BELMONT COUNCIL ON AGING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
MINUTES – SEPTEMBER 8, 2003
Present: M. Ahearn, J. Brusch, N. Hegarty, E. Hamann, J. Horner, J. Kantor, H. Kazarian,
A. Lougee, B. Miranda, T. Morabito, N. Niv-Vogel, P. Solomon
Guest: David Alper
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Barbara Miranda (Chair). The minutes of the July 7, 2003 meeting were approved as presented.
Phyl Solomon suggested that we should all go see the intergenerational middle school project in the courtyard of the middle school. She hopes that more and more seniors will get involved and will put notices in the Senior Notes about the project. Barbara suggested that each board member try and go to at least one state or local senior-related meeting/program during the year and report on it at the next COA meeting after the event.
Dave Alper brought a request that the Youth Commission be able to offer a middle/high school drop-in center on Friday nights at the Senior Center. They would plan to operate it from 6:30 – 10:00 p.m. in the upstairs level only on a weekly basis. Youth Commission would provide the program (games, dance, discussion group etc.) for the evening, chaperones, and a police presence. They would be responsible for clean up and leaving everything in order. The selectmen and police department are supportive of the idea. This will have a very minimum investment and would be closed down promptly if it doesn’t work out.
A motion was made and passed unanimously that the COA Board supported the idea of having the Youth Commission at the Senior Center from 6:30-10:00 p.m. weekly on Friday nights with the understanding of the parameters and supervision discussed at our September 8, 2003 board meeting. The Youth Commission will now firm up the plan with the police department and leaflet the abutters and immediate neighbors requesting a meeting to hear about the plan. The Youth Commission will then report back. It was suggested that at least one member of the COA board be present when the neighborhood meeting takes place and that they also talk to the head of Our Lady of Mercy’s Parish Council. This may mean that the seniors and Friends of the COA might also be able to have an occasional Saturday evening event.
Director’s Report: See attached report.
Senior Center Building Committee: Neil Hegarty and Phyl Solomon reported that the committee had met twice and that they are working on the RFP now. The committee is learning at this point and wants to determine the programs the building should encompass. The meetings are open and people are welcome to come.
The first of several meetings with seniors to discuss needs for the new senior center will be this Wednesday, September 10 at 1 p.m. Joe Horner suggested that our board should go out and visit the beautiful new senior center in Marshfield.
Friends of the COA: The next meeting will be Wednesday, September 17 at 5 p.m. The fundraising compliment of the senior center must work closely with the building committee.
Nominating Committee: The following slate was presented to be voted on at the October meeting.
President: Barbara Miranda
Vice President: Ethel Hamann
Treasurer: Joe Horner
Secretaries: Mary Lou Ahearn, Ethel Hamann, Ann Lougee, Phyl
Solomon
A request was made for more people to volunteer to be a secretary for at least one of the board meetings.
The meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Ethel Hamann
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