5.19.2026 Council on Aging

Order the meeting at 11. Yep. And then we'll do the pledge of allegiance. See if that works. See if that works.

Hello.

No.

No. It's all right.

Why did it say push?

There you go.

Hello.

Oh my god.

Call the meeting to Okay. Um, call to order.

Call to order the meeting of council on aging at 11:00 a.m.

Okay. Now, say the pledge of allegiance and then we'll do the pledge of allegiance.

Okay. pledge of allegian I pledge I'm like I do pledge go I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for allice pursuant to the open meeting law any person may make an audio or a video recording of this public meeting or may transmit MIT the meeting through any medium.

Attendees are therefore advised that such recordings or transmissions are being made whether perceived or unpersceived by those present and are deemed acknowledged and permissible.

And then those microphones work.

They do.

Oh, okay. Because hearing is off.

So is it is the microphone bothering you? Should we not use the microphone?

I I thought if if they worked maybe you could use We we can.

Yeah. Okay. Thank you.

Okay. So, go ahead.

Um and then I just need approval of minutes from November 25th, 2025.

Motion. Okay.

I make a motion.

Okay.

And then can I have a second?

Second.

Okay. And then we will do nominations.

I'll open the floor for nominations for chairperson.

Does anyone have a nomination?

Yeah, no pressure.

Okay. What does that entail?

So, you would actually um because obviously Carolyn Burton passed away and she was our chair. Um you would actually be the one doing the actual meeting like what Kylie's doing right now, you would be the one just going through all that.

You would be like overseeing the meeting.

Um anything else it entails?

That's about it. And then if you want anything put on the agenda, any of you can put on the agenda.

I will do it. However, I would like a book or something that tells me how this board should be run.

Okay.

I've never been on a board like this that I don't feel like I participate much right?

I just show up every so often and say yay or nay, right?

And I think that we're doing a huge injustice to the elders in our Oh, absolutely. The problem is we haven't had a quorum in a very long time.

Yeah. It's I can't we can't get the mayor's office has had such a hard time trying to get people to come on to the council on agent board like we 11 yeah really low and we've tried so many we I've tried the senior centers the mayor's office has reached out to people I know you have reached out to people and it's just we have not been able to have a full board because of that

can we do recommendations absolutely absolutely if you I had somebody that did you Like she even submitted.

She did and she did go through the mayor's office, but then we called her and she never responded back to us.

She wanted because she said she never got back. She said she never Yeah. Yep. It has to go through the mayor's office, not through me. The mayor's office were the ones and nothing came of that.

I'll follow up because I know a few people that were interested.

Yeah.

And then, you know, I think we could we advertise that we're looking for board members.

Absolutely. We have done it. I've done it in the footprints in the past, but it doesn't seem to work.

Footprints is going to target a particular audience, right?

Yeah.

So, you want to reach broader than that.

Absolutely.

Okay. Now that I'm done pitching, I will um Yeah. Provide me with something on how this should run and how I could help make this more effective, right?

Absolutely. Because I don't want to just be part of something to be a part of something.

No, I absolutely agree with you.

I want to do the best that I can do. Um, so I'm cool with it. Just give me a book.

Absolutely.

Okay.

Absolutely. If we can get 11 people, that would be great. You know what I mean? All right. So, we'll we're down for that.

We need the vice chair as well. Yeah. We need a nomination for Yep. A nomination for the vice chair.

Like, you guys are sitting together.

Okay. So, then all right.

And I'm so sorry I forgot her name. What's her name?

What is your name? Thank you.

Zena. Okay.

Okay. Now we're going to go to the and Okay.

Report.

Yeah. Because there wasn't more than one. Yeah. Almost.

Great.

Yep. Okay.

Okay. So, I'm gonna go through this. All right. Right. So, as we just discussed, if you guys can come up with any nominations for the board, that would be great. Like I said, I know Bill Walker has tried. He at his uh high-rise and there was a couple people that were possibly interested and then people reach out and then when it comes down to sending a resume to the mayor's office or something, we it stops there

unfortunately. So, but we can absolutely advertise some more even on our social media page um and stuff like just talking like People who touch the elders, a resident service coordinator at a housing.

Absolutely right. Individuals like that. Yes, that would make sense.

Oh, absolutely.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

Yep.

So, I'm just going to go over the director's report.

Okay. So, um I I'm going to go through different budgets and grants and stuff like that. So, um we had our St.

Patrick's Day lunchons at the senior centers that comes from the city budget.

Uh the mayor allows um in the budget $5,000 for like food for the senior centers for a special event. So we did do that. Um and we do that every year.

Originally it was a breakfast. This year we decided to do um the St. Patrick's Day lunchons instead. Uh Scotty's Pub was the one again who um they should be on this board.

I know. I know. They were amazing. They were amazing. Um, and then we have a staffing update. So, Susette Canino was just hired at the Flint Senior Center.

Um, we do still have one more vacancy at the Flint Senior Center for a part-time senior aid. If again, if you know of anybody that possibly would like it question, did Alda pass away? Did I know that?

Alda did pass away. She did.

She had a stroke at Christmas and Yeah. Yeah. So, we did hire somebody for her position, but we still have one additional position um there. So, um if you know of anybody, that'd be great.

It's minimum wage, part-time, 19 hours.

Um so, just have them, you know, send their resume. Um send it to the council on agent in HR and uh we can go from there. Um we did hire Sharon Reeves for the South Main Senior Center. Um so, she just started a couple months ago and she's doing amazing as well. So, we're fully staffed at every center but the Flint.

Um, question.

Yes.

Doesn't citiz.

No, no, I want No, I want input. I want input.

Doesn't citizens have the program where the seniors they did, but it actually had they had to freeze that grant for a while and they just got it back. So, we do have one CFC custodian working at the Niagara Senior Center, but they don't have any candidates right now cuz it they just got the grant back up and running again because it was frozen for some time.

Thank you.

You're welcome. Um, and then I just wanted to let everyone know that we did receive our formula grant um which was $348,00064.

They gave it to us in increments. So, uh, November we received 50% of it, January was 16%, February was 17.33, and April was 16.67.

I do have the budget breakdown, which I will be passing out to all of you to see. Um, so I will go over that. Uh, we also did our AED training within the senior centers. We have the defibrillators that were installed in January.

So, all of our staff, if they were CPR certified, they were reertified. Um, but everyone now is certified for CPR and we do, so everyone knows how to use the AD unit just in case. Hopefully, we don't have to. Um, so that happened. Um, and that was helped with the EMS, Full River EMS. We did a grant together for that.

Um, and then we received an earmark of $25,000 through Rep. Filer's office. It originally went to the mayor's office for youth and seniors. Um the mayor's office just needed some insight on what trips they could possibly do for the seniors. So then they directed it to the council on aging. Um so we so far have done a bus trip to Patriots Place. Um a bus trip to the Newport Playhouse. Um we

did a bus trip to the State House tomorrow with Rep. Fiola. Uh we have a bus trip to the Charles River which is a lunch and boat cruise.

A bus trip to Foxwoods coming up. a bus trip in December to Los and then the remainder of the money which again I'll give you the budget breakdown. Uh we're doing uh gift card giveaways throughout the summer. So there's going to be door prizes, different things, you know, because we only had a little bit left and we couldn't really do another trip.

So with Repil's office, we discussed it and decided to do gift cards. So it's just going to be random gift cards throughout the summer. Yes.

Sorry.

No, that's okay.

So who funded the trips again?

Representative Fola.

Yep. For that specific ear, the 25,000.

Correct. So, what she did was originally it was open to the north end constituents first. After 24 hours, then we then she opened it up to the south and Flynn in additional, you know, areas. So, this is all funded through Rep Fiola.

And the seniors have nothing. It's all good.

Yep. So, um, we're, like I said, we're still working on the gift cards. We're picking up and shop, Walmart, shores for the north end seniors. Uh we've been trying to do the Walmart more because you can get your groceries and essentials all in one spot.

Um and then we received every year we received $5,000 from Senator Rodri's which is from the empowerment fund. Um and we do that for recreational purposes. Uh so we've been doing sip and paints and musical bingos and they've been very popular among the seniors.

Sip and paint. Yeah. Do you have someone come in and do it?

Yes.

I need that content.

Absolutely. They have so much fun.

Yeah, that sounds awesome.

We just had our last sip and paint yesterday at the um Niagara Senior Center. So, they didn't sip on alcohol.

It was juice.

But, um and if they did, what's the judgment?

I know, right?

They all enjoyed it. So, it was a huge hit. And the musical bingo has been amazing at the senior centers as well.

Um, so I work with Senator Rodri's on that only because we feel like music brings back memories. People stop talking about those memories and the sip and paints are like relaxing and recreational as well. So those are both doing really well as well. Um, I don't have the exact amount yet, but Representative Sylvia also secured funding for us which will start in the fiscal year of July. I don't know the

amount or what it's used for, if it's going to be recreational, if it's going to be on trips. Um, I have a meeting with Monica to discuss that, his aid, and then I'll know from there. Um, we also received another $25,000 which will also go on trips which is coming through the CDA and the mayor's office. So, I am in meetings with Mike Dion from the CDA and Mayor Coogan on what we're going to

do with that money as well. Mayor Kougan feels trips would be the best throughout the year. Again, this would be open up to all centers at the very beginning.

Whereas, like I said, with Repiola or Rep. Sylvia, it kind of goes to their constituents first and then opens up to the rest. So, with this one, it'll be open to all seniors throughout the city at the same exact time. So, everyone gets a chance. Um, I am going to pass out for us the summary of the earmark of um, yeah, please, if you don't mind. Um, so you can see the breakdown of what we

spent the money with, um, Rep. Fiola's uh, earmark. you'll see what the tickets cost, you know, lunches, um, anything like that. So, you can see the breakdown.

I do not have a breakdown of the empowerment fund yet because we are still uh actually spending down that money. So, at this point, I don't have a breakdown for that, but just so you can see, you know, the tickets. Uh, obviously, our biggest trip was the Newport Playhouse. Um, we had 100 seniors for last week. last week. Yes. So, that was a success.

Um the the state house tomorrow, we had about 40 seniors. Um unfortunately, the state house the air conditioner will not be working till June. So, some of them I know I called everybody though like between today and tomorrow were awful.

I know. So, some some of the seniors did cancel as they did not want to be there.

Um but that is the breakdown of everything. So, the Charles River, the lunch is the Cheesecake Factory. They get a appetizer, an entree, and a non-alcoholic drink to go with the Croos. Um, so that's that's the breakdown of Repiola's funding. And then this is just each grant, just so you can see the community development block grant, um, the formula grant that we get from the state, and then the city

budget. So, I'll have her hand that out as well because this is the budget breakdown for the year.

Okay. So, as you can see with the the community development block grant, which is federal, um this gets spent right to the last penny every fiscal year. So, it does pay for some salaries, fringe benefits, kitchen supplies, office supplies. You can see the breakdown on each center and where that funding goes through the community development. Um we usually get that same amount every year.

Um this year we're not sure whether how much funding we're going to receive. I haven't had that meeting yet. I'll know more in June. But this is our usual breakdown um on where our um you know rents and stuff like that. Um our North Senior Center went up 3% on the rent. Um the Niagara Senior Center went up 5%.

Um so that is you know included in this just so you guys can kind of have a breakdown. Um the North End Senior Center has been sold well the plaza I should say has been sold to a new um owner. They are going to put a bid in for it. So hopefully we'll be able to stay at that plaza.

Um so that's the breakdown on the CDA.

And then if you move on to the next one which is the formula grant which is from the state. This one is kind of like a roll in grant. Um as you can see we have certain things that are broken down on where the where certain funds go. Um and then if you look below you'll see the miscellaneous. Obviously if there's certain things that we need through Amazon uh WBM Mason additional equipment

so on it can fluctuate.

So once we, you know, we have set spending and then the remainder is used on any essentials the senior centers may need throughout the year including trips like I said um anything you know something new they need an updated you know anything updated personally like a bingo machine, you know, a PA system, karaoke machine, anything like that. So that's what we do with that. Um, and then the city budget,

um, again is literally spent right to the penny. As you can see, it's a complete breakdown again with salaries, um, with our part-time senior aids, um, you know, and then our, um, actually I think it's all senior M1 two coordinators at North I mean, yeah, South in Niagara.

So, just so you guys can see where everything is going funding wise.

I know we had discussed, you know, doing the breakdown just so everyone can see.

So if there's any questions or concerns or anything that anyone like No, no, no, please. No worries. No No worries.

So yeah. So that's the remainder of like like I said, the formula grant is the one that we kind of kind of use throughout the year and it does roll over. So any percentage I do not spend come June it rolls over into July.

So you know like we have chia yoga that that fluctuates the prices as if the instructor can't make it you know sometimes you know we won't we won't be paying for that class so that can kind of fluctuate. Um you know mileage fluctuates the special events if we decide to do something at the senior centers that's where a lot of the formula grant funding comes into play.

Um whereas like again the city the city grant budget and the CDA is more about rents and utilities and stuff like that.

So if you guys have any questions on any of that, you know, I just wanted to make sure everyone had a breakdown. And like I said, the CDA, I'm not sure what we're getting for July. I won't know that until probably mid June. So the August meeting, I'll be able to I will have more info on that.

I just have a question. So, I see that Niagara rent is 60,000.

Yeah, I know. And they're going up another 5%.

Now, the lease is up in uh December.

Obviously, they're going to have to go out to bid again. We have We have nobody else in the south, like in that vicinity, that even tries.

That's a great place, though.

It is. It is. But yeah, 60 That's the most expensive senior center we pay for.

Well, because I looked at the north end and I'm like because of the the sale, right, they kept going on in that plaza.

So, I thought it would be outrageous, but Yeah. Well, because the old owners, Nick and Frank, they had told the new own well the new owner of the property that, you know, we're amazing tenants. It, you know, it would be great to keep us. So, as of right now, from what I've been told when they go out to bid for this, they're usually the only ones as well.

So, I think we're going to be okay rentwise probably for, you know, the first three years. And then obviously when we renegotiate if something should come up they may raise the rent on us but I think they're going to try to stay within the same amount that Nick and Frank were from Catal realy.

So um but yeah the and the the Flint Senior Center we actually are not paying I saw that we're paying a dollar a year right now.

$1 a year.

All right. Enlighten me.

So when this came about the Pleasant Street Susanna you must remember Pleasant Street. Um it was very small and you know it had a lot of stuff going on.

Yeah.

So Carlos Caesar who was uh the Flint Neighborhood Association president at one point um he Yeah. He I don't think he's interested in like stuff like this anymore.

Yeah. Um he's actually the one that negotiated with knitting mills and the management company to get us the senior center on that first floor in the knitting mills. and he negotiated with them the dollar a year for the lease and it was only supposed to be for the first three years. Um, but then I went in and renegotiated and they did it again for another three years. So now we have that

till 2029. So we're only paying a dollar for the flint.

And South Main does no cost either, right?

South Main there is um South Main it comes up.

Oh, sorry. Yep.

Yeah.

So, but the Flint right now, which is great, we're only paying a dollar. Now, if in 3 years we renegotiate and they don't want to continue that, now the funding's going to be a little bit tighter and we got to Yeah, we're going to have to figure some things out, which we're always in the back of our minds thinking about. You know, I'm always having meetings, okay, what if this happens, including the North End

Senior Center when we weren't sure if the sale was going to go through, like what what would we do then? Um, so, you know, we're still just having in the back of our minds what happens if this should happen or that should happen. So we are looking into that.

So years ago I had, you know, the idea that I brought this back, right? I was like, why not build a beautiful senior center right?

And then have vans and drive around and pick up our seniors and bring to this beautiful location. At the time that was shut down, no, no, no, no, no money, blah, blah, blah. And because it was like the different parts of the city, so that's what they wanted. So I'm like, "Okay, well that was shut down." Lately, I've been going to senior centers all over the state, right? Because due to my job

and every city, that's what they did.

They shut down all the senior centers and they built this beautiful locations.

And I'm like, I wish we could do that in Baltimore.

I know. And I' I've brought that to some people's attention as well. And it's the um it's the upkeep of the building. it would be more manpower as far as like you know if something goes wrong now the city owns that building right now we're leasing so I feel like it's not a headache type of thing but um beautiful it would be it would be absolutely um you know I did talk to Tess and down the

road that may be something we possibly could do but at this time they kind of like because we are a gateway city they like having it in those different locations yeah and a lot of like our south main seniors um they're all walk-in seniors and even when we offer buses to go to different places, they don't they don't really want to leave their vicinity. A lot of the South Main seniors.

Yeah.

A lot, right? Because you become used to that crew right?

Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. So, um I mean I I think down the road that would be a great idea, but you're right. You know, I haven't been out in the community as much because that does that. But it's true.

They do. They they make this big beautiful building and they house it all there.

Yeah. I know it's a lot of towns too. So like New Buffett still has three and stuff like that. So like New Beth and I think Brockton might be down to one, but it's mostly the towns like you know Somerset, Swansea, Freetown, they have the one council on agent where we have the four. But I also do think Haven 4 is great as well because we have different events, different lunches, um different activities. So if you're

somebody that likes music or exercise, you can go to the Niagara Senior Center.

And if you're somebody that likes to do movies, the North End does that. And parties with a DJ, the Flint Senior, you know, center does that. So they get different choices and options by having the four senior centers as well. At least the ones that would like that like to travel to the different centers. And we do have some seniors that go to two to three different centers throughout the week,

even if it's just for lunch because they'll we, you know, we have the lunch on the social media page and then they'll look through it and decide which center they want to go to for lunch that week.

Yeah. So, meet them. It was like I felt like I was in a hotel.

I was like, "This is a hotel."

Yeah.

You have like the front desk area where like these at least like remove some of the people that might not feel comfortable in that environment, right? As well, right?

Because it's kind of bougie.

Yeah, it's pros and cons to having one big one. You know what I mean?

There's bingo.

Yeah. As long as there's bingo.

You're so young.

You know, God willing, I'll be using that.

She wants the bougie place.

Go and have fun.

Yeah. Uh, I think the pros and it's pros and cons for everything, but because we have so many seniors within the city, I think it would be very overwhelming for some to have so many people in one building. So, I think sometimes it's better that we do have them in smaller transportation too that we're talking about. But yeah, I'm just Yeah. No, no, it's definitely I've even thought about it and I know I've looked

in previous years. Um Pauline Guzie, she actually that that was something she had brought up as well a couple of times and they just felt like it wasn't the time.

So because I was working under Pauline, so that's what we had envisioned.

Yeah.

Yes. So, I mean, like I said, down the road maybe.

You know, I'm new. So, could everybody kind of tell me what they do and like Absolutely. If you guys do you want to go around and Sure. My name is Tasha Pereira. I currently work for United Healthcare, the health insurance company, and I am their community outreach and marketing manager. I've been there for 11 years.

Um, so yeah, that's me in a nutshell.

I'm Susanna Rivero. I was uh a Flint Senior Center coordinator for many many years.

Uh that was like I don't even know how long ago and then I left and now I am with Healthcare. I'm the business developer manager there. Um I love seniors. I've been here for a long time.

I actually took a whole trip of seniors to Portugal.

Wow.

When I worked um for the Council on Aging.

Yeah. It was like uh everybody that have not been in 20 years had the opportunity to go back to the resource.

Oh, that's amazing.

Yeah. And we all brought the city keys.

So that's why I'm here because I love my sleeves.

Oh, good.

Yes.

And this is Bill Walker.

Do you want to introduce yourself to Sharon?

Hi, Bill.

Hi, Sharon.

Nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you.

Welcome, Sharon.

We had a little chat earlier. So, yep. And you've met me because obviously And this is Kylie.

Kylie. I'm the one that called you. You were in the middle of California, right?

Y Oh, yeah. I was in California.

She's my senior aid within the council on agent office.

Okay. All right. Good.

So, that's a little Kylie.

No, she's She's been around for a bit.

How come? Because I know I emailed her this last time, but I don't even Does email work for you guys? Do you want me to keep you? Okay.

Yeah.

Okay.

And who are you?

This is Sher.

I know she's she's got to there yet. I'm sorry.

No, no, it's okay. She is on the agenda.

Well, we can continue. We can So, so my name is Sharon Dome. I live here in Fall River. I'm a transplant.

Um, I I I joined the council on aging. I'm part of the Frack Fall River. You know, everybody knows the Frack is the Fall River Hearts Council. Okay.

Okay. And so at the Frack meeting, they they said that we should be out in the community and working with different um councils so we can bring more art to people in the city. And since I'm over the age of a lot, I mean, oh, you look fabulous now.

Um, I applied to be on the Council of Aging because I thought that that would be the best fit for me and hopefully we can bring some more art into the community for people, which is what we're trying to do. Um, and I do I mean I live here. My husband from here originally.

Thank you.

Um, and then Michelle Monz decided not to come back.

Oh, yeah.

Michelle is the realtor, correct?

Yeah. She has a lot going on and she said it's just with with her being a realtor it's tough for her to this is it and Barbara Jean who unfortunately couldn't be Yeah. I thought she um I thought she was supposed to we did have a recruiting we we should Yeah, we should all try and recruit and maybe Yeah, if you guys I know people do they have to live in Fall River?

Yes.

Okay, that's that that's fine. I have friends that Yeah, because I had I I had asked that myself because when I first came on to this, I wasn't sure if it had to be just res I know like a lot of people at the Y the Y.

Yeah, they do a lot for the community.

They do. And we actually that's who comes in to do cheer yoga at the Niagara Senior Center.

They should be a part of this.

And also I'm a veteran and I go to the VAC. So maybe we could get from the Oh, that would be great. Yeah, they're getting a new building, are they? Yeah, they bought the building over on Globe Street that Soo Labs was in.

Oh, yeah.

Um, they have not transitioned over there yet. Sometime it's a work in progress.

They're talking about the location in the park, correct?

No.

It's it's just off of Bay Street, maybe two blocks to the right of Bay Street.

It's this big huge building. It used to be a dance studio in a karate or something like that. And then so do you know what Soo Labs is? So Soo Art is is an art place. They were in there. They had to move over to um the curtain mills in in that building where AMP Academy is on Pleasant Street.

Yeah.

Yep. Yep.

And and they have like um spaces people can rent to do their art in. And then they do a lot of art stuff there too.

So yeah, if we could do like we should have 11 members total.

Now I have a question. I don't know if you're done and we're just interrupting you. I'm so sorry.

It's okay. Continue.

So, I know like uh when I first came to the board, right, everybody was uh older, right? And then I was the youngest person and then I brought Tasha. Is this are we stopping like just going back to people like older people or could be a mix? It it can be a mix but um when I was when I spoke to my supervisor we should have more 60 plus so they can give their input

which is it's great to have people you know obviously from organizations but if they could be more in that age group and then like I said seniors that live within the community so they can give more of their input because it's actually you know it's for them it's for them so we don't want to have too many young people on the board like really We just want to have a certain percentage of 60 plus.

But you do I mean right now we do.

Yes. Yeah. So if even with with the recruitment, we still want to try to keep it that way because that's what I was saying. If we're going to recruit somebody that Yeah. We definitely want somebody within the age bracket.

And I think a good start would be community individuals already working with Council on Aging. That is your that's that's Well, I I I did try with a few and some people are on so many boards they're like, "Oh, I don't have time to do it."

And and like I said, the mayor's office has tried numerous times as well with a lot of people.

Could we do some kind of a like a flyer or something and put it in like like the Y the VA? Absolutely. The uh CSC, you know, where people could get that kind of eyeballs on it. And then also they all have social media pages too. get some of them to put us on our social media page as well.

Yeah, absolutely. We can definitely do that. I can have Kylie work on that.

Okay.

With a flyer. We'll get that out there.

Might be help. I mean, venue for Right.

You put it in the grocery store. They got Yeah, they have the to put them on there. Yeah, that's true.

Yep. We can definitely do that because I we've been trying like I said for after co it was it's just been tough.

Yeah. And like I said, we've reached out and a lot of people just don't want to do it. Even when you explain what you know, they give you take that much time. It's not like you're not asking them for a huge commitment, right? I think on that flyer lay out, hey, it's quarterly quarterly meeting one hour, you know.

Yes. Parking your senior committee.

Yeah. Oh, you did get them all at Bayost.

Yeah. Hopefully. Everybody parked at Bayost right?

Oh, no. I I just pulled up. It was a great spot.

If you got one, you get one.

Take it.

But thank you. That's that's a great connection.

Yeah. So they we just called them ahead of time to let them know when we're having a board meeting and anyone can park in the Bay Coast parking lot. We just Yeah. So the little man didn't know when I went over there.

Oh, he didn't.

He let me park there anyway. He said, "Do you belong to bank?" I might know.

Well, that's I guess that's okay then.

I'm gonna have to email him. I gave the description of everybody's car, too.

Right. Did I get your description for your car?

I don't know. I have several. Oh, you probably came in a different one maybe.

I don't know.

The wrong one today.

That's okay.

Um, so is there anything else at this point?

I have a random question and I don't know if you know the data. How many seniors are there in the city of Fall River? How many are utilizing the senior census?

Okay, so this is the interesting thing.

Shut up.

No, I'm not. I'm I've worked with elections. So, the problem is the census. Now, this is going to sound like a crazy number cuz we know we have way more than this. 15,174 seniors. Now, we know Oh, no. That's not right.

But that's why I emphasize with the seniors with the census. Please fill it out. I'll I'll pick it up and handel it, but people throw it out in the trash.

And so, I do work with Ryan on that. We try to push like the census is due this June. We've already announced that the centers, please, please fill it out because that helps us with our grants.

But according to, you know, the city, I can look into that to see how many we actually have, but as far as the census go 15,174.

Now, on unduplicated seniors within our senior centers, um, we serve between five and 7,000. Unduplicated, believe it or not.

Oh, I believe that.

Um, I like the way you word that. But uh duplicate obviously way more cuz people go to different centers two three times a week. They go exercises two times a week. So obviously they're there twice a week. Um yeah we've had tremendous amount of seniors because now the baby boomers the last of the baby boomers are retiring. A lot of them are looking forward to coming to the senior centers.

Um and we brought in a lot of younger stuff like karaoke. We have two bands at Niagara. We have karaoke.

Um, we have pool tables at two centers.

We have a pool team that plays out of for fun in Niagara. We have a group of guys that play.

Um, so we brought in some of the So, it's not just bingo because we we were finding that a lot of seniors still like bingo, but then we have a lot of younger seniors that don't want to play bingo.

They want to paint. They want to they want to do musical bingo. They want to dance. They want to listen to music and play pool and play dots. And we have dot boards at two of our centers. We have some group of guys that come in and they'll play dots for the afternoon. So, um we have brought in a huge amount of seniors over the past year. So, we've already reached our goal. Um yeah,

because we only had a small goal after COVID and we surpassed it.

Bless you.

Bless you.

Thank you.

I I have another question. Do we do any there any help with housing? I mean, I know that housing is a huge issue here for people, right? I am I am working with um a few other organizations on that and I've had meetings with the mayor and Mike Dion and Bristol Agent and wellness. So we're still in talks on different things and how we can help in the housing area but

we are we are in talks with that.

That really concerned me.

Yes.

And just another idea I don't know I'm feeling kind of creative today. think that the council on aging should do something big like a health fair or something put on by the council on aging at a good location you know and have busing the seniors get them to know their community what's out there for them right have them come and interact recruit them to you know be on the board

but like let's let's come into 2026 with a bang big oh I agree We you have some party planners in this.

Yeah. No, absolutely. I agree. I totally agree on that.

I I think I use the downstairs or even the YMCA the YMCA has a great venue for that. Um but something like, hey, let's get our seniors out. But you would have we would have to like bust some of them, right, in order to get the presents, right?

Because they do things like this in Attboro for example at the YMCA and they do have the turnout because people are bust right because otherwise senior celebration chaos in June at White Westport but you don't want it that big because people are just there for giveaways and the breakfast and that's it right you want a venue something that people will want to come out want to come out

well especially with it being you know like the last of the baby boomers retiring that's actually a great idea so they can get you know information that they're not aware of what each senior center offers. Right.

Put our name out there so that maybe the skewed other 7,000 that don't attend according to the census attend. Yeah.

Right. There's a lot of potential.

Oh, absolutely. I believe that you have a room of people that are dedicated.

I would I would love to.

Do you like I know in the in the summer we have the concerts in the agencies are out there with their flyers and stuff. Is that something that you guys I have done that me personally? Um I I've never actually physically um we had a table. Um it was in concerts of the park though. Where was it?

They do that we did at recreation. We've done it at recreation. Um they do that every summer at different areas in the city.

Yeah, we've done it with the public health specialists in the health department that we have now. And then there was one or two events that I I unfortunately couldn't make it to, but then she actually took our information and and puts it out there as well. You know what? Like this that's stuff that we do all the time.

Yes.

Right.

Now that we have we may become whatever like if you can't do it, maybe one of us can do it. Yeah.

There's nothing wrong with Oh, absolutely.

You know what I think and that this is just me. I felt like as a board we're not as involved, right?

Right. I felt like all Oh, I agree. And I've been here for eight years and and I'm blaming myself too, right? Because I have never been, you know, the first one to step in and say, "Hey, let me help you. Let me Well, that's like me. I blame myself as well because I followed my previous Yeah.

position person who was my position and I I wasn't aware like that's why this meeting is so much more informative and everything. I was not aware the way I was told this was going to be was not how I would have thought myself. So that's why I sat down with Kylie. I said, "No, we're going to do this the way we're supposed to with the breakdowns, the budget, the whole nine yards."

No, this is good.

Where previously I was not informed on that. Like it was more like you're just going to go in, give your director's report, and call it a day type of thing.

So when I used to run the senior center, right, I have to tell you the moment a board member would get into the senior center, that person was so well respected, right? We were all like, okay, that's a board member. Let's make sure that person is well, you know, taken care. Absolutely.

Because that person is the one that's going to advocate for us, right? So that's what that was my mentality.

Yep.

Bye. Like she knew that the boards were going to the senior center. She would call us, hey, the boards aren't going to the senior center. Make sure everything is set and done. Right. And I feel that now that's not the case.

Right.

Right. We go in, they don't even know who we are.

I was going to say that. Do they know that you're on the board?

Like Yeah.

They tell me we should have a meet the board at each center.

Oh, that would be Yeah, that would be a good idea.

Yeah. Like I go in and they're like, "Who are you?" Um, oh yeah, I'm on a board. Oh, are you?

They're like, "Okay."

Yeah.

So, I feel like I agree with I think like meet the boy would be a good idea.

Also, you could get a lot of input. You could maybe even do a survey or something and get a lot of input from the seniors of what they actually would like to see that they don't see.

I've tried that and a lot of them refuse to answer it even anonymously and I've gotten some responses. Well, they bingo a lot of but maybe they'll talk. It's just a matter of like we could try let's talk forum.

Yeah, because I've done I've done the surveys with what they like to see what they prefer not and I've received some replies that we you wouldn't believe some of the there's there's a lot that you know they're just not they're not into the survey. And I even told them look it be anonymous. You don't have to put your name. They still work. They won't even do it because they think people are

going to recognize their handwriting.

So, yeah.

Oh, yeah. Because we have time to like cross.

I'm being serious. But possibly talking.

Absolutely. Going in. Yeah. That might be more hands-on than, you know, the surveys.

A suggestion could be like next time you have events at the senior census, you let us know. Yeah.

And we can go by.

Absolutely.

And I don't mind doesn't car. I can pick it up, too, and I can bring it to lunch.

I drive like a nut bag, but people are more than welcome.

You don't want to go in her car.

Yeah.

Couldn't be any worse than driving with my husband.

If he gets upset with the driver, he's like a crazy person.

My boyfriend's like, "Do you really think that they could hear you? Maybe you should just No, that's a that is a great idea.

Wonderful.

I think meet the board would be great.

I think that would be fun to do it at each center. Absolutely. And have like late refreshments, coffee tea. And we need to get our name out there.

Oh, they're going to chew your ear off.

This is what they do.

Yes. Yes. Absolutely.

When I asked about what you did and you said you met like maybe once every other month, once a quarter, I'm like that doesn't seem very much to me, but we'll see. Well, that's part of with the board. That's how we have to meet is quarterly. That's not my decision.

That's But like I know like example like you know I was going to the senior center and I still go like I have not gone in a while but when I have a chance I'll go or they'll call me hey can you get me baskets like I just got Joan.

Yeah.

And I have to call her back you know because we try to donate. We try to do as much as we can for the community.

Right. this and um every time I would go the complaint was no trips. So I'm so happy to see that.

Well, the reason why there the reason why there were were no trips was the director of health did not want trips.

Exactly. It was after co and she was nervous about having seniors in a bus together and she's you know the board of health including Tom Corey and everyone that's on the board of health were the ones that said no trips for a while and that's why and the seniors were aware of that so I'm surprised I brought that up to you because oh my god every time cuz I've spoken to them and told them we

just recently got the okay three three years ago we've been doing trips for the past three years. Well, it it's a little bit different, right? So, when I used to run the senior centers, I did the trips, right? So, I would connect directly with Fisher Bus and then it was me and uh what's her name? I forgot the girl from the Niagara.

Patty Lineas.

Patty. Yeah. So, it was me and Patty and we would do the trips. We would go all over and people love that. So, what the ones that recognized me, they're like, "Oh, we miss our trips."

Yeah. Yeah. That's another thing. The city wants it just to be coming out of the council on agent office and not individually from each center. Was it still free?

It wasn't free.

Oh, all right.

Oh, no.

I'm like, you were just throwing free trips.

Wow.

They would go to Foxwoods and it was like $12 for a person.

Yeah.

Yeah. But that was in 1905.

Like gas is like $6 now.

But yeah, so so we we have been doing trips for the past three years. Like I said, it was only because of co and even after, you know, things were opening tests and the board of health felt seniors in a bus together alto together, they still didn't feel comfortable with it. So, we recently got the okay like three years ago to the trip that you were doing was outsiding that was bringing him into the

senior centers because I remember going to the senior centers. It would be like um we'd have a trip like example the person that you just mentioned, what's his name from the flint? Oh, Cabo Caesar. He was not supposed to be doing that and actually we had to stop that.

Oh, okay. Because I that's how I knew about the trip. You got to be compliant.

Yes. So, we had to we had to we had to stop him from doing that. He was going into the senior center and promoting.

Yeah. I knew that was wrong.

And had nothing to do with the council on aging.

We were not aware of that and he was coming in. I found that out through actually a Flint senior who told me that and I actually had to stop him from coming in because that's how I knew. That's what they were telling me. Oh, I said cuz I'm like I'm on the board and I don't hear trips. How do you guys tell me about trips?

Yes. No.

And that's when I found out. But I thought that was okay with Oh, no, no, no, no. We stopped that. And hopefully he's not still doing it because I've already talked to Alarinda and asked her if he comes into the senior center, you need to ask him to leave. He is not allowed to do that. I can't stop him in the NITMs. I can't stop him.

But once he's in the senior center, he is not allowed to.

I meant because I I hear was from outside.

Yeah, we stopped that a couple years ago with him. So hopefully he's not still doing it because I haven't heard that he has but to be honest with you. But if he is now I know the rule. I'll let him know.

So if Yeah, please let me know because like I said I did ask Marinda if he does walk into that senior center to please I'll be okay. She's like I won't tattle because we did explain to them that like he was putting flyers up on our boards and you know nothing can go on our bulletin boards but council on agent stuff or stuff like we have two different bulletin boards at our

centers. One would be if you you know if you decided to send us something about an event we put on that board and then we have a council on agent board which is just stuff within the senior centers in the city type of thing. You know what I mean? So don't you I'll be a speech.

I appreciate that title.

Um all right. So is there anything else that we want to discuss right now? I will have Kylie get on some of these ideas. Her and I will reach out to all of you and maybe we can do another pow-wow um for I think the meeting of the board would be great.

So, I think that should be, you know, we have a lot going on. Older Americans month is just finishing up. We have a lot going on in June, but maybe we could shoot for July.

It's older Americans.

Yes.

And that's another thing like you mean like at that month, older Americans month, the board would always be at the seniors when you guys have like these amazing events that I was actually thinking. I'm like, wait, this is May old Americans month.

Yeah, I I know. She should have reached out to you. I had it in the footprints.

I had it on the social media page. Next year, let's do it. Like, let's get more involved. You know, next year.

No, but for the old for the older Americans month. Yeah.

Yeah. Because we did have a lot of events at the senior centers. Um each coordinator, you know, schedules different events and then I usually do, like I said, the musical bingo, the sip and paints. Usually do a breakfast um for all of them. And that goes through with me and Senator Rodri's office.

So, we do that together.

I usually every I usually make like baskets. even do it this year because I didn't even I spaced it out.

Yeah. Well, we have we did have a lot a lot of the um coordinators and stuff.

People were donating stuff like seniors wanted to donate to do baskets. They're so cute.

So, so we do have like a few more events. Joannne's doing her breakfast next Friday um down north. It's a I love seniors breakfast. If anyone did want to stop in there, uh she does it every older Americans month. She does a big breakfast them. It's free. All her events are free.

Hey, you do sign the board members up for breakfast and stuff.

I do.

Yeah.

Oh, yeah. I do. Yeah, that's right.

Yeah, I have reached out to all of you on the event. That's the thing. I didn't reach out to you, so I apologize. I have Kylie reach out to Bill Sharon just joined, but Bill, Bob, Jean, Lorine, I am I do have her call all of them for them to attend, not like attend as guests.

You know what I mean? Put them on the list. Put them on as guests for events.

So, Don't forget about future future we will call you and let you know so you can you know make an appearance but we do reach out to all of them to make sure they're aware of what's going on at the center so they don't miss out.

So we do do that especially because we work for United but not just to bring it in but we have the you know the possibility of bringing gift baskets and taking the cost off of this.

Right. Right. Right. Like or if even like they say like hey because I even told the the ladies I'm like if you want to do like um a refreshment day a bingo let me know right we can bring something I can buy a big cake right do something do something like that we have that yeah absolutely so we can definitely reach out like I said maybe shoot little stuff like put ideas out there we have

everyone's emails we can reach out I know you guys don't have emails but we can reach out to you and we can go from there start with the meet the board and like I said any events I'll let you know about the fly should be another priority right and then recruit yeah it would be great to have more people on the board it would definitely be great so all right so if there's nothing else um

is August 25th okay for everybody for the next date because it's quarterly so it'd be August The 22nd 25th 25th 25th what month? August. August August August 25th.

August.

Yeah.

August 25th.

Yes.

Yes.

Do they have to first and second that?

Okay.

I know. Hopefully not in August.

Unfortunately, we had to cancel the February because we had um a couple people that had medical reasons that couldn't be here and it would have just left two people.

I know because when she the u uh was it the minutes? I was like, why do I have a 2025?

Yes.

I panicked because I thought that I didn't I lost the meeting minutes from the last meeting. Unfortunately, because it was only six of us, but it was 25 and um Michelle Mones couldn't make it and then we had some medical issues. It would have been you two and us confused. I was like, yeah, I panicked.

So, that's why it would be great to have more members in situations like that. We don't have to reschedu or cancel.

He's like, "These girls are not shutting up."

That's okay.

It's okay. So, you're just going to do an interment anyway. You know, a motion to adjourn.

We want to make this a success board. We want to make sure our seniors have everything that they need.

Absolutely.

Okay. So, we're going to adjourn the meeting. No. Motion to a motion to adjourn.

Okay. It's okay.

Can I have a second?

I can't. All right. I say it.

So just say all in favor.

Okay. All in favor of a German.

Okay.