Notes from the Council on Aging, March 8, Hybrid meeting

Present:

• Chris McCarthy, Chair
• Jack Gremli
• Ron Muir
• Diane Sheridan
• Nancy O'Brien
• Roxanne McCaffrey, Director
• Michael Canales, (TA)
• Patrick White (SB) via Zoom

1. The Chair welcomed Roxanne to her new position
2. February minutes approved as corrected
3. Gremli reported that the Organizational Guide was complete — a hardcopy will be given to McCaffrey and put in file and electronic copies sent to ExDir and members.
4. Muir and Gremli reported that February Senior Center luncheon was a success with over 40 in attendance. Fun had by all – pizza, chocolate, and Beatles trivia
5. McCaffrey reported
   1. 25 reservations for March luncheon.
   2. Trying to get Brian Cruey (Naumkeag) for a program in April.
   3. She also related a call from a retired nurse asking what is protocol if someone has COVID but needs a ride to the doctor? McCaffrey said she tried to reach Jim Wilusz, Tri-Town Health Director. She was unsuccessful but did talk to Dr. Charles Kenny, Chair Stockbridge Board of Health, who told her if COVID patient is asymptomatic and wears mask, can ride the bus. McCaffrey said Kenny felt everyone should get COVID and then we can achieve herd immunity.
   4. Gremli objected and asked if this was official policy? McCaffrey restated that is came from Kenny.
   5. McCarthy said could not have such a policy without informing people.
   6. White said this was not the venue to discuss public health policies related to COVID. (Please see Editor's note below).
6. McCarthy stressed importance of good programming. McCaffrey asked COA for suggestions. Canales said the Director should bring suggestions to the Council for their approval.
7. More discussion on details of meal and program planning. McCaffrey suggested healthy meals and also that since they have a kitchen maybe they sould cook rather than purchasing meals.

Meeting adjourned

Editor's note: 1. SU put out a news alert immediately offering the link to the recommendations of the Mass Department of Public Health regarding COVID. 2. Charles Kenny, Chair, Tri-Town Health and Stockbridge Board of Health, and Jim Wilusz, Executive Director, Tri-Town Health, sent a joint letter as follows: Carole, Below is the letter we sent to the Council on Aging to correct inaccurate statements made during the March 9 Council meeting. Please feel free to reprint it. Charlie.

"Greetings members of the Council,

In view of the below email, I think the discussion today requires further clarification.

The Stockbridge Board of Health and Tri-Town Heath Department recommend first of all that you follow the guidelines of the Mass DPH regarding Covid.

Secondly, if the transportation services you intend to provide originate from Great Barrington, I suggest you also contact the Great Barrington Health Department for advice.

Neither the Stockbridge Board of Health nor the Tri-Town Heath Department is staffed to create a comprehensive policy for the Council.

If a specific issue arises concerning transportation through Lee, Lenox, or Stockbridge, please feel free to contact Tri-Town for an opinion. For example, the issue brought up to me today involved the transport of a recently Covid-positive person to a doctor's office.

First, the doctor in question should be notified to determine if it is medically advisable to transport the person at this time or preferrable to wait and follow the DPH recommended isolation procedures.

If the doctor decides the visit should take place in spite of the disease, an authorized ambulance service should be utilized.

Charles Kenny MD
Chair, Tri-Town Board of Health

James Wilusz RS
Director, Tri-Town Health Department"

Photo: Lionel Delevingne