MANSFIELD DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
PRESENT: K. Grunwald (staff), B. Lehmann (chair), J. Heald, J.Peters, M. Hauslaib
REGRETS: E. Passmore
A. Agency Funding request process and timetable: applications were sent out to agencies last week and we have already received one return. K. Grunwald will mail applications to committee members as they are received, along with copies of the evaluation tool, along with a 3-year history of funding requests and rewards. Safe Havens and WAIM will be evaluated by J. Heald, the Veteran’s Advisor and CT Legal Services by E. Passmore, United Services by M. Hauslaib, the Women’s Center by J. Peters, and Literacy Volunteers and Holy Family Shelter by B. Lehmann. Recommendations are due to the Town Manager’s office by January 23. K. Grunwald and B.Lehmann will meet prior to the January meeting to finalize the evaluation process. We will also use the January meeting to identify any additional information that is needed. J. Heald raised questions about how we select the agencies that we fund and whether or not we should be more proactive about this. B. Lehmann raised a question about what our role is to provide consultation to agencies who may need operational assistance. M. Hauslaib noted that in Enfield they conduct quarterly audits to review overall agency operations, but the funding amount is much greater than what we contribute. Further questions were raised about what our role is to provide this type of consultation and technical assistance if not asked for this. The group agreed that there needs to be a minimal administrative competence demonstrated by the agency to qualify for funding.
B. Fee waiver ordinance revision: B. Lehmann distributed copies of a draft recommendation that has gone to the Town Council on including the after-school program under this ordinance. There will be a public hearing on this issue at the Town Council meeting on 12/8. J. Heald agreed to attend and speak at the hearing. K. Grunwald will speak with Curt Vincente to see if he will be attending the meeting.
A. Advisory Committee membership: B. Lehmann will be rotating off of the Committee in March; M. Hauslaib’s term ends at that time as well. M. Hauslaib has agreed to extend her term at least through the end of the year. The committee needs to discuss appointment of a chair, vice-chair, and recruitment of new members. B. Lehmann has spoken to someone who has potential interest (June Krisch); a former member of the Mansfield BOE and a retired school counselor from Bolton. An applicant needs to send a letter to the Town Manager along with a resume for appointment to the Committee. We agreed that there is a need to look at several recruitment factors in terms of the diversity of the membership of this committee. A recommendation was made that B. Lehmann will discuss potential membership with June Krisch and will make a recommendation to the committee, with her possibly attending the March meeting. M. Hauslaib has stated that she does not want to be the Chair, and J. Heald is considering the possibility of accepting this appointment.
B. Community Center: after school program and scholarship: K. Grunwald reported that he had invited C. Vincente to this meeting but he was unable to attend. The two of them will be meeting to discuss setting up the process for residents to obtain scholarships for Community Center memberships.
A. Review of Department activity and other items in packet and discussion with SSD Director, Kevin Grunwald
A. January 15: Agency funding requests: begin review process/timeline/due dates, budget
B. Other items: homelessness, Medicare reform
VI. ADJOURNMENT: meeting adjourned at 5:00 pm