John Coco Rosemary Karen here Tony Leonetta and we have two guests tonight. He's put in an application to
be a member of this council on aging and we also have Bob Holmes here from the Chronicle. So we welcome all you great to have you here today. So um so it's great to meet we have it's
exciting to meet um after the vote and we'll be discussing we'll be discussing that uh a little bit as our last item on the agenda. So we have our typical agenda items. Um the select board update maybe for I don't know I don't elder and
human services report the ea funding request and vote elder and human services revolving account program fees that's new which is great the fun and update elig assessment update friends and ready seniors fun update and then a
retail discussion and next steps for us as a coa and um Okay. So, let's So, seeing no one here from the select board, let's go to Chris, elder and community service company board. And
one of the things I really appreciate, Chris, you've um organized everything all in one document. So, yeah, follow. Thank you. Um All right. We had, as you can see, if you have a monthly PSC report, um we had
another really good month. Um we were um you know, you can take a look at our numbers right there. We we had um you know, I think everyone knows um you know, I always strive for an average of 3,000 interactions. Um and we were just above
that in April, which is really nice. Um so um we're having you know this has been a really good year numbers wise for us. Um so um you can see there if you have any questions about them please feel free to ask. Volunteers is on the
bottom of that page. Dennis continues to do great with volunteers. Um if you go to the second page um you know you can see the weight lists. We had lunch and learn. Um, we had a couple smaller events which gave
us but we still had a few weight list folks, not big weight lists, but um, you know, we had to draw the line. So, you can kind of take a look at our weight list that we had. Um, uh, a lot of great events and, uh, we
have a lot of great events coming up in May. Um, so you can take a look at the pleasantries, kind of take a look what's going on. Um uh earlier this month in May, May 5th, we had a great uh mini bus trip to Peody Essex Museum. So folks had a
really nice time there, which was nice. We spent a good portion of the day. Uh we got a tour. Um and then they were a folks were able to walk around for a couple hours. Um so it was a really good trip. Um I want to say how many people
participated? Um 13. We max at 14. We had 14, but was in the It was in the regular van. It's our many It's on our van that we max out at 14. We had 14, though. One person couldn't last minute couldn't make it,
so we had 13, which is fine. Um, so that was good. Um, I want to say thank you to the um to the uh uh just the last Thursday uh the Lions Club had its annual Lions Club senior dinner here. Um it's always
a fantastic event. great turnout. Um, we had 60 and I think we had 61 and I think we had 61 people. So, um, it was a great event. So, thank you. I can't say thank you enough for the Lions Club for putting on a senior
dinner every pretty much every May. Um, so it's a great organization and it's really nice that they do that. Um, April 16th, I'm going to just jump to April really quickly. We had a great evening event. Let Ted Reinstein from the Boston
Chronicles speak here on Wednesday, April 16th. Um it really was fantastic. I was here and listened in listen to it. It just fascinating. Um he gives a really great It's the second time we've had him. Um and he just gave another
good presentation. So I want to say thank you to Anna for getting him back and getting that set up. It was a great um I forgot to put the numbers on there, but it was a packed house. Packed house for a 6:30 p.m. event. So I think we had um 65 I think we had about 65. We didn't
have tables, so we can increase our numbers a little bit. Um so we just have chairs. So um I'd have to look at the numbers, but I think we had 65 70 people, which was great for a 6pm event. So well attended. um back in uh
[Music] uh sorry that one shouldn't be on there. Uh PSC had a great um tomorrow is our annual health fair. Sorry I'm jumping around a little bit. Tomorrow is our annual health fair here
from 10 to 12 pm. Um we have 20 almost 30 vendors which is nice. Um, it's usually a really good event. So, if you're around, please stop by. Um, you can stay for five minutes, you can stay for an hour. It's a great opportunity to talk to talk to folks, ask questions,
you know, gather information. So, it's always a pretty well uh really good event. Uh, and kudos to Olivia for, you know, taking over that and um getting it organized. Um, so she's worked really hard. So, we're excited for tomorrow's
health health fair here. um tax work off. Um we've had we still have 10 applicants which is great. We have 10 slots, 10 applicants. So, thank you again to Janet. They'll start in July. Um we're just wrapping up some interviews this week and uh we'll be
good to go. So, we're excited for the property tax workoff program to it's really blossomed and uh Janet's done an amazing job with that. Um we continue to push online registration for programming signups through my active center. So that's going really well and we are
closed on uh Monday uh May 26 for Memorial Day. Any questions on any of that? Go ahead. Question to the application to the property. That's the Yep. We we requ
this year. Right. So, one of the things now with increasing taxes with both of these projects um being approved, I I was wondering about increasing the number of applicants because taxes will increase regardless of uh the votes that
just happened. Our plan was to go back next year if this is the cliffh what limits how many people we can it it's just we as long as we get approval for the funding. What we did this year is um rather than ask for we we just since we didn't know how this
was going to go and we've only been having one or two folks um we kept the same amount of money. Um we kept we kept the same amount of money that we had previously been using every year.
Um, the big thing is you got to remember this year we went from $8 an hour to $15 an hour. Um, you know, we don't take we try not to take drastic steps. We try to be responsible, especially if we don't know. You know, we're going from one person this past year, you know, we're
not just going to automatically increase it to 20 or 30 because we don't know. So, you know, we were responsible. We increased the hourly rate. We requested within our budget what we could budget within that $15 an hour rate and how many slots that would give us and that
was 10 slots. Um you know which seems to be very successful. We've had more applications than those 10. Um a few people just didn't turn them in. Some people just didn't want to um show us their tax their um tax amount which is
understandable. So we're going to assess and you know improve um and next year we'll look since it looks to be successful to improve those increase the number of slots. When it used to be you know uh went for years and years it was 25 was the amount of people. Oh used to
there used to be 25. Yes. I mean we could have had if we stayed at the $8 if we would have stayed at the $8 we could have had the more slots. But what I'm hearing you say is more people tried but the M but then they decided not to.
It just happened. It just happened that the 10 it basically fulfilled the need. Yeah. Yeah. We need and it it just happened that we we just had 10 full applicants. It just you know we didn't have we were ready for more um and more
applications were out there but some people like I said no because they didn't want to do the tax thing. We just got to the 10 and we were like, "All right, we're we're good." So, Jean, if for some reason uh someone who is
committed to this volunteer, not volunteering, but with this work program, if they were to move or leave the town, is there a backup person or backup applications that We could take a look. Yeah, we could take a look if So, if someone drops out and we go down to
nine slots or something, we could take a look. Um because we do, you know, we don't lose that money or funding. We could we could look at filling that slot. One question. There's the other program too that the ones that qualify for the circuit breaker. Circuit breaker. Yeah.
That's got a different time flow, doesn't isn't it? Is it I don't know what it is, but can we advertise it in fees if we aren't already? We can. Yeah, we can. It's Yeah. help some people. Yeah. No, we're definitely taking a look
at things and especially now that you know two things went through vote um and we're examining and I've always said that before over the past year is you know if these pass vote and even if they don't pass vote um if they didn't pass
vote um you know we're still looking um still looking at ways to help older adults especially you know folks who who are having financial aid um struggles. um to help. So, any other questions on the report
I don't know if I missed it. Did you mention the senior trip on the I think it was the 8th and 9th of May. Oh, well done. You should join the COA. Well done. Yes. Thank you. It's been a
busy It's been a busy month. So, I miss I I forgot to put that on there. Yes. Uh we we had our first overnight uh trip. Um we had a bus load go up to um Traps Family Lodge up in Vermont uh last week uh Thursday and Friday. It was an
overnight very It was a good trip. We paired with another uh I think we paired with another group which was nice, which we do sometimes. Um, you know, they the Royal Tours always likes to fill the bus, but we had a good bus load. I heard great things. I haven't heard anything
bad. It was a little bit rainy, but it was a lot rainy. I wasn't going to go there, John. I wasn't going to go there. We're already depressed with the weather. Let's not have to. It It drizzled one day and boy, but even with the rain, I've heard
really good things. It was It was a good trip, you know. So, how many? 29. you know, and it was it was 10 from me. So, we're on 39 on the bus. Yeah. So, it's really nice. We had 29, they had 10. Um,
and it's nice that they uh they do they do try hard if we if we kind of get close to the number and there's another senior center that is kind of can still fill the other half of the bus. It's nice because we can get the trip to go. Um, where were the 10 from Maine? Maine.
I see. So it went to Maine and then up to Vermont. No, no, it um we met in conquered. They came over from a bus and we went from there and it it was uh particularly good because the owner of Royal Tours
was the one who was on the bus the whole trip. And she um she she runs things very very well. They do a good job. The buses are nice. Um they usually they have buses. They they know buses that are typically any
older than five or six years at most, which is nice. So, they keep rotating their buses in and out. It's nice bus, comfortable, and so I'm really glad. Thank you for mentioning reminding me of that. It was you went I did. It was a
good trip. Yeah, I'm good. Was exced that as John always said, the weather was the weather. The end was very nice. That's fantastic. So, any other overnight trips planned this year? Not this year. We we just did one this year to see how it will go. Um,
you know, we have a lot of we have day trips for the rest of the year planned. So, take a look at that. Um, but not fiscal year. Uh, calendar year. So, up until December. So, but yeah, good trip. I'm
glad you enjoyed it. So, success. Any other questions on the report? There's a good chance I missed something. But I do have to say, like I said, I can't say it enough. Um, numbers are
good. Um, people are happy. Um, you know, come down on a Monday morning or a Friday morning at 9 to see best exercise. We usually have 30 to 35 people in the downstairs room. So, you know, if people are, you know, you want
to see a packed house, come on down. Um, you know, there are times throughout the week that it's a little bit low-key, which is nice because staff need to get things done and we plan it that way on purpose. But, you know, come on a Monday. Um because we go from best exercise, setting up for bingo at
10:30, yoga at 11:15, lunch at 12:15, tear down, privilege at 1:00, and then 2:00 is Zumba. So that is our day and that's what it looks like. Um you know, it's pretty packed. So anyhow, kudos to the staff. I want to say thank you to
the staff. Thank you. So the uh the funding has been vote. Yes. Um something just came up rec uh just in
the past since Friday and I would I need a request from the patrons patrons uh trust. Um what I would like to originally I was going to pay for a program and I think I can do this but
correct me if I'm wrong. Marilyn's gonna say yes or no on this one. I was just um I know I was um what we'd like to do is we need to get a few more Knox boxes for the town.
Um if you don't know what a Knox box is, um Knox is a lock box essentially that older adults um can put on their by their front door. It connects and the fire department has the access code so they can get into the
house if there's an issue or an emergency. Um it's a it's a great program. Uh I don't know how many I forgot to ask Carrie before I left today how many NOX boxes we have out there. It's quite a few. They're very handy. We typically there is guidelines that we
use policy um that we use. Um, so usually it's for folks who have like a severe um like a disability, some sort of disability typically like mo mobility who they can't really get out of the house. Um, you know, a lot of them are
kind of living alone. So if you're if they have a disability living alone, that really is what we kind of look for. Um, any mental health. Um, we we've added mental health into there. And then also the the other thing that we kind of look look at for
criteria on this is the frequency of calls to emergency medical personnel. Um so we take all those into consideration those one two three four things. So if they have a disability living alone um
mental health any mental health issues and um frequency if they're kind of a calling 911 a lot. Um, but it's nice because that means emergency response can get to to the person. Do you have
any Do you have any idea why they went from 27 to $45 in such a short period of time? What's different about them? I don't know. I don't know where that was. It was 27. It's 200 and 450. Yes. That
was the numbers that were explained to us. Um, so the way it works is it's literally a box. Uh there's and I can't remember if these have a key or a punch code. Some have like a little punch code um that the fire department sets. Once they push in the code, it opens up the
lock box and there's a key that people can can use to get, you know, in to help somebody in an emergency or if they need assistance. Chris, excuse me. This is going to be overseen by the first
responders in town by So who keeps the security code? So that's the that's the first responders. But you this is not a new program. I want you to know this. This has been going on for years. Yep. I always thought it's the fire one time
that valley would do that for their client. No, not Mystic Valley. That's we do not give it out. completely something different. Yeah, it's completely separate. It's fire department. Carrie is the one that kind of um I want to kind of say interview, but kind of goes
through see. Anyhow, we're um we're out of them right now. And I just thought this would be a good opportunity to request some prompts from patrons. Can I do that? Patron says the book just happened to have it with me today. um
patrons um the income they're from to be used no less frequently than annually which is why I keep saying that sponsor programs which support the social needs of reading senior citizens such as but not limited to parties group events
transportation to such events etc which doesn't sound but you've got Schroeder Schroers over there pardon me well that's why that's what I was trying to figure out because it doesn't exclude it. No, it doesn't. But Schroeder on the other hand, a it
belongs to elder services. So you don't even need a I don't believe you need a vote for is my interpretation this. But this one is the money is to be used for others who need it andor would appreciate small items or services that would enable them to live more comfortably and happily. That that
sounds I'm okay using Troder. I just know we have to use patrons, right? So, I wanted to I wanted to ask um I'm okay if you say no because we have another Yeah, I'm not the jury on this, but my reading of patrons is it doesn't it
sounds like it's more social. Is there another alternative? Well, we could pull from a Schroer or some other look for grants, but I just thought this could be a I know it was right on the line. I just figured it was worth asking since we have to pull from patron. What
have we pulled from before for these? I don't recall anything about uh a lot of times it's like a grant if we apply for a grant fire department applies for a grant but we just thought this would be a good opportunity. Could we go back to what Norah said about $450? So they are
just so you know they were they found new different ones that are $227 each. Um so almost half the price. Oh okay. Yeah. So we found it used to be $450.
There's different kinds out there. You don't you don't want to get bought you don't want to go too cheap, right? If the wind blows and it falls off, not good. Not good. Um so um you know, so we did find them for uh two 227 each. But I
will I'm curious about this is new to me as well. How many are out there right now? I like I said a little bit ago, I forgot to ask Carrie how many are out there. Quite a few. Um, but I I will have to get I don't even I can't even guess right now. I don't I think I think
it's 20. I think it's 20. Do they get turned back in? They're supposed to They're supposed to get back turned back in if something happens. Now, does that always happen? I was just wondering the fire the fire department
and uh Carrie here um as a center. Now, just like anything else, you know, some get returned and we can reuse them. Other times, you know, family members take them and, you know, they kind of disappear. You know, it's like lifeline. You know,
when something happens when someone passes away, you know, they have this box, they you maybe the family member just came into town, they don't know what it is, and they take this box and, you know, we try. Let's I mean, there's only so much we can do. to expand on,
you know, what you asked long before Chris, you know, was was in town. Um, it was a fairly uh active uh service program, but one of the things that um people started souring on it was that
they were losing track of too many of them and you know, they're relatively expensive and all of a sudden they they just didn't know where they all were. And I think part of it came out that there wasn't really good recordkeeping as to where they had given them. But we're doing better. We've like
everything else, we're doing better over the past year or two um to keep track and you know do what we need with that. So So we need a vote. Well, we need to decide where you want to take it from. I mean I'm not the judge on this. That's
why I'm asking. So [Music] a motion file any um ideally five but happy with three. If it was five it'd be $1,135. If it is um three it is um
[Music] um $681. happy to get three for now. So, they don't go out too quickly, but it's nice to have some in sock so when someone calls and they need it, we have How many do you think you need right now? I mean,
ideally five. Five would be great. Just go for the five. 11:35. I make a motion that we go for five from which Oh, I know. I'm not clean on this. Did you say well Schroer is I don't I
don't have to ask from Schroeder. I was asking from patrons. Right. Schroer belongs to Elder Services and we don't have to vote on that at all. He wants to use Schroer but it's smaller and it's supposed to just be the interest and I don't know where you stand. That's why I'm asking for patrons because Schroeder
is a little bit smaller. We have some patients and we have bigger and um it is roer [Music] it is 85 ready to write
[Music] 85,000 85,000 oven and Schroeder has 39. There's two pages. I always So, there might be 39, but we can always pull pull it from Schroeder, but
1500 boxes. Well, that's not I don't need I don't need a vote on but he's asking I'm asking for patrons but that's what I'm saying that's why I'm having clarification gets back to where we need those reports and keeps asking for that
shows how many interests we have and where things stand I mean we have plenty but patron started at 125,000 and now you're saying it has only 85,000 maybe I read that wrong hold on let me per I'm only seeing 85. Oh, nope. 211
211. Sorry, it's the second page. That sounds we have 211 and 39. So, well, it does assist elders in avoiding isolation and circumstances. Well, that's but you know under circumstances for people who are isolated to help make a social in a
way. Okay. So So now we need a motion for that from a motion. I still think we should take from Okay. Well, we have no say on right. She's saying we don't need she doesn't
want to make a vote. Well, you can't make a motion on shorter anyway because it's right. So she's not want it out of the yellow. If he wants it out of patrons, we have to And you would like to make a vote. Make a motion to take it from patrons. I'll make a motion to take
the amount we just talked about from patrons. Any discussion? Okay, seeing none, I Joan came on so we do need to do a roll call. Nancy Zamlac, yes. Marilyn Chappley, yes. John Pyson, here.
Oh, yes. Not here. Joan Koko, yes. Maria Deanto, yes. Karen Pette, yes. And Karen Janowski, yes. So, it passes. How many is that? One, two,
three, four, five, six, seven. Seven to one. I love when we don't have the exposed. Thank you. I I d the birthday of opinion. It's great. Um, that means people are
listening. Yes. And with think thoughtfully thinking things through. Okay. Um, thank you. the um elder human services revolving account and program. Uh yes. Um so
um so the we got our revolving account um through um which is great through town meeting which is uh which is fantastic. It's really nice to have that now. um you know so we which means what's nice about it is we can start
collecting uh fees and fees can go into that account and then we can use that account to pay instructors and whatnot um which is fantastic. What's really nice about this account is unlike recreation um recreation at the end of
the um fiscal year their anything they have left in their revolving account goes back to the general fund. What's nice about this, don't ask me the details and why, but um what's nice about it is funds that go into here and carry over. There's a
duck. Um the really funny um the funds in our account carry over to the next year, so it just, you know, keeps going, which is really nice. So, we're really excited.
Um, and I'm really glad this um, this went through. Um, I have to say, I'm just going to add to this really quickly. I think it's still within this item or this role. You know, over the past two years, um, I have to say, um,
we got the friends group going, which is fantastic. Uh, we got the revolving account. Um, and we're really getting a lot of good things set up. So, I want to say kudos to um to everyone that's
helped helped with all this. Um you know, so I I just think it's worth worth saying thank you. And it's it's just great over a short period of time that you know what what we have accomplished. So kudos and I'm really glad that we
have this revolving account now. It's just the next step that we needed for EHS. So and thank you to Jenna for her work on that. Thank you, Jenna. if you can hear us. We're just doing our jobs.
Yeah. Intel medium members for it. So, Yep. Um, what that mean? And then we are we are currently What's that? You have a question. What fees are you collecting? Yep. So, we're not collecting any fees right now. We're taking an assessment.
Um we will you know we've been fortunate for about six months not that with the ARPO fund that we have earmarked um that we we've been able to reduce the cost to very no fees for a lot of our exercise classes and stuff. Now we have about
another eight months of eight months give or take of that. Um but soon we'll start again collecting fees. What that looks like yet we're not quite sure. I know Jen and I had a talk today and we're kind of assessing this. Um, and the plan is I think we're going to
assess it and then we'll kind of bring it back to a future COA meeting. Um, so we can um let you uh let you know what we think and then we can discuss it as a COA. Jean, I think I brought this up
once before. When you do start this, are you going to start it gradually with various programs? Um maybe like in September might be a good time to start it as the it might be a little bit sooner than September. Um I
think there's been a lot of talk more talk about maybe in July. Um and it'll be gradual. We're not just going to be like, "Hey, you're paying $10 for class." No, no, no, no. We want to keep it reasonable. Um you know, we want to,
you know, just gradually put put it in. Um what's nice about it is some classes um depending on the instructor's fees some of the you know exercise classes has go a little bit longer with ARPA and then others so it kind of gives us an
automatic kind of grad kind of gradual gradually will you be bringing this up as an intro to the senior community in a little of a talk to let them know something is going to
Now, but you have to remember um ever before this past November, there's always been fees. I mean, this is not new. So, we have to keep this in mind, you know, the people come for exercise classes. It was either three or $5 per class, you know, and
that's been going on for years. We've just it's been great that we've had this and lunches, you know, and we're not talking about a large fee, you know, it could be two or three dollars, you know. Is this for everyone or non-reing and
ready? Well, that's what that's what we're kind of examining now. Um, it'll it'll probably be for both, but you know, maybe we start with non-residenting first and increase that fee. Maybe that'll be a little bit higher. We're trying to assess this some
of the challenges that I have observed right the residents of less in Yep. Yeah. Right here. Yeah. Yeah. You know, we've gone through to see I've talked to other town I've started
talking to other towns. You know, I call the other directors. Um, you know, I just did it a couple weeks just to kind of get a sense of like what are they charging and and it varies town to town. You know, some towns charge a little bit more, some towns charge a little bit less. You know, other towns, you know,
it varies. So, we're trying to assess, we want, we have some time, but again, we're trying to do it right. Um, and but we also trying to make it reasonable um and equal um you know, for everyone. you know, we don't want to charge too much
um because there are some PE folks in town that you know, once you start to charge, they have to ch pick a chart with the tax probably are some participants that are coming because they want to be char these these programs are at no cost
due to the art of funding. Yep. And this is really important. Yeah. So, yeah. So, you'll come back to us with a Yeah. Yep. Great. Because we also have to figure out now that we have the revolving. We I mean, it just went through this past month. You know, we'll
have to we're figuring out the system we want to use for like payments, you know, there. So, there's some details that we, Jenna and I and the team have to kind of, you know, process through. So I want to make sure I get the team's inputs, get our input before we be like, "All
right, this is the plan." So Rosemary, thank you. Explain a revolving account. Um, it's it's essentially an account that we can put money in and we can take money out for the at to pay. Um, so it kind of revolves when it goes in, money
goes goes out really. Um, money is going to be kept in the center overnight as you collect. Well, we're trying not to do cash. Um, but again, we're trying to assess this. It won't be kept at the center. It's like any other check or donation or anything I get. It's
almost unless it's like an odd time I walk it away. But almost 99.9% of the time I walk it right over to town hall and get it submitted. So, it's documented, out of my hands, and all
set. So almost automatically every day if it comes in the mail 10 minutes later I take a walk and see Jenna or Sue. Thanks. Thank you. And trust fund and ARA update. That's you and Jenna.
Um I will you can take a look at the trust funds. Um you know again we just we just touched patrons for the first time in you know this year. So, you know, take a look at the trust funds. Um, you know, read through. Jenna, did
you want to say something about um I know Jenna had some folks reach out to her about having um Diana Sharon come in. Jenna, she Hello. Um, yes. So, I've reached out to
Diane Morbido. There is that spreadsheet that we give out every like six months or so that goes line by line with the expendable amounts, the non-expendable amounts, um the interest that's earned, and there's always some questions that I
feel like maybe Chris and I can't answer as well as those particular folks in finance can and even some of the trust fund commissioners. So, I asked her if she could come to a future meeting um if that's still something that um you guys all want. I know I got a couple
inquiries. So, will that be okay with everyone? It's a very good way to do it because they're the ones that haven't the the ex experts, let's say. If I could ask a question to Jenna. Jenna, you and I talked about the fact that the report
that we get is very different than the one that if if I you walk in the office and you ask Diane Morabido for one um and I asked you um why couldn't we get a report like the one she has which is more inclusive than this. Did you ever
address that? Yeah. So, she doesn't do that type of reporting monthtomonth that she provides every six months to us. It's not something that she does on a monthly basis. So when we ask her for that, I think she has to do a deep d deep dive into um a lot more.
So Munice doesn't intuitively give that report. The system that we have in Munice gives these reports that you're seeing today, but that report is something that she makes on her own. So, um, it's not something that she would provide on a monthly basis,
only annual or you can look at doing it one once or twice a year because it's a little bit more involved. What what you get from the trust funds and stuff is what we get monthly here at the office um to show where we're at with the trust funds. But if you were to walk in and ask for it
tomorrow, she she could produce it right away in two seconds. I I don't I don't think so. Not to my knowledge. Maybe. I mean, that's not my understanding. Have you gone in and asked for that and she's just handed it to you? Yep. Yes. John, what additional
information is on that that that is not It's more conclusive. They're just much easier to read, much easier to understand. When she's standing over, you're explaining it to me. Well, I mean, that's like, yeah, maybe it's a different report than
the one that I'm thinking of. Take a look. We'll ask her to bring something that's easier to follow when she does come. Will she also talk with us about the update or is that something you'll talk about now? Yeah. So, the ARPA update, all of our
contracts are um like Chris said, they're all procured, all of our programs, all of our trips, things like that. Um so, they're all buttoned up in a fund um in under contracts and all under their
separate POS. So, if there's some information you guys would like in regard to those concrete numbers on how much is left for each vendor or something like that, we can definitely provide that. Um, but for now, we are we're all
everything's good to go. That's right. It's all spent. Like I said, it's a little bit dynamic because if instruct we we assume it's going to be one thing, but sometimes instructors are out or there's some shift in something. So that
shifts it shifts it. Um as I said earlier in the meeting tonight, um we have roughly for a lot of our exercise programs right around eight months. Um seven to eight months. I know when I when um Jen and I were looking at it
about a month or two ago, like I think I calculated about 9 to 10 months. So, we're at that like 7 to eight more months of um um funding for a lot of our um classes. So, what is the time frame
that it actually the OPA funds are extended up to end? If correct me if I'm wrong, Jenna, but I think we can go to the end of 2026 if we have it, but we will not go all the way. It will not last that long. That's correct.
Great. Thank you. I have a question. If collecting money for our town and the senior, what access do we have to those funds? Um, so that is up to the friends group. It is up to the discretion of the
friends group. Um there's they met recently with Yep. they've met with Carrie and myself to ask some needs um you know what I have the one thing I have told them um is and and what
they're kind of doing kind of like our kind of like with our trust funds is I told them this is a good time to grow money because we don't necessarily need it right now but this is a great time to continue to raise money so in a here or when we
get closer especially we get closer to when recal opens. um you know maybe I know pre in I know in other towns like friends groups you know they've bought furniture they've bought pool tables you
know um you know so I've kind of there are talks it is again their full discretion um but no yeah but you want to talk about fundraiser is that no
friends coming up. That's on the agenda in a minute. The other need to send an update with Marilyn. Oh, I'm going to ask that we let that table till next month because I got involved and that's why I'm carrying this lovely new notebook around and I'm
trying with Nancy trying to update this because we started this three years ago and we got sideswiped with quite a few other projects, but we're back and we got new people coming. It's good time. So next month for that and I while I'm speaking
inquire we we jumped right over our minutes because we don't have any and I'd ask that we put secretary on the agenda again and we would be willing to do this like they do for other do you think that's possible Jenna
someone from town hall to be able to take meeting minutes? No, they used to. Not. They used to. Yeah, we're really short staffed right now. Um I know, you know, the recreation committee, they have a secretary and what they do is
they rotate um you know, every couple months I think they rotate the person so it's not like overwhelming and someone's not committing to it for like a year. Um so, but yeah, really short staff in the town hall. We um unfortunately just found out today that we lost someone in
the town manager's office. So um Jackie will be completely inundated with the nighttime meetings and I don't know who else would be available or be able to be paid over time or anything like that. So there are any summer interns?
No. Do you want to become a secret? Is that what you're mean? No, I It could be something that a property tax worker could do. Take meeting minutes or something. AI. I
have a question. Um um for the AI experts of the room, Karen, I know few or there might be more, but um if if we can get the um record for this, the written
record and we put it the text from video. Yeah. And how and that doesn't take very long, does it? again. Someone would need to edit it to make
sure I I'll try it for this month if you want. I don't know if this meeting's been recorded um by AI this particular meeting, but we can in the future just automatically have them record. Well,
RCTV is recording it, right? So, it'll be YouTube and then we could add words to it. You can get the text from [Music] Yeah, it'll generate things. But again, that's the other thing. It doesn't
Yeah, actually it does. It details every single thing, but then we could um So, yeah, you could turn on the AI companion on Zoom. Oh, that's what I was thinking of. Yeah. And then you could then grab that tab
and summarize it because it's incredibly detailed. that our thing. Yeah. So, let's use AI to our advantage. Okay. Sounds good. Is the human race going to be able to do anything anymore?
Oh, John, this just boggles my mind. I can do something like that. Okay. So, right. Yeah, we really should turn on AI companion. We also should turn on closed captions as well. Yes. Yes. Oh, and
there is a chat. Yeah. Yeah. Yes, I am listening. Too late now. No, just kidding. We got half the meeting, guys. Then we have got to start somewhere.
All right. And then your friends of Reading Senior 60 update. Yeah. Um, we're doing well. We're having a fundraiser. Uh this is our second fundraiser. March I'm sorry, May 31st. It's a Saturday around. It's um
assessing some treasures you might have and it's by a local um appraiser from Reading. It's at St. Agnes Church, which I think is called Christ the King now. Um so and what what it is and in
response to Rosemary it's the support of running elder services. So we are looking at where we're going to distribute our money and how much when they have met with um Chris and his staff about what the needs would be he here at Thompson we don't we want to get
what we need. Um and actually the knock what's it called? Knockbox Knox were mentioned and um a meals program was mentioned and I forgot the other top something with bingo. Oh, I knew bingo. Yeah. So there we are, you
know, recruiting for um suggestions for what we're going to do with the money. We definitely want to help out. Um we've given $1,000 to the food pantry with a senior provision. Um, so and so this is another fundraiser and
no, we're doing well. We're getting good members. Um, they're advertising a lot. You'll see this poster in every every um store and we have a lot of active members that are helping us out. So, we're lucky.
You know him? Yeah. He had he would host auction. Yeah. So, it's an option. It's $10 donation if you just want to go and observe. It's $10 per item. There is an
email if you want to sign up. Um there's two time slots. There's a morning slot and an afternoon slot. So, it's something different hopefully. How how are you advertising? Well, it's in the pleasantries. It's on
Facebook. Um, it's on all Facebooks and it's in literally every store in writing. Every storefront newspapers newspapers I can't remember but she's got a a whole list. She had a list of everything. Yeah, we have someone that's really
heavy duty marketing. Um, thanks. We're very lucky people have really um tried to outreach for this. So it's done like writing parents Facebook group and things like that. You put it out a lot. I did. I haven't I I'll put it out again
more regularly. That's how one of my family members found [Music] Facebook. Yeah. Yeah. There was a lot of Again, not everyone, right? We want to make sure is in the pleasantries though. They have a nice whole sheet
um in the library. I don't know. I'm not on the marketing committee. Excellent. Well, thank you. If I can just expand, you know, a little bit on what what Nora said in relation to the question that Rosemary asked. Um, as far
as giving out money at this particular point goes, uh, the the concept is to maybe not give out too much too fast, but but to give out to a lot of different places if you go to somebody uh and and you're asking like a someone
like Cummings Properties for for a donation, one of the first things they're going to ask you is who have you given to? and we we figure we can build a list uh a good sized list of who we've given to without giving up too much too
fast. So ju just to expand on that right they want to know who over a year period I'm saying Cummings yeah Cummings want wants three years worth of worth of stuff I just mentioned Cummings because it came to mind quickly but but any and if you went to a bank and said you know
can you give us so many thousands of what they'd want to know what you've been doing who have you been given to Anything? Any other questions or con? Okay. Wait, Christopher mentioned the pool table. I wouldn't put any money
into a pool table after we move. Well, that was just a Those are just examples. I'm We're not getting All right. So the last item on the agenda is recon discussion next
year. So we have evening we thank the followers yeah for that we really um are excited about the possibilities um
so Chris Jenna what are the what where do we stand? All right, this just was approved last Tuesday. There's so many questions about where where do we go from here? How do we ensure that the COA
has a voice? Because we really want to ensure that the sen that the 60 plus community has a voice in this. It is a it is a senior center and recap. We want to ensure that the senior center senior
center component of it is that's what we are all about is we really are advocating for the senior center. So what can you tell us and and Nancy as well because Nancy's been involved in um a lot of the the meetings and we
appreciate your your input as well Nancy. Yeah. So, from a permanent building committee standpoint, they're going to be meeting probably in early June to discuss um entering into contracts. I'm
not sure if we're going to be engaging the same two companies. I assume we would, but that's not up to me. Um, so internally we kick all the information we have to the permanent building committee and ultimately they make that decision on whether they're happy to
move forward and we can amend contracts appropriately to keep the projects moving forward into the design development phase. So the design development phase um that's when we would still have members of the council on aging involved in those design
discussions as we dive deeper and we will designate those senior spaces um in those design design development meetings talk a little bit about the layout. I know Chris and I have had discussions and um a few other a few others on the
committee with me and Chris about, you know, things like the exercise room really advocating for that to be upstairs um with like the treadmills and bikes and things like that and moving the other room downstairs. I know that there's things about the room being
separated and um downstairs that you guys would want a room separator. So those are all things that will be dived into a little bit more on the design development phase that you'll be involved in and um also from an operational standpoint, you'll be involved in in that as well as the
council on aging. So as Chris stated as we gather information on how we're going to function as a team and really dive into do we want my senior center in my rack still or do we want to have a combined system? Um, and just all those
different ins and outs. And when we keep going further into the revolving fund, do we want to charge for a six week session instead of having people come in every Monday and Tuesday and pay for their classes? Do we want to make it easier and more streamlined? So, these
are all discussions that we're going to meet more frequently as a team. Now, we're going to have division head meetings every week as well as um bimonthly community services team meetings to kind of go over all of these things and make sure that we're
collaborating um even more so now as as one unit to make all of these things things these things happen and also do site visits all together to all these other different centers that operate like Raal will operate. So with that being said, you guys will be involved
every step of the way. We can have um we Nancy will still be on the permanent building committee as the liaison. And I assume that the design development will be a subcommittee still that will function like that that will still exist. Sustainability will still exist
um as the process goes on. So you'll certainly be involved um in those conversations as we move forward with operations and design development. question. I think that's all great. But prior to when the Okay, here's my mind.
When the building is being constructed, is there going to be a team that including some of the council on aging as well as with wreck and definitely with Chris projecting what these future programs and timelines are going to be
prior to the building having opening day? Oh, absolutely. Um, right now what Newton is doing, they're about to open their Cal Center. So, they've sent out a survey to the whole community to talk about new programs that folks would want in the community.
Um, and all of the programs, the intention is to do exactly what we're doing, but in the new building. And the more people will be able to come to the new building now, and we'll be able to service more people, not turn over the rooms, um, just running what we
currently run. like we'll be able to have 35 people doing Zumba as opposed to 25 people doing Zumba and then we'll we'll add things as we go. We're not going to go in there and have like every single room filled every single day on
day one. We can't do that. Um so it's really going to be offering what we all offer now and coming up with a plan all together and taking it one day at a time. But we'll definitely have all of like the programming and all of the
rooms lined up and um engage the community and what they want to see and tell the community what they're going to get on a day-to-day basis. And it's nice because I know I've talked about this with my staff and I'm going to talk to my staff more over the
next I'm going to say year, year and a half, two years, you know, is and you know what's nice is we already have a good core here at the Pleasant Street Center. And it's nice, like Jenna said, we can we can essentially pick that up,
take it over and put it down and then examine um even beforehand be like, "All right, you know, more people, where where was it going to be? Which room? What time? Same time, same day." Um but the big
thing or evening or evening evening, we're definitely adding evening stuff. Yeah. And but I know I've talked to my staff and I want to do it with my staff and we'll I'm sure we'll do it as a whole department too and then even with the COA you know I you know this is a
wonderful opportunity you know this is a great opportunity um that we have in front of us and it's a great time to think outside the box um in what we are capable of doing there's a lot that we and there's a lot
in some ways even though this is recap how you know this is a good you know it kind of becomes a modernday senior center um you know of course and but we we're not going to lose sight of we're going to still try to cater to every but
what does that what's that mean what kind of programs does that mean you know does it mean AI classes um does it mean robotics you know it's just a great opportunity for older adults and we have a lot of older adults and engineers who
are 40s and 50s that are coming into the pipeline that are working on with this AI and engineering and all these kind of different things and this gives us a great opportunity to explore these things on top of the programming and the
classes that we're doing and expand let's say into the evening and how can we reach you know I'm going to say older adults 60 plus you know as a full department how do we you plug in kind of everyone within the
community, but you know, just within the 60 plus community, you know, we have 70 right around 7,700 older adults. You know, this is a great opportunity to reduce that isolation to get people to come out
um and and get involved and see what they want uh want to do. The other thing is I I think we've mentioned it before. What is the possibility like you mentioned you have the 60 plus some of them still working and their job hours
in the evening. What about possibly if staff is available to have Saturday morning yep gatherings and this is where recreation kind of can help help with this. um you know we'll have a few extra staff members to we can can run let's
say Saturday morning or Saturday during the day a program for older adults um you know it doesn't necessarily mean I have to be there but I know recreation can has a a little bit wider reach with staffing and stuff so maybe they can
have someone that supervises that such program even a lecture something um but also you could you could think of concerts You could think of lectures. You could, you know, dances, you know, it's nice.
and you know everything we've been talking about over the past two years as we've been going through this. Um as a member of the permanent building committee and also the communications group which actually fortunately last
week we were able to meet because it was still on the calendar. So that was nice. So, we got a little bit of a heads up on what might happen. Um, nothing that's really set in stone stone right now. The
community service group is in the process of establishing an operational plan. So, they're looking at the programs. They're looking at um uh uh activities that seniors uh could
participate in in the new building. And um it's going to be very very important and I hope if anybody's watching from home or anybody is watching this later
in the week that you hear me and contact me because your voice is going to be extremely important right now. This is the last effort, the the last part of
the schedule that we will have to make an impact on what the interior of this space will look like. And I for one would like to be able to perhaps form a
steering group that could meet on a regular basis, be updated, and we can talk about the designs that are either being redeveloped or enhanced so that um the
the people that are on these working groups will have many voices behind behind them. Not just one voice, but many voices. And I I'm If if a senior
walks into that building on the first day and says, "Boy, I don't like this. This why' they put the stairs there? I can't believe they put the bathroom there. What why did they call it that? This is crazy."
I will take that person out to the parking lot and shake my finger at them because there's absolutely no excuse. So, um really if anybody is out
there, anybody in this group that wants to be part of that, I'm just one person. I'm one person on the permanent building committee. Gan and Marilyn are on the design committee and um it's very very
important that we hear the voice of the 60 plus community that are going to be in this building and if you don't hear that voice if we don't hear that voice and I have to tell you we did not hear it very much in the beginning part of
this project. So, I'm hoping that we hear voices more, that people um are willing to speak out and are willing to offer ideas and provide input and do
assessments so that we can so that when this building eventually goes up, it's a center that we can all be proud of. It's going to the work the way that we imagined it as best we can um uh make it
work. Um as uh community services puts the programming and the operational plan together, once we can see that and become a part of that, we will be able to offer input on that also. And that
will be very very important because you people are the the people that go to this building. You people are the people that take advantage of these programs. You people are the people that have your
friends here, your buddies here. You have your coffee here. and we need to hear your voice so that the building is ultimately what we all want it to be. So and that and that extends you know I always
welcome and I think this is a great opportunity like if anyone has ideas doesn't have to be in COA it can just be in the community you know people in the community who live in town around they have ideas we are always open and
welcome to you know what do folks want you know I know like Karen she's always wanted pickle But that doesn't mean, you know, Marilyn, I don't know. You may want something else. I want a 3D printer. A
3D see right there. What a great And that's what I mean by this is that's a fantastic idea. It could be in our maker space. And I encourage people that if you have ideas of things you want, can't guarantee it, but it's a great
opportunity over the next two years, be like, "Hey, have you ever thought about this or would you consider doing this?" And I and I think that's what I just said. And um I said I said it um it's what I just
said. And so and I would encourage people to but I want to make sure that we have a formal process for this can't be halfhazard. No, we we aren't there yet. But one of the things I heard Jenna say is that we will be involved in the design development phase as well as the
operational phase. So I want to make sure that I mean I'm not you know there's still things that are being worked out but I want to ensure that we have a voice in this DOA in a more formal process. whatever that will look like, Jenna.
But, um, you know, and Chris both, you know, I do I I want us to partner as in whatever ways we can because we want to ensure that the 60 plus community is well represented in this building. Yeah.
And I think that that's what we want to do. We want to have that open line of communication, but it is really difficult to get things done and then meet and then have a have a meeting like because you guys only meet once a month and
there's so much going on. Wait, wait, wait. Wait, let me finish. Let me finish because this is on to the permanent building committee and they are going to follow their same process. So Nancy is still going to be on the design group.
the design group stays the same. So certainly we're not going to be coming in monthly um with like you know the PBC and the town to tell you all about the design. So it's going to be updates that get relayed to the Council on Aging. Um,
and you know it can't it can't be like it was with with the recalc initially like you'll be involved but it can't be like this in like a dayto-day like update and
very leaison to the permanent building committee. Nice. Yes, I have a quick my thought is this and I understand where you're coming from but as council on aging members for the 60 plus
our main goal is to advocate for this age bracket. So I think it and I understand the town needs to go through a process for building. But prior to that process or during that process, is
there any way to start an additional like we always have committees to start an additional working room that either can meet weekly or bimonthly and meet with yourself or
Chris and know what's happening and give suggestions for this elderly group because it isn't just brick and mortar. It is going to be a functioning social
activity place for 60 plus. I just do not want to see this age bracket not having the time frame that they need in this building, whether it's 8:00 to 3 in the afternoon
or Saturday mornings. So I I don't want the council on aging and I include myself in this as an elder person in town. I want to see this building be what the purpose was for seniors in
community. I want to see it divided in a sense that the seniors have their time frame during the day and we Yes. Right. Maybe we need a group that's going to meet. So, Jenna, you
hear our concern. Yeah. Yeah. No, I do. So, if maybe you can um let us know what you're envisioning and how we can have a more formal role between the two of you, what you envision because we really feel
like we have a lot to contribute and so Yeah, absolutely. And I feel like, you know, that you guys have been contributing and been involved in these conversations um on the design group, on the permanent building committee, and I just want to make sure that we don't overcommit to
meeting with an additional working group once a month and doing I just don't want to overcommit with all the other things that we're going to have going on as a team to figure out um upfront. Like we need to have a lot of internal conversations um before we kind of circle everyone
else in. John had a point. John had a I something you said a few minutes ago. You said it cannot be like recal. What did you mean by that? Yeah, like several joint meetings and the the level of
involvement that was in the very beginning um by both of the groups like the Council on Aging and the Reading in the Reading Center for Active Living. It's not really functioning like that anymore. when it got handed over to the permanent building committee, the
structure changed a little bit more um to streamline the process, but certainly still the permanent building committee, they want to know about the operations plan, too. They wanted it before town meeting, and we couldn't give them the draft yet. We don't even have the draft right now, like the written draft of the
operations plan, but that goes to the permanent committee, permanent building committee for them to review. And Mark's on it from Recalc and NY's on it from the Council on Aging. So, you know, at the risk of being repetitive and having an additional meeting with the working
group, maybe it makes more sense to add another council on and of on aging member to the permanent building committee. I don't know. Um, so let me talk to Jane and the town manager about it and see um what we can do to make sure that you guys feel that your voices
are being heard. Um and and I envision a lot of community meetings going forward too to gain that input on the nitty-gritty design um details of the building too and trying to get more people involved in that conversation and things like that. So I think recalc
could be a tremendous source considering that they visited 16 different senior centers and saw what worked at a lot of different places. Um I think recal could be a a good resource. Yeah, definitely. And we could even
from there. There's a lot of wisdom in this town that has been part of the process. And I guess for us, we don't really understand how the permanent building committee, you know, this is all new. We haven't been involved with building schools or anything. So, this
is a new process. And so how can we stay involved and how can the permanent building committee take advantage of all the wisdom that has been accumulated and this has been coming for a long time for the seniors and I think it's here
now we need to really concentrate on it and go in the right direction for not just this generation this time this year but all the future and I think by having the wis wisdom and the input or the
knowledge that our seniors have absorbed over the years is a great way to go forward. Yeah. And you know that another thing that we're going to do is we're going to meet with these other centers like I said like the sandwich um reading center for active living. I've received
so much information from the director over there. So you know when we go to visit any you know Marilyn Nancy I know you love going on the visits. you're more than welcome to come with us and talk to her and she's going to give me some feedback about how she navigated um
going through the process and and figuring out the building. So, finding things out from other places like Chris said too, find finding out program structures and learning from other towns and their existing policies and how they function and how they've worked through the process is is half of
the battle. So, we can see how other towns have done it. That will be important to see because again we what was approved was a senior center recap and so we don't know what that looks like and so so getting that feedback
back. So Chris and Jenny you're both observing um you're going down and Nancy and Marilyn did you ever go down to sandwich? I found a sandwich but I've not talked to the director and I would love to. Yeah, because we just are
concerned that the senior center aspect might be might lose its significance and so we want and it will not as long as I'm here and Chris is here and Jim is here that's a
guarantee right Chris. Yes. on my end. There was a woman at one of the functions that we open whatever one of the outreach things we had that I thought stated it really well that her concern was there's two different
things. It's one thing to have a building that functions that of course seniors are welcome at and there's another one where it's focusing on making sure it meets the needs of seniors as a whole. It's kind of like, you know, there's a new restaurant in
town and yeah, it's got seniors eating there, but does it mean it's got a menu that appeals to the range of seniors? Not necessarily. So, it's the same kind of thing. We need to make sure it has that senior envir senior center environment, which is much more
nurturing, I'd say, is a word that comes to mind to me and broader in scope than what a rec center would necessarily do. It's people that might be coming for 3 to four hours every day of the week because it's kind of home away from home and they hang out and they know they're going to see people that they know. They
know they're going to meet new people. They know there's a bunch of activities over the course of day because again, seniors are not a lump. They're probably even more diverse than the people who are non seniors. So, it it's making sure that that mixture is addressed properly. And I know it's your attention. I think
we're just saying we need some watch because it's not the way the world is by and large, not just in reading right now. It's going to take effort and commitment to building that and I think we're looking for a watchdog kind of hands-on involvement to be assessing it.
I agree. And it because that's a record that twice one day. Oh, I can't hear you. I can turn it up. If the seniors aren't involved in this at the ground level in all aspects Yes.
of the ongoing project, there's a good chance there's going to be large pieces missing. Yes. From the building. So, I would just caution the town to make sure that they take advantage of the uh
expertise that's sitting in this room. and um and other places and uh uh incorporate that into the planning process because we are entering a new phase. We're entering phase three now
and um it's it's different and as Jenna said it's not so much hands-on but it's very handson for staff and and we just have to make sure that we're part of that hands-on process too.
two areas that I think we should give a lot of thought to is one transportation which we need to expand. A lot of people are not happy with where it will be built and we have to make sure that everybody can get there. And the second
area is how can we contact all the seniors in town? I have run into many people who said they had no idea this was being discussed. They had no idea that this was on going to a vote. They didn't even know that they were going to be voting for or against it. So, I don't
know if we can uh get a list of people 60 and above and do the mail do mailing to them. We have to mail them. They have to get something in their house, have it in their hand, keep it on their calendar, and know what's going on in town. and and I would say we take it
from one of the trust funds and and do a mailing the town has the information actually I have the information it's all sorted ready to go so anytime those those cards are ready let me know I will
put the all the addresses on labels and we could and you know if they're 60 plus yes so that can be part of a future topic how much would it cost to send a postcard to people 60 and above every mailing, pardon me, each
mailing would be 5,000 and that would include the cost of the card and post. I I we have to do it because people have no idea what's going on in this town. They're not getting the chronicle. A lot of people are not on Facebook and so
it's just word of mouth by chance if you happen to talk to someone and then I hear, "Oh, really?" Hey, how did this happen? Oh, I don't know anything about that. I don't like this. I don't like that. And I say, really? Do you know this has been going on for years, years of meetings? How many meetings have
outreach? The other thing that can be done for these mailings that make them a little less expensive is you buy everything separately and you get teams of people to write out the ad. Well, no.
Stick the addresses on and mail it and put the stamp on and mail it. So, and you know, we'd have a whole group of people around the table doing that. That's a good idea. 5,000 depend on your postage. Yeah. Yeah. And in the printer that we when we
did the postcard three years ago that it advertised actually that recalc was going to be holding sessions and it informed people about the range of services that are available at Pleasant Street Center. Um I believe that one the
printer printed the label right on so when we gave him a list so there's no and that cost pennies to do that. happening. It's just pumping. Do you think meeting? Well, these are these are part of the next but but we can continue this conversation. Yeah. Um
this was a preliminary conversation and and then maybe Jenna and Chris, you can um let us know too because you've heard our concerns and what you would recommend as well. Um because one of the things that we want to reflect the 60
plus community too and what would be the best way you know a mailing a questionnaire a survey um what can we do? So we look forward to hearing back what you think are good next
steps. You're done. Okay. Is there a field day in what town day? Yes. Okay. So, here's what I want to take him home. We're gonna be we're gonna be there. The
can opener. with your friends. So when did we decided at the last meeting not to do it? Yeah. Tomorrow you guys any other topics to discuss in the
future of the office before? Oh motion to adjourn. Second. I thought I was supposed to say here again. You will in one minute. Nancy left. Yes. Marilyn Chap. Yes. John Harin. Yes. Jean
Po. Yes. John Joan Coco. [Music] Yes. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. [Music]