HOLLAND COUNCIL ON AGING
Minutes of meeting held on January 6, 2010
Meeting opened at 10:20 a.m. by Chairman Bruce Plumley.
PRESENT: COA members: Tom Baltazar, Earl Johnson, Lowell Nixon, Olive Nixon, Brad Noble, Bruce Plumley, Jack Reed and Susan Sanders. Others: Senior Center Director: Margaret Crock, Manager: Don Sanders, and Activities Coordinator Linda Artruc, Outreach Worker Deb Tierney, and Paul Gillis.
MINUTES: Motion by Earl to accept meeting minutes of December 2, 2009, was seconded and approved.
OUTREACH WORKER - Debbie Tierney – Deb reviewed December speakers and events: Overlook Life Care tour and the Christmas party. • Upcoming events include Officer Jeff Forcier of Holland on 1/11 reviewing winter safety; 1/13 “host site” meeting at SPCA regarding Linda’s placement as a Senior Aide with us; 1/20 there is a 3-hour training session at 1:00 p.m. for CPR and defibrillator new and recertification for town employees and others who are interested. • Deb asked if returned “program income” from Housing Rehab loans could be used to supplement fuel assistance funds because of decreased Butterworth fund revenue. Earl reports there are no funds available. • Motion by Brad that the newsletters continue to be published by Sturbridge Direct with Sue Sanders as liaison was unanimously carried. Deb will
continue to put the newsletter together and forward for review.
SENIOR CENTER DIRECTOR: Margaret Crock.
In September 962 contacts were made and 96 seniors were served. 285 attended the Senior Center, 100 attended congregate meals. The balance includes: Cards & games (41), exercise (32), senior tax work off program (48), intergenerational activities (270), phone calls (90), COA meeting (10), stained glass classes (12), blood pressure clinic (2), garden club (5), computers (14), crafts (14), entertainment program (39) and Overlook trip (14). We received donations from the Estate of Ross Dixon including a large TV and many other items.
SENIOR TAX ABATEMENT PROGRAM: Margaret Crock
As of December 31, 2009, the Senior Center has used the program in the amount of $2,304.00 ($392 for the month), Town Clerk $250.00 ($20 for the month), Assessors officer $152.00 ($88 for the month), Tax office ($262), and Holland Elementary School $1,166.00 ($380 for the month). Total YTD is $4,134.00.
PROGRAM COMMITTEE: Regular programs: Lunch is served every Monday as well as on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month – reservations, please. Monday Veterans Services Agent at noon – reservations needed; 2nd Monday Garden Club at 10:30 a.m.; Tuesday Stained glass classes at 10:30 a.m. and craft class at 1:00 p.m.; Wednesday 10:00 a.m. exercise class, and COA meeting on the 1st Wednesday; Thursday 12:30-3:00 p.m. cribbage, and crafts from 1:00-3:00 p.m. with Linda Artruc. Card games, scrabble and puzzles available daily. BINGO will begin soon – please sign up. Reminder: BINGO is NOT for money! January – 19th Special election for remainder of Senator
Ted Kennedy’s term. Polls are open 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Town Hall. 25th Mah Jong classes begin at 10:00 a.m.. February: 2nd at 10:30 a.m. “Shifting Gears” with Michelle Ellicks of DMV; 3rd at 10:15 a.m. COA meeting and from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. AVADA. On April 12th a one act play through the Cultural Grant, “Jerry Atric – The Older I Get” with Steve Henderson is scheduled. Grant confirmation pending.
FINANCIAL: Brad Noble, Treasurer
December report includes: Receipts: GSSSI $630.00 and gifts totaling $125.00. Expenditures: Allied Waste $34.22, telephone $63.95, National Grid $76.81, supplies $19.15, exercise classes $45.00, Lois Dupre $155.75, and salaries $2,460.00. Brad distributed Treasurer’s report. Bruce would like to see gift account income total. Check was presented by Bruce from Holland Congregational Church for use of the facility.
MANAGER: Don Sanders – Everything is working well. He needs some new utensils, tablecloths and washcloths.
Motion to accept all of the above verbal and printed reports was made by Brad and approved by the Council on Aging.
OLD BUSINESS: Tom was concerned about an ethics violation by his being on the COA and the Friends of Holland Seniors, and according to the State Ethics Commission he would be unless he were a liaison from the COA to the Friends. Motion made by Brad to appointment Tom as liaison to the Friends was unanimous. Tom distributed a financial report from the Friends. He also stated a need for stained glass supplies for the balance of 2010 amounting to $167.80. Motion to approve this spending made by Jack and unanimously carried.
NEW BUSINESS: Out computers need updating and repair. Tom’s son-in-law is willing to repair and give a lifetime guarantee for $100 for each computer. Motion by Earl to take $300 from the gift account to pay for computer update was seconded by Brad and unanimously carried. • It has been said that the double doors in the main room are “illegal.” Paul Gillis reports they were examined by both the Fire and Building Inspectors. However, the lights on the EXIT doors should be facing down – not out –to illuminate the exit. • Paul suggests that Tom resubmit the Norcross grant application with proceeds to go to the Friends for ease of distribution. • Paul states that building excavation left the area around the Senior Center lacking in loam and we will need to use raised beds for
gardening. Trees that are dying need mulch, etc. • Linda Artruc was notified that the Senior Aide program is being extended for two years. There is no guarantee where she will be placed, but letters from the COA may have an impact. • Earl suggests a letter of appreciation be sent to Don Sanders and the young men who helped at the Christmas dinner. • When senior housing is developed a new well is to be dug and question was raised about whose responsibility it would be. Having a leach field under the parking lot will lead to paving of the lot. • Brad brought up the FY 2011 budget projections for review. Earl suggested checking that we are receiving commercial rates from National Grid, Osterman, etc. The budget is basically level funded with the exception of 3% salary increases for Margaret Crock and Don Sanders. Motion by Earl to accept the proposed budget was unanimously carried.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:42 a.m.
Submitted by: Susan Sanders, Secretary
Meeting on February 3, 2010
Call to Order at 10:15 a.m.
Approval of minutes of January 6, 2010
Reports: Outreach, Senior Center Director, Program,
Senior Tax Abatement, Finance, Manager,
Old Business, New Business, Correspondence