Go ahead. >> Okay. I follow the meeting to order at 12:30. So, we'll do a roll call vote for attendance, please. >> Annie, >> here. >> No. Donna. Harvey.
>> Teresa? >> Yes. >> And >> Elaine? Yes. >> Carol and Paul >> and Paul. skipped right over you.
>> Um, everybody have a chance to review March minutes? >> Yes. >> Any additions or corrections? >> No. Can I? >> Do I have a motion to accept March minutes?
>> Motion to accept the March minutes as a second. >> Okay. >> We have a motion seconded. So, we'll do a roll call vote to accept the minutes. Hi, Teresa. >> Harvey, >> yes. >> Annie, >> yes.
>> I abstain because I wasn't at the meeting. >> Okay. Carol, yes. Lane, >> yes. >> Okay. So, motion accepted. Moving on to new business. Uh, new movie theater. Lisa.
>> Yep. So, that will be starting May 1st. Um, so what they'll do is they'll call us. They'll tell us they have up to six friends and um because there's six chairs um they'll tell us what they day they want to watch the movie and what
the movie is. If we don't have the CD of the movie then we'll go on Netflix and try to find it and rent it or whatever. Um so for right now there's no fee. I'm not going to charge them. Um but we have the popcorn, the candy, there's coffee there. Um, and then they'll get their
picture taken in front of the big um, there's a big thing on the wall that looks like a movie theater uh, sheet. Um, it's kind of cool. And then the group at the end when they're done, they can get their picture taken and then they'll get like a Polaroid of it. >> So, that'll be cool for them. Yeah,
they're all excited. Um, there's a whole bunch of them that have been asking ever since I got the chairs. Um, the chairs light up. They go all the way back. They're they're really really comfortable. Um, and then there's enough space in between each one for a wheelchair or a walker. Um, so I'm not
worried about that either. We kind of made sure of that. Um, so that should be good. Um, the new drumming class with Donna, she had this idea. She does it somewhere else. Um, so we put up a flyer. Um, we
only have a couple people interested right now. Um, so we need more, but that might be a um an upcoming class. >> What's it called? Is like an exercise deck or >> So it is um but it's like a basket and then you have one of those big balls, rubber balls that are in um sits in it
and then you have like these little drumming sticks and you just I guess whail on it. >> Where was the signup sheet? >> I could be interested to sign up. Okay. So, there was one on the bulletin board downstairs just
talking about it and then if they wanted it, then they would just come to Denise or I would just put their name in. >> Okay. >> Um just to keep track of us who did want to sign up and perfect. >> You think you're going to have enough. >> Okay. Good.
>> Um we added another chair yoga class for Heidi um on Wednesdays. Clara is no longer doing the um >> line >> line dancing because she's just been sick a lot. So, she retired and we have
Kathy Klene that's taking over that's been helping Clara um over the last year. Um so, she is the new teacher of that. Um and then so we moved her class up to 9:30 on Wednesdays and then
Heidi's will start around 11:15. Um, and Heidi was working at the YMCA and she um isn't there anymore. She retired from that. So, she had a following of like 50 people that did not
want her to leave. Um, but she said, "Well, you can come to Southwork and join me there." So, it's the same kind of class she had there. >> And she gets paid just by what is it $2 or something that you pay when you come to that? just to take a class. It's It's
>> pays her. >> Um some of that money some of that money pays her and then it comes out of the grant. Yep. >> And then we might be adding a low impact class and that's with a little bit of weights. Help you with your muscle mass because as we age we we all lose our
muscles and >> so that one is a possibility also. >> Good. Excellent. So update on classes. Obviously classes are good. Yeah, classes are crazy. It's like it was funny because I think we went August
would be my second year here and we went from like 60 to 70 people a week to now we're at our max is like 120. >> So that's how many people come in here in and out a week for class people or is it something Westfield?
>> It's Westfield. Um we have now we have a few Granville people that are have been coming which is nice to see. Um yeah, they come from all over. >> They do that with every >> um >> senior center >> senior center. Yeah. >> Um >> brown bag
>> brown bag is tomorrow and we have about 30 bags we fill all the time. >> So it's going the same. >> Hey, dining room that's been kind of dwindling. Um
>> yeah, >> I don't I'm not sure why. Um, but it it's I I'm not sure if it's the food or cuz whenever we do food ourselves, it's packed. >> Oh, yeah. >> Yes. >> Um, >> yeah. >> So, we have to keep track of that. I
think we just kind of >> agree. We go ahead. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. That's true. Um, >> and today I heard a complaint from someone too, which I agree with. Uh we need to have maybe better desserts would
in there instead of an apple or an orange or little fruit cup or something. Could we have something else sometime? >> So, and that's funny because I always have brownies, cookies, >> in the kitchen something else. >> Yeah.
>> Um cuz I I always I always joke with them if I I always say, "What's for what's for dessert today?" And they'll say, "Applesauce." And I'm like, "That's not a dessert." >> Yeah. But when they're making their food, that's part of their dessert. That that is their dessert. But
>> I imagine it's hard for them to keep. It must be hard to do all that stuff so cheap. And >> um >> for Highland Valley, >> it is. I I guess so. And I And I think part of that's because they they're trying to give you a um they're going by like, you know, you get your meat,
little meat, and you get your vegetable, then you get and then here's your dessert. But >> and we just laugh because we say just because we're we're getting old doesn't mean we don't want a cookie >> or I don't want to be eating applesauce. Do you know what I mean? Like that that to me that's not all. So we always
usually try. Yeah. Maybe not on Mondays, but the rest of the week we will. >> Do you want me to see if there's something else >> else in the kitchen that you could have for dessert? Nah. He said it's his. >> Yeah. He don't care. He's not a complainer. >> But we we always usually try to have something.
>> We have to do Highland Valley. You can't like that's like this area is Highland Valley. You don't have a choice. You can't go to something else. You don't like Highland. >> We don't have money in a budget. We don't like so if we use Awan for instance, they have a $170,000 budget.
They have a big kitchen. They have chefs. They're making food left and right for their people. That's why they go that they have a big following. We don't have a budget that's going to pay for a chef. M >> you know we're you know we we have a position that we have to talk about too
car's position. Um it's changing from what Carrie did with it. Um so yeah this town it we don't have that kind of money otherwise I would love to be able to give them a meal every single day of the week. Um because then we would see our
numbers up in the kitchen. >> Some of the meals are good. Yeah. Yeah. when they have like a choice of egg salad or ham salad, it's it's >> pretty good. >> Yeah. >> I mean, if you're home, you're not going to have a a big meal for lunch.
>> Yeah. >> How many people pick it up, though? Are there a lot of people that are home that pick it up and eat at home or >> um we have probably four couples that come and get their meals and they just drive by um and get it and take it to go. Um,
but that's just something that we have to just try to that's why I try to do a big lunchon for at least once a month. Um, maybe in the summertime it'll be easier because hot dogs and hamburgers are cheaper. Um, maybe we could do our weekly hot dog on a certain day and
that'll be an option if somebody um if we advertise that in advance, then maybe that's something that they would come in on a Thursday if every Thursday they knew they could get a hot dog. >> You know what I mean? Used to be an expensive lunch, but that's not anymore. >> No,
>> not at all. >> Yeah. >> The meals on wheels is Highland Valley food, right? >> Yeah. >> Never could put that together. So, are there a lot of meals on wheels people? >> Oh, there's they we probably have 50 delivered.
>> 50 to 60 to delivered. It comes the number comes up and down because of the you know, if they go in the hospital, then they're on suspend for a little while. >> Yeah. Finances, >> we're good. Okay. >> Um money coming in for um May. Um so we
should be all set. >> Okay. You want to talk about under new business then um about the uh new position? >> Yeah. So we changed it a little bit because um they would pay Cara um a
certain amount out of her paycheck um or out of her the funds for her. the line item, it would go for um shine, which is the Medicare. Um we didn't we didn't want to like take that away because the seniors do like talking to somebody and
having that person in front of them. Um so we have a woman and and two people that I'm going to interview, but we have them and they will come. They work for insurance company. They get paid by the insurance company. So that's already
saving the town money so that we don't have to pay the person and then it'll be like the foot doctor and the hearing guy. We'll keep track. Let's say you want you need to come and talk to someone from Medicare about your Medicare. Then you will call up and we'll put you on a list and a at a time
frame and then we'll call them and say you have five people this week to come talk to you. um and we'll give them the times and they'll come here and we have a office downstairs that's for them and they'll use that. Um so that's that's the only thing that we took out of the
position um that the town will not have to pay for now. Um and then so then it's we went from 20 hours a week to 15. So, we figured if it's a 5-hour day, um, our
busiest days are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays is our long day, and that's where we see the most foot traffic here. So, if we make it a Tuesday, Thursday, uh, Wednesday, and Thursday job, 5 hours, they can sit in the new desk um, in when you first come
in the room, and they're going to, um, position will probably be more like an an admin support. So, they'll answer phones. You'll go to them and say, "I want to join a class. I want to join a trip." They'll have access right there
um on their computer. It's already up and running. Um they'll have access to to log you in to make you a new member, sign you up for classes, make change. That's a big one. The other day I must have made change 25 times. And when I finally got back to my office, I was
just like, I don't even know what I was doing in here. Like I I I completely get sidetracked on >> what people need change for >> for the classes because they come in and they got to pay $2 and they only have a 20. Um so she'll do that right there. She has a money box right there at her
desk. It's uh it'll work out perfect. Um, and then eventually if they if um once she gets familiar or him or her gets familiar with um the senior center and how we work, then they'll also can help with activities and and stuff like
that. >> Has that job been posted yet, Lisa? >> She um Naen's critiquing the um the job description and then she can post it up on the website. It'll um go in house um which I doubt anyone that works here is
going to go for it because it's 15 hours a week. >> Um but that also saves the town money because it's not at 20 hours you got to pay them benefits. Now it's 15 hours. So we didn't just help the town save them money for the shine position, but we're
helping them save money on that position. um >> who's gonna do the like arrange all the the stuff like Carrie used to arrange all >> So right now I'm doing that and Juliana is helping me. Um Juliana um on Fridays is her slow day um cuz now we don't do
meals on wheels on Friday um cuz we don't have drivers for Fridays. So we do we give deliver those meals on Wednesdays frozen for their Friday meal. Um so that works out and then that gives her um 4 hours on Friday to help me do
do it. So, we should be fine. Um, and eventually, if this person's really a wizard, then we'll throw them more more work, you know. Um, that's not a big deal. So, that's Cara's um job change.
>> Hey, anybody else anything with new business that >> The only thing I saw on the newsletter um and and I'm waiting for that is May 12th is um we're closed because of the voting. >> Oh, yeah. So, the whole day is closed
and we have an um we have that um what do you call it? Then the the felting class. We have a felting class for for um May. So, we'll probably have to everyone that signed up. I just put an email out to her. So,
she'll probably just tell me see if she can do it the following week on that Tuesday >> or pick another day and then we'll let everyone knows um when we signed them up. So, no exercise that day even though we're upstairs. >> Yep. Because they can't sign in. >> Okay. >> Um All right.
>> Yeah. They want the senior center closed completely. Um then we're closed Memorial Day and then Tuesday, May 26th, we're closed because of the volunteer lunchon. >> Okay. >> Um that was the other only other thing that I just want to mention while we're
here. um is that um town administrator came and saw me on Friday and said they will have to take down the the two pool tables um for the year because we have voting in May, September, and November.
So, they'll they'll pay to take them down. I'll call the guy that put them up um because we just refilted both of them. Um and then so so my issue is is because there's another department that
has and I get it. It's the it's the voting, it's the elections, it's whatever, but we shouldn't have to shut down the senior center for the entire day because of another event that the town has to do. Um, so I said I will I
I'm not okay with it, but I'm not going to sit here and pout and cry. We got to get over it. We have three elections this year. We'll take the pool tables down. They'll put them in storage, but as soon as November election is done that week, they're getting put back up
and they're not coming back down. So that gives that gives them from now until this time next year to find another place to have their elections and their voting. It can't be it can't be at the senior center anymore because we
>> anymore like >> I don't know. I was told someone fell down the stairs and hurt themselves >> because we're first level. >> That's that. >> Yeah. But that that's not an excuse to change the entire process of something
and now put putting that doesn't matter. They have an elevator. He took the stairs. He would have fell anyways. >> Yeah. >> Um so it it it just you can't you can't keep shutting the senior center down for because the town has another event. I
get it in the in the exercise room cuz we're on borrowed space. I get that when they're having the art show. Everyone knows in advance. But for for voting, every year we're gonna have to and every year you're going to take down my pool table. That's that's $500 to take it
down and move it. And then when you put it back up, it's not only 500 bucks to to put it up, but now you got to have it leveled. >> What do the select say about that? Considering they want you to solid and then >> I didn't talk to all three. I haven't had a chance, but two out of the three um think we should move it somewhere
else. They're not >> school. >> Well, that's that's up to them. I'm not going to uh give them examples and where they should go. That's up to them to find it. But they have we're giving them on notice that they have a year to find a new place to have their voting. Put it
back up here. Put it downstairs. Put it at the library. Put it at DPW. I don't care. But we can't keep being the only department that keeps shutting down. We don't have dinner that day. No. People aren't 10 people come for breakfast
every day. They're not going to come. making like the seniors aren't important. That's what >> and that's what the seniors are all saying. You're making it sound like we're not important enough, but you didn't ask um accounting to move. You're not asking assessors to move. It's just the senior center. Um and it's not like
they don't have space in the building. >> What about the pool tables going downstairs in that area downstairs that >> because I can't I can't be down there. >> A lot of people that do it quite >> we have we have that's one of the things that brings the men in. It's hard to get men to come to senior centers and now
we're telling them >> for the year you're not coming. >> Um, so it it's bothersome, but we have to play the game and and they they're on notice. They know that they got to find another place because the seniors aren't
happy about it. Um, so it is what it is for this year. And then they're they said that they would pay to take them down and they would pay to put them back up the correct way >> for a lot of voters. >> Yeah. >> That's why you think the candidate would stick up for >> Exactly.
>> Um so that's that's why if you hear rumbling about the pool tables that's what it is. We don't have a choice that >> nothing to do with it. >> No. But um >> I was just going to say on the art show
days when they're using the auditorium, we're going to go down down to do the exercise classes >> some of them. And now since the pool table's gone, we can probably even use that room there. >> Oh, >> for for like yoga or something that has a smaller class, right?
>> Um Yep. >> So those Right. So those days we we wouldn't have to shut down completely. >> Right. That's good. >> Yeah. Okay. Um, old business newsletter, mailing, email. >> Yep. So,
so somebody came in from Westfield the other day and said, "Why don't you just hand them out when they come in?" And we said, "What?" And they're like, "Yeah, you don't get in Westfield, you don't get a newsletter from the senior center mailed to you. You get it when you go to
the senior center." So, this morning we had two classes. So I brought up um a bunch of um newsletters to them and I said um so once a month I will come upstairs and I will make sure that there's
newsletters here for you guys. If you get them online, don't take one. If you if you have access to get them online, you don't need to take one. Um I said, but it's costing three grand every six months to mail these out to people when they're all coming in. So if you think
about it, so we have probably 270 or 280 people out of that 900 people that we were mailing to already are getting it through email. We did that. We changed that over the last month. So
there there's some we're still in the process. If you come in, we always go, "Oh, Carol, we never asked you, do you have an email address?" And then she'll tell us, "Yes, we do." and then we'll take them off the mailing and then you'll get it like almost three or four weeks earlier than you would if we
mailed it. So there's always going to be probably a good couple hundred people, but we're hoping that we can get that number down. And if we give it to everybody that comes in for exercise, and if we give it to everybody that comes in in the afternoons for cards and all them, we take their names down, like
this first month for May, I'm taking your name down on a sheet of paper, I'll go back and take that label off so that when I do the mailing for May, I'm not mailing you one cuz I just handed you one. So that might save us another couple hundred. >> Plus the new people that come in, it
could just not be an option. You get email like the new come in like no. >> So we do. So we never asked about their email before, but now when we do get new people, we we do ask. >> But if you put them out early, like a lot of times you have them out before we come in to fold them.
>> Yeah. >> They take them, but then later they'll theirs will come in the mail anyway, but they don't wait because they already took one. So have to >> but they won't have that access though cuz once I once we check you off that you've got your May newsletter
>> Yeah. >> we're not going to >> leave it for you. >> Leave it for you. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Um and the ones the thing that's nice about the emails is the ones that live out of town that weren't getting it now have access through their email to get it. So they're they're happy. And that
that was probably the first 150 people that we got emails. I'm like, "Well, why why am I not seeing my number going down, but we're taking we we're taking all these people." And Denise was like, "Cuz they're all in Westfield." And I'm like, "Okay.
Okay, we're getting all of them. They're getting the email, but and my number isn't coming down." But but then if they're coming here for the events, we want them to get an a newsletter anyway. So, it's it kind of bittersweet. They're going to get one anyways. Um, so we'll
probably always have to mail some of them. I'm not going to expect a 90 year old to start learning how to do email at 90 because we don't want to mail it to them. We'll still mail um to some. This is just to help the cause. >> And just um point of information, the
Westfield newsletter on the first Saturday of every month is in the Westfield newspaper. So if you get a Westfield newspaper, the first Saturday of the month is the new newsletter in there as well as paper.
>> Is it like this in there or as like a flyer? >> It's a newspaper. It's part it's newspaper >> paper and it's >> but the same thing. It's also there at the senior center to pick up. But if you
get a newspaper, you get it the first Saturday of every month. >> Do people get a newspaper? >> Do people still get the newspaper? >> I do. >> What do you get in South? You get like a >> You get the Westfield News and you get the Republican. >> I could live on South. >> That magazine's about this big. So how
would >> Yeah, that would be hard. But I'm thinking about it as Yeah, >> that's interesting though. >> Yeah, >> but that's a good idea. That makes sense for that. And it's probably older people who get newspapers versus
>> so that works for them. Yeah. >> It's like they still get the TV guide. >> Oh yeah, you know. >> Well, we'll have to find someone to do a newspaper for >> South. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> That's interesting. But that works for them. So, we'll figure it out. I mean, a
couple more months, get the kinks out and whatever number we're down to, we're down to. Because if I'm not spending it on postage, that means I can have another exercise class. I can put that money towards something else that we're not doing that we can do. >> So,
>> okay, ballroom dancing classes. >> So, we do have a big following for that one. We do have signups. I have a call into him to find out how he wants to do it now, like what month do you want to start? Is it going to be an afternoon class or whatever. So, that those um
that information will come pretty quick. Okay. >> Anybody else under old business? I actually have something because I received I think the same email you did about the closings due to weather.
>> Um I don't know if you I know that Diane Gil was going to research that. Yeah. He sent Did she send you an email explaining >> Yes. how they want us to >> Right. So we're gonna Does did you talk about that with the board? >> No.
>> Okay. So, um, the closings >> for weather, which we won't have to worry about until next winter, but the clo closings will be based on the school. You know, if there's no school, there's no classes, >> right?
>> That makes sense. >> And um, if there's a delay, it depends on what time the class, >> right? >> So, if the class starts at 9:00 and it's a 2hour delay, that won't Yeah. that class. >> It's just it's just easier for people to
find out about closings if you just follow the school schedule, right? And that's part and then um some of the other thing if if the kids can't make it to school, you don't want >> seniors >> seniors going out. So that that's part
of the reason for the policy, you know, make it easier and then safety. >> But what about closing? Those Lisa didn't think they should be closing. remember that's what you meant. >> Well, no. And that was what we it was came up because we had we had instructors coming and then we had like instead of having 20 people in her
class, she had like seven that day. And now >> they were already here. So I was like, I guess you can go up there. >> We're you're here already. So that's why we want to make this >> uniform. But you know the senior center clothing that's what you're
the classes are coming. >> We're not the senior. Right. Right. Right. >> It's just the classes that follow the senior decide if it were a huge storm if the senior center was going >> and I usually go by what Nicole says of
the town administrator that were closed. >> The senior center would never close. It's just that the senior center itself would make that decision. >> Right. That's that's her when she was. Yeah. >> So, it was really confusing this year because people were kind of doing their
own thing and then they'd come and ask me and I'd be like, "Oh, you're already here. How do I make you turn around? You already came out." So, that's why I kind of wanted the board to look at it and Diane went and >> y >> got an answer for us and we're going to stick with it. >> Yep. >> And then come like October, I'll make
sure we do um one page in the newsletter, >> right? >> Um it'll just be on that where they sign so people will see it. >> Right. All the instructors will have it upstairs in the thing so that everyone's on the same page. >> Right. >> Right.
>> Okay. The other old business. >> Okay. Master plan approval. We received >> um in the email the information about where we are with that. >> Yep. So, we had to just go in I had to just go and verify um an updated thing
on it and then I'm just going to send this to Diane once you guys approve it. >> Um so, it took what we really had what what they said what we should be doing and then we went back and said how are we achieving it and all this is what
we're how we're achieving all of what we had to do. Mhm. >> Um and I think the only there was only most of these I still have like you know to join the high school um DLE program for September that's in the works. We're
we're connecting with that person. Right. Exactly. >> Good. >> So >> So they're just looking for the board to approve it. Yeah. So, looking this over, do I have a motion to accept Southwork
2040 master plan for the Council on Aging? >> Motion to accept the master plan. >> I approve. >> I approve. >> Okay. So, we have a motion made and seconded. Now we just need to vote on
accepting the Southwick Council on Aging Southwick 2040 master plan. >> Annie, >> yes. >> Paula, >> yes. >> Carol Laughlin, yes. Ela, >> yes. >> Teresa, perfect. >> Harvey, >> yes.
>> Okay, so motion approved. >> Okay, so that's all set. >> Yep. >> All right. Perfect. >> All right. Lastly, anything else? I haven't had a question since I was wondering if we I saw that program like
somewhere seniors helping seniors. I feel like have a job to do that. I don't want to do the job, but I'm wonder if we have something like that. Like I just heard someone downstairs talking about falling and needing help and blah blah blah. Do we have something like like you could use >> seniors helping seniors? That's a different one. That's um the seniors in
the high school honor society. They call every year and then I give them a list of all those seniors are seniors. um COA seniors um a list of all the ones that need help shoveling when there's a storm and they connect they have cell phones they have I give them each other's
numbers if they need help or have a question they can call me but they do it themselves with the seniors um >> anything like like someone >> so it's a more of a companion >> yeah that's I'm wondering if there's other things though that like I would love to help with that like does someone really need someone to I can't go
shopping this week can you help me you know like is do we have a program like that that some was >> we have the compan companion program. Um Carol Smith was doing it um a lot. Um but then she has been dealing with her
family so she's kind of doing it for them. >> Um >> there is one >> there we we do have a program so if there is somebody that calls and says they they need something Yeah. we try to find them something someone you know we have someone that always needs Well,
Carol was good at it. She she loves to drive. So we would say, "Carol, this guy has to doctor's appointment um after having surgery back in Boston and he has no family, so he needs a ride up there." And she would say, "Okay, just let me know the time of day." And she'd go pick him up, bring him up there. She'd come
back and not think anything of it. >> It'd be nice and get over to 10 to get line because that's where half my doctors are. >> Yeah. >> Right. >> You can't build over there with us, >> right? >> Yeah. That's that's a tough Yeah. So, we
do have that program. Um, and we're starting up >> join. >> You just don't you just come to me and you tell me and and that you're interested and then when someone has something and they call us then we we just give you a call >> like anything, you know, like you can just go and help somebody. I go to grocery store >> and then we're starting up the um
reading for the kids. >> Yeah. Okay. >> So, we used to do that a ways back. Um I'm sure CO knocked it out. Um, so we're we have a teacher that's willing to um let seniors us seniors go in and read to
the kids um at at Woodland. >> What else I used to do? They used to send letters back and forth. >> Yeah. She did tell me one of the ladies that came in today told me she was a pen pal. Y so I used to pick them up all the time. >> Yeah. >> Yep. So that that program will be
happening um hopefully in September. Like we're working on it now for September. Yeah. >> Perfect. >> Yep. Gives them time to figure it out >> from >> Yeah, we're booked for the >> You're booked on the um May 26th.
>> Yeah. >> Um >> and that's usually 11:30. >> It's 11:30. I just have to go and sit with them and confirm what kind of food they have to offer. >> Yeah. I wonder what kind of food we're going to have. Something with meatballs and sauce, I'm
sure. >> And zade >> and zing. Yeah. >> Anything else? >> Seeing none, do I have a motion to adjurnn? >> Motion to adjurnn. >> I second. >> Any further discussion? Okay, we have a motion to adjurnn. Roll
call, please. Carol. >> Annie, >> yes. Paula, >> yes. >> Carolyn, yes. Elaine, >> yes. Teresa. >> Yes. Harvey. >> Yes. >> Okay.