C. Bragdon, MD, Treasurer
Fran Reynolds
Meetings at The Pause
Daily 7am AA OD
5pm AA OD
Monday 12pm AA OD**
6:30pm Recovery Dharma
Tuesday 12pm Al -Anon Step
7pm Men's AA OD
Wednesday 12pm AA OD
6:30 We are Enough Women's AA
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
*upstairs room
** open discussion
12pm AL -Anon OD
5pm Al -Anon OD Sea Pine*
5pm Atateen Salt Flats*
6:30pm Recovery Modalities w/
Recovery Without Walls & Wellstrong
12pm AA OD
6:30pm Co-ed Big Book Step Study
12pm AA OD
2:30pm Beginner's AA OD
9:45am Beginner's Al -Anon OD
10:30am Al -Anon OD
6:30pm 11th Step Mediation
Hilary- Sandler
Kari Stroh
Executive Advisors
Lori Meads, President &
CEO Seamen's Bank
Paul D. Dart, Former
Board President
Jim Curran,
Cape Cod 5
As of 1: 2/23'4