WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=riAoVkPPiKo

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: riAoVkPPiKo):
- 00:00:00: Meeting Called to Order, Pledge, and Announcements
- 00:01:11: Women Supporting Women Volunteer Program Presentation
- 00:03:36: Discussion About Implementing the Volunteer Program
- 00:06:00: Considering Program Details and Transportation Challenges
- 00:08:59: Approval of February Meeting Minutes and New Business
- 00:09:33: Introduction and Contact Info of Gatra Representative
- 00:10:48: Gatra Services in Kingston and Fixed Routes
- 00:12:58: ADA Paratransit Service and Eligibility Explained
- 00:15:11: ADA Service Questions: Wheelchairs, Disabilities, and Forms
- 00:17:22: Medical Transportation Options: PT1, ADA, and Restrictions
- 00:18:30: Gatra Services: Grocery Shopping, Animals, and Eligibility
- 00:20:06: Free Transportation, Costs, and Transportation Options
- 00:21:31: Transportation Services and the Boston Hospital Bus
- 00:23:59: Dialysis Transportation, Med Wheels, and Contact Info
- 00:25:59: Dialysis Transportation Details, Staff, and Transportation
- 00:27:22: Staff Comments and Email Exchange for Transportation
- 00:30:36: Elder Services Lyft Program, New Candidate, and Terms
- 00:31:12: Discussion on Aging and Dementia and New Candidates
- 00:31:47: Recommend Candidate Melissa, Goals, and Advisory Report
- 00:33:59: Discussion of COA Advisory Board Member Terms
- 00:35:38: Recommending Maren, Terms, and Possible Policies
- 00:37:23: Future Goals, Election for Offices, and Think About
- 00:40:20: Staff and Committee Reports: Programs, Budget, Donations
- 00:42:30: Budgets, Planning Groups, and Speakers for Health
- 00:45:36: Community Cupboard Details, Outreach, and Transportation
- 00:47:28: Transportation Challenges and Staff Planning
- 00:49:21: Reports, Policies, Procedures, Bylaws, and Support
- 00:51:29: Meeting Adjourned and Other Remembrances


Part: 1

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Okay. 11:30 a.m. meeting called to order. Let's do the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the stand indivisible with liberty and justice for

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all. >> Well, that was nice. >> Okay. As far as announcements, this meeting is being recorded by the local scene. Anyone intending to make an audio or video recording should notify the chair at this time. There are a few

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volunteer opportunities at the Council on Aging, including but not limited to meals on wheels drivers and cafe help. If you are interested in any of these, or would just like to volunteer in general, please reach out to the director of the COA. For those who wish

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to contact the COA advisory board, please note our email COA-ab kingston mass.gov. And at this time, uh, there isn't any activity. Now, as far as open forum, we >> Oh, you want me to talk first? How

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wonderful is that? My goodness. I expected it would be at the end. Um, I just wanted to present to you. We have a new group in town called Women Supporting Women. is about 12 of us that are members and we're trying to facilitate um ways in town that we can help other

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women. And with that in mind, uh we felt women who are aging in place, who are unable to um access services easily because they don't have any family to help them. We thought maybe we would try and institute um a volunteer program.

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Uh, for example, if they needed to get their storm windows lowered or raised, um, if they needed an air conditioner installed, if they needed snow removal, if they needed, uh, special assistance with other things. Um, I personally know

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a couple, well, I'm sure you all do too, the tourists >> who live on El Street. Um, I'm very close to Jolores and I and I do things for her. So um I was part of a program called Neighborhood Felmouth when I lived there for 5 years and it was a

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service organization. People were interviewed and ran through a quarry check to make sure they were okay so to speak and then uh they would provide they would sign on to be volunteers and then they would provide services when seniors would contact them. Um I

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personally had two ladies that I was responsible for. I formed a friendship with them. I drove them to their hairdresser. I drove them to the post office, to the library and um I did that for three years and we formed a wonderful bond. So I thought it would be wonderful if we could institute that

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here in Kingston as well because many people who are aging in place don't have an opportunity if they don't drive anymore to communicate if meals on wheels come. I know that those people can talk to them when they arrive. But I'm just I'm just thinking it's a nice

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way to keep them. These two women that I service were 80 and 90. So I mean they were not mobile so to speak. They had walkers. So it was just a way for them to have conversation and look forward to a visit every week. So I'm just saying that's something that we're trying to see if we can start. I don't know all

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the services you have here already. You may already have all that covered. And I know Silver Lake um has community service hours that uh they ask the students to participate in. So maybe you use that. I don't know. I'm just trying to see if it would fit in Kingston.

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That's all. >> How would you come across the uh people that would need services? >> They could call the senior center. They could connect here or they could have a number that they could call. Um, when I did this neighborhood Felmouth, um, I

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wasn't a part of the organization that ran it, so I really don't know how the management went, but um, I I heard about it and just contacted a number. I don't know if it was it must have been advertised or something. I don't know. I just know it was a wonderful boat.

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>> So, that's where I'm coming from. And like I said, Paula, you may already have all this covered, but I just know the people that I worked with at Falmouth, they couldn't get out. They couldn't shovel. They didn't have >> They couldn't rake either. They can't even rake. A lot of them are online asking for people to help them with their yards.

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>> If you have family nearby, you're covered. >> Family, but they're lazy. >> Well, and if if you'd rather pay someone for the services, then that's fine, too. But I just know in the case of the two women I serviced, they didn't have anybody to help. So

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>> it was a godsend for them. >> So this would be too >> definitely volunteer. >> No cost to the person. >> Well, this I brought these here. I don't know how many of you there are. Um this is a synopsis of what the program's all about. And this is the application form.

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And it does state they charged the seniors. And if the and it was provably expensive, I thought, but I didn't know that. I wasn't on that end of it. Um the volunteers get paid nothing. They volunteer. Um they did say and you if you read this I have I think I have five

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of them so you can pass them around. Um if a senior could not afford to pay anything there were grants in place. They did fundraisers. Um they had lunch I think they had lunchons for them once a month where the driver would bring them and they would have a lunch out

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with other people um in the program. So it was it was a large I mean salmon is huge. I don't know about you salmon. Um, and it serviced a lot of people. So, how to implement it here, I don't know. I

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just thought even if we started offering snow shoveling or raking or whatever, just as a way to get the program started and then if it expanded, fine. If it didn't work, fine. But I just found it was such a valuable resource for those people who couldn't get out.

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>> So, my understanding is you're just starting to get >> I'm just inquiring. I'm yeah I and I don't like I said Holly you can address or Gatra can address exactly what services you provide. Um I know for I was council on aging director in

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Plimpmpton and we didn't even have Gatra at the time they have it now. Um there were people in my town that needed drivers and so we had we did provide eventually we provided driver but um there were lots of volunteers that just helped getting people to appointments. So Chris had reached out to me um

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speaking about this. Actually Janet Wade has invited me to uh attend the meetings and I'll be going at the end of the month. But one of the issues that uh came up was transportation. And so I suggested to Chris that she attend this meeting to hear from Carrie and to hear

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about the gatric services and that may answer some of your questions right that came up in a larger group um about transportation options not just through the council on aging but through gatra as a whole Jeff >> could this be on a future agenda for

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like back and discussion or absolutely updates. >> Sure. And I I'll be happy to come as many times as you need me. I just wanted to present my idea based on my experience. Like I said, you can shoot me down if you need to, but I just thought I would put it out there as a

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wonderful program that I was a part of when I >> Do you want these? So, yep. That would be >> and then you'll say to hear from >> Schuber I think I >> No, it's a good idea. I I know where you're coming from. I just, you know, I'm fortunate enough to live with my

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son, so I don't have to worry about, but there are people that I know of that are all alone. >> They don't want to go to a facility. I'll let you >> pass them this way. Um, they don't want to go to a facility. They want to stay in their home where they're comfortable, but they need someone to help them out.

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So, um I just think it could fill a need maybe and I I'm willing to make it happen, but I like I said, I don't know how you feel about it. And >> again, funding is probably going to be an issue to me initially. I don't think

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it will be. If you can get volunteers and then, you know, I'll volunteer to answer phones or connect people or whatever. So, I know this was a huge program, huge. They had Lions Club support them. They had >> say that's money. Yeah. >> They had grants. They had um a lot of

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fundraisers, but it was it had been in existence I don't know how long but for a long time. So people knew about it. They were willing to donate um because they knew what a good service it was. So it was huge. It was you know board of directors and but I wasn't a part of that. So I really I could even go back

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and visit and find out more information about how it operated if you want me to. I could get more into the administrative part of it. I don't know how well you know Felmmet, they have a service center that provides food for people in need and homeless and it's it's a very giving

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community. It's wonderful place to live. >> But I'm back. >> Thank you. >> Glad to be. >> So the next item, meeting minutes. Uh have you all read the secretary report from February 10th? Any questions or

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>> anyone want to make a motion? >> I'll make a motion to accept the secretary. >> Second. Anyone? >> All in favor? I >> Okay. The next item is new business. We

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have guest speaker Carrie Victoriao. Is it? >> Yep. Carrie Victoriao. That's me. >> Are you the You're the community engagement coordinator from Gatra. Yes. Yep. And I did I'm going to put in the chat

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um just my email and my phone number so you guys will have that. But um yes, I am with Gatra. I work out of the Taton office. I've been with Gatra just about three years now and I do education and community outreach in all 30 of our

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communities. So I'm pretty cool person to know. So uh definitely, you know, I really don't mean it that way. I was just kind of joking. Um, but I know that like after this call I'm heading to Lakeville and tomorrow I'll be in Plymouth. So, I do I do travel in in our

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in our communities. But my email is k victori.org and I put that in the chat. Well, you guys probably don't see that sitting there. So, it's k v i c o r iogatra.org.org. And then my phone number is 7742261212.

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>> So I so thank you for having me today um to come in. I just wanted to tell you a little bit about Gatra services that are in Kingston um and surrounding communities. Um we have a fixed route bus that is a bus that runs on a schedule. Um, it's a printed schedule

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and I can actually always mail you guys some, but I got a bunch here, paper schedules that have the map. Um, but we call it the sale route and it's when it's going northbound, it goes from Kingston um up through Ducksbury,

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Marshfield, and Pembroke and then it comes back down um from um Pemroke through Marshfield, Dubberry and then back to Kingston. Um it does connect with some of our fixed route buses that go into Plymouth. Um so that is a great

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resource. Now that is a a service open to anybody in the community, but you do need to be semifamiliar with um you know the area so you know what side of the road to stand on when the bus is approaching. Um but typically to get on that bus, you can just give the driver a

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big wave and the driver will stop. So, you just need to know if it's going northbound or if it's going southbound, where to stand, you know, along the route. And our schedules do have a cool little map on them with all the time points. Um, and then we are the fixed

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route buses are currently free until the end of June. Um, we're hoping to get information soon for our fiscal year starting July 1st if we'll be able to get that funding to also be fair free. Um, all of our fixed route buses are or

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all of our buses actually are all ADA accessible. So, anybody that wants to um, you know, maybe is unsteady on their feet or they use a mobility device um, you know, or they just don't want to do those few steps going up to the bus. Anybody can ask the driver to lower the

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lift and then, you know, that'll right in the front of the bus. It'll come down to ground level and that way somebody can step on the bus. um that way. Um the other option that we have in Kingston um

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and all of the communities around um that sale bus is our ADA paratransit service. So somebody with a person with a disability can apply. So if they were unable to take the fixed route bus due to their

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disability, they can apply for ADA paratransit services. Um it's a six-page application that I can email um to Holly. Um but we review them in office. Um and anybody who's ADA eligible can

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travel anywhere with to and from a 3/4 mile radius of our fixed route buses. So almost if you can imagine like you know in the map here like a shaded area like 3/4 mile left right north and you know northsoutheast and west I should say of

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that route um would be a eligible for services through um ADA and ADA is also currently fair free until the end of June. So we're hoping that will continue. But what's nice about ADA, it's a doortodoor service. So somebody

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is not, you know, having to navigate and learn our fixed route bus. they would call our um dispatch office which is based out of Wham and then let them know um you know that they want to go from you know A to B and as long as the

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destination origin and destination are within 3/4 mile radius of a fixed route bus then they can take that service but what it also entitles them is to maybe get down into Plymouth because we do have a fixed route bus called the Liberty Link and the Freedom Link and

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they connect in Kingston and they go into Plymouth and Plymouth Center. Um I don't have printed schedules for those, but um we are working on them and they um the schedules are on our website. Um but if somebody lived in Plymouth and

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was needing to go somewhere to Dubberry and they're ADA qualified or eligible, then they would be able to call and get a door-todoor origin to destination service with ADA at no cost. So those would be the two options, you know, outside of the COA that does the

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dialeride transportation for us. That's just kind of a quick little summary. >> Go ahead. >> Question. So this ADA is it wheelchair? >> Yes. >> Yep. >> But it could be Yep. All the vans are wheelchair um accessible or ADA

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accessible, but somebody may not have a physical disability. So whatever their challenge may be, um the paperwork is six pages. They would complete the first five and then a licensed health care professional completes the last page.

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Basically just giving us an idea of what that person's disability is like confirming it and then we review it in office. There's no cost for any of that. Then they get a letter in the mail that says that they're ADA eligible and you

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know and then the specifics like who to call um how does this work um you know what is the doortodoor service what does it cost I mean it's currently free um but you can use me as a resource I could email that application out um to Holly

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to share um as well as I do have a PDF of the um you know the sail bus but I could also mail them out um so really just depends on what the individual's needs are. Um, anybody can take that fixed route bus, but if somebody had a disability and they weren't comfortable

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on that fixed route bus, they have the ability to apply for ADA. >> Also, under the ADA, do they have to fill out a PT1 form? >> No, that's actually a separate service that we offer. If they have Mass Health and their Mass Health plan covers

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medical transportation, then they get a PT1 from their doctor and then they send that to us. That's a whole um different part of our office. Um that I don't typically do education on, but I can always connect you um to them because

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they're going to be the experts on that. But um usually the person's doctor will be the one they would ask about PT1s and if they have that um if they have that service available to them through their insurance. But that would be free

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medical transportation if they got a PT1 from their doctor. And then our services would be I mean somebody could use our ADA service to go to a doctor and they could certainly get on our sail bus to go to a doctor but they can actually go anywhere on that

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you know on the sail bus and then if they're ADA they can go to or from that 3/4 mile radius of the sail bus. And if someone was uncertain if that address falls under um that three quarter mile just give me a call or an

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email and I can check it for them because I know it's sometimes it's not like where the way the crow flies say. So like you know if the route is traveling around like that that 3/4 mile core area we call it um is also going to

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like move you know too. So if they're unsure, it's just just a matter of calling us and asking if it falls in that 3/4 mile radius. Um, so that would basically be the two services that we have available. Any questions?

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I know it's took me like a year to figure all this out, so I know I threw a lot >> your way, so don't hesitate to ask questions. >> Can the Gatra service also take people to the grocery store every week? Oh yeah. Yep. They can go. Yep. Anywhere. If they're ADA, they can go anywhere.

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>> I'm just not familiar is offered. So that's why I'm asking. >> Yeah. They can go anywhere to or from as long as it's within a 3/4 mile radius of a fixed route for any reason. It could be to visit a friend, lunch, grocery store, um you know, anything like that. And they would get a ride back. They

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would just when they book it would just let them know, I want to come back, you know, in an hour and a half or I'm going to need, you know, two hours to shop. And then the general rule for bringing things with them. It's whatever they could carry in one trip. So it's not

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like a limit to two bags or four bags because I don't know sometimes, you know, somebody could carry two big bags or six little bags, but we have a lot of our riders that use those shopping carts that have the two wheels and they could use them to get on the bus and use the lift. So they wouldn't have to

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necessarily carry their groceries, but as long as they could wheel that cart on the bus in one trip, then they can they can take that. Um they can take an animal if they had a cat or a small animal that could go in a carrier if they were taking them to the vet, but

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they have to be in a carrier unless they're a service dog. >> So there is no limit to the reason why they need transportation. >> Yep. No limit at all. a friend, they can any Okay, great. >> Yep. We wouldn't ask at all. Um once

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they're ADA approved, as long as they're going to or from an area within three quarter miles, they can do that. >> Great. I also have a question. Um >> Oh, yeah. Go ahead. >> You said I think that it's free right now. >> It is free covered by a grant that we

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got for our fiscal year that ends on June 30th. And I haven't received information yet if that's going to continue as of July 1st, but hopefully we should know that soon. And that's for our fixed route bus, the sale, and our

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ADA paratransit. Um, it is free. >> Okay. And what would normally be the cost? >> Um, the sale bus is normally a $1.50, 50, but anybody that is a senior through high school, a person with a disability or somebody the just the over the age of

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60 is um can get it for half fair. So it' be 75 cents. And then the ADA is normally $3 in each direction with the doortodoor service. >> Thank you.

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But hopefully free continuing after July 1st, but I don't know that information yet. >> So, excuse me. So, you're speaking for Gatra. Are you by any chance uh knowledgeable about any other

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transportation uh through say O' Colony Elderly, Lyft, Southshore, Community Action Council, the Boston Hospital Bus? I do I I the Gatra will be running the Boston hospital bus. It's something that

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they ran I want to say it was precoid but we recently got a grant for the Boston hospital bus to bring it back. So we will be reaching out to the council on agings. I'm pretty sure Kingston was one

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of them. Kingston, Marshfield, Ducksberry, Plymouth, maybe Wharham. I My boss Angie Constantino is the director of transit operations for Gatra. She has the information, but I

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can tell you that Gatra runs that Boston hospital bus and it's coming back. I just don't have the details on it yet. But basically how it operated before I wasn't with Gatra at the time but I think the senior centers coordinated transportation to a central point and

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then we picked up the people at that central point say in the you know say in Plymouth or Wearham Plymouth and maybe up into Kingston Dubberry Marshfield and then brought that whole bus to Boston for medical appointments and then took

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everybody back to that point and then the COA made transportation arrangements from that designated point back to the COA. But Boston Hospital buses coming back. The other ones I'm not familiar with, so I don't think those are Gatraer run, but you could always email me the

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list and if I have a contact with any of those organizations. I could definitely um connect you with them from an outreach perspective. I got quite a lengthy list of people in the community. Um you know, so potentially I may have a contact for you if you needed one.

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Wasn't the fee for the Boston bus $15 and there were time restraints? You had to have your appointment between a certain >> Yeah, I think they're going to want like appointments between like 9 and noon or 9 and 1. I don't know the cost, but I could definitely I'll, you know, put it

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on my notes here that once I have more information, I will share it for sure. >> Yeah, Boston. the Boston. Yeah, people are the people ask about that all the time. >> Certainly. >> So, it's coming back soon.

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>> Do you know do you have any information on anybody that would need dialysis in transportation? Um I do not but I have learned that you know doctors you know how

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doctors are affiliated with a hospital they might also be affiliated with a dialysis center but I have learned that dialysis patients can go to a different dialysis center than the doctor recommends. So maybe they could end up

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at one closer to home. We do have um there is another lady in our office named Sharon um who is our grant manager and she has been working um Med Wheels is a grantf funded program for one

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medical ride per month to a destination outside of the Gatra service area. So say like somebody lives in Kingston and they do need to go to Boston. Um it's it is very limited. So, it's not something that we highly advertise, but it's called Med Wheels.

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Um, Sharon's the one that's been trying to help people that need dialysis go to a dialysis center closer to home so they have accessible transportation. So, that's basically the only thing that I know, but I could definitely get I'm going to share Sharon's information

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here, too. But it's Med Wheels. Um, and it's Sharon O'Brien and it's um 774 2261252. But again, you can always use me as a resource.

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Um, but that would be another option maybe for medical transportation. Like I said, one ride a month. but she she's probably a good resource to find out a little bit more about other options in the community to get people to dialysis. So, I can always ask her.

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>> And I will say, speaking from a dialysis nurse perspective, um I've worked in dialysis for many years and they would get a PT1 and they'd get transportation three days a week. >> Okay. Okay. I know that's just one thing I've learned from her recently. She's been able to help people find a dialysis

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center closer to home to make sure they can get their transportation. So, I don't know if it was with PT1s or not. So, um hopefully a little bit of that information was correct. >> I know. And I know that's hard. I know that when we had um you know, we dealt with a lot of storms this year with the

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blizzard um our drivers did go on strike in September for two days. I know that when we were prioritizing the rides that we could take, they were like top of our list. All our dialysis patients we because we had supervisors that were able to drive. So we wanted to make sure that people didn't have, you know, a

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disruption in their treatment for the people that depend on our transportation. So it's very important that we work with those people. >> Yeah. >> Are you familiar with Joanne Laer? >> I have never met Joanne, but I hear the name all the time. Um I think she isn't

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she a volunteer now at a council on agent somewhere? Everybody here in the office will say, "Let's pull a Joanne because they say that she was so amazing and friendly, >> well known over it, >> accommodating." Yeah, I've unfortunately I never met her, but I hear about her

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all the time. >> You have an important job, though. >> I'm trying. It it's it's I I've been here almost three years so it's a lot to learn and um you know with our 30 communities um it's trying to remember what's what and who's what and you know

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so I do my best but I am here as a resource for you. Um if it's a question that I don't know I'll work hard to get you an answer. So please use me as a resource. Um you have my email, you have my phone number. Um yeah and I'll I'll

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share some um information. Who's Holly? is Holly here who I've been emailing. Hi Holly. So I will um nice to put the name face to a name. Um but I can send you some resources um and I'll stay in touch

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for sure regarding that Boston hospital bus, but I'll send out the sale schedule and a little bit of I can send that ADA application. Um but yeah, if anybody has Gatra questions or something I didn't cover, you know, don't hesitate to reach out.

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>> Harry, this is um Patty Wovich. She's our transportation coordinator. >> Oh, hi Patty. I have your a whole box of your old files sitting behind me that I'm sorting through when we have time. >> Copies of the sale brochures in your office. Right. >> Right. We just don't have it in the PDF file.

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>> Right. So, I'll and I can connect about that, but >> Okay. >> Would you want me to mail you some um the actual printed ones piece? >> Um yeah, I think that would be helpful. >> Okay. But I'll also send the PDF in the ADA application. I'm going to include

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Mede's info. So, you'll have Sharon's info. Um, >> the only thing I would uh double check is on Meds. I believe that's only for the Adabar Taton area unless it changed. >> Oh, no. It's for It's for all 30 of our communities. >> Oh, okay. Because it used to be grant

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funded and it was only for a certain area. So, that's great to know. >> Yep, it is. Yeah, it is grant funded and right now it's restricted to one ride a month for a medical appointment and Sharon handles all that. >> Oh wow, that's great. >> Yeah. So, I'll make sure I include that

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information, but I'll send a PDF of the sales schedule. I'll send the ADA application, um Sharon's info from Meds, and I'll drop some of the printed sale um schedules in the mail. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> You're welcome. You're welcome. It's

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nice to officially meet you, Patty. I know we've talked on the phone. >> I know you get bells and whistles and lots of praise at the Plymouth Council on Aging. >> Oh, I love to hear that. Thank you. >> Thank you. Yeah, I um I work very closely with Beth and Lindsay and um

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well, Michelle, but now there's Cheryl. I don't know. There's a handful of people, but and I go there like quarterly. Um I go there and I hang out with Lindsay and meet some of their members. So, I'm always available for, you know, if there's something you feel I could help with, just reach out and

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let me know. Like, we're having an affair or um or could you just come and table on flu shot day or, you know, any way I can help, reach out to me and I can run the ideas by Angie and, you know, see when I'm available and whatnot. But, definitely use me as a

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resource. >> Great. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Carrie. >> You're welcome. So, I'll follow up via email with Holly. Um, I'll let you guys finish your meeting. I have to head to Lakeville here shortly. Um, but um, yeah, just let me know how I can help you.

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>> Thank you. >> You're welcome. And thanks for having me today. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Bye. >> What else sometime? >> I just wanted to make a comment. Um, I was involved with Lyft through the elder services. They provide two rides to

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Boston doctor's way whatever um two a month and they're free. So uh I have all that information. I've used it several times and has >> we've spoken to >> Yeah. So there's another uh option. It's

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through elder services >> old. >> Yeah. It's a good program. >> Anybody else? anything. Okay. So, next item um the agent dementia working group livable

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and action plan date. Uh anything Holly that you'd rather speak about on your >> I have that in my director's report. >> And Kathy, any comments? >> No, I have none. >> Okay. So, we'll move to the next next item, new business three. Uh is there

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any discussion before we take a vote to recommend our new candidate uh Melissa Clemens to join our COA advisory board? >> I Okay. So, anyone want to make a motion to recommend Melissa? >> I'll make a second.

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>> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> So, Melissa, you're recommended to join. Um, now the result of this vote will be forwarded to the selection's office so that they can place this item on an

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upcoming agenda for approval and appointment of you. If appointed at that meeting, then you will be notified uh and then we'll need to stop by the town clerk's office uh immediately for swearing in and further training, conflict interests, computer things, you

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know, and any other instructions they might have for you. So this is the process we've all gone through. >> So we're gonna put it up to the board. >> Thank you very much. >> Oh, thank you for volunteering. >> Before can I just ask one question?

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>> No. >> What else is asking questions? Oh, >> did we get a um time with Scott? I mean with the board of selectments, did you on the age and dementia? Remember we were supposed to ask

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time. so that they know where we're standing on that. That's in my report. That's in your >> Okay. Read the report. No, no. Well, you have no talk about that. >> If I exit, you don't >> No, you're welcome to stay, but

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>> uh it's an open meeting. No, it's open meeting. So, you're welcome to stay, but >> Well, thank you. >> Thanks for the information. Thank you. We'll be in touch. >> We'll see. I'll see you at the end of >> It's a good idea. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> Thanks. Thank you for bringing it to us.

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>> My pleasure. Nice to meet you all. >> Nice meeting you, too. >> I'm so bad I didn't look at the director. You should be ashamed. >> I am. >> Okay. >> Okay. As far as the next item, uh if we could have just a little discussion

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regarding the our COA advisory board members current terms. In your packet, I show all our terms. Um, I'm 2028. Gail is 2028.

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Maren is 2026, which is this year. Uh, Lucy is 2027. Kathy are 2028. Paulen is 27 and then we have a vacant term for 26 which

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so my question here is um Maren unfortunately couldn't make it today but she has given me permission uh because her term is up on June 30th 26 and she's been on the board for three

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terms and in that case we we need to go around and take a vote to recommend her to go for another term. It goes up to the select board and they have a right to oversee control that vote uh wave any

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other policies we might have followed >> since maybe there's nobody knocking on the door, you know, banging the doors down to get in here. >> I should also advertise that we have we do have a >> opening. Yes, it is.

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So, um, does anyone make want to make a motion to recommend Maren to be reappointed for another term on our advisory board? >> She's been on how many terms now? >> It's two, four, six, is >> three terms.

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>> So, that makes it nine years. >> Is there threeear terms? >> We We need young. >> Does she want to stay on? >> She does. She's given me permission to do a vote today >> to recommend her to continue another term.

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>> So, does anyone want to make a motion? >> I'll make a motion to recommend Marian to be reappointed. Does anyone want a second? >> Um, I'll second because this will go to the selectman, right? >> Yes. and whatever our policies are or

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have been, they have a right to wave. And they've done it in the past with >> many other board members. >> I know a couple that have been on for their two three-year terms, taken a year off, and coming back. That's what it says in the uh by

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if you've you know if there's nobody waiting to get on or if there's somebody waiting to take your spot and you've already served two threeyear terms then >> but they take a year off and if there's

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something open after that year you can come back. >> Yeah. Some >> but it's up to the select board to vote it. >> Yeah. So, we're we don't have anybody banging down. >> We had a a motion and seconded by Are All in favor?

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>> In favor, >> Lucy? No. >> No. >> Okay. Are you in favor? So, there's four here. So, that's >> three to one. >> Yeah. So now the results of this vote will be forwarded again to the selectman's

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office to be placed on their upcoming meeting for their approval and reappoint of Maren. Even though Maren would be serving more than what our policy state, it is up to the board of selectman to wave policies. It's in their hand as they have done in the past to allow

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approval and reappoint. If improve if approved and reappointed for another three-year term, Maren will have to then do the same route of the town clerk's office swearing in for another term and any related procedures.

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So, okay, the second part of this agenda item, uh we all need to think about our personal interests and goals for the new fiscal year ahead. Uh we will be holding an election for offices at the June 26

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COA advisory board meeting for a chair, vice chair, and secretary. Uh anybody want to have any discussion or >> is that going to be enough time? Do didn't we run into trouble because we had a late uh vote last time?

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It has to be done before the fiscal year starts, right? Last year it was late because >> the reappoints were late. The select board didn't get to them until like the end of June. >> Okay. >> But now we got we have a jump on >> further. Yeah. Okay.

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>> So any discussion for any positions or um just because we're >> Keny takes good notes. >> I mean I'll want to get a new chair or secretary or vice chair. You do a good

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job. >> And so do >> you may be sick of me. >> We're not sick of you by any means. You do a super job. >> You do a good job. >> So, do you want to just >> We need to think about it. >> Just something to think about. Um >> because we've got Melissa coming on.

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>> That's right. >> Maybe Melissa might want to hop in and be some of the crazies like us. >> But let's now that we know it's needs to be done. Let's think about it. It's a thought. >> Yeah, >> but there's no secretary.

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>> I am. >> But just think about it. You know, >> it's a new year, >> new goals. >> And who wouldn't want to see my notes? >> I can't even read them. >> So, okay. Now, as far as the next item,

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uh, staff and committee reports. Holly, >> sure. >> Director, >> uh, do you all have a copy of my report? Yes. Where I put it? >> Do you need one, Lucy?

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>> Yes. Uh so just quickly programs uh this month at the senior center are Frank Franklin speaking, a local history presentation with Nick Culis from the Kingston Public Library, train your brain, we have a few craft classes, we

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have watercolor painting, uh learn to play majong, which I see some of the ladies are already here because that starts at 12:30. Um yesterday we held our volunteer appreciation lunchon. We had about 30

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people attend that. >> Uh tomorrow Thursday is healthcare national healthcare decisions day. Jenny our outreach coordinator and um Annie our town nurse have a table set up in the library uh all talking about healthcare decisions and she'll they'll

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have forms available for people to take and kind of talk through um some important stuff. We just started our end of life conversations initiative with Cheryl Berry. So she had an event at the beginning of the month. >> Did How did that go? >> Great. Really good. Yeah. And so she'll

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have the lunchon at the end of the month next Friday. >> You don't have to attend the first one to go to that second one. Still want >> and then our community cupboard uh which I think I'm talking about later on. Um so that's just sort of a snapshot.

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really busy month this um save the date. Friday, May 29th, we'll be hosting a health and safety fair at the senior center. The event will run from 10 to noon and will provide an opportunity to share information on resources that are

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available to seniors in our area to support them as they age. Partner agencies and local businesses have been invited to join us withformational materials and giveaways for seniors. Uh I think that advisory board members are encouraged to attend and volunteer to

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help out during the fair. We'll have lots of vendors. We're going to take up the whole center. So navigating way finding if people are available to kind of help uh traffic control that day, let me know there we love the help.

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Uh budgets. The FY27 COA budget was voted on at the finance committee meeting on March 5th and was approved in the amount of $433,947.77. >> I was 77. >> One of the conversations among the committee members focused on food budget

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and cafe revenue. Uh I say conversations just minimal questions, not much, but you can watch that meeting if you'd like. Uh, the council on aging recently received a donation of $50,000 from the state of Virginia, Barbara Potter, who

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passed away on November 8th, 2025. Barbara was an avid bingo and bridge player here at the center and directed that a portion of her estate be given to the Council on Aging. As directed by Barbara's nephew and the executive of her will, Mark, the donation was made,

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quote, as a sincere thanks to the Kingston Council on Aging for the support, services, and sense of community you provided to Barbara during her time living in Kingston. The donation is unrestricted and was accepted by the board of selectmen at

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their meeting on March 10th. So that was very generous. the Liverable Kingston working group. Uh the working group met on March 2nd and our guest presenter was Karen Peterson. Karen's the community benefits manager at uh Beth Israel Deaconist Hospital

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Plymouth. Karen presented the most recent community health needs assessment that was completed in 2025 and identifies health disparities among the four towns that fall within the the hospital's community benefits service area which is Plymouth, Carver,

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Kingston, and Dubury. The information that Karen shared from the report echoes the findings from our public survey identifying barriers to care in the community, affordability and accessibility, education and awareness

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etc. It was just we saw a lot of overlap a lot of the same issues from you know the community at large. Our next meeting will be held on May 4th. Uh Joanne Sigman is out of medical

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I believe so we did not our next meeting will be on May 4th and the guest speaker will be Charlie Kilmer the deputy director and transportation program manager at Old Colony Planning Council. So the next focus area that we're discussing is transportation. Uh I

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anticipate being able to present a draft plan to the board of selectment at a meeting in late May or early June. So once I have that draft plan from Joanne, which she says is coming late May, early June, that's when I'll be able to go to the board of selectmen, it doesn't make sense for me to go now and just say, "Oh, hey, here's what we're talking

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about." And then go back a month later and say, "Here's the draft plan." >> Does that answer your question? >> Yes. >> Would answer. >> The community cupboard, our first community cupboard was held on April 1st

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and we had 25 people come in for items. These items will be offered every other Wednesday from 1:30 to 3 o'clock. So, we have our next one tomorrow. Uh outreach. Uh Jenny provided us a chart which is in your packet. These are

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the top 10 areas of outreach assistance that were provided in February and March because we had our March meeting week due to the uh weather. In April, Jenny will be working with our town nurse Annie to put together resources uh that I mentioned for the healthcare national

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healthcare decisions day among many other things that Jenny's always busy with. Uh transportation in the month of February, we provided 250 rides through our transportation program and we had one new rider. In

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March, we provided 402 rides and had three new riders. So March was our busiest month since August of 2025 and that month was 393 rides. So as I go through them, you know, month over month, I just thought it was important

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to point out that there are so many factors that account for increases and decreases in the number of rides that we do every month. Um, obviously the weather is a huge one. Um, and the time of the year. So seniors don't typically go out much in the winter. later on.

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It's dark, it's cold, there's icy sidewalks in Florida, >> there are snowbirds. That's a lot of That's right. Um, but beyond that, there's other factors such as traffic conditions, school buses, construction, just busy roads,

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uh, rider punctuality that need to be considered. So, when I say that, I mean people that have medical needs. So, Carrie was talking about deploying the lift. That takes longer. People that use walkers, that use wheelchairs, it just takes longer to

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get them where they need to go on the front end and at the drop off time, too. So, I just think it's it's a lot for people to factor in that we're doing, you know, over 400 rides a month in the five days out of the work week between

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the eight hours of the days that we're here. It's a lot and it's a huge credit to Patty and our drivers that everything runs smoothly, but it's important for people to remember that, you know, we need a little bit of grace in terms of pickup time and drop off time and we

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afford that to the riders as well. So, just busy all around. Uh the cafe in February, the cafe served 243 meals and we were closed for three days due to the blizzard. Uh the building was shut down. In March, the

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cafe served 363 meals which included 46 for our St. Patrick's Day. Um, I had a reminder that of the town meeting, but I understand that that may get pushed out. So, uh, you can

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>> Oh, really? >> Yes. I think we'll know more tomorrow >> after the meeting tomorrow night. Select board having a meeting >> a special meeting >> to discuss possible postponing of the town meeting.

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>> I miss terrible >> and it's on Wednesday. I'm surprised >> it's a special meeting. suspicion. >> Is that it, Lily? Um, not to take up everybody's time, but under say my chair report, I was just reviewing our

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policies and procedures and bylaws, and things have been going pretty smooth. Uh, about a year ago, we fine-tune our policies and procedures to be in sync with all the bylaws, and the selectman approved any changes we made. And as you

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know, we can always update uh and have selectman approve, but things have been going okay. Um if a bylaw needed to be changed, as you know, it would have to be on their docket for approval at an annual town meeting. So,

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and we've also followed our policies in recruiting new and reappointing current members when their terms have been up and all final decisions, as always, fall into the hands of our select board. And as you know again, our role as an

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advisory board is only to advise and help the director when needed outside of day-to-day operations. And Paul's been instrumental in getting us all back on track, taking lead of our COA along with their staff, having done a fabulous job.

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Um, so we are here to stand behind them, support them, and in the best interest of the seniors moving forward in these difficult times. So, and I also included, not that I want to, you know, take time up, but I I

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follow this tech woman. Her name is Kim Commando, and she always has the latest on the AI and all that. So, I thought I'd I shared with you some brochures on that just for your reading pleasure. And there was one interesting one. There

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was a man that trained AI to sound like his wife. >> Oh, interesting. >> I believe she had dementia. So she was actually talking to him when So this is how the world's coming to >> kind of be replaced. Isn't that wonderful?

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>> So anyway, that's all I have to say. Um but uh as far as any other business uh is there anybody to be remembered? >> Well, let's thank um >> let's thank her.

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>> Wonderful. and we got some ideas but we'll discuss it. >> Anybody else remembered or knowledge? >> Okay. Our next regular meeting will be held on May 12th at 11:30

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um here at Kingston COA plus Zoom. The time now is 12:23. Does anyone want to make a motion to adjurnn? >> I'll make a motion. Lucy, anybody second? All in favor?

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>> I. >> Well, thank you. >> We made it. >> Be safe and well. >> Have a great day. >> Very happy.