HomeMy Public PortalAboutCouncil on Aging Board -- 2013-12-17 Minutes 1_-I
Minutes for the Brewster Council on Aging Board Meeting
December 17, 2013
Present: Daryl Bladen, Suzanne Dean, Bob Deloye, Dennis Hanson,
Cynthia O'Leary, Denise Rego, Loretta Ruchinskas, Barbara Slagle, Karen Thurber
Absent: Evelyn Donnelly, Peter Norton, Diane Richards
Meeting called to order at 1:03PM by Daryl Bladen
Minutes of the November meeting reviewed and approved.
Daryl Bladen checks with all present to assure that all have received the state of
Massachusetts Conflict of Interest laws and have signed the acknowledgement for the
coming year. All present were able to hand in the signature sheets.
Denise reports that Bill Mageean has passed away. He had been very active at the
Brewster COA for many years and had recently moved out of state with his wife.
Denise reports on the past month's activities, discussion followed certain items, refer to
agenda attached.
11/19 Cape COAST meeting at the Harwich COA - Their director, Barbara Ann Foley,
has been very ill with an infection from a "superbug" that has no treatment. It is possible
she was infected while on a home visit to a client. The discussion centered on the need
to educate all outreach workers about protecting themselves from dirty settings that
might expose them to infectious disease. This will be an ongoing discussion for the
COAST group.
11/19 Bldg. & Needs Mtg. - Denise is regularly attending these meetings now, and
involved in the ongoing work for the new fire station and the changes for the COA.
Project manager is hired and the contract for the test drilling and soil testing is awarded.
There was a discussion by Dennis Hanson and Daryl that it should be brought to the
attention of the town manager and selectmen that the COA should have its own
generator for use during power loss because of the elevator and the possibility that
someone in a wheelchair could be trapped on the upper floors during a storm.
Denise Rego is aware of this need and is in discussion with Charlie Sumner.
11/20 and 12/5 Health and Human Services Committee Mtg. -After both meetings, the
decisions were made on distribution of funds to charitable organizations.
There is a new chairperson in training: Bill King.
11/23 COA/FOBE Holiday Fair- Very successful for the first effort; $3100.00 was
income from the sale. We hope to have another one next year.
rnrlli.
Discussion regarding statistics at the COA and the continued poor registrations on the
computer as people enter the COA and attend classes or meetings. Suggested that
several signs be put up to encourage people to use the check in. Attached statistics
from Denise.
Still concern that no selectman rep is attending the COA meetings. Should we consider
changing the time of the meeting to late afternoon or early evening? Dennis Hanson
again suggests that we should consider having our meetings taped for public TV
Meeting called at 2:15 Respectfully submitted by Karen Thurber