Council on Aging

City of Chicopee Council on Aging December 13, 2016 . Members Present: C. Gemme, S. Michalik, S. Tawrel, E. Laflamme, S. Gelinas, K. Rousseau, Joe Lukasik, H. Lenart, M. Moge, S. Alvira Staff: S. Lapollo Excused: Sue Phillips Absent - Ron Chapdelaine, E. Doucette I. Call to order · The meeting was called to order at 4:45 p.m. II. Public input · There was not any public input. III. Review of minutes · Minutes were reviewed and accepted as written. There was no request to record the meeting. IV. Financial Report · The director circulated the financial report. · A question was raised by the Formula Grant and S. Lapollo announced that she has received the  contract. COA will receive approximately $120,000 for the year. Once the contract is signed and the notification for the award it will be recorded on the financial reports. · Financial report was accepted as circulated. V. Director’s Report · The Director’s Report was distributed. o S. Lapollo noted that the governor did 9C cut some elder affairs accounts. Other changes were made to home care purchase services and $400,000 was eliminated for prescription advantage. There has been no direct impact to the COA, but the members should be aware there may be an impact to services for elders. The legislature does have the ability to override these cuts, but this has not been determined. o The Care Act was passed by the governor. Now a caregiver must be identified for all patients when admitted to the hospital. o There was discussion about evidence based practice for prevention of diabetes. Chronic illness prevention education is a very important initiative needed at RiverMills. VI. SALT Report · S. Michalik reported on the 11/18/17 meeting. Lisa Steinbock R.N. was a guest and spoke on the ADAPT program – Alcohol and Drug Awareness Prevention Team. She works for the  Chicopee Health Department. She can come to any site to present on the topic. · Next meeting is January 13, 2017. The director Sandra Lapollo, left the meeting at this time. VII Search Committee · The Search Committee has worked diligently to identify some candidates to present to the board. There has been confusion regarding the process. o Screening interviews have been conducted with some applicants and additional interviews will be concluded this week, as part of the Open Meeting Law. o C. Gemme has stressed that the search committee would like to have a new director in place before S. Lapollo retires. o Additional applicants will be interviewed the end of the week. o A special meeting of the COA will be held 12/20/16 at 4:45 p.m. to identify finalist. VIII. New Business · Ethics Law Receipt o S. Lapollo requested that all members sign the receipt for the law. · Chicopee Comp Students working on the lights o E. Laflamme raised a question about the students were changing the ballasts in  the building the other day. He had previously asked to have them come and change all the ballasts. § S. Lapollo explained the ballasts were provided by the contractor. § E. Laflamme stated that the contractor should have been responsible for changing all of the ballasts not the students. § M. Moge made a motion that a report from J. Croteau regarding the status of the ballasts be presented at the January meeting. o C. Gemme asked for an update on the HVAC system. S. Lapollo reported the computer chip has not come in and still needs to be installed. Then the HVAC can be connected. o M. Moge suggested that a formal report from the maintenance staff regarding the status of the building at each meeting. The budget for RiverMills would reflect the expenses related to the building maintenance. However, J. Croteau oversees the staff who are responsible for maintenance. § The group approved a motion to have J. Croteau to attend the January meeting to report on the current maintenance status of the  building. · Director’s Sick Time Buy Back o The Director can request for a buy back for a total of $15,000 in sick time plus vacation and sick time. A request $23,310.70 has been made by S. Lapollo and this is part of her contract. § A motion was made to make an appropriation request to approve this expenditure. § Motion was approved unanimously approved by roll call by those in attendance. VII. Chair report · A special event recognizing the services of Sandra Lapollo on at the center January 12, 2017 from 11 – 3pm. Claire will distribute invitations to all city departments. There is $100 being donated from the Sunshine funds. A recommendation was made for the event. Members who are interested can contribute to the Sunshine Fund XI. Meeting adjourned at 5:45 pm. · The next meeting is January 10, 2017 at 5:45. Submitted by Karen S. Rousseau