The Holliston Council on Aging held its monthly meeting on May 10, 2023.  Chair Yvette Cain called the meeting to order at the appointed hour of 2:00pm.  After dispensing with the approval of the last meeting’s minutes, the Council moved on to hear the Director’s Report.

Director Lisa Borchetta (front left above) highlighted the following:

• Thanked the Project 351 Ambassadors and Alumni for their Earth Day project beautifying the gardens around the Senior Center.
• Thanked the Holliston DPW for its ongoing landscaping work.
• The 8^th Grade Students’ Day of Service at the Center will be on Friday, May 26^th.
• As a precaution, cameras and audible notifications have been added at all the exterior doors.
• The Senior Safe program being offered by the CoA and HFD, is still available to residents who need smoke / Carbon Monoxide detectors and / or grab bars (rails).
• The Habitat for Humanity critical safety / livability program funded by an ARPA grant is still accepting applicants.  Contact the Sr. Ctr. for information about these two safety programs.
• Interviews are beginning for 10 – 12 applicants for the vacant Sr. Ctr. Asst. Director position.
• The bulk mail process / costs are being reviewed with the Holliston Post Office to use this resource more efficiently.  The cost of mailing out the bi-monthly newsletter can be reduced by requesting the newsletter be sent via e-mail.  

Associate Member Peter Eagan, a member of the Envisioning Future Holliston (EFH) committee, provided an update regarding the data collection going on around town during May and early June.  His observation of the Community Forums held in early May was that the quantity of participants was low, the quality of input was high.  He encouraged all to provide input by accessing the special website -> https://berrydunn.mysocialpinpoint.com/holliston-strategic-plan  Input can be provided as an individual or neighborhood groups can use the “Meeting-in-a-Box” resource.  Eagan reported that the Town’s consultant, Berry Dunn, will begin to sift through a “a ton of stuff”, starting in mid-June: two EFH surveys, the UMass Senior Survey, and data collected by the consultant through interviews, meetings, and the website.

At its April meeting, the CoA commissioned a sub-committee to propose activities / services that could be added to those already offered.  The sub-committee recommended four items for the new Asst. Director to pursue upon arrival: Monthly learning / how-to sessions, sports leagues, bus day trips, and a welcoming / buddy system for new Sr. Ctr. members.

The CoA unanimously approved the four recommendations for implementation as soon as possible.

Chair Cain shared, during Public Comment, a recent report on the impact of loneliness in our society.  The US Surgeon General issued this report -> https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/05/03/new-surgeon-general-advisory-raises-alarm-about-devastating-impact-epidemic-loneliness-isolation-united-states.html

The Chair noted that the item encourages a “culture of connection.”  Recently, the CoA received a briefing from Mr. Eagan and others on a local effort to provide connection via regular telephone conversations – “Call2Talk”

The Council approved the Director’s monthly request for funds ($315) from the Senior Support Foundation.

The CoA’s Annual Meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 14, 2023, at 2:30pm. The meeting adjourned at 2:57pm