MANSFIELD DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

ADVISORY COMMITTEE

MINUTES

 

Thursday, March 10, 2005

 3:30 PM

 

PRESENT: K. Grunwald (staff), J. Heald (Chair), M. Hauslaib, J. Peters, E. Passmore

REGRETS: J. Krisch

 

I.                    MINUTES: The minutes of the February 10, 2005 meeting were accepted as written.

 

II.                  OLD BUSINESS:

A.      Status of agency funding requests: K. Grunwald presented preliminary recommendations from the Town Manager, and communicated his concern about funding for the Veteran’s Advisory Center, relative to the lack of funding from other sources, including other municipalities.  J. Heald talked about how the Community Chest/United Way used to fund community agencies through individual contributions.  This is no longer true, and the percentage of funding that agencies receive from the United Way is relatively small.  She would like to find out more about how the United Way is raising money and funding non-profit agencies.  General discussion re: how agencies are raising money, and how the Town contribution fits into this.  E. Passmore pointed out that there is a lot of effort that goes into evaluating agency requests, but very little changes from year to year; what is the committee’s role?  Ongoing discussion re: what the role is for the Town in funding these agencies, and how active this group should be in attempting to have input into this process.   

B.      Membership update: K. Grunwald reported that he is awaiting confirmation from Bruce Clouette re: adding members to this committee.

C.      Vision statement/Action Plan: M. Hauslaib felt that we need to pick one issue on this Action Plan that is not being focused on by any other group, and start working on it.  K. Grunwald agreed to take the issue of Poverty and develop a specific action plan for this.  She also said that she would like to hear more about what we are seeing in terms of poverty-level clients requesting services.  It’s not just about creating a directory; more outreach activities need to take place.  Interest was also expressed in hearing from Patty Hope re: needs for seniors in the area that are not being met.   

D.      Other: none

 

 

 

      III.      NEW BUSINESS:

A.     SSAC Roles: K. Grunwald asked the Advisory Committee to clarify their role relative to the development of an action plan around a specific issue.  At this time it appears that the committee will continue to assume an oversight role on this and other issues.

B.    Presentation to Town Council on Agency Funding Requests: K. Grunwald distributed copies of the final recommendations that have gone to the Town Manager.  At this time it appears that the recommendations will not be changed.  The Town Council meeting to review agency funding requests will be April 11 at 6:30 in the Council Chambers.

C.    Other: K. Grunwald provided a brief update on a meeting that he attended on proposed changes to the Social Security system.

 

     IV.   COMMUNICATIONS/REPORTS: 

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

B.          Program updates

·        Early Care and Education

·        Adult Services

·        Senior Services

·        Youth Services

C.    Other

 

V.        PLANS FOR FUTURE MEETINGS

·        Scheduled meetings with other advisory groups.

 

VI.        ADJOURNMENT: meeting was adjourned at 5:00PM

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Kevin Grunwald