The Fall River Council on Aging met to approve past minutes and elect new leadership. An unnamed member conditionally accepted the nomination for chairperson, requesting guidance on procedural rules. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the challenge of recruiting new board members to meet the required quorum of 11. The council discussed various outreach methods, including social media and flyers, to attract more participants. The director delivered a comprehensive report detailing the council's finances, staffing, and programs. Key financial updates included a $5,000 allocation from the mayor for event food, a $340,000 grant, and specific funding from state representatives: $25,000 from Rep. Viola for trips, $5,000 from Senator Roderick for recreation, and an additional $25,000 from the CDA and Mayor's office for future trips. The director also discussed staffing changes, including new hires Suzette and Sharon, a vacancy for a senior aide, and the passing of a former employee, Alder. The report highlighted successful programs like bus trips, painting classes, and musical bingo, which have been very popular among seniors. Discussions also covered operational matters, such as rent increases at the Niagara and South End centers and the status of the North End center following the sale of its plaza. The council noted the city's senior population is 15,174 and emphasized the importance of completing the census for grant funding. The idea of holding a "Meet the Board" event with refreshments at senior centers was proposed to increase engagement. The meeting concluded with the scheduling of the next meeting for August 25th at the Niagara center before adjourning.
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Call the order of the meeting at 11:00.
0:00Yep, and then we’ll do the pledge of allegiance.
0:00Wait it says push.
0:00There you go.
0:00Hello, Oh My God.
0:00Call the meeting tonight.
0:00Okay, Call to order the council. Call to order meeting of the council on aging at 11 am.
0:00Now say the pledge of allegiance.
0:00And then we’ll do the pledge of allegiance.
0:00I 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 all.
0:00Pursuant into the meeting law any person may make an audio or a video of this public meeting or may transmit the meeting through any media. Attendees are therefore advised that such recordings or transmissions are being made whether perceived or unperceived by those present and are deemed acknowledged and permissible.
0:00Are those microphones working?
0:00They don’t.
0:00Ok because you can barely hear them.
0:00Does it bother you if we don’t use them?
0:00If they work maybe you can use them.
0:00We can.
0:00Okay so go ahead. And then I just need approval of minutes from November 25, 2025.
0:00Motion.
0:00Can I have a second?
0:00Second.
0:00Okay and then we will do nominations. I’ll open up the nominations for chairperson.
0:00Does anyone have a nomination?
0:00No pressure.
0:00Okay what does that entail? So you would actually, obviously chairman passed away, so you would actually be the one during the actual meeting, like what kind of girl is doing right now you would just go through all that. You would oversee the meeting. Anything else? That’s about it. And then you want anything to be on the agenda, you can put it on the agenda. I will do it. However I would like a book or something that tells me how this would run.
0:00Absolutely.
0:00Because I’ve never been on a board like this and I don’t feel like I participate much. I just show up and say yes or no and I think we’re doing a huge injustice to elders in our community.
0:00Oh absolutely. The problem is we haven’t had a quorum in a long time. Yeah it’s like we cannot give you the mayor’s office, such a hard time trying to get people to join the council of ageing.
0:00How many is a quorum? 11.
0:00That is really low. We’ve tried so many, seniority centers. Mayors office reached out to people. We’ve just been unable to have a board. Can we do recommendations? Absolutely. I know somebody that would but they never responded. Yeah it has to go through the mayors office. Not even through me.
0:00Can we publish that we’re looking for board members? Absolutely, we’ve done it. But the footprints only targeting a particular audio right, and you want to reach much broader than that. Absolutely. Now that I’m done bitching, I would.
0:00Providing me something on how this should run, how I can help and take this effectively because I don’t want to just be part of something to be part of something. I want to do the best I can do, so I am cool with it. Just give me a book.
0:00Absolutely, if we can get 11 that would be great. So we will move into that. We also need a vice chairman. A nomination for vice chair.
0:00It looks like you guys are still together.
0:00I am so sorry I forgot your name. What’s your name? Susanna. Okay, now move to the next. And okay because the one we set we set.
0:00Okay so move into this, and then as we just discussed, if you can come up with some nominations for the board that would be great. I know Bill Walker tried a couple of people, people reach out and when it comes to resumee it just stops there unfortunatetly. But we can advertise on social media pages and stuff.
0:00So we’re just talking about people that touch elders right, and so so like that, that would make sense. Absolute tip of the iceberg. Okay, now moving on to the director’s report. I’ll go through different budgets and stuff like that. We had our St Patrick day lunch at the senior centres.
0:00The mayor allowed 5000 in the budget for food for a special event, so we did that. We was once breakfast but we move for lunch. Staff update. Suzette who was recently hired at the Flint centre. Vacancy for senior aide, if you know anybody who want. Question, did Alder pass away? Yes she did at Christmas she had stroke. We hire someone for her position but still vacancy.
0:00If you know anyone, it’s minimum wage 19 hours part time, have them send resumee to Hr and council of ageing. Hire Sharon for South centre.
0:00So we’re staff up in every centre except Flint. Question.
0:00Yes I want input. Program where seniors could stay. They did but the had freeze grant, now have it back. But they don’t have candidates right now because freeze. Received our grant, 340,000 dollars. Give it to us in increments. Detailed budget that i will distribute. AED training within center.
0:00Every center has AED installed in January. Everyone now certified for Cpr and know how to use AED. Helped with Ems. Also earmarked 25,000 though rep Viola office. Intended for youth and elders, then directed to council on ageing. We done bus trip already. Another bus trip tomorrow. Bus trip to boat cruise later month. Bus trip to Foxwoods and another in december. Door prizes and gift cards during summer since little money left.
0:01Who funded trips again? Representative Viola, specific 25,000. Opened only to north end constituents first then others. City funded nothing for that. Still working on gift cards like stop and shop and walmart. Recieved 5,000 from senator roderick for recreation like painting and musical bingo. Popualr among seniors. Painting is very fun. Last paint in Niagara center. They enjoyed it, a hit along musical bingo. Music brings better energy, people speak about memories.
0:01Both doing really well. Representative Sylvia also secured funding for us start in fiscal july. DOn’t know amount yet but i have meeting soon. Also 25,000 through Cda and Mayor office, for future trips. Open for all center throughout city. SAmple of the earmarked from viola. Can see breakdown of tickets cost, lunch and money spent. No money for empowerment fund breakdown yet because we still spend. Newport play house was largest trip last week. Success.
0:01State house trip tomorrow, but no air conditioning unfortunatley until June. SOme people cancelled. Lunch cruise later on december this is budget breakdown. Sample of community development block grant we got from state. Handing it out, budget breakdown for entire year. SAmple of how money is spent, office salary, benfits, office and kicthen supplies. Usually get same budget amount. Rent for north end center up 3%, Niagara up 5%. Center in north end plaza was sold but pray we can stay there as tenants. Sample of formula grant from state, roll overall year. We use on amazon and mason or updated equipment like PA or karaoke. City budget also spend to last penny, detailed breakdown. Any question on that? No worries.
0:01I noticed rent for Niagara is 60,000 year? Yes and going up another 5%. Lease up in December. We have nobody else in that area. But it is expensive center we have. Look at north end since plaza was sold but we was told new owners said we amazing tenants. Think rent will stay same for 3 years then renegotaite. Flint senior center we pay only 1 dollar a year. Carlos who was plaza president once negotiated that. For first three year but i renegoitatted so we stay there till 2029.
0:02South end rent up 3%. We pay one dollar currently, if things change in future then budget will be thight but we thinking about scenario of sold building. I brought this idea before, maybe build luxury center and hire van to pick up seniors. COuld do it in fall river since i worked in center across states. Always upkeep of center is important right now we lease so not our headache. But good idea in future but some seniors don’t want to leave their neighborrhood. Everyone likes their own group so many center better since everyone have better choices. Some seniors like music and other movies and bingo. SO they choice is better for them. Seniors travel between centered through week even for lunch only. NIce to meet other, Niagara feels like hotel which is nice right now. Pros and cons but bingo is always great. REspect for board member inside center is huge when board member arrived. Everyone know they there.
0:02Meet the board in each center sounds good idea. I don’t know the board members so maybe next meet board at center. New seniors coming to centers now. we reached goal after covid. AMazing. How many seniors in city? Sensus said 15,174. People need fill it out. June is deadline. Senus helps with grant funding so please seniors fill out. 5 to 7 thousands unduplicated seniors in centers. People from outside city join centers because musical bands and karaoke or pool table. Seniors like different things which we give after covid. Goal surpassed. question on housing? Huge issue in city we in talk with mayor and another organization. Housing issue is concerning but we talking. Also thought about health fair on 2026. REcruit more for board since some people was on too many boards. Flyres on VA centers or Ymca could help. New building in Globe street for center. Transition in process. Soco arts moved into another center, so we should have 11 board members in total. Board was old when I started but now mix is good. Supervisor said mix is good but prefer more than 60%. Older people within community can give better input than younger. Flyer can state quarterly meeting one hour commitment.
0:03Got senior parking at baycoast right? Call them before board meeting if need. Little man didn’t know me and asked who am I but he let me park. i gave car description unfortunatley. I have several. WHo is Sharon on agenda? New member, I didn’t reached you yet so I apologize. Sharon joined after the frac meeting for art pieces. We should have more art within community. SHe is art girl. Michelle moon decided not to come back since she is relator unfortunatley she is busy. BArbara jean could not make it today because medical issues. Need recurit board member from fall river. Flynn is not really member just help out in meeting. SHould we have flyer at V VA and Ymca? Ymca does art too, they show up Niagara centre for yoga. Suggestion for refreshment at senior center with meet the board. SAmple of budget handed around earlier. People refused to fill out anonymour survery about centers before, so maybe meet board can help. People was nervous about survery thinking people will know their typing unfortuantly. Talking hand by hand better choice. Next events at centers you both come, I can drive too. Hubby is crazy driver though. Meet the board at light refreshmet is good idea again. August 25 is next meeting for board? 25th in august. UNdupliacted seniors as I discussed before but doubled number if count people move across centres. New seniors from baby boomers joining centers regularly. POol team at center is great success. One man was promoting outside trip and flyers which nothing linked to council of ageing. I had to stop him unfortuantely. SHortly we move for adjournment. august 25 for next meeting. motion and second? Second. Motion passed. All in favour of adjournment. MEt at Niagara.