MANSFIELD DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
I. Present: Becky Lehmann, Chair, Marla Hauslaib, Ed. Passmore, Jim Peters, Judith Heald, Staff: Sheila Thompson.
II. Communications:
A. Matt Hart, Assistant Town Manager, was in attendance to announce that Kevin Grunwald, MSW, has been offered the position of Department Director. It is projected that he will assume his duties on December 9, and the Committee asked if it might be possible for him to attend the SSAC meeting on December 5, in order to meet with the Committee and familiarize himself with its members and purpose. Mr. Hart said that he would suggest this to Mr. Grunwald, and also stated that he hoped to schedule some type of reception for him with SSD advisory boards and committees prior to the Town Council meeting on Dec. 9. Mr. Hart expressed his gratitude for Marla’s assistance with the interview process, and also expressed gratitude to Sheila Thompson for assuming many of the Director’s duties in the absence of a Department director. Jim Peters requested that the SSAC be provided with a copy of Mr. Grunwald’s resume so that they might familiarize themselves with his vitae.
B. Becky Lehmann reported that new SSAC member, Judy Heald, toured the Senior and Wellness Centers to familiarize herself with their operations.
C. Becky distributed a copy of the SSAC Annual Report to the Town, which highlighted the accomplishments of the Committee for FY 01/02 and addressed plans for FY 02/03.
D. Sheila Thompson announced that the Mansfield Advisory Committee for Persons with Disabilities is still seeking new members, but Dr. Tom Miller has written a letter of intent to the Town Council’s Committee on Committees, and it is hoped he will join the Committee for its next meeting in November.
E. Sheila Thompson reviewed the department’s Quarterly Report, which she had compiled and written, and it was suggested that this be included in a packet for the new director.
III. Minutes from Oct. 3, 2002: Minutes were accepted and approved by consensus.
IV. Old Business:
A. Becky Lehmann reported that the Community Center fee waiver collaboration with the sub-committee of the Recreation Advisory Committee continues, and that no definitive decisions are yet made, pending one or more meetings. Marla and Becky will continue with this collaboration.
B. The Legislative Meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, December 12, from 3:00-5:00PM at the Senior Center. Rep. Denise Merrill and Sen. Don Williams will attend, and letters have been sent to area agencies, as well as Mansfield’s other Social Services advisory committees, requesting attendance. A list of last year’s issues addressed by the legislators was sent to the agencies and advisory committees for their review. A final list of issues will b sent to all participants prior to the Dec. 12 meeting.
C. Letters have been sent to last year’s area agencies requesting their funding requests for FY 2002/2003. Becky will review the request for Literacy Volunteers, Marla will review United Services, Ed will review CT Legal Services and the WRCC/ Vets, and Judy will review WAIM and Holy Family Home and Shelter. At the Dec. 5 meeting, Jim will be asked to review the Women’s Center..
D. A discussion of the At Risk Program was tabled.
V. New Business:
A. Joan Buck, chairperson of the Mansfield School Readiness Council, addressed the SSAC with information on the current and past developments of the School Readiness Program and the Graustein Discovery programs. She indicated that Sandy Baxter, the Parent Education Support Coordinator, has been working diligently, along with UCONN intern, Sara Walton, to increase programming to parents, schools and pre-schools in the areas of literacy, parent support and involvement, and transition to kindergarten. She reported that a grant proposal for approximately $40,500 has been made to the Wm. F. Graustein Memorial Fund for calendar year 2003. She was thanked by the Committee for all her volunteer work on this and the School Readiness activities.
B. It was reported that Windham Hospital has decreased services to the Wellness Center as of Nov. 1. Lori O’Connor will be on site for a half day on Thursdays. All other Wellness Center programming continues through SSD staff.
C. Discussion focused on a recent grant application for on-site Assisted Living services at Juniper Hills. Also discussed was the status of a UCONN/Mansfield initiative for assisted living, and it was suggested that the SSAC contact Bill Rosen for an update on this, with the possibility of his attending a future SSAC meeting.
D. The question was posed as to who will take minutes at future meetings, once the new director assumes his duties. In the past, Bill Kennedy provided this service, and currently Sheila Thompson has continued in the Director’s absence. This issue will be discussed at a future meeting with the new director.
VI. Next meeting: Dec. 5, 2002.
Plans for next meeting: Introduction of new Director and discussion with SSAC; update on Holiday Giving program with Sheila Thompson; Legislative meeting final plans; area agency funding requests;
VII. Adjournment. 5:10 PM
Respectfully submitted,
Sheila J. Thompson