MINUTES

Thursday, April 1, 2004; 3:30 PM

AUDREY P. BECK BUILDING, CONFERENCE ROOM A

PRESENT: J. Heald (chair), J. Krisch, K. Grunwald (staff), E. Passmore, J. Peters

REGRETS: M. Hauslaib

I. MINUTES: Minutes of March 4, 2004 meeting: accepted as written

II. OLD BUSINESS:

A. Agency funding requests: status/review: The committee reviewed the Town Manager’s recommendation on agency funding requests. There was some discussion of how to supplement services to Veterans, given that the recommended funding for the Veteran’s Advisory Center is approx. $7000 less than requested. The revised budget calendar was handed out. J. Heald raised the issue of the process that is currently used to evaluate agency funding requests. She suggested the possibility of using “Charity Navigator”, which is an online system that provides an independent evaluation of public charities. The system basically identifies how financially sound an organization is, and what percentage of donations goes to services as opposed to fundraising and administrative expenses. We can potentially ask the agency for their previous year’s IRS form to get the financial information that we are requesting. There was some question about focusing on the financial criterion, as opposed to an emphasis on other aspects of the agency operation. Charity Navigator would have to agree to evaluate these agencies. J. Heald would like to streamline this process to facilitate the ease by which these decisions are made.

B. Status of annual budget process: K. Grunwald suggested that members of this committee may want to attend the Public Hearing on the budget, which is scheduled for April 12 at 6 PM.

C. Other: none

III. NEW BUSINESS:

A. Membership: J. Heald made a recommendation to increase membership in this committee; would need to make a change in the Town Council ordinance that speaks to membership numbers. It was decided to table this discussion until all members are present.

B. Linkages to other advisory committees/proposed meeting schedule: historically this committee has sent representatives to other advisory committees. The suggestion was made that we have a schedule of representatives from other groups attending this meeting once a year. K. Grunwald will solicit interest from other advisory committees, and will develop a draft schedule.

C. Other: none

IV. COMMUNICATIONS/REPORTS:

A. Review of Department activity and other items in packet and discussion with SSD Director:

B. Program updates

· Graustein Foundation Discovery Grant: we have received a notification of a funding award from Graustein in response to our application. Staff will be meeting with representatives of Graustein to discuss how this will impact our proposed action plan.

· LWVCT Community Conversations: sub-committees are forming as recommended at the follow-up conversation.

· School Readiness Grant: it is likely that Mansfield will not continue with this program past June of this year.

· Adult Services: no report.

· Senior Services: no report.

· Youth Services: no report

· Parks and Rec. Scholarship Fund: guidelines for application of this fund are being finalized.

· Fee Waiver Program: new applications have been developed and brochures will be made available.

C. Other:none

V. PLANS FOR FUTURE MEETINGS

A. May: At-Risk Program/Senior Services

B. Balance of 2004: scheduling of Social Service program staff

VI. ADJOURNMENT: meeting adjourned at 5 PM.; next meeting 5/6.