Council on Aging Board Meeting
Discussion of Age Friendly Task Force initiatives, updates on the Costello Center, and planned fall/winter programming for seniors.
The Amesbury COA Board met on October 10, 2024. Attendance included Board Chair Arthur Levine and several board members; the September minutes were accepted. Doreen Arnfield presented statistics showing year‑over‑year increases in all service areas and provided a quarterly activity comparison for July–September.
In the Director’s report Doreen announced the Outreach Coordinator position was filled: Sue Dysart was hired into an expanded Outreach and BHOAP Coordinator role. The Board approved installation of railings at the Costello Center (city-funded) and is awaiting a signed contract. Staff programming and services for fall/winter were reviewed, including walking group meetups, silk scarf painting, Medicare open enrollment dates, basic computer classes (full with waiting list), van trips (including a voting shuttle on Nov. 5), a Halloween party, a Veterans lunch (Nov. 8), MEVA office hours and transportation outreach, and a Holiday Luncheon on Dec. 11. The Hybrid Programming Grant Performance Report and a behavioral health reporting template were submitted; CPR training was provided to staff on Oct. 9 and will be provided to volunteers and board members in Feb. 2025.
The FCOA update from President Mary Lee Ford covered the upcoming Holiday Luncheon (Dec. 11) and a Nov. 2 craft fair (tables sold out). The FCOA agreed to donate a scratch‑ticket tree for the Holiday Luncheon; they reported meeting with a grant writer to explore fundraising and membership-drive ideas, confirmed delivery of tables and benches they purchased, and reported total donations of $54,000 for the last fiscal year (7/1/23–6/30/24). No public comments or contested items were recorded in the minutes.