02/03/1982 BOARD OF SELECTMEN Minutes

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MINUTES OF MEETING OF BOARD OF SELECTMEN • February 3, 1982 Present : Chairman Chester A. Garland, Selectmen B. Jean Thomas, txecu tive- Secretary:-Joseph--,P:_-MiirDhy; Jr; Absent_--Keviri D:--.O-'Connell. Absent: Joseph J. Reardon, Town Counsel . Chairman Garland convened the Meeting at 2 : 00 . The Minutes of Monday, January 25, 1982 , were accepted as written. 2 : 00 JOHN DE MELLO, CAPE COD COUNCIL ON ALCOHOLISM Mr. DeMello indicated that he was present to speak to the Board of Select- men about the Article the C.C. Council on Alcoholism was requesting be placed on the Warrant of the Annual Town Meeting. He passed out pamphlets to the members of the Board, which explained what the Council does . He reported that their request last year had been cut from S1, 000 to $500 . 00. He hopes that won't happen again this year. He explained that the Council is expending a great deal of it' s funds and activity on prevention programs, by going into the schools . He pointed out that his agency does not do on-going counseling. It is a referral agency for those in need of counseling. Instead, they run programs and discussions . He pointed out that alcoholism is a great problem on the Cane, that 7 out of 10 people now incarcerated are there for substance abuse . He said the Council cannot continue its work with the kinds of cut that was taken in Mashpee last year. Mr. DeMello pointed out that their funding requests are based on the size of the Towns . . . .there are discrepancies when one town gives less than its share . However, he emphasized that this does not affect the services that Town receives. Chm. Garland pointed out that the problem is, the Town Meeting is the place where funding takes place, and that any organization requesting fund- ing should have a representative there to defend it' s request. It is not up to the Board of Selectmen to defend their article ; they do not initiate the petition. Mr. DeMello acknowledged that he realized they failed in that area last year, but plan to do something about it this year. Sel Thomas suggested they touch base with the Finance Committee -- they wonder if some agencies are duplicating their services , etc . They may have other questions, too. Chm. Garland pointed out that even though the Finance Committee is an advisory committee, they do wield quite a bit of influence. As he recalls , last year the Finance Committee recommended nothing for that agency. Because there was no one else at the meeting to speak on behalf of the Article , Mr. Garland had done so, and rescued it with a motion for $500 . Otherwise, it would have received nothing. Sel. Thomas pointed out that she supports their work totally. Chm. Garland asked what was their total budget? Response : $58 ,000-$60 , 000 . They have • three full-time staff, and 3 part-time. He continued that they are also a United Fund Agency, so 500 of their funding comes from that source. He said that as part of their program, the Council is now going into the lower grades at school. That ' s when attitudes are formed., and awareness needs to be taught. Chm, Garland thanked Mr. DeMello for coming, .and said the Selectmen would see what they can do for his agency,