The February meeting of the Holliston Council on Aging (CoA) was convened by Vice-chair, Bob Hopkins on Wednesday the 10^th. 

A quorum of CoA members was in attendance to hear updates from Senior Center Director Linda Marshall on the hiring of a new Director and the monthly summary for the Center.

Director Marshall reported that nine applications were received.  None of the applicants are currently Directors or Asst. Directors of other Sr. Ctrs.  The screening committee, chaired by Marshall, scheduled interviews for five candidates on February 11^th and 12^th.  These were in-person socially distant discussions.  It should be noted that despite repeated pleas from the CoA, Linda declined to re-apply.  The screening committee will recommend finalists to a selection committee made up of Town Administrator Travis Ahern, IT Director Chris Meo, and CoA member Yvette Cain.

The Director’s Monthly Report highlighted the massive effort to support Holliston Seniors struggling to get COVID vaccinations.  Marshall described that when Phase 2 of the vaccine rollout began the Center’s phone system crashed under the onslaught of citizens seeking guidance / assistance.  Thankfully, IT Director Meo was able to find a vendor to provide a system upgrade and by February 9^th the newly expanded phone system was up and running!  The CoA voted to amend its proposed FY 22 budget to include $840 to include the monthly charge to service the new system.

Marshall recently compiled some comparative data (below) regarding the services and volume of use the Senior Center has experienced since 2006.

A very successful Valentine’s Day to go Luncheon provided nearly 200 meals to Seniors who took their Baked Stuffed Shrimp dinners home to enjoy.  The dinners included treats donated by citizens – young and old.  Linda proclaimed that the Senior Center Staff and volunteers are getting very good at these ‘drive by’ events.  Already, plans are underway for a St. Patrick’s Day luncheon on March 15^th – take the corned beef to go.  In April, a Sr. Ctr. Volunteer appreciation brunch will be held in a similar fashion.  On May 4^th there will be a Welcome / Goodbye cookout to go to send Linda off and introduce the new Director.  Parties without Linda in appropriate costume are hard to envision.

While the facility of the Sr. Ctr. is relatively unoccupied, painting, new carpeting, and new ceiling tiles will be completed in areas that have not been recently updated.  The Center is still awaiting word on several grant requests.  A new grant has been offered by BayPath Elder Services that could net the CoA between $2,000 – $5,000.

The Sr. Ctr. is helping Seniors register for vaccine shots.  Also, up to $15,000 of CARES Act funds has been authorized to cover transportation fees when Seniors need a ride to and from their vaccinations.  Now that companions taking over aged 75 people (at the Mass Vaccination Sites like Gillette) can receive a shot too, perhaps the need for a ride will diminish.

Another $400 donation from the ‘jar’ at the Superette has been received.  Marshall estimates that over the past 2 -3 years nearly $3,000 has been collected from Superette patrons.  Speaking of grants and donations – Director Marshall estimates that the Senior Center benefits from nearly $150,000 in funds from private and public donations to support the annual budget that the Town provides to cover the operating expenses of the facility.  The State’s proposed budget includes a change in the formula grants for Seniors – the good news is that Holliston’s senior population has increased by 1,500 since the last census.

The next meeting was set for Wednesday March 10, 2021.