Department of Human Services / Council on Aging

DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING November 14, 2018 PRESENT: Anne Bisson Kelley Sylvia Barry Burke Ted O’Brien Ann Kardamis Lori Gonsalves ABSENT: Louise Silva, Jim Lincoln, Tracy Heger, Charlotte Carr Ted O’Brien motioned to call the meeting to order at 10:03 a.m. Ann Kardamis seconded. All in favor Ted O’Brien made a motion to accept the October 10, 2018 meeting minutes. Ann Kardamis seconded. All in favor. Director’s Report Board Meeting 11.14.18 Old Business: 1. FY 19 EOEA Formula Grant: We have received the notice of the increase to $12.00 per elder. We will receive a total grant of $125,628.00. We have resumed the employment of the Elder Community Crisis Intervention Team Coordinator/Support Groups facilitator. We will also be purchasing an upgraded software system called ‘My Senior Center’ for statistical purposes. It includes many more options than ServTracker and is more user-friendly. 2. FY 19 State Budget COA Earmarks: We have received notification from EOEA on the receipt of the Earmarks. We will be using the COA Earmark funds to provide multiple mental health/health education workshops for elders and first responders and elder service providers. We will be using the Dementia Friendly Earmark to contract with a consultant to provide a Dementia Friendly Taunton Summit to introduce the program to local businesses. The consultant will also be trained to provide education sessions on-site at businesses/ agencies as well as sustainability. The posting for a consultant went out on 10.30.18 and Requests for Qualifications are due on 11.16.18. 3. Substance Use Prevention Grants (MOAPC, SAPC and PFS): The grants have continued into FY19. I met with representatives from SSTAR, our subcontractor, on 10.31.18. Two of the grants are in year three of the five year grants. One grant is in its last year. The Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS) is planning on extending this grant for another two years so that all grants end at the same time. BSAS will then put the grants back out to bid. 4. Taunton Opiate and Substance Use Task Force (TOTF): The TOTF monthly meeting was held on 11.13.18. There were 32 in attendance. The Guest Speaker was April Cabrera from the Office of District Attorney Tom Quinn. Sen. Pacheco was able to secure another Earmark  for the Taunton Police Department’s Outreach Team in the amount of $50,000. We are presently in the process of securing the funds. 5. Age and Dementia Friendly Taunton: Charlene and I met with Nancy Pereira from Associates for Human Services (AHS) and Heather Rios-Pistoor, Prevention and Wellness Network on 11.1.18. Nancy was chairing Dementia Friendly and Heather the Age Friendly. Nancy informed us that she has resigned from her position at AHS and will eventually be moving out of state. Once a new person is hired, they will contact us. For now, Debbie Howland will be our AHS contact. Charlene and I explained the Dementia Friendly Taunton earmark and what our plans are. New Business: 1. My Senior Center: We will be switching our senior center statistical software from ServTracker to My Senior Center. My Senior Center is a much more user friendly software for both elders and staff. We will have many new options such as case notes for outreach and one-call for cancellations of programs. The IT department and Charlene, Kelley and I will be meeting with the representatives of My Senior Center on December 13, 2018, at 9:00 a.m. The funding for the software package will come from the Formula Grant. 2. Meeting Summary/Anne attended the following meetings: a. Manet Community Health Center subcommittee/conference call: 10.10.18 b. Manet Community Health Center Board/conference call: 10.16.18 c. Halloween Spooktacular: 10.18.18 d. MA Councils on Aging Annual Conference: 10.23.18 – 10.26.18 e. Taunton Police Department and Manet CEO: 10.29.18 f. Age & Dementia Friendly: 10.30.18 g. Substance Use Grants: 10.31.18 h. Age & Dementia Friendly Taunton: 11.1.18 i. Dementia Friendly conference call: 11.5.18 j. Bristol County Regional Alliance at Holiday Inn: 11.7.18 k. Manet Community Health Center subcommittee conference call: 11.7.18 l. Prevention & Wellness Network conference call: 11.8.18 m. Superintendent of Schools and Manet CEO: 11.13.18 n. Taunton Opiate and Substance Use Task Force: 11.13.18 3. Upcoming Scheduled Programs/meetings: a. Taunton Drug Court Graduation: 11.14.18 b. Bristol Elder Services Advisory Council: 11.15.18 c. Opioid Webinar: 11.15.18 d. Mayor Hoye: 11.19.18 e. Age & Dementia Friendly Taunton: 11.19.18 f. Manet Community Health Center Board: 11.20.18 g. City Hall Training: 11.27.18 h. Safe Neighborhood Initiative: 11.28.18 i. Manet CHC & Mayor Hoye: 11.29.18 j. Manet CHC & Colleen Doherty, THA: 11.29.18 k. Dementia Friendly MA: 11.30.18 l. MA Councils on Aging Membership & Advisory Council Meetings/Milford: 12.6.18  m. Mayor Hoye: 12.10.18 n. Manet Community Health Center subcommittee conference call: 12.10.18 o. SERCCOT-Transportation: 12.11.18 p. Taunton Opiate and Substance Use Task Force: 12.11.18 4. DHS Updates: a. Vote to accept resignation of Louise Silva from Board – Thank you letter Anne called for a motion to accept the resignation of Louise Silva. Ann Kardamis made the motion. Lori Gonsalves seconded. All in favor. b. Need to appoint a new member for one (1) year c. Client Issue in the Senior Center d. Holiday Hours – November 21-Close at noon November 22, 23 – Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday December 24 – Close at noon December 25 – Closed for Christmas Holiday December 28 – Open from 8:00 – 4:00 December 31 – Close at noon January 1 – Closed for New Year’s Holiday January 4 - Open from 8:00 – 4:00 e. John Munise funeral; new Senior Affairs police officer – Peter (PJ) Corr f. COTMA Contract Approval (5 full-time staff) g. Approval of promotion of Kelley Sylvia to Administrative Head Clerk h. Handicapped Bathroom update i. New Roof update 5. Senior Center Coordinator Monthly Report 6. Next meeting: Wednesday, December 12, 2018 Senior Center Coordinator’s Report – November 14, 2018 Anne Bisson read the report in Tracy’s absence. On October 2nd we had the Banjo Ragtimers back to perform. 19 seniors attended. On October 4th from 9-11 am we hosted our annual Flu Shot clinic with Manet Community Health sponsoring. 40 seniors came to get their flu shots. On October 11th at 11:30 am the Never Stop Learning Group discussed The 3 Queens – 6 seniors attended. Our Line Dancing started back up on October 15th at 2:45 with great success. Over 30 seniors signed up to participate. On October 16th a representative from Social Security was here to present to 2 seniors. On October 18th we had our Halloween party at the Holiday Inn and the Villianaires performed. 150 seniors attended. On October 23rd Vini Ames was invited back to perform his SH-Bop show. 50 seniors attended. On October 30th Mary Beth had a craft class with mason jars to decorate for the fall. 7 seniors attended. On November 8th Chaplain Ken Hart from Compassionate Care Hospice was here to present, Getting Older and Having Fun. 12 seniors attended. Our Never Stop Learning group met on November 8th and talked about Religions around the World. 6 seniors attended. The Nursing Home was here on November 13th to discuss, Who will speak for you when you can’t. 4 seniors attended. Upcoming Events November 20th – 1:00 pm Bill Reidy November 27th – 1:00 pm Roger Tincknell – Winter Solstice November 29th – 1:00 pm Our clutter group is starting again and it has a new name – Compulsive Acquiring & Collecting Peer Group. This will meet every Thursday at 1 pm. December 4th - 1:00 pm Ken Hart – Grief for the Holidays December 6th – 11:30 am – Never Stop Learning Group – Two Famous National Stone Carvings: Mt. Rushmore & Stone mountain. December 11th – 12:30 pm Friedman School Choir December 13th – 1-2:30 – Mary Beth’s craft class – Christmas Tree door hanger. December 19th – 10-11 am – Hopewell School children here to give back to the Senior’s. They will be doing a small craft, passing out candy canes and sing them a few carols. December 20th at 11:30 am – TED Talks - :What does your New Year look like?” Ted O’Brien called to adjourn the meeting at 10:25 a.m. Barry Burke made the motion. Seconded by Ann Kardamis. All in favor. Next meeting: Wednesday, December 12, 2018