4/1/1991 BOARD OF SELECTMEN Minutes

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t BOARD 0 F SELEC' MEN Page 3 MINUTES + MONDAY ; APRIL 11 1991 Budget- Discussion! Council on Aaln Robert Connell was present to discuss the budget of the Council on Aging with the Board. He has asked the Board for a restoration of $8, 000 to the Council Aging budget, Mr. Connell. has recommended the Director and Outreach Coordinator. have hours reduced to 32 per week for a. salary loss of $13, 013, The expense8 would total the Finance Committee' s recommendation of $48,895. The original level funded budget was for $58,865. The total operating budget for the Senior Center would be $10,182. The bottom line budget remains the same. The Finance Committee is concerned with the outreach coordinator. A reduction in hours may effect direct services to the center. Kevin Harrington did not recommend the reduction in hours of the outreach coordina.tar. He would rather lose the reduction 'n the administrative tive position rather than direct service* He has proposed the director' s position be reduced to half time. Donations may help to fund the expense account o i Maureen McKay spoke as visiting nurse and the tremendous amount of work the outreach coordinator does. To reduce the hours will directly. effect the people, If Mr. Connell* s hours are reduced to 20, he will be out of the pension system. Pension eligibility requires a minimum of 25 hrs, per week. Jim Vaccaro has suggested Mr. Connell determine the extra Five hour figure to determine the pension elibility and contact him tomorrow* Mr. Lew Schwartz spoke of the work the Director and Outreach Coordinator have done. To reduce the hours would be a disservice t the community. Approximately 350 people use the center on a weekly basis. The Director deserves a.lot of credit and the center cannot be run without someone at the helm. Selectman Jacobson has been ars advocate for the seniors in the community. There are some people in the same situation and if it is done for brie s it should be done for all. Selectman Jacobson has recieved many letters of concern in particular the outreach coordinator who has done an amazing tribute to the center. Selectman Lawrence made note of this year being the hardest .faced with budget cuts in all of the departments and only three appointments scheduled for this concern? Kevin Harrington suspects the other departments are not happy with their budgets but are facing reality. Mr. Lofchie also reports that many department members have concluded there ,is no water from a well that is dry, Mrs. Greelish spoke of the budget not meeting the needs of the Town. Major services are necessary and it should be faced that this uet requires an override, It was suggested by Selectman Lawrence not to support the CLAD possible override with no people involved, This is an area do the budget to maintain the salary of the Director and Outreach Coordinator,