Okay, I don't need to be on twice. >> Hi, Jessica. >> Hi. Um, just letting you know I made a mistake on that financial report. So, disregard that one and I'll get you in a clean one on >> um
uh by tomorrow. >> Okay, that's fine. There's no rush. Hey, I'm going out of town for a long weekend tomorrow. >> Okay, >> don't worry about getting me anything until Monday. >> Okay, I I took the um the total of all three to do the next one and then I
realized it when I was sitting here. I was like, "Oh, no." So, anyways, I was I took all the all three the total of all three and put it in the grant instead of had it breaking down. So, I made the mistake. It'll be fixed.
>> No problem. >> All right. >> So, I will um I will I'll get in touch with Simone and see why she hasn't submitted an invoice. >> Okay. >> Maybe she's planning to bring it in when
she comes next week. I don't know. Okay. Admit >> she doesn't do electronic. >> Sorry, >> she doesn't do it electronic. >> Well, you know, she she's not exactly swift with in computer.
>> I remember I remember you saying that now. >> Yeah. >> Okay, Joanne. >> Hi, Rich. >> Hi. So we are missing. Hi Joanne.
>> Hey Janette. >> Hi Jessica. >> Hi Joanne. >> Hi Susan. >> Hey. Hey. Do you know do you know Rich? >> I don't. >> Rich. Joanne used to live in town as a
longtime member co-chair of the COA. >> Oh okay. We're hoping that Rich will join us. >> It's a good group, Rich. >> Gets better all the time, Rich.
>> It does. Okay. >> This weather, forget it. But other than that, >> I know. Okay. Let me email Mary Joe. I'm sure she's coming.
In fact, I should text her. Janette, how is that? Um, dement not dementia. >> Well, we we've had two presentations. The first one was on brain health and then we just had is the it was the many faces of dementia. It was really I I learned a lot from it.
Yeah, it was good. That was at the Wendle Library and we're going to be doing that as a as a Zoom as well on the 20th. >> Oh, okay. >> Who's the presenter? >> It is someone named Linda Puzanne who uh
used to work at Life Path in, you know, and and knows a lot. >> She's very very good. We're really lucky to have gotten her. >> That's great. So, Joanne, do you still have your notes on on all of this transportation stuff
or >> I I don't think I do. Uh, I think >> I put what was meaningful in the notebook that I made for Martha. >> Okay. >> And I hope that got passed on. I assume it did. Um,
but >> so I don't know if you know this, but um, not that we've gotten it yet, but we're potentially going to be getting $20,000 for use of transportation. Um, >> wow, that's great.
>> Uh, yeah, we'll see. Hi Mary Joe. Sorry I was trying to email you and see if you and text you and you were waiting. [Laughter]
So we are so Okay. So Mo Joanne, you don't Do you know Mary Joe Johnson? >> No, I don't. >> Mary Joe, this is Joanne Burnernhard who was our coach ages. >> Hi. >> So Jessica, I think we're ready to go. >> Okay. So bear with me here. This is my
first meeting. We're going to call it to order on um August 14th at 5:34 and start roll call with um Mary Joe. >> Uh you're muted. >> Johnson here.
>> Make peace here. >> Millinger here >> and Stockton here. So, we have guest speaker um Joanne Burnernhard that's going to um let us know about the transportation when she
was part of the um the committee. And we also have Rich here, which we're hoping he'll become a me a member eventually. We're going to beg for him to become a member. Um so, we're going to start with Joanne and um see where we get with that
about what she can recall. Okay. So, when I um when I joined the Council on Aging, we were doing the Medride program and I I started by being a driver in the Medride program. Um and that uh was
put on hold during the COVID pandemic and I think it's never been resurrected. Um so after that the um Elizabeth Fernandez O'Brien from Village Neighbors um was
very very uh proactive in trying to look at transportation around the area and we did a lot of research into actually what was what what what would work for different people and um
uh basically came up with very a little um Linda uh the former former chair and my former co-chair Linda Avis Scott and I went through all of our records for the Medride programs in order to figure out
where people actually wanted to go. A and it was something like um 85% of the Medai people wanted to go south into Ammeris or Northampton or Hadley and only about 15% wanted to go north
uh to Greenfield to the Greenfield area. So it was very clear that what we needed was transportation to the to the south. Um unfortunately um
there there's a an issue of county lines in this whole um system. We're in Franklin County as you know and um Ammeris and Northampton and and etc
are in Hampshire County. So, the Franklin County transportation system does not take people to Ammerst. Basically, they don't cross counting lines unless that's been changed since I haven't been paying attention to it.
>> Maybe. >> Um, maybe. Okay. Uh and and so we were trying to figure out what services uh Franklin County offers, what else is
available within Shootsbury, what's available within Ammer the Ammeris area. Um and came up with a lot of roadblocks. It was very frustrating. Um, LifePath did a survey. Was it like
three, four years ago, >> I think. >> And transportation. Huh. >> Yeah. And and transport was a big part of that, you know, questions about transportation. And there was a transportation working group that um I was on and Elizabeth
Fernandez O'Brien from Village Neighbors was on. And when we got down to after we talked everything through and learned everything from the other uh people on the committee, most of whom well all of whom were from Franklin County,
when we came to the point of giving our findings to the committee, it was pretty much people need transportation and we don't have it. So there there are a few resources but they're they're all a little bit
problematic. Um, Franklin County has the ondemand system which I think Shootsberry has been using, right? Or has been accessible >> and that program is for people over 60,
for disabled people with a certain percentage of disability and for veterans also who have a percentage of disability. Um the system they have a they have as I understand it
a van that can accommodate wheelchairs. Um the problem is that the drivers of the van cannot help the riders get into the van. So they can't go to the door and help a person in a wheelchair come
to the van and get in and then put the wheelchair in the van and vice versa when the when they come back. they can't help people in and out. Um, the rider can bring uh a friend or a helper for a small extra cost, really
small, like 75 cents or something. That was maybe several years ago. >> Um, but the other problem is that you have to well, you have to apply to Franklin County to for this um program. it's
which is not ownorous, you know, it's it's easy to do. Um, but you have to call ahead for pickup and for uh return. So, you have to do you have to set up two trips. So, you if you have, let's
say you have a a doctor's appointment at Valley Medical in Greenfield, you have to set up a pickup for that and and have yourself delivered to Valley Medical in Greenfield. And then you have to have set up a second pickup for them to pick
you up and take you home. If the van driver, however, is driving someone else at that time, you might have to wait quite a while before you get picked up. So, it's not it's not like the Medride program where a driver takes you to a place and waits for you
and brings you home. Mhm. >> Um Franklin County, let's see, Life Path has a Medride program that is done by volunteer drivers in their own cars, which is like
our the shoots very program that we had. Um that program you in order to access the program, you have to become a life path member, which again is not ownorous. um it's a uh a questionnaire and a person comes to your house and
interviews you to ascertain what kind of needs you have. Okay? So it's not big deal but it takes time and you can't just ask for the transportation before you've gone through the process of joining life path. Then we run into the
problem there of the drivers not being able to take that life path drivers can't take people south. They they again they stop at the border of Franklin County. So it's very very regional. Um
then uh village neighbors, Janette, maybe you can speak to what's going on. >> Um >> I mean we we it's our biggest ask really. We're >> you know providing transportation all the all the time. We we encourage people
to um let us know ahead of time a couple weeks if possible. >> Um but I know our call managers will move, you know, >> we'll work very hard to get something. Most of the time rides get picked up. Um I had one one question. Um, do you know
with the uh the Ferda, which is the Franklin um FRTA, um if that can be done on a uh like if can that I we're looking into possibly setting rides up for somebody who would
need a ride like every week. >> Uh >> do you know if Ferda will uh be able to satisfy something like that offh hand? >> I don't know. But no problem. >> People can call. I mean people can call and ask them about that.
>> Sure. Sure. Sure. Um by the way um our these I know that the um application for transportation is on our our village neighbors website if that helps people at all. I'm I'm just not sure if the
PBTA and the Burda one is on there >> because those are two separate things. >> You know it should be on our website our web page too. I don't know if it is. I don't know if Janice got a chance to put it on there, but we did, as as Joanne
indicated, the t the town did get accepted into FEA's system. And remember, we um we sent out a notice about it and it's pro and it's time to send out another. >> We don't I'm pretty sure it's on the
website when I was there. I'm pretty sure it's there. >> Chairs in of village neighbors chairs. Nobody much seems to be using it. >> Right. >> So that's the on that's the on demand system, right? The on demand.
>> So uh just to clarify, is Shootsbury uh approved to use the the PVTA and the so the Franklin County and the Hampshire County? I don't know what word I should use. >> No. Fura
or PBTA. Are we approved to use both if people wished to? No, >> PBTA won't come up here. >> Okay. >> They won't they don't they don't pick up people outside of Hampshire. I think they're Hampshire County.
>> This is so helpful you, Joanne. >> Yeah. Well, and the the the weird thing is is that the the bus system, the FRTA bus system and the PBTA bus system go on a road
that runs through Leverit. Okay. So le accidentally so leverit lever is kind of grandfathered into the PBTA system but shoots berry is not >> and >> okay so so Leverett I think has access to some of those things that
>> and very few they have set up sort of a a a a bus stop like every day and um very few people are utilizing it. >> It's not convenient for people to use the bus system. >> Yeah. right now. >> I mean, when you get out into, you know,
like Sunderland and places like that, there are a lot more buses that that go, but again, if you're if you're a medical if if you have medical needs, it's really really difficult to get, you know, to use the bus system. Um, I just
saw on their website that they were uh discontinuing the fees for the the bus system in effort in Franklin County. >> Yeah. Last year it was free. The governor uh or somebody in authority
gave them the money to free to make it free >> and I assume >> continued this year because >> he's really emphasizing transportation, you know. Can I ask about um life paths uh medride system? I thought that with
life path had something that would only take you out of county. Is that my imagination? There is something like that, but I'm not sure what it is. >> Okay. >> Um I I mean I vaguely remember that.
Most of Life Path's Medride I mean they had a Medride program like ours used to be >> um where uh they use volunteer drivers and again you have to become a member of Life Path to access that. >> Um there was something about going
outside of Franklin County. Um and I don't know I don't know what happened to that. >> Yeah, that'd be good to look into. >> And the um >> the other thing I just want to point out um is to be a member of life path that
you need to have some kind of needs >> um special special needs, whatever they might be. Um whereas Village Neighbors, if you're 60, you can just join. So that >> Yeah. and we're we've been driving people to Springfield and um I forget
the name of the other town. It was about 40 minutes away. So, I mean, if if an if a volunteer will agree to it, um it's it's it's a nice thing. >> One thing >> that's that's what we were doing. Um but
David Dan was was sponsoring that who David Dan who used to be the head of the COA and uh played a major role in establishing village neighbors >> um uh was expanding the Shootesberry COA
Medide program down to Springfield and you know other other towns that were further away. So that that was one thing that was starting to happen. Um it sounds to me like there's such overlap between what the COA medride program was and
what village neighbors does um that maybe some collaboration could happen. >> There is one big difference which um COA's medide was open to everybody in town and village neighbors is only open to village neighbors members. Now, it's
not hard to become a Village Neighbors member, >> but you do have to be one to benefit from their ride program or any other >> That's true, right? >> Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. But I >> But you don't you don't have to be disabled
>> to become a Village Neighbors >> member, right? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. We we had we talked with Elaine um because she had been pretty much in charge of the Med program the last year
or so and she she finds it a wonderful program and all the drivers thought it was a wonderful program and we asked her if she'd be interested in starting it up and she said not this year because she's too busy with library. Mhm.
>> But um >> it it does take it takes a designated person. >> Yeah. >> You know, because the person has Well, my experience was that I had an interview with David Dan and Linda Ava Scott.
>> Um that who you know before I became accepted as a driver. Um and I think there was a Corey check involved and there you know there are some other thing there are rules within the program. What I don't remember, and maybe Linda knows this, Susan, if you
talk to her at some point, is there um a paradigm that has to be followed by from the state for the Medride program? Because the money that comes from the state to the COAs uh might have some stipulations on it.
I'm not sure about that. It seems to me that there there must be a framework um for the Medride programs, you know, that have certain rules that they're following. >> I'll I'll pursue that. I and I can ask I
can write to one of the folks in the at the center >> whatever it is now um whose name uh aging and independence I guess it is. Um uh my sense was no, but I I could be
totally wrong about that. But I can ask Linda and I can I can ask aging and independence >> and the the COA Med program um was was wonderful. You know, we had we had a lot of drivers involved and it served a lot
of people. I think the shutdown during COVID, you know, kind of took it out of people's range of for to be able to use for a couple of years. Um, >> and then then two of the major users
both died, >> which that made quite a difference. I'm thinking one of the things that Elaine is interested in is expanding it beyond med rides to rides for to the store or for social reasons. And um Linda seemed
to think that that wouldn't work. So I would need to look into that. >> Right. And it may be because the the money uh can only be used for that very specific program. >> That's very possible. >> Again, that I'm not sure about that. Um,
in the the Medride files, there's a file cabinet in the town hall in the big meeting room with a big table. >> Um, there's a two drawer file cabinet and there's a key for it and I showed Grace where that was. Um, so all the
material from the Medride programs that I know of are in that file cabinet. >> So there may be there may be something in there, you know. I mean, most of it is is um by uh driver. It's organized by
driver. I think um and we used to reimburse mileage. >> Village Neighbors is doing that now. >> Yeah. But not many people are are utilizing it though. I think a lot of people just feel like they're a volunteer and it's part of their volunteer
>> unless they drive >> lots and lots and lots. Um Can So I that was one of my questions I was just going to ask and the other one is if we did start this up again at some point um does the money for this program and the
reimbursement and perhaps insurance I don't know would that come out of the pot of money that the COA gets um so that be you know funds diverted to something something different. Okay. >> Yes. Yes. That comes out of the grant.
Yeah. So, what is the $20,000 grant? >> You know, I it's it's money that I think Aaron Saunders has earmarked for transportation
in our towns, but I keep worrying about like is he saying is it for everybody? Is it for village neighbors? I don't know a whole lot about it. That's one of the reasons I was so happy you were coming tonight just to sort of >> get a better handle on all of this and
then try to fill in these couple big questions I have. So, thank you. >> Okay. >> Um I read what he said in his newsletter, which he does occasionally put out a newsletter. >> He did not say it was for transportation. He just said it was for the benefit of
village neighbors in his area and his and I thought it just be the Franklin County towns but he also referred to Hampshire >> which Belure Town >> is and that's one of his the towns in this district.
>> So uh it would be for village neighbors plural. >> All right >> for all of the village neighbors. I mean how many there are organizations all over the place you know Monu where I am
now has has called Monu villages you know so >> there are quite a few >> um I don't know how what the reach of his his domain is >> right >> well it sort of looked bigger than his his region is just >> six towns in a row starting with New
Salem and going down to Lello >> real mixed district plus Yeah, real mixed district. Um, but I will track down again. I thought I sent that to you, Janette. Maybe you probably
get a lot of stuff. >> No, I I look at everything and I did not. I don't I didn't see that. >> Um, I might have missed it. If you would uh resend that, that would be terrific. >> Well, I have to find it. I think probably >> No, hurry. they are going on vacation
and this has been taking years, literally years. >> Um, not only Elizabeth but you know I I remember meeting with Rita time and time again with the select board and >> um and it started really because village
neighbors threw out the idea that they wanted to reimburse their members for using this public transportation. And from there it's just spiraled into I don't know something or nothingness. Who knows? But uh but we're still working on
it. >> We're all still working on it. Obviously >> I certainly remember Joanne frequently trying to get the support of the steering committee of the select board. >> Absolutely. Well, that's why we did the the um the
data, you know, and and came up with the only thing that we could actually access for shoots fairy was the FRTA program. So there's actually >> and I I've said this before, but one of
the problems of that survey that we did for Life Path is that we got very few people over 80 answering the survey. >> Mhm. >> And it would seem to me that the need for transportation is greater
the older you get. So really ideally we would do another surve we might do another survey and make a big effort to get to senior members of the community. >> Yeah, I think the survey was mostly done online which may be why people 80 and
over you know either maybe didn't even find out about it. >> We did I I think I remember you all sending it out in the in the postal service system. >> I don't know. We didn't we didn't send it out. We may have announced it in the
newsletter. >> I think >> because it was a it was a very big survey. I mean, it was pages and pages. >> Pages and pages. >> Yeah. >> Well, I thought we sent it out to people that we knew didn't have broadband.
>> Oh, we might we might have done um Do we know who doesn't have broadband? >> Yes. Well, >> we do. Yeah, I think we do. >> Municipal comp. Yes, I think we came information. >> Yeah, we had information.
>> Again, I want to mention this the New Salem this document that I saw about two years ago in Betsy Pills's hand where we were talking about uh how many people in their town and she had so the seven people in her town that were over the
age of 90. you could look at every one of them. And then there was a portion for 80 o and over and and 70 and over. >> And it was really fascinating how many people that were 90 and over were members of village neighbors and 80. But
and then you get below that and people are kind of like, you know, >> pressing their luck, so to speak. >> We can get that from the voting roles if people vote. >> Wow. because their birth years are listed >> and it would it would be in sections
like that. Susan, >> no, but um with the skill that Gail Fleshacker has if her >> Yeah, because there we could, you know, contact people directly um and just kind
of um market to to them and see what they what they need. Especially for people over the age of 80 and 90 where the need becomes greater. So this is if the program expands like that.
Um, you really need a dedicated person who can answer the phone, you know, and and take take the messages and set up rides with the drivers and
um I don't I don't know what the situation with with the phone is, you know, who's I know >> Sue Sue was uh answering the phone for the foot clinic. >> Okay. on a temporary >> but not now not anymore but you know so
I I don't know you know how how that all plays out >> I'm wondering about some um if it if it's some collaborative effort is possible with between COA and village neighbors >> um because I remember that we were
making donation to village neighbors but um is there a way to not replicate the whole thing is what I was Yeah, that's what I keep saying. Um, like if we knew that there were, let's say, you know, we
were down to, if I remember correctly, there were only a few people that were actually using Med Rides at the end. Correct me if I'm if I'm wrong because it was for me it was just hearsay. But if we know that maybe there's five people who want want those med rides and
are not members of village neighbors, I would say we could work hard to convince them that it would be it's free. Um >> there's nothing that you know sometimes people get confused like, "Oh, I don't have time to volunteer." You don't have to do a darn thing except you know say
that you you need a ride. It doesn't people people get confused that if they're a new member they have to do something or pay something and and it's not >> zero across the board. Um so we could do a little marketing um there because we
already have this structure in place. We have lots of people who provide rides and it's very seldom that they don't get picked up. I mean, I see it every morning. How many, you know, sometimes like, "Oh my god, so many people need rides." And then I'll look the next day and they've gotten, you know, they've
they've gotten rides. Anyway, I'm not here to sell Village Neighbors. No, but I mean the you know both both organizations are here to help people and >> um I just don't know about the funding
structure. >> Well, that's true. There are very different funding structures. >> Susan, you're a little hard to hear tonight and usually you're not. So, I'm wondering uh >> I will get closer. >> Oh, that is better. >> Closer to my cell. I also have a fan on
because I'm just it's it's a little hot where I am. >> It's um it started raining here. Has it started raining for anybody else? >> Um >> yes. >> Yeah, >> it's coming down. >> Oh, well. >> Um so any I I mean Joanne, that was
incredible. And to think that you just did that off the top of your head. You have notes, don't you? >> No, I don't. >> That's amazing. I've been I've been racking my brain trying to remember it all. But >> can I ask you one question or have you joined the neighbors in Montigue because they're a fairly new organization. They
came to us for >> Yeah. I haven't because we don't know how long we're going to be here. We're really here for a very short time. So >> yeah. >> Okay. >> So I'll I'll do that where we land next. >> But I miss you all. I miss all all of
these things. Does anybody else have any questions for Joanne? >> No. >> Thanks a lot for coming, Joan. I think >> All right. You're very welcome. It's great to see you. Keep up the good work. >> Thanks.
>> Thanks. Bye. >> Bye. >> Bye. >> Questions, comments? No, but that was so helpful for me. Um, as I try to understand all this, I have a tendency I hear PVTA and FRTA and I'm like, ah,
>> it really puts a damper on anybody that's in a wheelchair like they have no like nothing. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> And I'm surprised that one of those Well, BBGA doesn't come up here, but FRTA, I mean, how do that that's just it
doesn't seem >> doesn't make sense. Doesn't make sense. >> Yeah. Doesn't make sense at all. >> Those are the people that need the most help. >> But they do let you have a companion. And I think now the companion pays a dollar. >> I The whole idea of a companion is to have somebody who can get you
>> Absolutely. >> Yeah. Into the van and out of it. Yeah. and and Village Neighbors at this point doesn't um have wheelchair access either, >> right? >> Um so,
>> and I don't think um Medride Shoots Medride did you had to be able to get in the car yourself. >> Yeah. I mean, wheelchairs are heavy. I was my my dad was ill at the end of his life and I was covered with black and
blue marks from taking him out all the time. It was it's it's it's a lot. >> It is. >> I imagine there are insurance issues too. >> I don't know about that. I think Yeah.
Yeah. Anyway, um I will probably have to leave about 6:30 tonight, unfortunately. So, if there's anything on the agenda you really want my input on, if we could shift it around a little bit, like the NDS grant perhaps, and um you know, I I
had promised I'm going to try to help with this the Gizette, which is something I'm working on with the village neighbor. So, just throwing that out there. If you want my input on anything, I will eventually disappear from the screen. >> Okay. You understand that when you
disappear, we are no longer a meeting and we should if we should, if we're following rules, um, end the meeting. So, let's just accomplish as much as we can before. >> Terrific.
>> And Jessica, it seems to me one thing we really need to do is um, make sure that our warrant article is acceptable to everybody. >> Yes, let's do that first. >> Let's do that first. >> And let me say 640.
640. >> Okay. >> Do you want to approve the minutes first since we're all here? >> Um, >> we can always do the minutes next month. >> Okay. All right. So, we'll just move go
right to Where's my notes? Um, I have it here somewhere. So, we need to put in a warrant article at the special town meeting. Um, so we can drop our seat number down from 7 to
5, which got skipped in, um, the springtime. I know that, um, Susan, I think you um, asked Haley, the the town administrator, how we go about doing that, submitting that.
>> Correct. Well, we um I asked who to send it to and Haley said to her because she's making up the >> and so we just need to vote on on >> the language. >> Okay. >> Yeah.
>> And that's where I'm completely lost. >> Okay. Um did people take a look at it? I don't suppose anybody uh I'm not >> language of the warrant. You're talking about the language for the warrant that you sent us. >> Yes. Yes.
>> Yes. >> Move that the town vote to amend the number of members on the Shootsbury Council on Aging returning from the seven I'm making a minor change here. Returning from the seven C citizens increased in 2016 to the original five
citizens. And then it says talks about when the Shootsbury was u council was established in 1973. The reasons for expanding the membership no longer exist and it has recently been difficult and at times impossible to
make the quorum of four required with a membership of seven and I had five which was a mistake. It's four. Our quorum is four. So I'm playing around with the language of returning from seven citizens to the
original five just to make it more um smoother. just to make it smoother. And if you would let me or and Jessica work on that, if you would approve of the the motion, >> that would we could go with that. We
could just play around with that language and then send it to Haley. >> So, we do we need a motion right now to approve the word that you have written, even if it needs a little bit of noodling. >> Um, >> all right.
So, uh, do you want me to try to make the motion? >> Yeah. >> Or, uh, All right. So, I I make a motion that, um, the the the, uh, the >> warrant article. >> Yes. Thank you. The warrant article be
approved, um, for the special meeting. How is that? >> Sounds good. I second. >> Terrific. So, we need a roll call now. Yep. >> Yep. Mary Joe, you're up first.
>> Johnson I. >> M I. >> Millinger. I. Do I. Okay. Approve. Thank you. >> Do you want to do the the gizette now? >> Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.
>> That's probably the next and most important thing. >> Yep. So, did you were you able to send around the list of um possible contents? >> I did. I included it on the minutes. >> Oh, >> the best the best minutes.
>> Okay. Oh, all right. Which of course I cannot find right this minute. >> I >> Oh, wait. All right. Yeah, it's that those minutes are really long. And on page three is the next issue of the gazette,
>> right? >> With um the basic information about what we wanted and then the possible topics list. So what what would we like to see happen here is the knowledge that someone is going to be working desktop publishing
this. Um I I'm we've had a change in village neighbors where our newsletter person is now gone. I don't know if I mentioned this. So I'm going to be trying to take that mantle at least for a little bit. But I have been flat out with stuff
lately. Um, and um, I just got the monthly message out and and and I'm going to hopefully have the newsletter somewhere ready for the beginning of September, which will hopefully get me to a point where I maybe could help with
this. But do we want to kind of suggest maybe we each take a topic to write about? >> I think that's a good idea. >> Okay. So, I will take the NDS grant. Okay.
>> I I I cannot find the the the list. Um Susan. >> Okay. I could probably uh bring it up, but it might have taken me a while if you want me to.
>> I can't f I can't find it. >> It's in the draft minutes of the meeting of the Shootsbury Council on Aging. the last uh best that I sent around to you. >> I did not.
>> Was it in the minutes? >> Yes. >> Oh. Oh, I was looking for something else. >> Page three. >> Page three of the minutes. >> Oh, thank you. All right, I got it. Okay, I'll take um the foot clinic.
I don't mind doing community lunch and sand for seniors. >> Okay. I don't think that the would that we would need to write much for the for the library physical fitness classes. I mean, I'm happy to do that, too.
I think what we wanted to do was just just make it people aware that we were sponsoring that. Wasn't that wasn't that right? >> Yeah. But it might be nice to mention what they are. >> Right. >> So, and we can ask Sarah Fisk
and I can ask Joan Green. Transportation is the major item here that we haven't assigned to anybody. Maybe we should talk about it as a work in process.
Well, people need to know about Ferda's dem call and demand response, the call response program. So, that needs to be mentioned again with a link to the um to the uh application form.
>> Could we really just copy and paste it off the website? >> Well, the application form, what the >> the little blurb about the blurb about um via RTA? >> I think that's a good idea.
>> Just copy and paste it right into into the newsletter. Yeah, we could do that. >> And we could say that there's a new transportation group working with um to see if they can improve the transportation situation, but we also
should mention um Village Neighbors Med Rides program. >> Absolutely. Because it's available to people, >> right? I'm sure most people know about, you know, the members, but somebody that's not a member. I don't know how many non-members are there are
village neighbors that, you know, >> I I would be willing to maybe write that something small up and just kind of advertise like it's free, it's there, you get all these benefits. Um,
if you'd like me to. I think that's a great idea, Janette, because you know the village neighbor situation better than the rest of us. >> Boy, do I. >> And again, we're we're talking about what, three and a half pages. >> Mhm.
>> So, it's not going to have space for a lot of stuff, for much, right? >> Or for very lengthy items. And then somebody has to write up something about requesting email addresses. >> Yes. >> A little blurb.
>> I think that's all that's left. >> Yes. Well, so I would suggest that we each draft this the section that we're concerned about um and have it ready for the next meeting and ideally our drafts around to
everybody else for comments and additions or subtractions. Does that make sense? It is as long as it's okay with uh our our rules and regulations of sending stuff around. Is that okay? >> Well, I think we can send stuff around,
but we can't comment on it as a group. >> Okay. >> I mean, we could individually we can send comments to the author, but we can't have a broad discussion. >> Okay. How many people here use Google uh Docs
to to write so that we can share through that? >> God, I hate Google Docs. >> Well, you know what though? It's it's it's there's some efficiency to it that we can share and comment and change things. I don't love any of this.
I wish computers had never been invented, but since they have been, it does it does create some ease. So, I guess that would be a no. That's fine. I just want to know. No, I'm not saying it's a no. I'm just saying it's really not easy for me,
but I should master my hatred of Google. So, yeah, I mean that's a good idea, Janette. Yeah, the nice thing about it is it's kind of like we put out a piece of writing and people can comment rather than copying a
PDF and you know which is the first one and the second one and who's got it and everything else. There is a little bit of efficacy to it. >> Yeah. >> But how about everybody else? >> I'm fine with it. Um, you just have to
use my Gmail address, which is not the one that I normally use, but I can give that to you. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> I use Google Docs all the time. >> Okay. I'm wondering I think I need to find out whether Google Docs since it's a group
working on a document is not a post is not against the rules of the road for government committees. We don't have to worry about that with with neighborhood dementia support
because we're not a government group. Right. Well, in the end, we're all just writing a piece to then put into a a publication for our organization. I don't you know, it's it's kind of like
>> I know, but I think I need to check. >> Okay. Absolutely. So, we will wait with uh eagerly for the answer to that. >> Yeah. >> But after your vacation, please. >> Yeah. It's actually after my vacation is the 1 of October. What I'm doing this
weekend is just visiting my cruise companion. >> Yeah. So, okay. Um, Grace thinks that the special town meeting is going to be sometime in September,
the later half of September, I'm guessing. >> Mhm. Um because Grace is concerned that they're not giving people enough time to read the warrant article. Um so you need to know that I won't be here to go to the annual meeting to the special town
meeting. So somebody needs to be willing to be there to to speak briefly about the motion in support of it. Well, since we don't know when it is or anything else, it's hard for any of us to, you know,
>> Well, I'll just tell you that I'm going to be gone. >> Somebody's got somebody's got to do it when the time comes. So, we're just going to have to take that responsibility on at some point. >> Yes. So, people need to think about that. >> Okay. Still with us, >> I'm here. >> When I went when I went into my email, I
don't know what happens. It it it it stops viewing me and then I can't get back. though. >> Oh jeez. Wait, is it there any chance that >> you need to be let in again? >> Let's see. Hold on.
>> Oh, wait. >> Oh, here I am. >> There you are. >> Oh, it just it just stops. Oh, okay. It just stops. >> Just the video button. >> Oh, I didn't realize that. That was the Sorry about that. Um, for the special time meeting, they
it's usually at night, right? >> Do they usually have it on a week night? >> Oh, yeah. >> I would think it would be special town meeting would be on a night, either night or weekend. And a night seems more likely.
>> So, that probably counts me out. >> Oh, >> because I work. >> Well, okay. I go to work for six. >> Okay. For the rest of the evening. >> I work seven seven nights a week.
>> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> So, okay. So, Janette and Mary Joe will have to draw straws unless Rich is ready to join us. >> I think that's our next
>> our next thing on the agenda. If we're done with the the gazette. I think we're done with the gazette. Okay. >> So, the next item is the membership of Rich to see if he would like to join us or if he has decided or thought about
it. Yes, I have thought about it and I'd be happy to. I just don't know what every I hear all what all you wonderful people do.
>> So, I mean, it's it's just being here and kind of muddling through all of these topics and things that come up. And at some point, I know you've got to sit through a uh a short um all the things you need to be aware of not doing and
doing, which has I forget what it's called. Um and great does that, right? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Other than that, you know, you just appear here. >> Yeah. Well, we have to get you appointed by the select board,
>> but it's um it's not an elected position, but an appointed position. And select is really good about appointing people. In fact, technically, we could even have them appoint you without asking your permission, >> but we don't we're not quite that bad.
>> Okay. >> Okay. But thank you, Rich. You know, you you are involved in both community lunch and the foot care. So, you do know about two of the programs we run? >> Yes.
>> Would you have any interest in being a part-time part part coordinator of foot clinic? >> No. >> Okay. Okay. >> Well, we're very happy you're doing this. >> Thank you.
>> Yes. Yes, we definitely are. So, um co-chair. Madame co-chair, should we get should we say something about the police search committee for the police? >> So, the next one, the next item is the
um search committee for the new police chief. And um after the email went around, we realized that a lot of us are too busy or have conflict of interest. Um, and Mary Joe has nicely volunteered to represent the Council on Aging, and
we're very thankful for her for doing that. >> Oh, that's good. >> And and Mary Joe was on a previous search committee, >> right? >> Uh, it was the police study group when they were trying to decide how to structure the police department a few
years ago. >> Still really relevant background. >> True. It's it's it's relevant. I know what questions to ask. >> Well, I'm very happy that that Council on Aging is going to be represented, especially because we work handinhand
with the Sanford seniors and, you know, they're kind of a lookout too, you know, and that they they see a lot of our elderly in town and >> they're sometimes one of the first the first people to know when people need help. >> Yes.
So, we're pretty thankful that you did that by volunteering to do that. >> Um, can I bring up the unanticipated piece which is another committee? >> Sure. >> Um, so we just have chance to just talk
briefly about it. Uh, there's a committee being formed to look into what should be done with the library, the old library once we move into the new library. and we got asked to provide a member for the committee.
And there is a on the on the Shootsbury um town website there is the document that lists what the committee is supposed to do. So, um, I would suggest if anybody thinks they might be interested, take a
look at that document and see if you want to do what the be involved in doing what that committee is supposed to be doing. Well, I already took a look at the document and if everybody is still as busy as they seem, I'd be willing to do
that. >> Oh, great. Mary Joe So, those are several pieces of important business. What else do we need to cover today? I >> um do do you want to um let everybody
know um about the the foot clinic how it went? >> I >> last last month because this was our our our first uh month with Simone. >> Yes. Rich, you you met Simone, right? >> Yes. I had um >> What did you think?
>> Um I'm not a fan. I've been with the um foot the nurses in Greenfield >> since David Dan was here >> and there's just that something that they bring that this
young lady doesn't bring and I can't put my foot on my I can't put my finger on it. Um, but I'm I'm just not I have I haven't decided yet if I'm even going to go back.
>> Oh, wow. >> So, that's and it could just be me. I don't know. There's just something that that I miss what the nurses in Greenfield have done
over the years. So, >> do we have any other feedback from other uh participants? We did h I'd like to get more feedback and I'm hoping that at the next um that
I will be able to get some but I did get I let um somebody from New Salem the COA chair from New >> Salem >> because she they were thinking about all they're thinking about the making this change and she she's uh it was it's
Betsy Peltz and she thought Simone is wonderful. Okay. >> But Betsy is a very enthusiastic person. >> Affusive and enthusiastic. >> Yeah. >> And positive. Not that you're not rich. >> Yeah.
>> So JR asked if she could come and she's on the COA. She's treasurer I think of the COA, the leverage COA. >> She can't come until September. But um I hope it's okay with everybody that I'm I mean they're paying they're paying a
full price. But JR is a very different kind of personality from Betsy. So it'll be really interesting to see how she responds. >> Although Jr. is very positive in her own way, just very different. Yeah. >> Is
>> Yeah. Okay. So we really don't have too much more intel than that at this time. So maybe we just keep keep keep on going. >> I think so. Okay. The other thing I should tell you, well, two things real quickly. One is that Simone made a big
point of that she only she spends them 20 to 25 minutes with people, but she ran 30 minutes. So, I'm going back to halfhour appointments. And it may be that because she was meeting people, new people. >> Yeah. >> But so, I want to wait a while and see.
The other thing is when I finally got around to checking the COA phone, um we had four calls about foot new calls, new patient, new clients for foot clinic. And one of them turned out just um she
had a postsurgery. She couldn't reach after hip surgery. She couldn't replacement. She couldn't reach her toes. So not long term, >> but the other three are potentially um long-term additions. Mhm.
>> So I and because they're new, I don't want and there are no spaces until October. I don't want people to wait till October. So I asked Simone again if we could have um additional time. And she's had she's fine with that. We can
have as many people as we want. It's mostly the coordinator. Do I want to sit around till 2:30? >> Which which I will. Um but and uh Donna is going to check in the next
our next meeting is on Wednesday the 20th and Donna's is going to check in and see whether she would be willing to take on at sharing the coordinatorship with me. I kind of enjoy it. I enjoy meeting the folks, but I am not going to
be here for it in um September. So, I thought I would contact Susan Gonberg and see if she'd be willing to come back just for once to run it because I don't think anybody here wants to do that.
Rich, if we got desperate, would you >> desperate? >> Yeah. if we couldn't get Susan because she's gonna be >> I also said that I think that was the day I think I told you that I I get out at noon and I'm more than will or or can
be back up here at noon >> and more than willing to help share with someone. >> Okay. Okay. That's good to know. Thank you again for that. The good news was um well, we haven't gotten invoiced from her yet, but we got
$175 in donations. Um which is pretty much almost covering the whole cost of her having her up here. >> Although we did >> we did have 11 clients instead of eight. >> You had seven.
>> We had 11. >> Oh, 11. >> The usual eight. Okay. So, well, it's still not as bad as as a bill that we're going to get for the the the nurses, >> the footare nurses. >> Yeah. >> No,
it's just significantly lower. >> Yeah. Which is why we're doing this, Rich. >> Oh, I understand. But I also I also feel like there wasn't any No one asked for anything at the end of
the session like you did when I came out to make my next thing. It was like I expected to give you a donation. I've never felt that way after COVID
when they stopped coming to the home, coming to the town hall. I never felt that way. It just didn't feel like it was just make the next appointment, that's it. Make the next appointment, that's it.
I never saw anything change hands between the people when I left and when the next one that came in. It was just str it was unusual. So I didn't know how much that the COA paid and what donations that you expected when they
came to the house during COVID. I paid a certain amount of money. That was a given. I don't know how much you did, but I did. >> I don't know what else you picked up. And and I I still don't know. So I feel that
that was something that >> was lacking, >> but that almost seems like procedural. >> Well, yeah, >> by us, no or >> Yeah. We just really didn't think through and we didn't talk with Susan
Gonberg about um you know as starting out when we started out last June emphasizing that people pay a certain amount and when we finally got around to realizing we had to let people know remember we did this what January
February >> you sent out you sent out a flyer and she g gave it to people as they were leaving. >> Yeah. >> She said this is what's going to be happening. This is what should be happening. >> Yeah. >> And I felt like the car the horse was
out of the barn already. >> Yes. Un. >> Okay. >> Yes. So, this one we've talked with people from the get-go about um that we're changing to Simone because she's costs us less and that she's requiring
requesting we pay her $20 a client. And um some people are giving us 20 and some a lot of people are giving us 10 which is fine >> was not fine >> when we were had foot care by nurses >> right
>> that it's and not as part of 55 but it's part of 20 10 is fine >> right but there would footare by nurses was 55 >> yes >> all right >> and that was a they tell us that was a
discount you know and at at at home. I think I paid 90 bucks at home, >> right? >> I think that's what you would pay if you went down to Greenfield. So they, as far as they were concerned, we were getting a good deal. >> Yes. Okay.
>> But in the old days, um, before CO, we were expected to pay $35. And I don't know how many of us did. I know I did. Um >> I know I did every time that I had gone.
>> Yeah. >> But David, it just was an automatic. And then when they came to the house, I did the same thing. >> Yeah. >> So, but I didn't know what the what their hourly was to you guys. >> Yeah. They they increased they increased it.
>> Yeah. >> Yeah. They charged per person and then per hour they were there. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. So, we did not deal we didn't handle that well. You're right, Rich. We didn't.
Although we had given people information ahead of time, but assuming that it would have been better to sort of publicize it at at the actual event, >> I don't know how much information we did give before people the thing started
again. I don't think I don't think you did when it started up again. >> I don't We didn't even think about talking with Susan about it >> because we were the last town that the young lady was >> coming to >> that was still doing inh home things
before the town opened up. >> She was going to Wendle, she was going to Lever, she was doing >> all the other ones and >> Yep. You know, like when you get your haircut for the first time and you you've wanted
a haircut for a while and you got one and you know how you feel, everything's good and well, my feet were like, "This is not right." >> If that if that makes sense to anybody. To me, >> it was like putting on a brand new pair
of shoes. Everything was working and I just didn't, you know, maybe I'm spoiled. I don't know. >> Well, it's possible that you were spoiled. >> Yes. >> Be important to see what other people think.
>> Yeah. We don't want people to feel like the lack of care is there either. >> No. >> You know, I'm disappointed with with hearing that because, >> you know, we don't want people to feel like there's a difference in in the care they're getting,
>> right? I can't describe it any better. >> Well, I'm I'm going to be one of the extras um next Wednesday because I forgot to sign up. So, I'm getting I'm going to be one of her extra clients and so I can
report back next time. And I and I will definitely try to ask people after when when they the problem is I get to talk to people when they come, but they tend to and that's when they pay me. That's when they provide the
money. >> But they leave because there's already somebody sitting at the table talking to me, the next client. They tend to just go out. But you you you also booked them when they got there, which I don't believe
was happening in the past. I think it was done after. I don't I'm trying to remember. That was >> Okay. >> That was months ago. >> Okay. So, I can change make that change. >> Well, you you do it the way the way you the way you did it was very that was
good because you had that interaction with people before they went in. Yeah, >> set something up already. >> Yeah, >> more of a hi, how are you the times before? >> I think what I need to do is ask people
um is ask for some comments after when they come out. >> Okay. >> Or when the people come for the second time, I'm going to be able to ask them, "What did you think?" >> Yeah. So, I'm definitely going to try to emphasize that. >> Yeah.
Thanks, Rich. Thanks, Rich, for all that. >> We're gonna lose Janette soon. Do we need anything else we need to cover? >> I you think? >> Don't believe so. I don't think so. I think that was the
most pressing stuff. >> Okay. So, next time we can deal with financials and um the Okay. >> And anything else that's was on the U. >> It was it was mostly Oh, we need to set
our next date. That's one thing we have to do. >> Okay. So, I'm gonna leave a teeny bit early. >> Uh, thanks everybody, especially. >> Thank you >> for stepping up to the Brady Bunch plate. >> Bye.
>> Thanks, Janette. Bye. Bye. So, Jessica, are you disappeared again? >> Um, no, I'm here. I was just looking at my calendar. >> Oh, okay. >> So, it looks like September 10th would be your next meeting. Is that
right? >> Yep. That sounds good. >> Second Wednesday of the month, >> right? >> I'm sorry, I didn't hear you. >> Second Wednesday of the month. >> Yep. >> Okay. So, September 10th at uh 5:30.
>> Yeah. Okay. >> So, yeah. So, I'll be here for that meeting. >> Okay. >> All right. >> Thanks. >> I guess >> thanks Rich for joining us. Start the procedure of um getting select board to
appoint you. >> Okay. I'm I'm new in town, so they may not know who I am, but we'll see. >> You're new in town? Do you know Rich Strangford? Everybody says Stranglin. Yes. Everybody says, "Oh, yeah, sure."
>> Are you ready for back to school, Rich? >> Oh, yeah. I know. >> No. Are you not driving up here this year? >> No. >> Oh, that sucks. >> They gave it to uh Kiscus. >> Oh. >> So,
>> where are you driving? Um, right now South Hadley, but I'm not sure what I'm going to be doing. >> Well, that's too bad. All the kids love. >> We enjoy it up here, but I'm not a fan of the other place, the other company. >> So,
>> the kids all loved you. That's too bad. >> I I've had your oldest son. I think >> maybe he graduated now. >> Yes. I Yeah, I remember going having that section. Yeah. >> Yeah. And then my my little one, he's still he's in sixth grade this year. So
>> Oh, that's a that's a good year for you. >> It is. >> It is. >> It is. Absolutely. So, all right. I guess we can adjourn. I don't know how to do that. >> I think we have to uh make a motion to
adjurnn. >> Okay. Motion to have a roll call vote. >> I make the motion to adjurnn the meeting. Okay. Second roll call. >> You do roll call. Mary Joe, you're
first. >> Johnson I. >> Make peace. I >> Millinger I. >> Rich is technically not one of us yet. Okay. So, we've um >> I 643.
>> Yep. >> Yeah. Oh, looks good. Actually, we adjourned when Janette left us. And I'm not really sure when that was. It was only a few minutes ago, though. >> Yeah, I heard her. >> She just said something.
>> Janette said, >> "Yeah." >> Whoa. She hasn't turned off. >> 43. Yeah. 6:43. >> Okay. 64. >> Thanks a lot, folks. >> Okay. >> All right. Take care, everyone. >> Thank you.
>> Thanks again, Mary Joe. Bye. >> Yes, Mayor Joe for two committees. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Bye-bye.