HomeMy Public PortalAboutCouncil on Aging Board -- 2016-09-21 Minutes Minutes for the Brewster Council on Aging Board Meeting
September 21, 2016 (change from 9/15/16)
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Meeting called to order at 2;10pm
Present: Bob Deloye, Dennis Hanson (liaison FinCom), Andrea Nevins, Cindy O'Leary, Denise Rego,
Sharon Tennstedt, Karen Thurber, also guest Mike Embury(Town Manager),also staff(Lauren, Marilyn,
Regina, Rob and Peter)
Absent: Russ McGown, Brenda Vazquez, Cindy Bingham (Selectman liaison)
Minutes of August 18, 2016 reviewed and accepted with change of meeting date for Sept. j
Director's report reviewed including:
Aug. 18 Brewster School Committee mtg.-Denise attended yet only general education info discussed
while she is present. Denise attended the Part Time residents mtg, on the 20th-spoke to results of the
survey briefly and referred to website for further info, due to very limited time. CCRTA mtg.-flex bus
stop to move to town hail green with pull off and crosswalk for return travel. Mystery trips on the new
van are a big success-able to take 12 clients. All access committee working on automatic doors at the
golf course pavilion and better handicapped bathroom access. Also involved in beach access at Payne's
Creek-by using a firm mat across sand. 9/17-Brewster BIG FIX day-many volunteers throughout town
helping seniors,veterans, or handicapped individuals with repairs and gardening etc. Denise setting up
our COA informational posters and flyers in town-now at Cape Cod 5 and will take to library and town
hall and others. 9/20- Denise did a Medicare 65+seminar and Maplewood provided box dinners for all.
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Also on 9/20 Denise toured Spruce Hill facility with Mike Embury, Chris Miller, Patrick Ellis, and Tom
Thatcher to access the usability of this facility for a temporary use for the COA staff and some of the j
programs.
Mike Embury here to report on this visit and the town's plans. He is stressing safety of seniors and
convenience for staff. He stresses that staying at the COA will be too loud and disruptive and limiting for
the next 6 mos. If the COA staff moves to Spruce Hill then the current COA can be used by construction E
management and this will save the town over$200,000. He feels that the DPW and Tom can accomplish
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all needed repairs and adjustments-handicap ramp, door size changes, bathroom repairs, paint,and air
conditioning as needed to Spruce Hill. The current boiler is quite new. Many questions and concerns
voiced by staff and the board. One question that comes up often is why wasn't this concern stated at
the time of the town meetings. There was always reassurance that we could stay in the COA bldg. and
they would work around us.There is a feeling that we are the low man on the totem poll and whatever
Is needed for the fire dept. comes first.There is room for some programs at the Spruce Hill site but all
larger programs must be moved to other sites. Mike encourages use of the lower level of the town hall-
rooms A, B, C, and other town buildings as well. Denise must make arrangements for MOW program
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and the daily lunches as well. Mike reassures us that the town will certify insurance for off-site.
Proposed move would be end of Nov. or early Dec. Outreach must stay in the present building thru Dec.
7"for open enrollment.
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Mike informs us that although the hope for the final move to the current Eddy School is still in his plans,
it is up to the school committee to decide on its use in corning years since the state has given possession
of the school back to the town. He encourages us to keep focused on planning for a better COA with the
hope of a community center/COA in the long run.
Andrea discussed the Age Friendly Forum she attended in Yarmouth with Denise and Russ and Brenda.
Handouts circulated from that meeting. The parameters stressed for finding solutions for an age
friendly town are 1:Transportation, 2: Housing, 3:Social participation, 4: Respect-social inclusion, 5:
Civic participation and employment, b: Communication and information, 7: Health services and
community support, 8: Outdoor spaces and buildings. Barnstable County Commission has already
started an advertising push for age friendly Cape Cod.
Andrea asking for ideas about when to use the Brewster Community Network for a meeting on Age
Friendly Communities-decided for April on a Saturday afternoon (checking with that group), I
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Cindy brings up the MCOA annual conference (held at SeaCrest-Falmouth)-coming up and checking with
Denise on attendance. Denise will get her that info to all board members. -
Other business: see outline from Denise
Meeting adjourned at 4:10pm
Respectfully submitted, Karen Thurber
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