Council on Aging Board

Council on Aging (COA) Advisory Board Meeting Minutes Monday, June 8, 2020 at 9:00am via Phone Conference I. Sign-in: Roll-call revealed a bare quorum. Present: Beverly Gonsalves (recorder), Lillian Hartman (Director), Andy Hostetler (Chair), Eric Lamarche, John Lawlor, Amy Pessia Absent: Mary Donnelly, Joyce Dastou, Vincenzo Milinazzo, Anne Marie Porter II. Pledge of Allegiance III. Approval of Minutes: All present voted to approve the minutes from the previous meeting (March) IV. Chairperson’s Report: In light of the COVID crisis lockdown, Andy had nothing new to report (though the Tufts grant is discussed below). V. Director’s Report: Lillian was asked to go over the Director’s report. The following are highlights from the report:  Ethics Training was scheduled for May. It may come up next week.  The Senior Center is closed to the public and volunteers, staff are working full schedules from home or on-site with 25% normal staffing limit. Takeout meals are available every day 7am to 12pm, masks are available.  Meals on Wheels: one of the employees in Andover tested positive for COVID-19 and the program was shut down for two weeks. The recipients of Meals on Wheels received a seven-day package of meals by Friday and will receive another package this week.  Farmer’s Market coupons cannot be distributed the same way as last year, with 500 coupons distributed on-site one day in August. More news coming from Elder Services of Merrimack Valley soon.  Our FY21 city budget proposal calls for an operations manager and reclassifying Amy’s position from outreach worker to outreach coordinator, as well as shifting our receptionist from state grant to city budget. The city is extending a 1/12 level-funded budget for July, state grant amount will not be known until October.  A Greater Lowell Community Foundation grant will fund an outreach worker/interpreter from CMAA for six hours to twelve hours a week.  Marian Silk is currently performing the exercise class on Channel 8 three times a week. The cluttering class has begun on conference calls.  Amy Leal is keeping in contact with clients and came back to work today. We were all saddened to hear that Amy lost both of her parents in an accident.  Glady is calling all volunteers to check on them.   There will not be a party for the volunteers, instead gifts will be mailed to them.  COA Board might assist with outreach calls, once the building is open to volunteers.  We used the rest of our state and CDBG grant money to buy a Walk-in Cooler. A compressor and evaporator will be installed for it to begin working in early FY21.  COA Board members can assist finding available funding and defining grant projects: We may need another Outreach Worker to assist with phone calls during COVID-19.  The Senior Center also needs Fitness Equipment upgrades and building repairs as the COA Board reviewed recently.  On April 13, Rita Mercier attended an Age Friendly Grant Meeting with UMass Lowell. We are currently being considered for a $300,000 collaborative grant. VI. Committee Reports a. What can the Outreach and Healthy Aging Committees due to help older adults in Lowell during this crisis? Amy and Andy will look at Grants. The healthy aging subcommittee or outreach subcommittee may convene this summer, TBA. VII. Items for Discussion a. Old Business: None b. New Business: None VIII. Adjournment Next Meeting: Monday, September 14 @ 9:00 AM