no Let's join us Just take a deep breath Um we could Kathy would like us to introduce ourselves Well it would just be I think it would just be nice Kathy Sugley I'm on the board Lucy I'm here too
I'm Katie Star I'm the chairman I'm Donna Weinberg I'm the just a member I'm Holly I'm the director of Very good and the lady on the screen
Jo and we are missing um Mary today Yeah Yes Um I'm going to start by asking if anyone that is here in the audience is here for open forum meaning um did you do you have any concerns or questions specifically that you'd like to raise
with our board Sure If you have a question I'm just gonna ask you to roll up if you could um just so I can hear you on the speaker because it's a this is not a major concern but it seems that whenever
I come to any meeting of any kind here it's all the ladies which is not a complaint I was gonna say okay woman I'm just wondering why are are the men not participating in I would love to give you an answer to that question but I
also have that that is my question as well so I we don't we don't have an answer for that I don't have an answer for that um we have had men on our board previously um this probably closer to two years ago might be the last time we
had a man on our board um so it's not it's it's It's not that it's always been this way Three But three Yeah Yeah that's true Actually at one point in time there were three of us three of them Um but one further question You had a man on
the board a couple years ago You haven't had one since Is it more beneficial to have a man on the board or not I mean I'm happy to answer that I'm happy to answer that question too but I don't want to discuss it So um I think anybody's opinion is opin is important
So no matter um I've I've said as long as I've been chairman I want everyone's opinion to be heard everybody's voice to be heard Um so no matter what the perspective it's all voices are welcome
And the reason I asked that question was because as we all know men and women are different and they think tremendously different Sure Uh so is that an advantage or a disadvantage to have men I'm I'm being honest about that That's
more of a thoughtprovoking question I think versus one that I can truly answer for you Yes Um but it will actually speak to a little bit later in our agenda We have some a topic um about kind of our future planning A seat
will be opening up and having to be my seat Not necessarily my seat as chairman just my seat as a board member will be opening Um so maybe we can tie that back into a little bit later our conversation a little bit later Um but thank you for bringing those questions I appreciate it
Thank you And we have I'm so sorry I should have um I should have recorded for the people that were listening your name Uh I should have vocalized your name Keith Chase Keith Chase That was Keith Chase Everyone thank you very much Keith would you be interested if anything like that
Could you help last name Would you be interested We'll ask that later Oh I was told I have to attend three years before I can really make a decision Is anyone else here for open forum
You have any questions Mary J Daniel Hi Mary You here for Were you asking a question or just Thank you See how well you're doing I don't open for that I don't have anything negative at all about this
facility There are a few men in Tai Chi and stuff and then maybe I put a little buzz in their ear and say "Would you be interested?" You know I mean it's a matter of communication but I have no negative everything's positive Thank you very much And the friends is is very good too Thank you very much Lucy you
had a question I was wondering if The Bill hadn't been on her mind Well I understood I should have I should have asked you to roll forward too but now I've got to ask you to roll forward again [Music] I just did so
um No I was called initial an introductory meeting if you wanted to be on the advisory board Wonderful Well we're glad you're here Thank you for attending That's great them on the baseball field Thank you All right Well thank you for
your your questions and for everyone attending I appreciate it We all appreciate it Um couple of quick announcements This meeting is being recorded by the local scene Anyone intending to make an audio or video recording of this meeting could notify the chair at this time That is me
Um there are several volunteer opportunities at the Council on Aging including but not limited to meals on wheels um cafe volunteer help volunteers needed with computer script skills senior tax writeoff opportunities and
probably you know several others If you have any interest in any of these um please get in touch with Holly to uh help to find out what is available at this time And a quick reminder that the email for our advisory board is co
av kingstonmma.gov if anyone has any questions All right So obviously I've done a few things out of order We've already done open forum Um we'll go to our meeting minutes if we could We have two meeting minutes to
approve One from February and one from March Has everyone had an opportunity to review those be great I make the motion Moren you'd like to make the motion Sure Are we motioning for both Okay Yes February 11 and March 11th
And this is a motion to accept Do we accept Yes Sorry We have a second I'll second Donna All in favor Wonderful Easy Dy All right We have a little bit of a light
agenda today but I want to start specifically by welcoming Lucy to our board in a for in an official seat Lucy has been um a member of the board in an in a um
in a non- voting position Yes So there is an opportunity to have to to join um and be a non- voting member The way that seat works is you get to we ask you to attend all the meetings You can absolutely participate in conversations
um and you know bring concerns and questions and your voice to the table um as Lucy has done which is wonderful and um but in that position it's it's a non- voting position um until or unless a
seat were to open up on board and then you that position potentially could could move up and that's what happened with Lucy So we did um have a board member step down a few months ago Lucy had expressed some interest in formalizing or or coming on as a voting member and
um she got approved by our board then got approved by the board of selectmen and here we are Thank you You're willing to do that All right All right So at our last meeting we um discussed a couple of
things that needed to go before the board of selectmen That is the second page and what I've sent given you just was I've given you basically just a copy of their agenda for tonight Um they were able to approve Lucy's appointment but
they were not able to get to the two other highlighted things uh that are currently on the agenda until tonight So two weeks ago they did Lucy Um and tonight they'll be reviewing what we had um suggested or
approved of the COA amending the hours and uh reviewing and hopefully approving all of the hard work that um everyone has done with updating the policies and procedures to match the bylaws So those are the two things that are on the agenda this evening in front of the
select Um while I don't necessarily expect a lot of questions or concerns I know Holly's going to be attending I am not able to attend So I'm curious if anyone else could either attend in person or attend on Zoom And this would just be in case there happen to be
questions for a board member Um if someone else might be able to be there in addition to Holly you could do it That would be wonderful Kathy Thank you Anybody have any questions about you know what they're going to be doing
tonight as far as um Yeah I don't know what they're doing tonight Sure Sorry I'd be happy to answer that So um last month we um Holly had brought before us a request
to consider changing the uh cent's hours on Friday from um and no actually all week That's true It was all week Can I grab my notes I have them right here so I can do that correctly We So it was just changing some of our
hours throughout the week Uh we voted as our board to approve changing the hours from 8 to 8 am to 4 pm Monday through Tuesday My own notes Currently this the
operating hours of the senior center are Monday Wednesday Thursday 8:30 to 4:30 Tuesday 8:30 to 7:30 and Friday 8 to 4:30 a little bit staggered throughout the week Um my recommendation to the advisory board was to change those hours
consistently throughout the week to be Monday through Friday 8 a.m to 4 p.m Um the nighttime programming need just really isn't there Um and in terms of staffing wise it makes it difficult for someone to stay later on Tuesday evening and then leave earlier on a day another
day to accommodate for that and people that are coming in for those particular services um are unmet because that person is not here Uh so the advisory board agreed with that they recommended that So now it goes to the selectmen uh
at their meeting tonight And transportation I know they said they're going to start picking up by use the bus but they start they're going to start picking up at 8:00 Uh well so our if it's approved by the selectman um it will take effect in a couple of weeks
not right away Um our transport to everyone all employees would work 8:00 a.m to 400 p.m But logistically if you're reporting into work at 8:00 they're not going to be able to make an 8:00 pickup The earliest would be 8 or 8:30 whereas now they come in at 8:30
earliest would be 8:45 9:00 Um and then it would be the same on the opposite end where we end 4:30 Now we would end at 4 o'clock minor changes um with the transportation like um towards the end of the ride I think that's the last that Joe's got to
be driving So there's only one driver Yeah It's really for the staff basically Get you get here you get your work done and you get to leave at 4:30 It's not going to the patrons really Um so we don't
have access unless there's a program at 8 and we have a ride You know what I mean That's what I mean We'll only have one bus ride Our our earliest program starts at 8:30 Um so as it stands now sometimes when we show up to work people are waiting outside for us So it
actually gives staff a little bit easier transition to open up the building to get settled before people start to come in Um our latest program ends actually I think on Friday we have card players that are here till about four o'clock Okay Um so in terms of our programming
nothing will change Uh again the transportation yes there'll be a little bit earlier time pickup available Um but we don't see those afternoon rides really Um there's no request for them Yeah
The center hours Yeah No I think consistency is wonderful I mean I couldn't understand how people could be in this building alone on Tuesday evening you know I mean it's difficult so the other stuff which I will address in my director so is still waiting for
they being into being yeah so I'll address that when later on in the meeting Okay great So that that discussion that conversation about amendment for hours is one of the things that the board of select will be taking up um and
reviewing our updated policies and procedures So what that was to answer that question a little history on that we have over the last several years um we have a a governing do two sets of governing documents one is rules and regulations
and one is the bylaws And the bylaws are recorded within the the town warrant or the town bylaws There's we're one section of many um amongst the town bylaws So we had um reviewed and updated our policies and procedures years ago
threeish years ago Yes Um and then after that got that approved and and everything else But then after that um up had our bylaws updated because the bylaws are the overarching main governing document Uh there were
things in the bylaws that got updated that did not in fact match the policies and procedures So we had to revisit the policies and procedures and we didn't revisit them from a real substantive substantive uh perspective We didn't change anything um significant We just
made the two documents the se the sections that over overlapped We made those two sections match Um so we're hoping that it's going to be a very easy um conversation tonight There's nothing major happening It's really just correcting the discrepancies that we
found between the two documents because we had done them originally out of order So that's all that's what tonight's um so now the policies and procedures mirror correct the bylaw is much better anymore correct yes you're right so
that's what that's all about all right um next thing on our agenda is to discuss um or question for Holly and I'm going to ask Holly to leave that if you would next steps for the age and dementia study and formation of the working group if there
are any identified next steps at stage It's still very early There's been not to give you guys too too much history but we have a um we have a an initiative to do a study within the town of Kingston Um the init the the initiative
has been approved the funding has has now been approved and now we're at the very beginning stages of getting the study Um sorry and we're working with um Old Colony Elder Services No old colony
planning um council to get that done Yes Um so our point of contact is Joanne Ziggman who you guys know she's joined us a couple times on meetings Um I spoke with Joanne last week I think Uh well so I should back up a little bit and you know that uh letters were sent out to
the people that we had identified as potential members of the working group Um sent out 14 letters I've heard back from 12 and everyone agreed Oh great To be asked and to contribute their thoughts and feelings Everyone that a
letter got so um two I haven't heard back from a couple Yes Yeah But 12 out of the 14 So and yes Um so we have scheduled the first meeting of the working group that will be on Monday May
5th at uh 1:30 here Um Joanne will be joining us and she will most likely facilitate the meeting Um it'll be an opportunity for everyone within that group to meet each other uh if they don't already know each other and uh
learn about the scope of the project Um and as I mentioned at 12 minutes follow the other two um but May 12th I'm sorry May 5th May um and I think that we 1:30 Thank you I
think we agreed to the first Monday of every month That would be our schedule moving forward Um if there's a holiday that happens to fall within that month then we would figure that out Awesome I'm really excited that it's
getting off the ground Yeah Great Great And for those that aren't are not aware Kathy um from our board has um graciously offered to the five offered to be the
spokesman or or a member member representative from the board Um and you know just as a a little bit more history this initiative is not exclusively or specifically um I should it's not exclusively related
to seniors in the town of Kingston It is um there are some sections that are heavily weighted to the needs of seniors or to the needs of residents as they age in Kingston but it's not an exclusive initiative to the town of Kingston which is why our entire board's not you know
sitting on this our our entire board has been instrumental in trying to get this approved and up and running But now as it moves forward we have lots of um voices from from throughout the entire town and community um that are going to
be kind of taking this role on and moving this initiative forward I have a list of some of the people that might be you know will be on it Do you think we need to hear where they're coming from You know um what If you wanted Yeah If
you wanted to just kind of give a general overall just for the people in the room just the overall like we've got some healthare people We have the um advisory board clergy the selectman COA director town planner and um the town
clerk emergency response representatives which were in the fire and the police board of health representative um someone from B Plymouth the hospital right Um community
member So it was just a person at large and um business association We're waiting for That's what I'm waiting for Yeah And school representative clergy So we've got a great a great group
of people for information and from that they'll be working groups has eight domains that we work on and they'll each domain will have its own little group That's what I'm I shouldn't be talking about Well I think Joan will kind of
Yeah Joanne will probably But um I've been to the Ducks meetings I've been to the Plymouth meetings It is exciting to see It's not a sprint It is a marathon Ducks's been working on it now for three years Plymouth also they started almost
four years ago So it's just a matter of the planning and what might be available what might be our needs compared to the other town's me need needs nobody will never be totally age and dementia
friendly never But we will work towards it I think that if anybody needs to know those individuals just look it up March secretary which and that's why I just read it off on March secretary Great Okay Thank you I'm going to hand it back
over to you for our director's report Uh so just a couple of updates Uh we have our calendar of programming and events continues to be quite full Um next week actually a week from today we have a group called It's the call the
real pirates of Salem They operate a pirate museum up in Salem and they're coming here to present um historical artifacts from one of the shipwrecks down COD Uh it's an exciting program The friends have uh are funding that program for them to come and join
us So very cool That'll be really fun Um people need to sign up for that or Yeah all of our programs we do ask people to sign up just so we can kind of get a headcount and set up programs So um another program starting next week is called Train Your Brain Um it's this
woman Mary Whitten and she uh goes to other senior centers in the area and it's tips and tricks to keep your brain sharp doing word puzzles um word association things like that So that's exciting Uh another program that's been
sponsored by the friends They're covering various costs so that will be no cost to participants Um but AP is doing an identity theft presentation on April 28th Always we're always talking about scams and keeping your information
safe We have a resin art class on April 29th Those are always fun Um we will be hosting a Mother's Day lunchon on May 8th Uh you can watch the May newsletter on information on that And lastly we
have our triad group um which will be meeting here at the senior center It's an initiative that we started many years ago and um it's collaboration between the district attorney's office the sheriff's department uh COA Kingston police fire
Uh it's all about getting information to seniors about public safety and ways to keep themselves and their identity safe So it covers a broad range of services and initiatives throughout Corner County So is that coming back
monthly Um it's not going to be monthly Uh but we do have an event scheduled for May 30th Um and they're bringing the PL County Comfort Dogs here So everyone can mark their calendar for that Yep That'll be a fun So next week um Holly is just a
meeting of their of that the triad group itself but then coming May 30th will be an actual event So they don't there's no meeting at so the actual meeting will take place prior to the uh visit from the cumber dogs Okay Um but so open to the public generally I think at 10
o'clock but the triad group will have a meeting Yes Okay Great Good I'm glad that that's coming back Um so some staff updates Uh Virginia kind of alluded to um our transportation
needs Uh so our transportation department continues to be busy We provided 275 rides to seniors just in the month of March Patty our transportation coordinator um continues to work diligently scheduling and dispatching rides Uh despite the fact
that we are down two van drivers Um so one of our van drivers retired in August uh that position remained unfilled We had three van drivers Another van driver left uh the middle of February So we're currently have two van
drivers Um another van driver is retiring next week So everybody's going to be standing outside I'm just kidding I'm sorry Are you interviewing Yes So we I over the last couple of weeks uh the position has been posted I have
interviewed uh potential band drivers We I have some solid candidates Um things don't move quickly in municipalities You have to hit uh selectman meetings for these people to be appointed You have to interview to check references You It is a whole process Uh so we appreciate your
perseverance Well I appreciate our writers uh patience and understanding with the scheduling and what's available and what's not available And Patty does her absolute best to accommodate everyone um whether that means you know grouping up on trips and things like
that Um so I am hopeful that um by the next select board meeting which will be the 22nd because they happen every two weeks that I have at least one possibly two van drivers going
to be yeah to start 8 o' I'm sorry my own opinion I don't think they need to start at 8 o'lock in the morning Oh I do I love it 7:30 Um okay Well they said two different
things So okay Um Jenny our outreach corner has been reaching out to area organizations that we've partnered with to set up meetings to introduce herself She's over at the Ducks House right now Last week she and I went over to Windgate um Fort Windgate and met some of the staff over there So uh she's been keeping up on the changes to social
security things that are coming down from the state and federal levels and can try to answer any questions that people might have about that and how it affects you Seems to be constantly changing So fluid
Yes Um another staffing update is that uh I have interviewed candidates for the assistant director position Um we have great candidates We've got I had both internal and external Um so
again I'm aiming towards that April 22nd meeting um to have someone be going in front of the select board for that So just been busy with that Uh it's important it's a priority to me to get staffing back up to where it should be
Um and It takes time but we're getting there Um I spoke about the selectman's meeting for tonight I will be there to answer questions about the changing of the hours and be happy to talk about our policies and procedures if they have any questions on
that Um and then just one other thing some housekeeping stuff Last week you guys may have seen emails we had to close the cafe on uh Wednesday and Thursday We were having um some maintenance done on the refrigerator Uh so they ended up actually weren't doing
the inside of the kitchen the there's a a refrigerator and a freezer and then our outside walk-in freezer which houses our when we get large deliveries Um those things were all serviced updated Uh so we had parts that needed to come in and so I couldn't operate the cafe um
that day Unfortunately having to follow on a Thursday but it is what it is Uh everything's fixed now and I apologize if anyone was inconvenienced by that but we're back up and running You're back up and running on Friday and everything's operational
Great Thank you As we all come up that's great Thank you for that Um anybody have any questions for Holly before we move on Okay Um I do not have a chairman's report today
As far as what a surprise you know one arm paper hanger the last few weeks so we do not have pretty much covered everything Um under our old business you know we our official agenda items are are completed but we do have
some topics or at least one topic I'd like to talk about since we have some members here that may have some interest Bringing back um the table conversations about future planning for the board open positions that will be coming So terms
end at the end of June Not everybody's um term comes up at the same time Um there's three of us whose terms are expiring and two members both Donna and Kathy have expressed an interest to continue and um go for another term Um I
unfortunately will not be able to continue It's been kind of three full rounds for me Um which is close to when I added it all up all the the years that I've It's been almost closer to 10 um from a volunteer perspective through
of course this is a volunteer as well but I started as a meals on wheels driver and then um moved on to the board and then held secretary position and then now chairman position and when I add that all up it's been nearly 10 years um so it's it's
um it's time for me to move along unfortunately but so there will be a seat opening um and there's also a seat for an associate member position which is what I started to allude to earlier during open forum Associate member was
the position that Lucy had before And again it's a position What's good about that position is it's kind of a great way to start learning about uh what the board does what we talk about um how we help try to help support the director in as many ways as we can um and then raise
concerns Ultimately our job is to um listen to what the the members of the greater community in the center the people that use the center if they have questions or concerns um we ask that they bring them to us if they can't bring them directly
to Holly and and then we discuss them and and try to see how we can make certain things if if they're significant in nature um how we can make make things better So um an associate position is good because you get to participate
without having um the responsibility of of voting and of course there will be an actual open position of the of the board which is available as well I do have a question Um I know it's not
June Um we're not nominating today but it's good to know with our existing board members here today are there anybody interested in being an officer Whether it be secretary
vice chair or chair Is there anyone here interested Don't speak all at once I think the time I think my plate is pretty full with this new um program chuck coming up I can see a lot of work going into that
and to be the liaison basically between the two So I am not really looking for a position but I'd be always available to help I will not I will have your back Now right now I'm vice chair and
secretary Um but whatever the outcome I will need help So it just is anybody up to the challenge and if not then we'll we'll throw Yeah you're actually secretary kind of by default right You know it wasn't originally intended for you to
have two seats and we're super grateful that you are sitting in two seats and I actually enjoy roles I enjoy Yeah Yeah I always did when I was as well Um but yeah we would like to spread the the the goal is to try to spread some of the
responsibilities among out amongst other people on the board and um as Kathy said you know you're going to have a huge huge role in the Asian dementia um the entire and again if I'm if you really understand it
there are eight different areas So I may choose one area to be very active in and probably look to the board for maybe to join as a part of the working group Each domain will need a working group from
what I can see But again we I have to wait till that meeting on Monday But everything I've observed this is how it works You don't take the eight domains You only take a couple work on them get them in process and move on But you know it would be nice to have people on the
board to step up and just sit and be even a backup Sure You know and I know our policies refer to incoming board members that they have to be on the board for a year to be an officer but only when
when able So there's like a loophole in there so that an outsider can I believe come on our board and actually be an officer which I think there's a couple in the past that I wouldn't mind being vice chair Okay Okay But not chair
So good So that's good to give us we can give you know I think next month um we can continue the conversation some more but that's good that there's an interest So thank you for that Yes Um Lucy any any interest from you at this stage I
will help whenever I can Oh I thought you were going to see you'll be chair I think you don't want to be chair Oh God Well she'll have to be nominated and then and then voted I
will be there that'll actually um the the I'll double check but I think our official nominations and or voting can can happen in June uh June at the June meeting so that we at when everything's expiring in the end of June the new the
new positions can hit the ground running in July Um but again I've wanted to get this conversation and keep this topic you know top of mind because there is um there's you know there's going to be some some opportunities this job Joe do
you have anything that you'd like to to add to the conversation No I'm having a hard time hearing you guys as I'm getting like just dribbs and drabs I don't know if those little speakers are enough I don't I don't hear
the director very well Um I don't know whether this just speakers too far away As far as holding a position um I I can't I won't go into detail regarding my medical issues but I continue to have
them Um and I'm fighting it and so I don't feel as though at this time I can make a decision on that I'm willing to help if I can you know but um that's about it
and are saying it's okay Okay great All right Thanks John Okay So that's just food for thought If there happens to be anyone in the room um you know we're we're happy that you're here just participating and listening If anyone has an interest in formalizing
um their interest in potentially being a board member what you would do is is ultimately um put put your request in writing to the town clerk um they would then report to us on the board that someone has has expressed interest in in
joining the board and then we would in turn um have that conversation and um a vote of support or non-support for whoever this person may be and then ultimately again it would then get kicked up to the board of selectmen So sometimes that takes time and and again
another whole reason why we've been talking about this for a few months So if someone is interested um first step really ultimately would be going in front of the town clerk to to put your interest in writing and then you can certainly ask us questions at
any point in time too There's not um you know you don't have to just go it doesn't have to be super secretive but if you're interested there is a formalization of of putting your interest in writing with the town Okay is whose terms of will we be getting notified from the town I think we do
rather than having to I think we do Yeah I'll reach out to them Um we should get a letter from the select Yeah that's where the letter comes from Yeah it's probably that we've been talking about it
No but you do have to answer that that letter at least Right Good So we'll watch part the three of us Okay Um that is all I have folks Nice quick meeting
Anyone have any other membered Oh yes Thank you for asking Anybody I think it was Kathy Is that her name Kathy Yes Very impressed with the list beliefs and everything Yes
Unbelievable It's a very important uh new thing going through all the counties of Massachusetts and you really should have a good uh section of your where you live so
that they will have input You don't necessarily have to be 60 or older and that's what we're looking It's as you age on Again I said it's not going to be a sprint It is a marathon just we're in a I I can't talk too much about that
until our first meeting but we need to send out a um a survey in the whole nine yards to see what everybody's thinking So it's very much in the early planning stages but as it goes on it should be it's
going to be interesting and it should help Thank you And I just want to thank everybody for coming and expressing some interest and just being here to listen in general Um it's much appreciated Thank you for coming We don't have anybody remembered We don't want to remember you in that
way All right everybody Well thank you very much I'm going to go ahead and officially adjourn us at 12:12 So long Enjoy the rest of your day and the rest of your week Oh we need a motion I'll make a motion All in favor to adjurnn All
right Thanks everybody