Council on Aging

Minutes approved by COA at 1/11/2024 meeting. FITCHBURG COUNCIL on AGING FITCHBURG CITY CLERK DECEMBER 28, 2023 MEETING MINUTES Mar 26 2024 3:47 pm PRESENT: George Bourque, Margaret Padovano, Debbie Dion, Joe Byrne, Jim Craigen, Todd Goodwin, Bonnie Hautala, Pastor Annie Belmer (at 1:15 PM), Amanda Koeck, Mayor-Elect Sam Squailia, Alexander Vera (left at 1:53 PM) and Myles Wilcox ABSENT: Andrew Van Hazinga Bourque called the meeting to order at 1:02 PM and a QUORUM IS PRESENT. MINUTES from the October 26, 2023, and November 30, 2023, meetings were emailed to Board members. No vote to approve those minutes was needed because there was not a quorum present at either meting and no official business was conducted. PRESIDENT’S REPORT: George Bourque *Nancy Donahue is expected to be appointed to the Council on Aging on Thursday, January 4, 2024. *A lengthy discussion occurred about the COA Executive Director Selection Committee. Bourque, Byrne, Hautala and Craigen want to serve on the Selection Committee. Byrne motioned to approve those four Board members. Dion objected to Byrne making the motion because he was seeking the Board’s approval. Byrne withdrew his motion and Goodwin made the same motion seconded by Padovano. There was no discussion and the Board unanimously approved Goodwin’s motion. *Susan Davis from HR will participate in the candidate interviews with the Selection Committee. These interviews will take place in the upstairs classroom at the Fitchburg Senior Center. A tentative timeline follows: On Thursday, January 4, 2024, at 10:00AM, the Selection Committee will meet at the Fitchburg Senior Center to view the applications/resumes of potential candidates and make their recommendations for candidates they would like to interview. The interviews will commence on Friday, January 12, 2024, at 10:00 AM, at the Fitchburg Senior Center. Mayor-Elect Sam Squailia will be sworn is as the Mayor of Fitchburg on Tuesday, January 2, 2024. The Council on Aging acknowledges that the Mayor will make the final decision on the hiring of the Executive Director of the Fitchburg Senior Center. *Pastor Belmer stated her belief that Board members should be notified of the Selection Committee’s candidate choice PRIOR to submitting the name to the Mayor. All members should have an opportunity to voice positive and/or negative comments about the candidate. Bourque stated that Board members will receive email notification of which candidates will be interviewed. The email will likely come from HR’s Davis. The email should not come from Interim Executive Director Koeck because she is a candidate for the permanent position. Bourque suggested that Board members not serving on the Selection Committee could sit in on the interviews and they will not be allowed to speak. Bourque will submit the name of the COA’s preferred candidate to HR’s Davis who will forward that candidate’s name to the Mayor. Pastor Belmer requested the deadline for accepting applications. Bourque stated there is no deadline because the position remains open until the Mayor appoints an Executive Director. *Byrne motioned and Goodwin seconded to approve the interview process and the tentative timeline. Byrne’s motion received unanimous support. INTERIM DIRECTOR’S REPORT: Amanda Koeck *FY24 Formula Grant Funding: $60,000. has already been deposited and an additional $40,000. is expected to be received in January. *The fire alarm annunciator panel needs immediate attention. A quote from Johnson Controls is expected asap. FY24 Formula Grant Funding can be used for necessary repair work and/or replacement. *The O’Neill Hall heating system is in need of repair. This situation is ongoing and repair updates will be forthcoming. *City Clerk Joanna Bilotta has requested no activities be scheduled at the Fitchburg Senior Center on days when there is a municipal election. Those 2024 Tuesday dates include March 5, September 3, and November 5. The request was made to allow ample parking for Fitchburg’s voters. *The Senior Center Library has been relocated to the pool table room. The previous location is now office space and is currently occupied by Mayor-Elect Squailia and her staff. Computers are always available in the library for the use of Senior Center members. *There is an abundance of excitement surrounding upcoming programs such as pickleball, cornhole, and a regifting party. Pickleball with Amy Walsh had a soft start on Tuesday, December 26, 2023. Pickleball will be played on Tuesday mornings and will start Monday afternoons in February. There is only room for one pickleball court, but those waiting to participate can play ping pong, shuffleboard, and cornhole during their wait time. Please refer to the Fitchburg Senior Focus and Facebook for activity listings. *Koeck referenced difficulty scheduling activities with Dave from Therapy Gardens. He mixed up some dates and appears to be unreliable. Koeck doesn’t expect to book him for any future activities. NO COMMUNICATIONS were shared at today’s meeting. OLD BUSINESS: *Dion motioned to return the Council on Aging meeting date to the second Thursday of each month from the fourth Thursday of each month. Byrne seconded the motion. Discussion: Dion reminded Board members that we changed to the fourth Thursday of the month to accommodate former Executive Director Jennifer Brennan and former Treasurer Josie Wood. The change allowed them two extra weeks per month to meet and discuss Senior Center finances. Pastor Belmer questioned if any program offerings would be disrupted by the change in meeting date. Koeck stated no program offerings would be affected by the change of meeting date. The Board unanimously supported the motion. Our next Board meeting will be held on Thursday, January 11, 2024. NEW BUSINESS: *Byrne spoke in favor of ending the “schism” between the Council on Aging and the Friends of the Senior Center. The Friends have $35,000. in their treasury and they have the right to conduct fundraising activities. This money doesn’t belong to the Council on Aging, but we should ensure those funds get spent on our senior population and Senior Center improvements. Byrne suggested Council on Aging members become members of the Friends and attend their meetings as an example of strong leadership. Padovano remarked there is a $10. membership fee to join the Friends. Bourque offered his opinion stating that Friends membership is not mandatory and as independent seniors we can decide to join or not to join the Friends. Bourque will inform the Board of the next meeting date of the Friends. NEXT COUNCIL on AGING MEETING: Thursday, January 11, 2024 ADJOURNMENT: Hautala motioned and Goodwin seconded the motion to adjourn. No discussion. The meeting adjourned at 1:55 PM following our unanimous vote for adjournment. Respectfully submitted, Debbie Dion