Department of Human Services / Council on Aging

DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING October 10, 2018 PRESENT: Anne Bisson Kelley Sylvia Charlotte Carr Ted O’Brien Ann Kardamis Barry Burke Lori Gonsalves ABSENT: Louise Silva, Jim Lincoln, Tracy Heger Barry motioned to call the meeting to order at 10:03 a.m. Ann Kardamis seconded. All in favor Ann Kardamis made a motion to accept the September 12, 2018 meeting minutes. Lori Gonsalves seconded. All in favor. Director’s Report Board Meeting 10.10.18 Old Business: 1. FY 19 EOEA Formula Grant: We have not yet received the notice of the increase to $12.00 per elder. I spoke with the COA representative at Executive Office of Elder Affairs and he stated that we should get the $12.00 per elder but nothing official has come out. I cannot begin to expend additional funds until we receive official notice. 2. FY 19 EOEA Service Incentive Grant: I spoke with Elder Affairs regarding the Service Incentive Grant and the Earmark awarded. It was stated that the administration did not want to award the COAs Service Incentive Grants if they received FY 19 general earmarks. They asked if we would be willing to not take the Grant this fiscal year (January – June) because of the Earmark. I asked if this would jeopardize next fiscal year and the answer was no. I agreed based on their response. 3. Substance Use Prevention Grants (MOAPC, SAPC and PFS): The grants have continued into FY19. I continue to meet with the subcontractor from SSTAR. While Alyssa Haggerty, Mayor’s Chief of Staff, has been on maternity leave, I have been approving all expenditures. 4. Taunton Opiate and Substance Use Task Force (TOTF): The TOTF monthly meeting was held on 10.9.18. A presentation on The Recovery Centers of America was to be provided. There will be a Raising Generations Event on October 20, 2018, at Massasoit State Park. Lori added that the name “Raising Generations” will be changing since that name was already taken. 5. Age and Dementia Friendly Taunton: The Age & Dementia Friendly Summit that was scheduled for October 11, 2018, was cancelled due to lack of RSVPs/attendance. On September 19, 2018, Gail Thurston and I trained staff on being a Dementia Friend. 6. FY 19 State Budget funding – I have received one contract in the amount of $45,000 from the Executive Office of Elder Affairs for both the $25,000 for Age & Dementia Friendly  Taunton and the $20,000 for the Council on Aging. The Mayor has signed the contract and the Scope of Services, Budget and Budget Narrative are due on October 23, 2018. New Business: 1. Senior Tax Work-Off Program – There was an injury to a Senior Tax Work-off participant. Tracy and I have met with the Director of Human Resources and an Assessor to discuss this concern. The elder had worked most of the hours and will be receiving the full amount. 2. Meeting Summary/Anne attended the following meetings: a. MA Municipal Association Human Services Council: 9.13.18 b. Prevention & Wellness Network: 9.14.18 c. Department Head Meeting at City Hall: 9.18.18 d. Dementia Friends Staff Training: 9.19.18 e. Senior Tax Work-off at City Hall: 9.21.18 f. Taunton Safe Neighborhood Initiative: 9.26.18 g. Bristol Elder Services Advisory Board meeting (conference call): 9.27.18 h. Financial Resource Fair: 9.27.18 i. Flu Clinic with Manet Community Health Center: 10.4.18 j. MMA Human Services Council: 10.4.18 3. Upcoming Scheduled Programs/meetings: a. Manet Community Health Center subcommittee: 10.10.18 b. Mayor Hoye & Manet CEO: 10.15.18 c. Taunton Housing Authority & Manet CEO: 10.15.18 d. Manet Community Health Center Board: 10.16.18 e. Halloween Spooktacular: 10.18.18 f. SAFE Elder Domestic Violence workshop at COA: 10.19.18 g. MA Councils on Aging Annual Conference: 10.23.18 – 10.26.18 h. Taunton Police Department and Manet CEO: 10.29.18 i. Bristol County Regional Alliance at Holiday Inn: 11.7.18 j. Manet Community Health Center subcommittee: 11.7.18 k. Taunton Opiate and Substance Use Task Force: 11.13.18 4. DHS Updates: a. Diane O’Day, our new Line Dancing Instructor, will begin on 10.15.18 b. Copy/Fax Machine Policy update – Ann Kardamis made a motion to accept the updated policy. Lori seconded. The update states that copies and faxes will be charged $0.15 per page over 10 pages with a discretion clause. c. MA Councils on Aging Conference: 10.23 – 10.26.18 5. Senior Center Coordinator Monthly Report 6. Next meeting: Wednesday, November 14, 2018 Senior Center Coordinator’s Report – October 10, 2018 Anne Bisson read the report in Tracy’s absence. An 8 week Matter of Balance started up on September 18th that 14 Seniors attended. Our IPhone/IPad class will end on October 29th. We will start back up after the Holidays. Our 5 person scarecrow committee is now a 3 person work crew. The scarecrow came out great as usual. Open Enrollment appointments are filling quickly. Not sure if we will have any appointments left by the time open enrollment starts on October 15th. On Tuesday, September 18th we had the MCOA GO4Life Family Walk and we had 17 seniors attend. Anne added that Seniors have mentioned that they would like to continue holding these walks on a regular basis. We had another shred week from Sept. 24th – Sept. 28th. 32 seniors took advantage of the program offered by the Taunton Federal Credit Union. On September 25th an AARP volunteer came to the center to teach the AARP Smart Driver Safety Program course. 2 seniors attended. On Thursday, September 27th we had our Financial & Informational Resource Fair. I had more vendors that attended this year. On Tuesday, October 2nd the Banjo Ragtimers came back again to play. We had 18 seniors attend. In Thursday, October 4th we had our flu shot clinic in conjunction with Manet Community Health. 40 came to get their shots. Anne added that the Flu Shots were given at no charge. Upcoming Events October 11th – 11:30 am – Never Stop Learning Group – The 3 Queens October 16th – 1:00 pm Social Security 101 October 18th – 12:00 pm – Halloween Party at the Holiday Inn October 19th – All Programs are cancelled – Bristol Elder Services is having an Elder Domestic Violence Training event. October 23rd – 12:30 pm – Vini Ames – SH-Bop October 30th – 1:00 pm – Mary Beth’s Craft Class – Fall decoration Ted O’Brien called to adjourn the meeting at 10:19 a.m. Ann Kardamis made the motion. Seconded by Barry Burke. All in favor. Next meeting: Wednesday, November 14, 2018