Council on Aging Board

Council on Aging (COA) Advisory Board Meeting Minutes Monday, March 8, 2021 at 9:00am via Phone Conference I. Roll Call Present: Beverly Gonsalves (recorder), Andrew Hostetler (Chair), Lillian Hartman (Director), John Lawlor, Vincenzo Milinazzo Absent: Joyce Dastou, Mary Donnelly, Ann Marie Porter II. Pledge of Allegiance III. Approval of Minutes: After reviewing the minutes from February 8, John Lawlor moved to approve and Vincenzo Milinazzo seconded. The minutes were approved unanimously. IV. Chairperson’s Report: The Age Friendly Lowell Initiative is ongoing, but we remain a little behind schedule due to COVID and other factors. Given the difficulty of senior outreach during COVID, there seems to be growing interest within the project and elsewhere in the community in the issue of older adults and technology accessibility and use. V. Director’s Report: Lil went over the Director’s Report for March; the report is attached. VI. Committee Reports a. Outreach: The Outreach Committee has not met since the last Board meeting. This committee could be of some help in spreading the word about vaccinations, and in letting older adult residents know that the Senior Center will provide free transportation to the on-site vaccine clinic. b. Healthy Aging Committee: The AC has also not met since the previous Board meeting. The committee will plan to meet remotely in the near future, as the vaccination process becomes more manageable. The Center is doing telephone  calls to set up appointments to receive the vaccine. Members of the OC and HAC are invited to sign up to help out with these calls. The HAC has discussed doing a follow-up meeting on older adults’ nutrition-related needs, and Andy suggested that next meeting of the HAC focus on a collaborative project currently underway with Mill City Grows. VII. Items for Discussion a. Old Business: Lil provided an update on the efforts to enact changes to the Snap Program, allowing participants to use the benefit at restaurants. This initiative is being co-sponsored in the State Senate by Senators Edward Kennedy and Vanna Howard. b. New Business: None c. Other: The following announcement were made. First, the Lowell Recreation Dept. is helping us organize an at-home senior painting class through LTC. Also, Marion Silk’s televised exercise program is funded through June. The Exercise in the Park program will start on April 1st. VIII. Adjournment: John Lawlor moved to adjourn, Beverly Gonsalves seconded, and the motion was unanimously approved Next meeting Monday April 12, 9am