4.5.22 Minutes COA meeting.docx Beverly Council on Aging Directors Meeting
Date: April 5, 2022
Place: Beverly Council on Aging, 90 Colon Street, Beverly, MA 01915
Members Present: Bob Hobbs, Susan Feeney, Richard Tabbut, Jessica Wistran, Cynthia
Montalbano, Claire-Marie Hart and Stephanie Tallo
Staff Present: MaryAnn Holak
Meeting called to order: at 2:45 pm with Stephanie Tallo, Vice-Chair, presiding in the absence
of Chairperson, Blair Smith
Secretary's Report: The minutes for the March 1, 2022 meeting were reviewed. Minutes were
approved as written by vote of those in attendance. Thank you to Barrence Whitfield for taking
the meeting notes.
Director's Report
Building Concerns and Usage:
Three boilers are now working. There is still a need to replace all 4 boilers with new ones—this
will be a capital budget request.
Carpet bid has been sent back as the city requires a prevailing wage bid before going forward.
Administration and Finance
YTD financials were reviewed and MaryAnn reminded the Board that budgeting for FY'23
would be imminent.
MaryAnn reported receiving many thank you notes from participants recently.
$98,268 was received from the state for the annual formula grant. The state is still using the
2010 census data. We would hope to see an increase in the award amount once the 2020 census
data is used.
Enterprise fund is not generating much revenue, although there is currently around a $104,000
fund balance. Board needs to think about how to generate program revenue going forward.
Programs and Events
Program attendance is coming back slowly —exercise classes are still the most popular offering.
The social work interns offered a Dementia Friends training on March 8 with 8 people attending.
120 Corned beef and cabbage grab and go meals were distributed on St. Patrick's Day from the
back parking lot.
Partnership with A&B Burger and a trivia night very successful.
Local historian, Nancy Murphy did a presentation on"How the Irish shaped Beverly Farms" on
March 17t'which had 35 people in attendance.
Walk in the Woods will be gearing up for the spring program. 28 people attended the orientation
session.
Meetings/Activities/Clients/Clients of Concern
Still working on several protective cases and housing cases—need is great.
Sgt. Dan Brown is now responsible for the Community Impact Unit and is available to help with
cases as needed.
The BSW Social work intern organizing the spring yard cleanup program for 17 households.
The MSW social work intern received great feedback on the client satisfaction survey he
administered.
We are giving out Caregiver Resource bags as people request them.
Personnel Updates
Still seeking Assistant Director Candidates—hoping for a Master's level prepared social worker.
Tess and MaryAnn will be interviewing potential Community Engagement Fellows from
Merrimack College.
We will be hiring a summer activities assistant again this year.
The Board voted to accept the Director's report as written.
Unfinished Business
COVID Update: Masks are now optional in all city buildings.
The Board voted to table a vote on two new policies including Emeritus Status and Public
Comment until the next meeting.
Property tax work off program has been implemented with 28 participants
MaryAnn suggested that we ask Bernadette Orr to facilitate a discussion on the strategic plan
progress and where we need to head as the pandemic has changed much about how we do
business and also some of the staff who helped write the plan are no longer working here.
Board was in agreement.
MaryAnn reminded the board that their goal of inviting city councilors to their meetings was
partially achieved and that we could keep on working on that goal.
The Community Engagement project"Telling our Stories is Underway" and the event, "Lives
Well-lived" at the Cabot Cinema on April 28 is being worked on now.
New Business
The Beverly Main Streets Downtown for All initiative will kick off on April 28 to at the Cabot
Cinema. We were able to arrange for Ray Novack and the Endicott College Jazz Band to
perform before the viewing of the movie "Lives Well Lived.
MaryAnn asked the Board to consider participating in Older American's month events and she
agreed to send everyone the calendar of events when they become available.
Committee Reports
Scholarship Committee—Two applications were discussed; one request for help with the costs
of a refrigerator was accepted, the other to help with veterinarian costs was declined as we do not
typically help with costs of pet care. Also,Amanda Kirk identified some Sr. Care funds that can
help with pet care for the client.
Awards Committee—look forward to Senior of the Year nominations and Wall of Fame event in
Nov. 2022.
Announcements—None
Adjournment—3:55pm
Next Meeting: Tuesday, May 3, 2022 at Noon
Respectfully submitted:
Jessica Wistran, member