Council on Aging Board - July 14, 2026

just waiting on Lisa.

I don't know if Cindy knows we're on the second

It is 9:03 and I am going to call this meeting to order if I may. And the first order of business is our pledge of allegiance.

Go.

I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you. Okay, I see that I have announcements to make and um uh we have, as you know, two vacancies on our board. Um and we have had two candidates and I thank you for coming today. The two candidates are um that we would recommend the process is that people come forward and then we make recommendations for their appointment to the select board and um two candidates that have come before us um that I would

like um your approval today. Both Gene McGuire and we have Cindy Zimbo with us.

No G Jean. Jean.

Jean, I'm sorry.

This is Jean.

Jean, I'm sorry. And we have um Cindy we're hoping to see soon. But we these are people that um are known to the community and um we have their resumes. They have been um I guess vetted and approved. Um vetted and and approved and approved. And would you like to say any words to us or words of wisdom? Just a little background.

Why are you interested in serving on the council on aging?

Um I've been in involved with Westport for 60 years, living here for about 15.

Um I'm involved in quite a few different things in the town.

Yes. and just I think one of the biggest things is the possibility of being able to expand into the high school. I just think that there's so many opportunities and so many just really good things that can come from that. So, I'd like to be a part of that and also maybe bring in some of the other things that I'm involved with with the town and kind of bring that in to the Council on Aging.

Yes. Um, and I'm I'm very excited about possibilities.

Well, thank you. I think that we also see that you were um vice president of adult services at the Cardinal Cushing Centers um from 1999 until your retirement in 2019. Uh you were administrator at the Kennedy Dunovan Center uh for many years. You have a masters in counseling. You're um licensed social worker. uh here's your background and um and you're an election clerk and I don't get to work with you.

I work in a different precinct but and that you're a volunteer in other places um around town. So, I think that uh um Jean uh we would uh if we're thrilled that you want to be on the board and bring your background with us and um I think um do I have a motion to move Jean's um nomination forward to the board?

I move we nominate Jean McGuire for member of the advisory board for the council.

Do I have a second?

take a second.

We only have Yeah, we have a little I was just trying to find a resume. I'm sorry.

Here.

I didn't get Well, we have we had just a letter.

Yeah. Um since May. So, we have been um So, do I have a second?

Evidently not.

Evidently.

Okay.

I'm sorry that uh people come to meetings. Do you want to hold off until she's read that?

Yeah. Can you give me a minute?

Yeah. Yeah.

Okay.

Yeah. I gave her the I gave her that.

Uh the second person that we were hoping to bring their name forward is Cindy Zimbo. And Cindy um lives in a um as she introduces herself, she's um uh been a lifelong resident um of Westport and she raised her children here. A number of people have recommended uh her to be with us. Um she lives in a multi-generational home now um on Pineh Hill Road. Um and she's hoping to age in place there. Um

she has um a background as a retired registered nurse. Um she has worked um as a consultant with UNICEF creating uh hospital um uh initiatives.

Um she's also done research as an undergraduate graduate at uh Cornell and worked in public health as well as maternity nursing. Um she is um a rower and um she finds it uh very compelling to now volunteer with the council on aging. So she has a both both candidates bring a a skill set that we could use in in the Council on Aging.

So um do I have a second?

You have a second for a second for for Mrs. Magcguire.

For Jean for Gene.

You're welcome, ma'am.

Um are you going to Oh, all right. I'll stay in my lane.

We're asking for a second. Do we not have Yeah, she just said to you, Mrs. Magcguire.

Yes. All right. Very good. Thank you.

You're welcome.

And then for Cindy, um I don't know if she could make it this morning or not.

Um do I have a motion to move her name forward?

I I move that we I think we should wait.

Okay.

I think we should wait until I think she should have the opportunity to come in.

Oh, okay. I don't know that we've done that with other candidates, but um it does it doesn't always happen.

Have to be that way. I know it did with me.

Yeah.

But it doesn't o it doesn't always happen. So if something came up where she couldn't attend because I did call I did speak with both people on why don't I find out where she is.

All right. Well, fascinating.

All right. So we have a motion on the floor.

We have a second.

And for Jean and so um we only have four members that can vote.

So and one of them left the room. So um it's a little difficult. So, I say we table this if we could for a few minutes until we I got to do it again.

I I um we we are not being on our best behavior this morning. Sorry, Madam Chair.

Yes.

On behalf of the select board, uh could we specify what what is the term here?

Length of terms of three years.

Both of them are three-year terms.

Threeear terms. Okay.

Madam Chair, can I ask a question?

Uhhuh. Um, are we allowed to ask questions to the Well, this is just a matter of formality at this point since we've had this information for a while. I I Did you have a question for Jean or do you have a question for Eileen?

Mrs. Magguire.

Oh, yeah. I think you can ask questions of Sure. Yeah, that's why she's here.

Wanted to Yeah.

Yeah. No one's asked her any questions and I just want to applaud you for taking the time to come because I I I remember you for because you're in where I vote.

Yeah.

Right. Exactly. So that that's how you were so familiar to me. So that's why I wanted to just uh point that out. And yes, you do do a lot for the community.

I see you in and around the community.

And you had mentioned that you wanted to bring some other um talents uh with your experience within the town of Westport.

Could you maybe elaborate a little bit about that? Um I think just maybe fresh ideas and um not to diminish what obviously has happened and a lot's been happening with the Council on Aging, which I think is just a it's a really good time to be a part of it and to be a part of maybe um again going back to the high school and the possib possibilities that are there. I I

just think that they're endless. Um and given the amount of people in this town that could benefit that aren't involved, um I think bringing more people in um more perspective. I I just think it's a great opportunity to be a part of this. So, no, I agree totally. And and it seems like with all your experience that you're very passionate about seniors aging gracefully. Um yeah, and

especially I worked um almost 40 years with folks with disabilities.

Yeah.

So that's always I've always had a kind of a soft spot for that. So if there's beyond what maybe the responsibilities of this position um if there's anyone that might have a family member or they themselves um I think that I might be able to help in some ways with issues that I'm glad you said that because I'm a commissioner with the uh commission on disabilities for the town of Westport

along with Mr. Brewer. So yeah, that that's amazing. And I just think sometimes people don't have the opportunity to hear the hidden talents that people, you know, in town have and that you can actually bring to the board. So sometimes it's nice when we get to be able to ask questions, Madam Chair, because then this way it kind of highlights a lot about your experience and not just necessarily looking at

positive attributes on paper knowing that you're involved with people with disabilities and seniors and that you're looking to bring a fresh perspective to the new high school and activities that we do want to work on, you know, as a board is is a benefit. So welcome aboard. to take that a little further on on a personal level. Although I've been retired for going on eight years, I'm

very much involved um on a personal level with the Department of Developmental Services um having a family member that I'm a guardian of. So um as much as I was looking forward to retirement, I'm still very involved. So um and in the local the Bristol County area. So, so not only do you have firsthand experience, but you also bring your background, you know, to different topics that are very important obviously

to the COA um advisory board as well as what you do in the community. So, we appreciate what you do. Um I'm glad I was able to ask the question, get it on the record. Yeah.

Um and and I think it's important that you know the special um talents that you can bring with work experience whether it be privately or uh personally you know holds a lot of weight and um and you can speak from experience. A lot of times people don't realize um especially with me because I have an invisible disability um that it takes sometimes a slower pace. you know, my board is familiar with it, but you know,

sometimes you're on, sometimes you're off.

Um, and you can relate to that.

Um, and and speaking on behalf of a a board member when you go out into the community, you know, you'll be able to understand that firsthand. And I think that that's a great quality that you bring to the board. So, welcome aboard.

I think that Lisa brings up a very valid point. Something that we've been talking about over and over again is, and I I thank you, Lisa, and and I thank you, Jean. Um there's a lot of hidden talent in the retired people in this town. Huge resource that is an untapped resource and and so thank you for stepping forward. Um I think um since you left the room um David um that we have tabled this um

and we now can continue to take our vote regarding uh Gan being a three-year term member or bring her name before the select board. So we have a motion. We have a second. And so um all those in favor I I I Okay, so we have that's unanimous and we will table um Cindy's until we get to meet her at our next meeting.

I think that's okay. Very good.

I called and I couldn't get a hold of I I'm afraid people are away.

Yeah, sometimes I invited but I also know that things come up and Okay, she might have forgot. I I wanted to make our board members aware that the select board approved um there this is a a first draft um of a select board appointed boards, commissions and committees guide and policy handbook. Um this is a um a handbook that um I was able to give input on. I don't know what the final version is. I do

believe that you as select board approved this the other night.

So, um you will be getting in your email soon a handbook um that is really terrific. It's it's um compendium of I think 1920 pages of resources of rules, regulations of of how to do things for all boards and commissions. Uh, one of the things I wanted to make you aware of is that not only when you receive the copy that you will have to sign it and return the the signed

um statement that you have received it and that you have read it and that it's it's uh um so this will be coming very soon.

Okay. Can I just is that similar to what we got in the mail um from the not the state ethics but no we got something from them we had to read and verify that we read it right no this is different this is different this is a a draft it's it's 19 pages of and um okay it's not out for publication just yet our handbook yeah I think it's similar to the the MCO

OA boards and commissions um um policy procedure that they had that we were following all these years. I think that's the one that we were following, right? It explains things that we we often words that we you glossery, what's a quorum, meeting time and place and and how things are posted. So, it just it's going to be a wonderful resource to have. It's been updated and um specifically for Westport. Okay. And

moving along, um August 18th, we are hoping uh to um possibly meet the new director. Um if I may, um I'll explain that um as people know, Beverly is retiring at the end of August. We have um um advertised in in a number of professional places and around for her position. We had 25 applicants um to apply for the position. Uh four or five of them had been our current or have

been directors of other council on aging facilities not only in the Commonwealth but um in in other states. Um so they it was a interesting process to go through.

um we came up with a name that will be interviewed that person will be interviewed um and hopefully appointed at this next select board meeting and uh so it's really not our place to to I think delve further into that till the select board has its opportunity to interview this person and um choose her to appoint um the next meeting is it Monday? it is next Monday. Okay. So, looking at time, right? And so, that's we

we assume that this way we would have the opportunity to meet our new director in August.

I have a question.

Uhhuh.

Um, do we have an update as to how many applicants applied or how many interviews have so far been taken or anything?

I can go into the process, but I don't know that that's Oh, I understand. I understand the process. I'm just looking to I'm just asking the question. How many people to date have applied?

She said it 25.

Oh, 25.

25. And at least four of them had been current directors or have been directors. So, it was a very rich pool to choose from. It was a very difficult decision to make. We interviewed six six um we had come down and then we had two final candidates and from those two final candidates in their second interview we had one one name that's going forward as a recommendation to the select board.

Okay.

Okay. So I missed that. I apolog Yeah. No, that's fine. That's fine. Um okay. So now we come to um the vote on on COA positions. We are required to have a chair, a vice chair, secretary.

We are not required to have a treasurer.

I think we have discussed this in in other meetings in our handbook in the um guidelines and policy book. I think that's what we have. So madam chair um I would like to give this information to you because I researched that for you and it is required that we have a treasurer. No, no, it isn't. Okay. Um, I'm going to pass this out. I did uh speak to Mr.

Brewer. Um, going to pass this out for you guys. And this is also a copy of the bylaw um that says that we're supposed to have it. So, bylaw from where's the town?

From the town.

There's a process to get rid of it.

There's a process.

I'm not getting Okay. there's a process that we unfortunately have to follow to in order to do that. And then I also didn't realize that's a copy of the bylaw. Um I I also didn't realize that um when unfortunately we lost uh our secretary that we needed to appoint a secretary uh with regards to that. So that um unfortunately that constitutes a violation but I think under the circumstances we would get

I think if you go through the minutes you'll see that I asked for um somebody to come forward and absolutely and that was why we it's not it's not to place blame at all.

It's just to give us the information.

Where is this coming from?

This by for the tunnel.

No no the All I see is All I see is numbers. Where's that coming from? Is that a union by No, it's the it's the Westport. It's the Westport bylaw.

That's the bottom town bylaw.

I don't have that on the bottom of mine.

That's why I Okay, never mind. It's at the bottom.

And then there's another document. Did you get the other one?

Uh, hold on. Do we have two extras over there?

I'm looking for of this.

Yes. Do you have any extras?

Lisa, you got the floor.

Yep. So, I just wanted just to be cautious. You know, I know that this was on the agenda and um because I'm trying to become familiar with the dos and don'ts of of boards and advisory boards and I know that there is differences between fiduciary boards and advisory boards. um I took the initiative of looking into it a little bit deeper just to make sure that we follow the protocol and and where the

key is is the word shall and when it's shall um that actually is in our um town bylaws um it's not something that we can decide as as a body individually just to not appoint a particular office there is a procedure and what I did for the for us so that we file follow the the requirements is to actually follow follow the steps that's necessary to to eliminate that position so that we're as

a board is not in violation. Um and I don't I didn't know that that was part of the process. Um I learn a lot you know with the commission on disability and uh we try to research as much as we possibly can. Um, and I did reach out um to uh an advisor um and and wanted to bring this to you um because I think it's important for us to use it as a

learning experience, but also to understand, you know, what has to take place in order for us to do what we're trying to do because we don't want to vote on something and then have it come back on us, right? I do I think for the record when we we lost Carol last summer and we voted um um I brought it to our then town administrator and was told that it was okay,

you know, as long as somebody was taking the note. So I did seek out what steps we were to take and perhaps it wasn't um um the most re communicated. Yeah, it wasn't it wasn't as clear. I think this is something that I've never seen. I had not um we were going by our COA state MCOA manual that we do not have to have that since we have a paid staff member. So now we have

the procedure to go through.

Correct.

So um it's not really eliminating positions. It just I think we have stated that we have duplication of of um tasks and that's rather unnecessary. The way the way it actually reads though is that I haven't had a chance really.

It says shall. So you have to put someone in that position. That's I understand. I understand. So I would just you've had a chance to look at this for a day or so. I I'm just I would have been approp I think it would have been more appropriate to give this before not to sit this.

Well, I didn't I had asked for the agenda because I didn't receive the agenda or the minutes and I reached out to Eileen and the board saying that I did not receive the agenda. So, I wasn't even actually sure, David, that it was actually being discussed. And then I did take the liberty of um calling Mr.

Brewer cuz you know obviously he's he's very familiar with with the process and I didn't want to do it like last minute but when you don't get the minutes and you don't get the agenda ahead of time um it's kind of hard to know like what actually is going to be discussed.

So can I just ask why are you doing this?

David is ask I have the floor right now.

I'm just asking this simple question because why are we doing this? because I think it's important that we as a board follow the procedures accordingly and I know that when I sit on other boards um I learned so much you know as far as policy and procedure and when we when we actually discuss things especially with the commission on disability it's so important for us to follow rules

regulations policies procedures and I want to bring that to our board and I think it's important I think I appreciate your studying this. I do think that many things are are taken care of in the policy handbook that we will can I can may I finish that that you know that that will be addressed.

However, I think that that seeing this in front of us today um clearly we we need to follow the rules. You know, I'm not saying we don't follow the rules.

I'm just saying that this is something that we've discussed for the last several months and this is the first time we're seeing it. I think we've discussed here in our meetings that according to and we we've had the MCOA um book for a couple of years now um of just when you read through for the different positions and and what were the roles and the responsibilities are of we're an advisory board. we do not

have the same right um actions and purpose that the um that that other boards and commissions have in town. So our roles are very different. However, we do want to be in compliance or I as your chair want us to be in compliance and what the rules are.

I do not want to be I don't want to be an outlaw for this. Let me tell you just I think that this is this that was not my intention. My intention was, you know, obviously David brings up a good point and I appreciate that, David. Um, I think it's important obviously to try to get the minutes and everything that's going to be discussed, you know, ahead of time. When I did read

that it was actually on the um on the agenda, I was told many times that you can't send information via email, you know, because that's a violation of the Robin.

We can't discuss. We can't we can't we can't put everybody on the email and send it back and forth because then that constitutes a violation of a violation.

Right. So with respect to you, David, I I unfortunately didn't have enough time to be honest with you and I did make the necessary calls this morning. Um I don't know if you'd like to weigh in, Mr.

Brewer.

I'm sorry.

Well, I don't really have a lot to say.

Lisa queried me on this and I said, "You, as a member of this deliberative body, if you have a concern about an upcoming vote, an item that's on the agenda, come forth." That's all.

That's right.

And she said she had done some research and I said, "Well, that's that's good.

Let's hear about it."

Right.

Thank you.

Well, thank you. Thank you. We um in our previous meetings and in other years, we do vote on our new members, our new offices in July. That's been the the practice. Um given that we are it's a new year, you know, happy new year, you know. Um so I think that that we should go forth and and have a treasurer. I mean, that would be my Do you have any weigh in on this, Muriel?

No, no. So, I I think just we got to follow the rules.

If you want to eliminate the position, then go through the steps, right? And and I see that. That's good.

Okay. Anything else? I mean, it just you've been treasurer for a while. I know that um um who did we have before?

Uh, Bill Bill Gford was I followed those footsteps of how he did it, right? No, I I I I know I was on the board when when Bill was the treasurer.

So, I mean, I I understand I respect that these are the rules. will follow the rules and and so and I think if I just like to add I know that there's been a concern you know with regards to um how deep or how how uh I don't want to say intense but you can tailor the responsibilities as far as you know scaling back and not diving in you know as an accountant or

whatever you can always you know put responsibility ities along with the positions like for instance the chairperson you know executes the agenda the minutes and no I don't that's just it I don't I just oversee this meeting I can put input we all have the possibility to put input this is where we're different we're an advisory board and I I don't create the agenda but we do it they have we do it together we're

supposed to prior ones did it themselves but it doesn't matter this is the process that for the last two years I've been working with Beverly on and and that I do not she doesn't Lisa I'm sorry.

I'm sorry. Go ahead.

The process has been that it's come out of Beverly's office and that I as um an advisory board member as a member we would let Beverly or the office know these are items that I'd like to have on the agenda. And I think that's the way it was done. I'm sorry Muriel you. It wasn't done that way before.

I I know Irene.

It doesn't matter what was done before.

Wait, wait, wait. Irene was the chair before me.

No, the one before Irene.

The one before Irene. I wasn't um Okay. She did the agenda. She posted the agenda at the town hall. She did everything.

Right. But but asked her for advice.

Muriel, we are in 2026 and this is how we've been doing it for the last several years.

I I have I have a statement to make about the agenda. Okay.

When Marsha and I did the agenda, Marsha Lian, many, many years ago, she was having a hard time with the format. You know how you said you can't get the format? Okay, because it came from the town.

So, she used to send it to me so that I could type it up and send it back to her. But anybody on the board, we would always say, "Do you have any agenda items? Is there anything you want to do?"

You don't do that anymore.

It's understood. You are We've talked about understood.

Well, you we What about understood? You don't get right. It's just that that we've talked about our positions as an advisory board and we've talked about these steps for the last several years. This is how we do it. And I'm sorry if you you misunderstood or didn't understand that, Muriel, but this is the way I sent things and you wouldn't put it on. So, you wouldn't even address it.

I I we can I I don't know what you're talking about, but but Beverly's office is the one that has been sending it. And I I just want to continue with this. Also, when somebody has a uh works from an Apple product rather than an HP product, it really made it difficult that the town clerk's office wasn't getting the format the way it needed to be. So, we just

adjust it. I do not make this up. I work with the board chair. She and I go through things. I ask anybody else or even at this meeting, do you have any other items to put on? Is there anything you want to discuss next time? We put actually I've had conversations with Lisa because we've put stroke buddies and friends on there with different events that we were doing. So we've

added things to the agenda based on what people have told us they wanted to review. So it's not that it's just the two of us. That's not the way it is and that's the way you're making it sound and that's not correct. What happens is um it's I it's Eileen's responsibility for the agenda, but due to the technology, okay, we work on it.

So sending it this time because I had a medical appointment on Friday.

Yeah.

And I didn't I I had to the seventh.

I I What is this about?

I was going to say, can we get to the point?

Yeah, let's get to the point. Yeah. What is this about? I'm sorry. I'm left out of I'm just Give me the floor for one minute, please. I would like to understand what is going on here. I just want to know what can people say what's really going on here because I don't understand what's going on here. We whatever history there was whatever history there was is not relevant to what we're doing now.

We're doing what we're doing now. We're going forward. The world is going forward and we're in here and we're living in the past and we need to live in now, not the past. So, let's talk about now, not what somebody did five times ago, three times ago. We're going to get a new director and new people here. Okay. What the rules are, I don't care what they were before. I wasn't here before. I'm not done.

Yeah, but the rules are But the rules are interpreted by a group of us, not one person. Okay? This is how it works. And I think lastly, I'll say this and I hope I have to say it the last time with all due respect, Lisa, transferring whatever was going on or whatever is going on with the disabilities and the detail and the the enforcing the power you have power you have with the advisory board with the

with the disabilities is far different than this is an advisory board. This is not a supervisory board. We have virtually no power. We have no power. We sit here and we talk about what we can do for the aging population in this town. We have no other power other than to try to convince the director and the select board of what needs to be done for seniors. That's it. We don't tell

them what to do. We don't tell them how to do it. We don't tell them how to spend their money. We don't do any of that. That is not our job. And I think the underlying problem we're having, just me as the lawyer here, I think we're confusing supervisory and advisory here.

We have we have so and I think that's very important to what we're doing going forward. We are not managing her.

All right. So, we're not managing the new director.

Can I make a comment?

Yeah. Go right ahead.

Well, okay. So, my comment is whether you're an advisory board, fiduciary board, or what have you, we have bylaws in the town. It doesn't matter whether it's the commission on disability or if it's the planning board or or whomever.

We have these guidelines that we follow in the town and it doesn't depict whether it's an advisory board or not.

David, we have to follow the rule of regulation. Is that true, Mr.

B? Lisa, I think we we've already agreed to that. I think the concern well he wanted to know what what what these I know but we don't have to answer every question that everybody asked that we have settled it that if these are the rules and they seem to be then we will continue and to the next item that's on on our agenda.

Um I'm afraid to table it since um technically I don't know if we have I guess um we don't have um we have a don't have offices and I don't know if we need to have offices.

What do you mean offices?

Offices. We have to vote on this today.

Officers.

Positions. I'm sorry.

I'm sorry. I have my Boston action coming up. Officers. Um we do not have our board positions of chair, vice chair, secretary, and treasurer. I mean, I think we're we're um because of the date of we're out of date. So, we're vote on that.

Oh, absolutely 100%. That's what I'm saying. That's what we're saying, Lisa, is that that we're ready to go. We're ready to go. And so with that being said, do we have any recommendations for these positions of chair, vice chair, secretary, and treasurer, Madam Chair?

Yes.

I don't mean to be a n, but but you can be.

The vote here.

The vote here only includes the three positions.

That is correct. And you can't take action on the treasurer if it's not been posted. So I would recommend you work on these and take a vote or settle those on the three on the three that are listed because it has to be uh and then postpone the treasur to the next meeting.

So we can to we'll research this check this out and do it in August.

That's our next meeting if it's posted.

Yeah. The treasur you're talking about the treasur. Yes. Yes. But not the other positions. Gotcha. Yeah.

Okay.

So, next meeting you can put the treasurer on the agenda. Correct. Then you can correct. That's that's what we're Yeah.

All right. So, that being said, do we have positions for chair, vice chair, and secretary?

Do we have any nominations?

Well, I make a motion to nominate um for the chair Eileen Monree.

Any other nominations?

Is there anybody that wanted to do vice chair?

Yes, Tony.

Tony. Okay.

Tony was the one who had had so somebody can nom I'm just asking to make sure that if he that he was interested we can even with not him not being here. I wanted to make sure somebody had a conversation with him.

I I spoke with and checked with Tony as recently as yesterday morning. Okay.

So he is willing to be vice chair.

Uh so any other nominations for chair or vice chair so far? Okay. Who do we have as a nomination for secretary?

I don't think we have anybody. I think that position has been vacant for a while. Um actually since Carol passed.

Yeah. I think we so I think maybe with some of our newer people eventually uh we might um so keep that bless you um open. Okay. Um all right so that being said do we have um any other nominations? Any nominations from the floor? Um, do we have um then a motion to accept the slate of Eileen Mon as Chad and Tony Sedesca?

I move that we I move that we um what was the question?

Approve the approve that we have so far.

That's right. And we have the secretary's position as vacant.

Okay. So, do we have a second?

Do we have a second?

Do we have a second?

I made the motion.

David made the motion. So, somebody else So, only Lisa and Muriel can second.

Oh, okay. Um, for the chair and vice chair only.

And the chair is Eileen.

Eileen. And the vice chair is Tony Studio.

Okay, that's fine.

Do we have here a second? I don't Oh, I'm sorry. I never vote. Second.

Okay.

All in favor?

I against it.

I'm sorry. You vote no. Okay. So, we have a no. And are you voting?

Yes.

Okay. So, that's Well, excuse me.

Am I a voting member now?

No.

No. Not until the appointment.

You have to.

Sorry. That I think that that's important. That's an important question. Until the select board um approves of you approves your Can I ask a question?

Thank you. Yes.

So, is it necessary for us to actually vote today? Oh, yeah.

Yes, it is.

As opposed to having other members.

No, it's essential for us to vote today.

These positions in place for the next meeting because otherwise it's a vacancy and who's going to who's going to be people continue on the position until you revote? You just cited all the rules of playing by the I'm just You cited all the rules playing by the rules. This is the rule. We have to have something right.

But I'm just asking does it have Lisa? Yes, it does. This is not only been our practice as long as I have been involved with the COA, but it it's right here 1804. It's right here. The Council on Aging. So annually in July of each year shall elect from its membership. And we don't follow that every year. Well, we have as since I have been what is it 2019 I think when I first

you know so it is our local custom that's why we're here we've been doing it for at least six years so okay so did we have a vote yes we had a vote um two three three voted three two one all right and one absent and one absent right all right so Maybe by next, maybe by August, we might have at least one or two.

Well, probably just one board member. So that it brings us more up to um numbers because we're supposed to have seven and we've had some vacancies. So that's right.

Yeah. Right.

All right. Thank you.

I think uh that's it for a while for me.

Um Muriel, you're up next. The Oh, no.

June. I'm sorry. The meeting minutes.

I'm sorry.

Yeah, the minutes first.

I think I sent them out. Did everybody get them? And I did send them out Monday morning.

Thursday, I did have them done. I forgot to hit send. I got out of there about 6:30 the month, Thursday night. Oh, yeah. And I didn't hit send. So, and then Friday, I had doctor. So, okay.

Any comments, suggestions?

No.

Okay. Do I hear a motion to accept the minutes as presented?

I move we accept the the minutes as presented.

Second.

No, I guess that's me.

Well, M could too.

Go ahead.

Okay. Seconded. All in favor?

I opposed.

Okay. So, we have the meeting minutes approved. Muriel, you're up now. I'm sorry, Mr. Treasurer.

Okay. Since um Helen is um doing the monthly, I just put the balances and our balance total because she doesn't have totals. So, our balance compared to last year was just a hair under.

A hair. Could you say that? Under.

Yeah. under.

Yeah, it's 278 to 279.

Our social day is low, but everything's about the same.

Okay.

And you left on the table some wages.

Yeah, there was a little bit. there was a little bit left and I wasn't exactly sure um how much because the num the numbers are forever changing as things go in there. So um but it was only I think it's like 300 or $400 or something 400 what 81.

So um oh it's right here. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Yeah.

Okay. Thank you.

I I mean I Yeah, I mean I think we're in okay shape. The the support of day is down a little bit, but the census is starting to go back up. We're up to 16 for the month um average day where we were down to like 12. Um we like to keep it around 15. I think that's a good number.

Um um 15 15 people a day. Yeah, 15 people a day.

Um that brings in some funds, right? Um the transportation revolving has been doing better because we did increase that um transportation amount from ARW. So they've been reimbursing us that and we did we increased it for the support of day and we also increased it for um medical uh appointments. So any of the ARW individuals that we take to medical um I did a whole breakdown of how much

it actually costs us to take somebody we we figured it out and it was like $28 and I don't know 79 cents per hour or something like that so that we do so that we do um um re we get reimbursed for that. Um and um the executive director Cla Foley said, "Make sure you give us the amount because I want to be paying you for that because it goes directly toward the individuals being

able to take the transportation and we want to make sure that transportation continues because that's a big thing. So I think that's why our transportation revolving has gone up a little bit."

Um and uh we charged um the transportation clerk to formula.

Right. Right. We Yeah, we changed that.

So just and it was just temporary because we had some extra um the balance came over for for formula which never used to do. It's been a couple of years and it's done that. So, um the formula grant and um as as we're talking about this, just to let you know, I did get an email from Betsy uh Connell, the executive director at the Massachusetts Councils on Aging, and the governor has signed the budget and we

got $16 for elders still for the formula grant. And they reinstated the um uh SIG grant, the service incentive grant. They reinstated that. they had cut that by I don't know maybe 75 or 100,000 whatever it was. Um so they did reinstate that back to the full again. It's still going to get more more processed but um once usually the governor signs it usually it goes through. So I think that's a that's

a good that's a good thing. So we do have the $16 per elder um continuing. So m yes I wish you asked a question uh if you will allow.

Absolutely. Uh I don't know if it would be addressed to uh Bev or to the treasurer and this is just the process as I understand it. So we have the AR AW grant of 22,000. Now if the date here is 6:30 that's the end of the fiscal year.

Yes.

Um and apparently I take it from the 13,411.

That's the money from that grant that has been spent. That that's my first question.

That's our balance. That's what we have left.

Okay.

That's the ending balance for the year.

So you have there's about $9,000 left.

No.

13,000.

The fir the first number you have. Was the original starting balance July 1st?

All right. Same question.

Yes.

Yes.

So do you have to spend that money and if you don't do you lose it?

No.

No. But well it crosses two fiscal years.

Not really. The problem is the AR fiscal year is April 1st to March 31st. So it doesn't Yeah, I don't like that.

They don't judge. They don't judge.

So again, what happens is it that 13,000 will probably last us till the end of October, November, and then we usually switch over to formula grant and then I apply in October, November for the ARW grant for April. So because it's that's why these numbers are really hard to just take a quick look at because the fiscal years are so different. How anybody ever got April to March is beyond me but that's what they have.

It's April to March.

Right. Right. I think that that's something that we have discussed before is that that we have three or four cal and Tony keeps asking and know I know Tony has has been on this but it's it's a good question because you're not sure um you have to remind yourself it's like from what year to what year and where you we work on a different year than ARW. I think since AR AW is a nonprofit.

Yes.

It's not unusual that it would go from uh April to March.

To March. Yeah.

So our fiscal our fiscal year is July to June. The federal fiscal year is October to September.

Okay.

AW is from when?

April.

April 1st to March 31st.

Well anyway but but again, each each fisc uh uh MCOA sometimes um is from July to December.

Um every everyone is is different. So, um when you're looking at these to try to figure out, oh yeah, I'll have this till June 30th. Oh, I'm going to run.

No, you're not. You're going to only have it a certain amount of time.

Well, just to conclude it, the the simple answer was no, we won't lose it.

No, no, no. These are all our B these are all our balances and the the the subtotal is is uh what we what we have and and when you look at the town part um we spent everything for the the town's the only one that goes to zero right the others can kind of carry over into another year right so we spent every everything out of our town budget except for $481.54 this year understood

that is why the board I don't know 18 months ago or more had asked for like this is important to have. We agreed on that but we need a more simplified version perhaps seeing pie charts or or bars and Mira said that that she doesn't do that and that's okay. And so this is where Helen comes in and gives us a sort of a a snapshot of what we're looking

at. And and so because as we've said before, we are ambassadors for the Council on Aging. People ask we're out in the community. People ask us questions and this gives us um an ability to kind of give a snapshot of ballpark answers. And this is for the more specific um accounting version. So we really have two ways of um I guess reporting or being able to answer that.

And so I thank you both for giving us this information.

Do we have any more questions? Lisa, you had a question.

I do. Um with regards to the treasur's report, the snapshot if you will, right?

Um in line with I'm going to say from last year.

Yeah.

Which last year?

Which last year?

Oh, yeah. Whatever one reflects on this one right now. So, I'm going to say from the fiscal the fiscal year uh 6:30 2024 to 6:30 2025, right?

25 to 26 is what we've done.

No, I know. I know that's what you talk about the year before.

Yeah. Okay.

How are we in line with our numbers?

Pretty close. Did we spend a little more? Like just general like it's right there.

If I'm looking at that's that's what that's what she that's what all this is. It's telling you what we did those these you can figure it out. These balances here on the pistol the 630 25 these balances were what was our ending date for last year talking about. So this is what we had before. This is what you have now.

This is what we have now. So if you look at this last year for a we had 22. This year in 630 we have 13. we have a little bit less. Um we had formula grant we had 36 on the fiscal year 25 and then now we have 52 was carried over. So if you look at this they're they're pretty similar. It's it's pretty similar. You know social day we had 56 this year we

have 35. We're down and we knew we spent more on on social day because we didn't have we didn't generate the income because we didn't have as many people coming in. So if you look at those that's the comparison. activities was 59 uh30 and this year it's 5770. So they're they're pretty comparable to what we had from the year before and and I think um to that the top um

three quarters of this page if you note is um grants and revolving funds. So it's not like a um a fixed amount that we're looking at. The town appropriations is the fixed amount that that this is what we get. So, thank you.

Last year, we spent everything on the town to zero and this year we had $481 left over. Okay.

Which we gave back to the town.

Okay. Any more questions or discussions on this?

Okay. Hearing none. Uh do I have a motion to accept the treasures report?

I move we accept the treasures report.

Okay. Do I have a second?

second.

One of the two of you Lisa.

Yes, you have. I don't think Muriel can can second her. All in favor?

I opposed. Okay, we have the treasur's report. Beverly, the director's report.

So, do you have you have them?

You can.

Anybody need a copy of the director's report? Do you have it? I If you want to take it, G.

I have it. No, I read it. I read it.

Okay.

Um this together um I have Oh, here we go. Um I did not get I got a notice um July 9th that um thank you for taking the time and effort to submit your fiscal year 27 field demonstration project which is a SIG grant uh project on behalf of the Westport COA for nutri I had one for nutrition. I did two and I did one for um um senior center um modernization um

the nutrition one I wanted to fix the leaky faucets and build up um um planters planters and unfortunately says the response to this RFP was overwhelming with requests for funding totaling 2.1 million they have about $400,000 and it was 2.1 million in request there's a lot of newer um COA directors.

A lot of some other folks have retired like they you know getting getting older and retiring, excuse me. So they're really starting to ask for things. Um regrettably given the high competition demand for SIG funding your proposal was not selected. So both of the proposals and that's the same thing that happened last year. I asked for supportive day and transportation and I didn't get either one of those. So

excuse me. So anyway, but um um we're still going to go ahead. We're fixing the water water um spiggots outside because they're dripping all over the place. So we're doing that and we're actually going to add another one. I talked to Sam Co uh the other day and he gave me a proposal and we're going to put another one another water faucet on the opposite side because I think we really need to

because we have you know 75 80 year olds lugging water over to plant and it's like okay we need to make the process a little bit better. Um we're lucky we've had all this rain that's helped out a lot too. So um but anyway we're going to we're going to work on that. Um and then the se the senior center um modernization to do the assist with the cleanup and the use of the old high

school building. I we didn't get that.

So hopefully we'll be working on that. I think that that um having read the grant application and that's that's one thing I do with with Beverly that because of my experience and background um this is a very worthy um um activity I think for everybody involved if we and I think that it was a great idea. I'm really really sorry to hear that we we can't have it but we you know

installing four to five more um uh raised gardens for vegetables would have been um good. So, and because then the supportive day program could harvest them and cook them at lunchtime and the raised gardens are are it goes through the nutrition cycle and but the friends group have asked us what else we need to so there may be some possibility but there may be somebody there may one

thing um my wife used to be horicultural therapist and she did um gardening at nursing homes so I think the idea is not a new one it's it's an old one right and we could continue. And I think this I'll add this with the water faucet, the second water faucet. I suggest that they get one is that I I can if you want put a watering put a watering system in a drip system,

a drip water system with a timer. So every day I that's what I do at my house. Every morning at 5:00, water comes on for 20 minutes and waters 50 plants every day. So, did we hear that? Georgie and David, a volunteer in the Levi.

Georgie Thomas, do you access across the street? Um, no.

No, because they have the raised beds and No, they Yeah, it's Yeah.

I mean, cross the street.

Yeah.

Oh, yeah. It's on the other side.

So, there's no Because I know different people in the community go that and use it and harvest.

Yes.

Right. We have nice to have it in in that we have a nice area where it's pretty open and we just have um gravel and we have two raised beds with flowers which are falling apart and they've been there for probably what 30 years. Um so we've been piecing them together so to get two and then the other raised beds for vegetables. We have a good area to be

able to do that and it gets really good sunlight. So we're we're hoping that we can still, you know, find some fun somewhere to be able to do that. Maybe we can do it with the land trust.

Yeah.

Okay.

Well, I know they've the Land Trust has collaborated with the um historical society.

So, yeah.

Why wouldn't they collaborate with us?

Yeah, I would think that they they would.

That's us.

Let's work on that. Thank you.

Georgie, David, and Jean.

I'm taking their name.

That's right.

Sounds like a singing.

Yeah, I know.

Yeah.

Okay. Well, just to go a little bit further with that, they have a um very much growing carpentry part that's doing a lot of with some of the new acquisitions that they have in town. They're doing a lot of work and um again, they're more than they were more than happy to help out with the um the trails at the historical society. So, I and they're always looking for those collaborations. So, yeah.

Well, thank you.

Okay.

My next my next grant. Okay, does this include the parking lot too?

Can I bring something up with regard to the parking lot or is this new business that new business?

No, this is Well, this is under building. I have some things here.

So, um we are we uh need to get a lift to fix the down spout on the north northwest corner of the building. Um it with the snow and the ice and everything, it fell down. So, um this social day program yesterday had the leak in the ceiling. We were investigating. Andy was checking the ceiling. It actually was the pump for the condensation pan that stopped working. So, we have Sam Cole that's

been in there this morning from what I understand. And I want to make sure that I'm announcing this that I had put on Facebook and called all the instructors.

The exercise was cancelled for the near future, not knowing what was happening. I didn't want to do it dayto day. But if we can get it up and running by the time I get back there, if it's up and running, we're also supposed to be the cooling center. So I called called Dan Baldwin and I said, "Chief, sorry.

Uh, we're down at the AC, so it's going to be a little warm in here." So he said he was going to take that off the website and just keep the library, but I'll I'll make sure that he knows that for the next, you know, if if we're back up and running, we can be a cooling center during the day. So, of course, that always that's when it happens, you know, it's always when it's a hot

condensation and everything. So, um evidently the pump got clogged and it burnt out the motor, so that's why it wasn't. And we had some nice, you know, drips in the ceiling. So, um and then I put down here about the constant complaints from members regarding the temperature. We keep the thermostat steady at 70. Some people say it's too cold, some people say it's too hot. It's very very difficult when we

have the shared space to be able to keep it so that everybody is comfortable. It doesn't happen. I did meet with the full social day people on a Wednesday including the staff and I told them that the the AC comes in from their fan first. So that's why it's so cold and it moves across the building. Um and it's an older building so it's not going to be as energy efficient as others. So I

told people make sure you wear layers.

That's what you need to do. Wear wear a long sleeve shirt, wear a sweatshirt, wear a sweater, bring in your winter sweater. That's what we have to do because if you're too warm, you could always take it off. Um, and as far we can't we can't keep it below 70 because when we kept it below 70, it would have ice on the um AC and it would freeze up

and then we had to replace our AC. So, we don't want to be doing that. So again, it's just from years ago, you know, um I I know that this is what happens with this system. Um and it's just because it's up in the attic and it's so warm up there. So between running and everything, it's just and that's why the condensation has always led to a lot of water up there. Um so

and I just put, you know, because we share the space, we've had these issues for 12 years. Yeah.

Which is how long I've been here. And this is another reason for activities to expand to the old high school. I forget I put a plug in for the old high school because you know that's what we need to do if we could move some of our we could move some of our activities over to the old high school um that you know our exercise classes and things like that.

We could keep it the temperature a little bit lower there because they're exercising and we could keep the temperature maybe at 72 for the supportive day. Although I don't want the staff to be overheated either because it gets warm with a lot of bodies in there. So right um and uh the average daily census I said for supportive day was 16. So we're we're building up again. Um we provided

409 rides 25 people and I know people say you know well that's only 25 people but for those 25 people is really critical especially when you know we had 69 medical rides okay and that's obviously and shopping rides um and then social day too supportive day too. Um my um drivers are back. Um they both were out on medical um leaves and they both were able to return medically cleared to

return in July. So now we're we're pretty fully staffed with I have a question.

Sure.

Are you working on the transportation report for us?

Oh yes. Yes, I will. Yep. I'll be doing that so that we can see how much for the whole year because we do the whole year.

Yeah, Mariel and I had worked on that report a number of years ago and we just keep it going so that it says everything that everything that we've expended because it's not just transportation.

They used to look at it and just say, "Oh, transportation revolving. This is what you spent." No, it's not. It's it's there's money coming in and money going out from all different places and the expenses the town pays for the gas, the oil, you know, the repairs and things like that. We use transportation involvement, we use formula grant, sometimes we use gifts and donations.

So, um yeah, I'll I'll work on that so that we have that done for the next for the next meeting. Yeah.

Thank you.

So, you're welcome.

So, um volunteers um we had an uptick in volunteers um because of um our uh flyer that went out by the friends to um get uh people to do landscaping. So, but we've had also other people come in too and say, "Oh, I'd like to volunteer." So, you know, um we did um have one longtime um volunteer, Mary Ellen Gomes, who actually was a director for 25 years, long before me. Um and she has since

retired and she had been coming back every Wednesday and and making the meals for um supportive day, but she has since relocated to I think I think Hilton Head, South Carolina. So, she's her family's down there. Her daughter's down there. So, she had relocated. So, um, so we're kind of piecing it together with, um, with who we have. So, um, tech continued very, very busy. Um, and we

had a guest speaker for Tech who came in. Um, Henry Quinland. Uh, he's a retired I was he MIT, I think he a professor and and did a lot of different things. And he's BC.

BC, I think.

BC. Okay. Boston. Yeah, Boston College.

But he he he was um very interesting.

One of the demands that we have in the tech program and and really throughout is AI. What is it? How and so he had a specific talk for AI for seniors and and it was um it was very interesting. It was very well attended.

Yes.

Um I think we had 35 40 people. We were we were everybody was we had four chairs in that room. Uh yeah and it was ve it's very it's very eyeopening the things that AI does that you don't realize until you start looking into it and how much how much information it gathers about you and then how it um reinterprets that information and and you know you know you you're talking and

your phone's there and all of a sudden your phone comes up and it gives you an answer to something that you were talking about because your phone listens to you and that's AI and it's like That's everywhere. You're in your car in, you know, and it's like it's a little little, you know, scary. I mean, you know, n I I know I'm dating myself, but 1984, I mean, remember when that was

a big, wasn't it 1984? Wasn't that a big big story about about computers and everything and it's like, oh, we're well beyond that now. So, but it was interesting to um his presentation or part of his presentation on the data centers and then all of the other repercussions of having data centers. And we're seeing that in the news now of of the idea of of um people losing their homes because of the

electricity and and you know, it's it's a it's a huge business. It's a whole Well, anyway, it was just it was very well intended and um and the biggest thing I took from that was if you don't know what to cook at night, open your refrigerator, take your phone, tell them the ingredients you have in your refrigerator and they'll come up with a recipe for you. And I was like, that's really cool because you

know how you go in and you look in your refrigerator and say, "I don't have anything or I don't know what to make."

So you go in and you just tell them what you have and they'll put a recipe together for you and it's like wow that was pretty cool.

And the other thing was that was I thought that's helpful. And the other thing was travel of um travel. If you wanted to travel, you want to go somewhere and you want to know what there is to do, put in where you want to go and you put in whether you're mobile or not mobile or what what's your interest and they'll tell you what's in the area, what to do and where to go. So

you kind of know, okay, maybe this city or this town isn't where I should be, but maybe this one is. Um, so there was some really good helpful ideas um that came across. Um, it wasn't just this the scary stuff, too, but it was good. It was very, very well, very well attended and very good. So um, our outreach department continues to be very, very busy. Um, just Jean, so you know, I have

one full-time outreach coordinator and two part-time outreach specialists. Two of my outreach staff are Medicare counselors. Used to be Shine counselors, but we don't do we do Medicare counseling now. Same thing. We just certified by a different agency. And one of my um outreach specialist is um a SNAP coordinator and that's a lot of what she does. Anytime anybody has anything with Medicare or insurance,

they go to my first two people and if they have anything to do with food insecurity, they go to Cindy. So, we divide it up. So that way we have that specialty because you I'm sure you know what it's like to try to fill out applications and then if you don't know so they're specialists in that so that way they they know the the pitfalls and they can get it done too. So um uh

outreach obviously was my background too. So that kind of I kind of boosted that department when I first got here to make sure because um out of the 16,669 people that we have residents that live in Westport, and I'll say my numbers again, uh there's over 8,000 that are 55 and older.

So we have a huge cohort of seniors um to work with. Um, activities have been, you know, I think a little bit down this month, but I think a lot of people are on vacation, um, going to weddings, going to graduations, traveling, people are going, you know, so a little bit down, but it's been um, still busy.

Still very busy.

I have a question about supportive day.

It is a I had a question from somebody.

Do people who come for the summer to Westport um do any of them or their family members participate in the supportive day? For example, do we have some some of those um summer seasonal? I um not I I wouldn't know because the people come in, they talk to Connie, and I don't know whether they just stay for the summer. Um some of them could. It could very well be. I just I'm just not familiar enough with

that to know. Okay.

If we do, but we're available to do that.

Good to know.

So, yeah, good to know. Thank you.

Do you have a capacity for that program?

Um, typically our capacity is about 30 and that's usually on Wednesdays when we have the the larger group because we have that whole room. Yes.

On Mondays and Fridays, we have exercise going on on one side of the multi-purpose room and we have this the doors closed. So, they're in the sport days in another part of that multi-purpose room. So it it makes it a little bit difficult.

So is it space that determines your capacity?

Uh well it would be I wouldn't do the 30 people on a Monday or on a Friday. I would only do it on a Wednesday because we just wouldn't it they'd all be in in really close quarters and it's tougher to do with wheelchairs and walkers and everything like that too. So but for the most part we haven't had that problem.

there's been, you know, is there a need like say if you were to if you had the adequate space and staffing is that a need that Yeah, we we don't have a wait list.

We've have had weight list in the past.

We haven't had one. Um and before COVID, we used to be open five days a week. Now we're only open three Monday, Wednesday, Friday. That's because of the space for the exercise and everything else. We just don't have the capacity to do it.

But if we did have the capacity, I do believe we could run that place five days a week. I really because Dartmouth used to have a supportive day and after COVID they never came back. They closed.

Swansea closed their supportive day. Um Fall River areas there's three councils on aging in Fall River and none of them have a a supportive day. Fair Haven is the closest one and Dyon they both have supportive days but they're only open part time. I think I think Dyton's five days a week but I think um Behaven is only three days a week. So, but a lot we lost a lot of supportive

days and adult day health when COVID hit. They I don't even think there's an adult day health on the Cape anymore. No, I think I think there were a bunch of them like 10 or 15 that closed and they never reopened.

Right. I think that we had explored the idea um or had a presentation a few months ago about a private supportive day.

Yes. Um, but I do think if we had the capacity and we advertised, there'd be no problem filling the other days.

Yeah. You know, and and that private one, they only do they only have 12 people and it's in a a ranch style home. It's it's homey homey.

Yeah. But it's also $160 a day.

Oh, yeah.

So, again, you know, compared to our $60 a day, you know, it's very it's different. It's up It's up more toward Boston and Molden, I think, or Malboro, one of those places. One of those M towns.

Maldith. Yeah. Yeah. Not very nice program, but again, you know, it's very different, very, you know, private pay.

It's Yeah.

Okay. Anything else for Beverly?

Okay. Thank you, Beverly, for your report.

Um, okay. Old business.

Um, usage of the former high school. I mean, we keep referring it to the old high school around town, but we call it the community campus, or we tried to give it a name so it's not too confusing. Um, as recently as yesterday, Beverly and I had yesterday afternoon, Beverly and I had a um meeting. Um some of the things that are going on right now is that our town administrator had put um in place a

master plan for that community campus building and we were um it is with Brewster Thornton um group architects and they have experience in in working in that area. So we're being interviewed and there's a needs assessment that's going on. Um, prior to that there had been, if you recall, we were asking for a code update evaluation and that was by BFNA.

Um that came in June and it was sent to um um all of the parties and I think that um we were waiting for the analysis and comments and I think we sort of got the unofficial word nothing direct happened that we were involved in other than than somebody checking in with with Beverly. Um apparently for the codes we are good.

There's a good to go. There's this there this um only a few minor suggestions, recommendations, but that building is uh there are no code violations if we were to move our activities into the space that we are requesting. And I think that was something that um I I was surprised to hear yesterday because we had not been told directly until yesterday afternoon.

I read through the whole the whole for I want to say it's probably about six or eight pages and I read through and I read through especially looking at whether we needed to sprinkle or what we needed to do but because the code because of the numbers that we're looking at because we're looking at 49 people or less at one time to be in the building because that's about what our

capacity is what we have. If we go over we go over 50 then we need to make some code changes but that's not what we're planning on doing at least for now you know and then phase in with with different things because I don't have 40 you know 49 people if I have my tech class in and my exercise class in we probably have 35 maybe 40 you know but I

don't see us going more than 49 because and I did I went through and I looked at all the numbers and all the attendance and everything else and that's what I put in. Um, so that's reasonable. So it didn't it didn't change any, you know, uh, code issues that we had to be able to go in there. So, um, now we're just waiting to find out about the master plan and the girls, uh, Christine that

met with us. It was, uh, Eileen, myself, the town administrator, and Christine, and she had worked evidently with the town administrator in Dartmouth and set up Dartmouth. And if you ever go into the Dartmouth Council on Aging, when you first walk in, it's very open and spacious and welcoming, whereas we kind of have a little tunnel, but I mean, our building's much older, you know. So, um,

having a space that would be opening, welcome, you know, those kind of things.

So, so, um, Eileen and I have some homework to do to send back to Christine. She wants some, she sent us a spreadsheet. We have to um put some things together and they're going to be working on moving forward with this master plan which hopefully you know and is that the maximum amount of people that we can have at any one given time?

No, just code changes. That's all code to code changes. districts over 40.

If we were to have a number over a number of 40 49 or whatever, if we had if we had programs of say 70 or 100 people, then they would have to re um visit the code evaluation, but as it stands now, it just there were just a few recommendations and and one of the things that we did find out is that um um Rick Mundy went over to the high school and he took some

pictures to send to the architect before he did his report because the auditorium has firewalls up because it has to because it had I I don't know if the capacity was 400, 500, whatever it was.

So, they had to have certain thickness of firewall and they had to have fire doors and everything and all of those are in place every I I can't imagine that it wouldn't have been in place when they did the high school. So, all of that's in place. So, if we ever wanted to access that, we have the bones to be able to do that again, what would we need to do? But that's like I said

that's down the line. That's one of our phases. So we want to start with hopefully the first phase to be able to get some of the COA activities into there and work on that and then go from there and see you know where else it goes. What else do we need to do you know and I think yesterday was for for um the types of questions we were looking at where we are today

where we want to be. And we are not just pulling where we want to be out of the air. We're pulling it out of our strategic plan because we ask people, "What type of activities do you want?

How often do you want them?" And that's in our strategic plan. We have a we have a list of of activities and um we don't have the space or the capacity to be able to do that, right?

And um you know, we we um I thought it was a good um thoughtful meeting.

thoughtful meeting and we we discussed I wanted to make sure that Christine understood that what we thought about doing even eventually we might be able to move everything over to the old high school. Okay, that would be ideal. We can't do it right now because you're talking about millions of dollars to be able to do that because of the support of day and everything else.

However, what I thought was the Reed Road um building itself would be our social services center. So that would be my outreach and my transportation and um um all all of those things. Maybe some office space, but the high school would be our activity center and just separate that out because social services a lot of times they don't necessarily have the privacy that they need because we're

working with half a wall and two people in an office and you're trying to have a conversation or you're meeting with somebody.

A pool table in the middle.

Yeah, we have a pool table downstairs, too. So, you know, you're trying to have a conversation about, you know, Medicare or Social Security or whatever else you're trying to have a conversation about and you can hear the guys playing pool over in the next, you know, so we want to separate that out, you know, so that it's more conducive to the privacy that should be, you know, should be available,

right? The respect to people who are our clients that that they they deserve the privacy. I'm always astounded there's between 8 and 900 people that have their taxes done during tax season by AARP and and we kind of shove them in in in that that room as you come in. But, you know, it just in terms of privacy and and the noise and I think that's something with disabilities is that that's that makes it difficult

um the noise of that building. But it's a vibrant busy place. So yeah, we're just trying to So we're hopefully, you know, it's it's it's moving in the right direction anyway. So with all the all the time that and energy that we've spent, not as fast as David wanted to move, not even close.

Yeah. But it but it's getting there. So hopefully, you know, I feel like we give a a report on the glacia watch.

Yeah. That's what it feels like.

But that's but we're making progress and things are moving. It's just uh it's it's happening.

Okay. Anything else in old business?

Lisa, did you have something you wanted to bring up in old business? I can't remember.

I think you said new business. I could bring it up with new business.

Oh, all right. In new business, we then I think we're done with old business. In new business, um topics not reasonably anticipated in 48 hours in advance of this meeting. Um you all received a conflict of interest law training um email. Those of you who are are members, excuse me, that is due uh July 18th. Um if you did not receive it, Mera, did you get it?

Okay. Um we have um it says that um we have it's a it takes approximately 10 minutes and it we have to do this each year. So, uh that came in on June 27th and I think we've gotten a reminder I think every other day since then. So it's but it's it's important that it gets done.

So um if you haven't um Madam Chair, yes.

Is that the conflict of interest law?

No mistake.

I just renewed mine. I have to do it every two years.

No, we have to do it every year.

The one is every two. There's two different ones.

Right. We had just done that.

Well, the one I just took didn't take 10 minutes.

Took it. Yeah, I took my I wouldn't imagine yours would different.

I think we did that one um last we many of us did that last year and it it it like 90 minutes it was a test too.

A test. Good heavens. Test questions. But what happens too now is because you do it online. We used to have people make us copies of the certificate. We used to have to send the certificate out to the state. Now the state gets the certificate so they know if you've done it. So that's why it generated that email out to you because it had been two years and it's all kept online now with the office of inspector

general I think is what they do right ethics the ethics commission ethics commission but anyway it just I wanted to remind our members if they had that I think also um we got an invitation from our state senator um there's a summer lunchon on August 18th um so yeah I I think I sent it out to everybody. I think everybody got it.

Okay.

I think so.

He he uh Senator Rogers wants to meet with um boards, chairs, department heads, um board members. So, that's great.

I I got that from Paula and then Paula said, "You send it out to all of your people." So, I sent it out to and I sent it out to a lot of people on the friends board too because they really should be part of that because they're our friends board. So, they're our friends. But Paula sent me an email and said, "I'm getting re I'm getting responses back from people that

I don't know their name." I said, "That's a friend's board members."

Because that's what it said, board members. That's who I sent it to. So, I think last year Senator Rogers what tried to do it, but I don't think he had a good response because I don't think it really got out there to people. So, I think he's hoping to he the more he said the more the marrier. He wants to talk to people. That's great. So, it's like, okay.

All right. And Lisa, you have something to add?

Oh, yeah. I have a new business.

Yes. Um, a couple things. One is, um, I noticed that the, uh, handicap parking signs and the lines, you know, in the parking area, we're putting together a small list, uh, alongside with our highway department. So, with your permission, I'd like to be able to, you know, reo the lines.

Oh, the lines have to be done, I think.

Yeah. And then we're also designing a new um uh signs, you know. So, it's the highway department that did our signs for us. So, yeah.

So, I I took the liberty of putting it on the list.

Absolutely. We we've lost this perhaps a year ago because there Yeah, you know, the they're a little wonky.

We'll just And not only that, Martin and I um actually went to a training on my vice chair um and so we were very involved with the dimensions of it. they're supposed to be. So So you don't have to pull in and you can't open your door because the thing is this wide.

Exactly. But but also um I think our our position is is you don't know what you don't know, right? There's certain businesses that don't realize that it's available to them, you know, providing that there's certain responsibility as a business owner, but with um our public buildings, uh the uh commission is getting more involved. Terrific. I did put it on the list.

Perfect. That's fine. I I had hoped to see that the fines were increased.

Oh, well, so the fines are $300 for a personal vehicle if you're parked there and you do not have a plaque card.

Um the other thing too is what we're noticing is some people um get so conditioned to having the plaque card in their car and forget that the person is not in the car with them, that's a violation, right?

So, um that's one of the reasons why the photographs are on them now. Yes. Um, and now we used to have some that are expired, which would force people to redo them. The DMV is actually coming out with one now that doesn't expire.

Um, which is kind of nice. Um, so and we're having the DMV come to the commission, you know. So, it might be an activity or maybe even do something at the Council on Aging where people can actually come. Terrific. We're going to be setting up a workshop to help people actually get them. So, if they're not computer savvy, we'll be able to do that.

Right. And and remember we have laptops and and tablets to even lend and we can help people with that.

Yeah. I think the problem is is that most of the people that are coming to us are not techsavvy. So they actually need someone side by side do that. Exactly.

We do that. We help people get their library um beach library pay their taxes, you know, like this one. fuel assistant.

Yeah. And all that and we lend um if they would rather we could lend it out for a couple of days for them to work with somebody at home. So So we are very very willing I think as a COA to to see those being used.

Yes. The other activity which I think would be great for us as the um COA is we're putting together some um with our harbor master doing um a little tour um you know on the river uh for people who are disabled. We're looking at different locations where we have bossins that will be able to help someone who is disabled get to enjoy um an evening boat ride. Um and we're setting those up as

well. Okay. um it's not necessarily conducive the way they have it set up now for someone who has a challenge. So, we're looking for those alternate um pickups uh which our harbor master is getting involved with with regards to beautiful. It's a beautiful river.

In addition to that, um we did receive the uh hero award for stroke buddies and friends. Um congratulations.

Thank you. Congratulations.

Um I did share that with you.

Um we did get the accommodation. I did bring it with me today. So, it does actually um depict that it is stroke buddies and friends that was done by um the governor's office and the lieutenant governor participated. So, we were honored and I just wanted to let you know that the articles did go out in all of the area newspapers and it did mention the Council on Aging, the Commission on Disability along with

Stroke Buddies. So, you'll be able to um see that. It was in the for herald news.

It went out digitally. We have videos and we're going to be playing it on um on our cable access. Uh there was 147 women that were honored, which was one of the largest classes um for the Commonwealth. And um basically I represented Westport, but it was more important that we represented the organizations that we that we participate in, which is obviously the COA. And I do have the book here along

with the accommodations if anybody wanted to see it.

Terrific. Thank you very much. You're welcome.

And can we make that available on our website? Are we able to?

Oh, put it up on the website.

I think we can. I think we can put it on the town hall.

I mean, this is this is a significant award.

Yes.

I, you know, making sort of light of this, but this is a statewide Yeah.

award. And so, congratulations.

It was a big deal. We had lunch. We were able to park right at the state house.

Um, we Senator Rogers was with us and um, we also had uh, Representative Olette and it really put a spotlight on Westport. So, I'm really happy about that.

Thank you.

It's just it's very it's really unfortunate because you're only allowed to invite a couple of people.

So, because of that, you don't really get people to be able to go and and um, when I see um, Senator Rogers, I might ask him. I forgot the other day when he was in.

That's okay. But um I might ask him if he'd come down and maybe do a little presentation at the COA, like if we're going to do anything, maybe have him come in.

That's right. That way people can recognize, you know, um and we can even videotape it and put it on because I think it really is a big It's a big honor. It's a, you know, congratulations. It really is a big honor to to be recognized.

Huge. 147 women out of the whole state.

I mean, that's, you know, it's big.

It was it was a big deal. And it was something that I didn't even know that I was nominated for to be honest with you.

I got the call Easter Sunday and said that I was nominated and it was accepted um by the powers to be. And um I think I was just proud to represent the Council on Aging. And in the article itself, in the booklets that are distributed uh within the Commonwealth, uh it does have a little blurb, but they did highlight and Beverly got to read it. Um you know that it Council on Aging was first and foremost.

Good. Thank you. Yeah.

And when when was the ceremony?

It was the 24th of July.

I'm sorry of June.

I'm sorry.

There's my stroke.

That's a stroke issue. No, no, no. It's not.

You do it, too.

I always do it.

It's a summertime issue.

Yes. It was a Wednesday and it was unfortunate that it happened to be the same day as Linda Pierce when she was retiring. So I did get to send her a well-wish Miel actually who went to her uh little gathering. Um and we were talking to each other when I was on my way to Boston knowing that we couldn't physically support each other because she's on our advisory board for Stroke

Buddies and Friends. So um it was just nice to have two of us having a celebratory event on the Absolutely. Well, that's wonderful.

Well, anybody else have any news? Can you do a good photo?

I don't do a good photo.

That's right. Thank you.

Anything with the friends, Cindy, that we should know.

We don't meet during the summer.

We don't meet but you've met recently and you have Well, that we did we we did.

That's good.

In June.

In June. That's good.

All right. Since there's no um new news um or new business um do I have a motion to adjurnn?

All right, David, I'll motion.

You go, Lisa. Okay. All in favor? I No opposition. Thank you. Thank you everyone for your time. I make a motion.