Mary Shepherd Home Citizens' Advisory Committee

SHEPHERD HOME CITIZEN’S ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES DECEMBER 11, 2019 Those in attendance: Atty. Ralph Wilson, Atty. Sebastian Giuliano, Deputy Mayor Vinnie Loffredo, Veteran Larry Riley, Community Member Carl Rodenhizer, Chief Real Estate Officer for Columbus House, Christine Garriga, Property Manager and Wanda Purcell, Regional Property Manager, for DeMarco Management Corporation, Meeting called to order at 5:01 p.m. by Chair Atty. Ralph Wilson. Public Session: No members of the public attended. Minutes of November 13, 2019 were approved with a motion from Vinnie Loffredo and second by Larry Riley. Old Business Updates on discussions and announcements from the November meeting • Christine noted that arrangements were made with DaVita Dialysis to transfer the tenant who was assigned to DaVita’s Rocky Hill site, to begin receiving services in Middletown • A Thanksgiving event was help on site with 20 tenants participating • Tea and coffee are provided some mornings at 10:00 • A tree trimming was conducted in the community room • First Church provided tickets for all tenants for their December 17 holiday meal • A dinner at Shepherd is scheduled for December 19 • Clothing donations continue to be accepted and are well received • The American Legion Auxiliary provided 100 bus passes for tenants, 32 gift cards to WalMart, art supplies and calendars. • Efforts to secure a tenants to develop a social media page have been unsuccessful • Larry Riley has secured a donation of 31 jackets from Ocean State Job Lot • Mats have been added to the front foyer and adjacent to the curtain drain in the courtyard. United Roofing & Sheet Metal is being engaged to wrap up the problem with the gutters. Tenant Services Christine reports that issues provided by a couple tenants that were reported on in November. There was a meeting with Michelle Leister and other RVS staff to identify supports that they can provide to tenants. Mary-Ann Bergeron from SSMF can provide food and clothing for war time veterans who were honorably discharged. She is currently visiting Shepherd Wednesday mornings and may expand that an evening visit. The issue with rent remains an outstanding issue. Other contacts that Phil Cacciola provided are in process, including Jeff Blankenship, Tracy Starbird and Yvette Highsmith. New Business Tenant Demographics Christine Garriga reports that thirty one of the thirty two units are occupied. Filling the outstanding vacancy has taken time due to time frames provided to prospective tenants on wait list to gather proper documentation. Christine is pursuing a second person on the wait list to fill the unit. New opportunities Christine and Mayce are working on a: • Shepherd newsletter with tenant submissions • YMCA membership for tenants • Alcoholic Anonymous access – either on-site or on the campus • Knitting class by Billy Carter Calendar for new year With a motion by Vinnie and second by Larry, the committee will continue to meet into the new year on the second Wednesday of the month. Next Meeting: January 8, 5:00 at Shepherd Home, conference room. Adjournment: 6:20 p.m. Submitted by Carl Rodenhizer