Montpelier Senior Activity Center Advisory Council

Montpelier Senior Activity Center 58 Barre Street, Montpelier, VT 05602 A Place for Healthy Aging and Lifelong Learning 802-223-2518 • msac@montpelier-vt.org • montpelier-vt.org/msac Advisory Council Meeting Monday, October 17 2016 12 - 1:30 PM Montpelier City Hall Memorial Room DRAFT MINUTES Attending: Chair Bob Barrett, Director Janna Clar, Liz Dodd, Bill Doelger, Ron Merkin, Janet Ressler, Jessica Sanderson, Sue Stukey, Susan Torchia Meeting convened at 12:05 PM. September 19, 2016 MSAC Advisory Council Minutes were approved. Director Notes October notes were not available at the meeting, but Janna shared some MSAC construction updates and other notes of interest including: • Members’ and Instructors’ comments on the Activity Room’s new audio/visual equipment are all positive, and is considered money well spent. • Completion of the construction in the Community and Art Room is delayed while parts are on order, including among other things: the sound-proof partition doors, hot water tap (all the plumbing will be done at one time, once that is here), doors for the new closet in the Community Room where congregate meal supplies will be stored, and a panel for the kitchen window. • The Art Room fan venting system is programmed to shut off automatically at night if left on by mistake, so will save money. • MSAC will be closed from Monday December 26, 2016 through Monday January 2, 2017. • Volunteer hours for Advisory Council members are being logged by the MSAC front office. • Conversations with the Directors of Onion River Exchange (ORE) continue about more of ORE’s members volunteering at MSAC in exchange for hours. Current volunteers will be invited to the Annual Volunteer Luncheon, Wednesday, December 14th. • Meet Up social media, may be a good source for volunteers to do good works in Montpelier, here is the link: https://www.meetup.com/cities/us/vt/montpelier/ Community Services Integration Discussion • The Community Listening Workshop held Tuesday, October 11, at MSAC was only attended by 6 Montpelier residents, in addition to the steering committee, facilitators and city council members present. • Discussion included concerns about the merger increasing the cost to taxpayers if a new position was created for a Community Services Director overseeing the new departments. Janna reiterated the City Council has not asked for budget reductions, but instead urged the department Directors to make sure their budgets included adequate staffing for improved services to the city which currently have 11.2 paid positions. • ACTION Advisory Council members are requested to read the attachments sent by email from Janna on October 14, including, The Montpelier Integrated Community Services Power Point presentation to the public and City Council and the estimates for FY18 budget dues and fee changes and offer advice. FEAST Senior Meals Updates A print out, FEAST Values, was distributed by Janna, with information on the FY16 FEAST budget between JBI and MSAC, is available in hard copy or e-document, upon request to the MSAC office. The JBI Board feels their ability to fundraise and administrate the senior meals program to fully support Montpelier’s growing aging population is not adequate and would be better managed by the City of Montpelier. JBI requested Janna ask the City Council if they would accept that proposal at their meeting, Wednesday, October 12th. The City Council MSAC's Advisory Council members opinion (see below). City Council will approve or decline that request at their next meeting, Wednesday, October 26th. • MSAC Advisory Council Vote Should MSAC take on the administration of the senior meals with the City of Montpelier signing an annual contract with CVCOA in FY18? The vote passed with a quorum of members present. • 4 Approved (Bob, Liz, Janet, Sue Stukey) • 2 Abstain (Bill, Ron) • 1 Recuse (Jessica must recuse on FEAST votes) • If the city takes over the program, the MSAC would fundraise and hopefully be transferred some city funds that JBI currently receives for FEAST and Berlin town funding which JBI currently receives. JBI would also likely have a representative on the MSAC Advisory Council. • In order to support the increase in cost to meet the growing need, taxes, grants, the annual appeal, fees and membership dues would be budgeted to provide revenue. • ACTION Janna invited Advisory Council members to attend, if possible, the City Council meeting, Wednesday, October 26th, 6:30 PM, City Hall Council Chambers. National Senior Center Accreditation Update Discussion included Janet asking if putting the process on hold for a year would be better while MSAC transitions through the departments’ merger and possibly assumes the FY18 senior meal program. Liz related she was familiar with how accreditation can benefit organizations and thought new standards could be put in place during the changes, stating the payoff for accreditation is excellent. Janna said accreditation would cost several thousand dollars, but it would result in more funding opportunities. Bob, Liz and Ron agreed to join Janna and Dan on an Ad Hoc Accreditation Committee to create a Strategic Plan for Accreditation. Janna will also try to recruit a Montpelier City Councilor and reach out to MSAC stakeholders, including members, JBI; Central Vermont Home, Health & Hospice; among others, for their input. Reasons for expediting the accreditation: • First Senior Center in Vermont to have National Accreditation. • State and National recognition. • Accreditation will create more national funding sources. • MSAC currently has most of the qualifications necessary for accreditation. • Added security to MSAC’s future procedures and programs, once national standards are established. Registration Procedure Change Janna was approached by MSAC members from supporting and contributing towns to be allowed to register during the first week of class registrations. Classes fill up quickly so they cannot enroll or miss several weeks of class. Non-supporting town members will continue to wait until the second week of registration. MSAC Advisory Council Vote Should MSAC members from supporting and contributing towns, be allowed to register the first week of class enrollment? The vote passed with a quorum of members present. • 7 Approved (Bob, Bill, Liz, Janet, Ron, Sue, Jessica) Meeting adjourned at 1:35 pm. Next meeting Monday, November 21, 12-1:30 pm, Community Room, Montpelier City Hall Respectfully submitted, Jessica Sanderson