HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil on Aging Minutes 4-13-2021 North Andover Council on Aging
Virtual Meeting(via Google-Meet)
April 13t", 2021 @ 9:00 A.M.
Minutes
Attendance
Members Present: Quentara Costa, Joseph McCarthy,Joseph Nahill, Maria Rosati {Treasurer},
Laurence Smith {Chair},David VanArsdale {Vice-Chair}
Absent: Jennifer Abou-ezzi, John Graham, Heather Takesian, Patricia Riley, Eileen Elliot
Others Present: Cahla Ahlstrom, Outreach Manager&Assistant Director,Denise Casey,Deputy Town
Manager&Interim Elder Services Director
Call to order: 9:00 AM
Roll call& Governor's Notice on Open Meeting/Virtual Meeting was read by Larry Smith.
Minutes: It was noted that the Minutes from March did not have Cahla Ahlstrom's name in attendance. Tracy
will send an amended copy out. The March minutes were approved via roll call on a motion by Joseph McCarthy
and seconded by Maria Rosati.
Discussion:
COA Chair: Larry Smith
If members of the public wish to have a question addressed during the meeting,they may send the request
to Denise Casey at.......ca inn rthan ove a. ov and the question will be addressed during the meeting.
Larry mentioned that as our role on the board, it is important to remain educated and informed on aging
issues so that our board can be that resource to the NA BOS.
Larry mentioned that August 21St is National Senior Citizens Day. If the town or our council would like to
do something for our seniors that day,we have time to think about what we would like to do.
Larry requested if everyone could re-visit the committees and which one you may want to serve on.
Larry will reach out to everyone over the next few months.
Updates from the Deputy Town Manager and Interim Elder Services Director,Denise Casey:
No public comments have been received via email to Denise for the meeting today.
The town manager has appointed Denise as the Acting Director until such time as a new director is hired.
Her job is to keep the ship afloat during the time until they can locate a new Director. Joe Nahill requested an
update on the search. Per Denise, final panel interviews will be conducted on Thursday of this week. Once
completed,the panel will make a recommendation to the town manager with their selection for the best candidate.
Joe questioned why a member of the council on aging was not on the panel, seeing that COA is intimately
involved with the Sr. Center and the staff. Per Denise, it is very unusual to have a board member on the panel for
hiring purposes. Maria Rosati, long standing board member stated they were involved in the selection of Irene, the
most recent director who retired. Per Denise,that is not the process the Town Manager wants to follow this time.
Joe McCarthy asked who the panel participants were. Denise noted the Participants to be herself,the
representative from the Youth and Recreation Services, Demi Marsh,the representative from the Library which is
Cindy Mazza, Deanna Lima, The Community Support Coordinator and Joe Leblanc from the Veterans Services.
Multiple COA members mentioned that the panel does not make sense if it does not have a member from the
COA included in it. Joseph McCarthy wanted to know if we could make a motion that there be a representative on
that interview board from our Council of Aging,more specifically, the board Chair. Denise stated that she will
take the concern to the Town Manager and report back to the COA Chair. A motion was made by Joseph
McCarthy and seconded by Joseph Nahill to have a request made to the Town Manager about having the Board
Chair or a representative he selects, included on the Elder Service Director interview panel. The motion was
approved unanimously.
The senior center has been busy with cleaning and repairs while the building was vacant.
Dave VanArsdale questioned how the food distribution went and per Denise, it went very well. Some
food went to the Lazarus House, some was kept for emergency purposes, some went to the YMCA and the
remainder went to a group called the Kindness Collaborative.
Quintara Costa asked if the center was still accepting non-food items like lotions and things of that nature
to hand out to seniors?Per Denise,they need to rethink how they can do that because space is limited.
The center is working hard to return some programing for small groups returning to the building. They
have been perfecting the entry and exit procedures to keep everyone safe. As the weather gets warmer,they may
be able to potentially use the parking lot for some activities.
Dave Van Arsdale asked how the communication is getting out on the re-opening. Cahla answered the
question by letting the board know that they have sent out a newsletter which was mailed out at the end of March.
Also,the senior center receptionists have been reaching out to prior class attendees letting them know what
classes are being held along with the days and times. Denise also added that they may do a video with NACAM
on the new procedures at the center so that people can see the proper way to enter and exit.
Larry had asked what the potential is for the COA to meet in person going forward. Denise stated she has
reached out to Brian LaGrasse and she is waiting to hear back from him. Indoor space limitations pose challenges.
Potentially those who are fully vaccinated can meet and Denise will also inquire about that. Per Joseph McCarthy,
everyone over sixteen will be eligible for vaccinations on April 19', 2021.
Joseph McCarthy mentioned the Board of Health had their most recent meeting live and it was exciting to
meet in person.
Per Denise,the tenant who was occupying the building for the new senior center development has now
vacated. Tomorrow night,the NA BOS will be voting on the purchase and sales agreement. Maria asked if there
will be apartment buildings on that parcel of land and if that will affect the senior center project if it is not
approved yet. Denise stated it was her understanding that the only part of the project that overlaps is the driveway
and so their portion of the project can begin. Denise will confirm that with Andrew Shapiro.
Joe McCarthy asked Denise if she thought the cost for the center may go up because of the cost of
building materials going up so much in the last year. Denise stated that it is her understanding that the legal team
is working on that issue right now and per her last conversation with the Town Manager,NA can still afford for
the building to move forward.
Miscalculations Discussions:
Joseph Nahill mentioned that from one of the emails Larry sent the group in tandem with a comment from
Irene last month, there needs to be clarity on the Friends Group, our relation to the group,who is in that group, do
we oversee them, etc. Joe suggested that maybe someone from the Friends should be a member on our board.
Larry responded that he saw a copy of the by-laws from the Friends from 2003 and he would like to see a copy of
the articles of incorporation and somewhere in the center there should be a copy. Larry would like to know who
owns the Friends Group and who operates it. Joe McCarthy has questioned that with regards to the Friends Group,
we do not even know who the point person is and really if he or she is handling our charitable contributions. That
is unacceptable as we need to know who the contacts are. Joe also stated that we should have the point person
attend our next COA meeting or perhaps have Larry, Our Chair, sit down with the Friends point person. Lya from
the senior center, is the liaison to the Friends Group. Denise will also help with this and will investigate it.
Updates from Joseph McCarthy on COVID Statistics:
Updates given from Joseph McCarthy. Please see attached summary.
Adjournment at 9:50 A.M.,by a motion by Joseph McCarthy, seconded by Maria Rosati and approved via roll
call unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Tracy A. Shea, Secretary