Council On Aging 01/06/2026

(Episode Description is AI generated and may be errors in accuracy)

A packed meeting with a clear mission: make senior services easier to reach and easier to use. We open with candid budget talk and move straight into what matters at home—fuel assistance letters finally going out after delays, with awards running lower than last year. We explain how to apply through April 30, why calling us first can save hours on hold, and what to do if your approval hasn’t landed yet.

From there, we spotlight practical help you can act on today. Our monthly lunches are adapting to winter logistics, trivia keeps the room lively, and a new partnership with South Coast Legal Services brings a free estate planning clinic for low-income adults 60+. That clinic covers durable power of attorney, health care proxy, and a simple will, with intake required ahead of time to confirm eligibility. We also set a firm date and time for AARP Tax-Aide calls as volunteer capacity tightens across nearby towns, then break down the SAVE tax work-off program: 67 hours of service for a $1,000 property tax credit, open to residents 60+ without income limits. Departments from the library to the board of health offer projects that make those hours attainable.

We’re thinking beyond immediate needs, too. A new, one-page community resource brochure will live at the police and fire stations, town hall, and the library, pointing people to fuel aid, medical equipment loan closets like St. Vincent de Paul, and the right offices for tax relief. To cut through confusion, we plan to host the assessors for a clear walkthrough of exemptions—Clause 41 (income and assets), Clause 17 (assets), and Clause 22 (veterans)—with deadlines, documents, and realistic savings. On governance, we thank a longtime board member for his service and reorganize leadership for continuity. Then we turn to a crucial goal: reviving our Friends group. By easing meeting rules, learning the basics of grants, and focusing on small, high-joy wins—trips, bands, reduced activity costs—we can build momentum and community pride.

Join us to learn how to secure fuel help, lock in a tax appointment, explore SAVE, and get your essential documents in order. If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a neighbor, and leave a quick review so more residents can find these resources. Your support helps someone warm their home, lower a bill, and feel less alone.

Transcript

Call To Order & Agenda

SPEAKER_09 0:04

Call to order. I guess the first thing we have to do, I suppose, is to elect a new board or a chairman.

SPEAKER_01 0:13

Yeah, I have it on there.

Treasurer’s Report & Budget Status

SPEAKER_09 0:14

Any motions to uh well no, I guess we do call to order roll call. I don't I don't have another council on aging meeting, what's today? November 6th, January 6, 2026 at 935. Roll calling. Uh Treasurer's report.

SPEAKER_01 0:43

It's in there. Um I might notice I don't know if it's on that one or if it was on the last one, but our trash changed again.

SPEAKER_00 1:00

Uh uh again.

SPEAKER_01 1:02

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 1:02

So it's corn.

SPEAKER_01 1:04

It's carney. Well, they haven't done quite no more. So before it was Meyer, then it was Star, now it's Carney. Might stay that way a lot.

SPEAKER_02 1:15

The same company just combined. Oh yeah, that's what they're all doing. They're combining on us.

SPEAKER_01 1:21

It's like the Fielding ones. So Carney now is our trash. What else is there? Um credits. Other than that, it was kind of a slow month with uh nothing crazy.

SPEAKER_09 1:42

So were we relative to the budget?

SPEAKER_01 1:46

Uh I think we're at uh 30 percent. 30 percent is that where we should be we're at 50 percent, so we're under yeah.

Director Updates: Fuel Aid Delays

SPEAKER_09 2:00

So we're under questions, discussion? Motion to accept? Motion to accept. All in favor, aye. We've got the treasurer's report. I'm sorry, the Dorothy report. Next.

SPEAKER_01 2:24

Um, so fuel assistance is finally back up and running. They've been sending out approval letters finally. Um they are still behind on them, but they are sending them out. Um they finally got their funding. Um, and then we can still do applications through April 30th. Um, I just try to tell people that if they have questions with their applications, call me because we have a special line. So don't wait on hold with them to expire.

SPEAKER_04 2:52

The awards are very low each.

Events: Lunch, Trivia, Scheduling

SPEAKER_01 2:54

They are lower, yes. I think almost half. Yeah, I can't believe. Yeah, that's not great. Um upcoming events. Today we have the our monthly luncheon. Um, we're getting soup, um, chicken and rice soup from BP for the lunch today. Um, tomorrow we have trivia at 2.30 on monthly trivia. Um we're doing two luncheon singles again. Tuesday, January 20th, and Wednesday, January 21st. Is that working better with the two? Um you don't have to have people up here again. It isn't. It's just easier doing it here right now because especially with the parking lots and stuff. We wouldn't be able to do it over there. Yeah. Um, we're gonna go back over there. Okay. And do go back to one day. It's easier in March. Yeah. Yeah, we're gonna go back to one day. But right now with the weather, seems to be the big thing. Easier to stay here. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 4:02

So come March, I think we're gonna go back over. I have gone on Tuesday, and very few people want to go on Tuesday because they're used to going on Wednesday. Yeah. So Wednesday gets the big crowd. Tuesday, it almost seems like five or so. It almost seems like oh god. I don't know what you if you have to go for him to come twice. Yeah, we do. So there's not a big crowd on Tuesday.

Estate Clinic, Taxes, Volunteers

SPEAKER_01 4:27

No. So I only have him scheduled to Tuesday to February. February's last month, and then we're back to Wednesday's across. Unless we get a huge snowstorm in March. So hopefully the sun comes up again in March. But yeah, so we're going back over to March, down back to one day. Um, what else? Oh, new this month, um, we're hosting the free estate planning clinic um with South Coast Legal Services. Um, it's gonna help the low-income older adult, 16 plus, uh, do the three documents the durable power of attorney, healthcare proxy, and a simple will. Um, the information was in the newsletter. You have to call Lolly Pinto at South Coast um to make sure you qualify and do the intake paperwork. And that deadline is January 20th.

SPEAKER_09 5:24

And then um the quality says uh an income-based list. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 5:31

Um and that will be held here Thursday, January 29th, 12 to 3 in this room. Um Mike Hayden's will be here January 28th at 2:30 in the afternoon. And as well as our breakfast is that day, January 28th. Um tax appointments will be starting up um January 20th at 9 a.m. Um is when you can start calling. This year we are down to only two preparers, George and Jen, are back. Um, two for yeah, they've been here for years, yeah. Um the last couple years we've had three tax returners, but that is they didn't come back, and that isn't only affecting us, it's also affecting Taunton and Dighton, where we actually sent a good number of people to last year to get their taxes done. Um so just their volunteer turnout for AARP taxes is down, they just don't have the people volunteering for it. Um so we're projecting that those will fill up quickly. So spread the word January 20th, 9 a.m. tax appointments. Um call. Oh god. You know, probably that day or shortly after, that week. Um and then yeah, we counted on Taunton a lot the last couple of years, even with our three tax preparers, and they take on and they're down too. So I'm not sure if they'll be able to take people or not. Um, what else? Oh, um, I want to thank you guys. Um I got invited um and was nominated for Rainham Um Recognition Award on Tuesday, December 23rd from you guys. Um, put a lettering or recommendation. So thank you all. She well deserved. Yeah, thank you all. Um so I'll be at the select board meeting next Tuesday night if anybody wants to attend it. Um next Tuesday, I believe it's the 13th. What time is that? Uh 7 p.m. 7 p.m. next Tuesday. Yeah, and thank you again. I think that's it.

Recognition, Correspondence, Open Meeting

SPEAKER_09 7:58

Okay, so uh let's see, we need the motion to accept the director's report second. And then the next correspondence said letter from John Titzero.

SPEAKER_01 8:14

Yeah, we're gonna give you all John's letter. Um retired retired from the board. So it's if we ever need any help or anything, reach out.

SPEAKER_09 8:29

Um why don't I read it for the record? After more than 15 years as a member of the council agent, board of directors that decide to retire from my position effective 1231, 2025. It's been an honor and pleasure to serve on the board and to see the great advances at the center. To the board members, thank you for your continued support of the center and the uneating hours of your time volunteering to support its activities. To Aaron, our director, you have been a bright light to the organization, bringing new and invigorating activities to the center, ensuring its continued success. I wish you all continued success. Yours truly, John Texas. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 10:07

Oh, that's what they mean by open meeting.

unknown 10:10

Anybody can come in in. Can I close that door?

SPEAKER_01 10:16

Uh never mind. They'll close it once they all come in at once. Yeah. Couple minutes they'll be. Um, there are musical events. Oh, yeah. I'll let you guys know at the next meeting what um what we got approved for.

SPEAKER_03 11:59

This is quiet compared to when we podcast on Tuesdays.

Reviving The Friends Group

SPEAKER_07 12:08

Some of you should come here Monday morning while we're playing left, right, center. There's only four to six of us around the table. And it is really uproarious. And that's a usually open door.

SPEAKER_09 12:41

All in favor? Um business.

SPEAKER_01 12:51

Um, so the friends group, um the old board dissolved. And instead of fully dissolving the state and everything, we're trying one last time to keep open. They did a lot of work to become a 501 C3. To see it just poof, gone, and somebody else had to come and do all that paperwork again would be awful. Um, so I sent out this letter. Um, Pat Riley helped me. Um, we came up with this letter and we sent it around. We're having a meeting this Thursday at 2.30. We're hoping people come and we'll see what happens from there. Is there any way to change the meeting date? That's where I stopped doing because I have something on Sunday. Yeah, we're gonna have to you'd have to look at the bylaws with a group.

SPEAKER_04 13:47

I think a few things that out as to the day just for that reason, so we could change it.

SPEAKER_01 13:53

Yeah. Um, yeah, they can change that. We're um I was even thinking about changing the date and not even meeting every month. Maybe meet every three months or something. Not make it so restrictive, make it a little bit easier for people to come, or even meeting like four o'clock every three months or something, not every month. Something like that. Um she's she's gonna look at the bylaws.

SPEAKER_04 14:18

Um then I reposted it on the time.

SPEAKER_01 14:24

Okay, anyway. And then, yeah, so if anybody is interested or wants to come or just see what it's about this Thursday at 2:30, we'll be here.

SPEAKER_04 14:35

I think it's a very important group. I think that at Senior Center needs it. I think what if we get it going again, which I hope we do, that we will consult with other friends of the senior center groups and other towns to find out how to apply for grants or what they do for fundraising.

SPEAKER_01 14:57

Yeah. So we'll see who shows up Thursday. I didn't like do a sign-up sheet or anything, so it's gonna kind of be like and then yeah, so this is the one last hope almost.

SPEAKER_04 15:17

Because if we don't get people on Thursday, then it's kind of uh it's to me it's very sad that we have, I believe it was stated a while ago, 6,000 seniors in town, and we can't get enough to get our friends at the COA started and established.

SPEAKER_06 15:37

Do you know what happens in other towns if you've spoken to anybody?

SPEAKER_01 15:43

I have not well it goes or um some towns struggle to get it going. Some towns are very successful, have very successful friends groups.

SPEAKER_09 15:52

I would talk to Plainville. They used to do that monthly dinner dance up at uh Black Pearl.

SPEAKER_04 15:59

I think Middle Road has a very successful one too. I know they said they when we visited the senior center, they stated that their friends group does a lot for their center.

SPEAKER_01 16:11

Yeah, I think they do a lot of dinners and stuff, fundraisers and things like that. Um and then they can support instead of even trying for like an addition, I think we should just get the word out there about the friends group and the senior center more and get more people active to maybe support like um more activities like bands coming or something like that, or trips, people want to do trips, maybe make the trips a little bit cheaper with the friends group help and get people more active in the senior center before we're just thinking about like a addition or whatever, get more people involved in the center. Yeah. So people just involved.

SPEAKER_04 16:53

I think if we got people that were willing to do the work necessary to find out how to go about it and do it and get people that were willing to put the effort in, I don't think it would take that long. When I when I wasn't active, but I was seeing um grant grant things online. There are a lot of grants out there that could be applied for, and some of them were quite generous. So I have no idea how to apply. I have no idea how to apply for grants. Yeah. I can't, it's I don't know how to do any of that. Yeah. But I bet we could learn.

Community Resource Brochure

SPEAKER_01 17:37

Yeah, of course. Good for our minds. So if anybody's available, that's Thursday. And then I'll give you an update. I'll put it on the agenda again next month with the update from Thursday's meeting. Okay. So was Kat Riley gonna be here? She's gonna be here Thursday.

SPEAKER_07 17:54

So she's an additional member?

SPEAKER_01 17:57

Um, not yet, but she's not paying.

SPEAKER_04 18:01

And the dudes were established at$10 a year to be able to start up fund. Yes, they are. So you have to pay that on Thursday.

SPEAKER_06 18:11

No, we didn't have to do that.

SPEAKER_01 18:12

No, they're not while we're doing it right now.

SPEAKER_00 18:13

No.

SPEAKER_04 18:14

I don't know how they're never gonna come up again, but right now it's kind of just on hold.

SPEAKER_01 18:20

Yeah. No, Thursday just to see if we can get people.

SPEAKER_04 18:26

Is the money that was raised spent or is it still there in a startup fund? Still there.

SPEAKER_01 18:32

Good. Okay. No. It has not come out of the fund. It's still in the bank account. Nothing's been touched.

SPEAKER_09 18:40

Okay, and then the next item is community brochure.

SPEAKER_01 18:44

Yeah, so I think last meeting I did this. I don't know if anybody wants to look at it. I printed it upside down. Um so it won't be like that. I'm gonna send it to BP actually, and they're gonna it'll look better. But I just sent it to all the department heads as well to see if they wanted to add anything else. Um, and I'll get it approved by the select board. Make sure we can send it out and everything like that. But it's just like a one brochure with all the resources. Where to go. Good idea. Where to go? Because the online one is so great. Yeah. You mentioned the assessing office on that. No, but I did email them, so I'm hoping I have a spot.

SPEAKER_09 19:30

You got your tax bill, that's an item I wanted to bring up regarding elderly assessments, uh, exemptions.

SPEAKER_01 19:37

Yeah. So I'm hoping by the end of the month I'll have it like finalized and get it to BP for printing. Yeah. Which way you flip it. It was like whatever.

SPEAKER_03 20:01

I'm always telling people things when I'm out and everything.

SPEAKER_01 20:04

Yeah, so I don't the goal is to have them everywhere. Play station, fire station. Town hall, library, just put them all over, print a ton, and you know, then it's a one one-page look.

SPEAKER_03 20:18

Somebody had on uh was it on Facebook, I've got on Facebook so rarely, but somebody had a comment there. They were looking for a blocker. And other pla other people would say, well, go to your council on aging. I mean, we don't have any access to stuff like that here. Yeah, so St. Vincent de Paul. St. Vincent Default. Yeah. Hennings from Heaven. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 20:38

Yeah. Yeah, well that's where I got my role A. Well, the Senate's from Heaven is part of St. Vincent de Paul, I believe. Yeah, I think so, because I see the sign there. And they have medical equipment that they take in as donations, refurbish, and loan out to anyone that needs it, and you just have to say you'll return it when it's no longer needed.

SPEAKER_01 21:01

Yeah, so we refer to them. We don't have anywhere to store the stuff. We do have like wheelchairs. You don't have a place to store it. That's right. We have one longer, wheelchairs, and a couple cans in there, but we don't have anywhere to store a bunch of wheelchairs and luckily is fairly close to this area. Yeah, it's helpful.

SPEAKER_03 21:24

Things like that, yeah.

SPEAKER_09 21:26

Yeah. Well, I've collected all that stuff over the years of hanging on top.

SPEAKER_06 21:33

Anyone want to transfer a tub bench or a regular tub seat? Oh my god, two walkers. I'm getting crazy with it.

SPEAKER_03 21:45

I've got enough of the rehab. It's hard to find anywhere. I've still got the rollator, I still use it. Yeah, what size you want to leave? I still haven't because uh I eat in the living room, so I make everything in the kitchen and then they're coasting perfect. Because I'm still not sturdy enough yet. You know, so clever. I am.

SPEAKER_07 22:49

That's what counts. You know what to do. That's right.

SPEAKER_09 22:52

Is there room to mention the assessing? Because there's all kinds of exemptions for elderly and veterans and stuff.

SPEAKER_04 23:00

Old business or new business. This is still the brochure.

SPEAKER_03 23:05

I keep thinking I need to call the veteran's office and talk to the veteran person to see what kind of things is possible for me.

SPEAKER_01 23:12

Maybe I'll see if the assessors office can come here and do a presentation. That would be great.

SPEAKER_02 23:18

Just you can either go in there to talk to him or just call him and make an appointment. He's very nice. Good.

SPEAKER_09 23:26

Okay, a real available business and whatever matters that we deem necessary. No. New business, save program.

SPEAKER_01 23:39

Um the save program, um, we changed the dates for the save program. Um that's the tax workoff program where you volunteer, it's about 67 hours, and then you get a thousand dollars off your taxes, your tax bill. Um that um we changed the dates. We used to start January 15th. We're bumping it to December 16th, to December 5th of next year. But if you start on December 16th, just know it will go on your following year's taxes, not the previous one.

SPEAKER_09 24:10

Is that an income-based program?

SPEAKER_01 24:12

No.

SPEAKER_09 24:12

It's not. So what are the qualifications for?

SPEAKER_01 24:16

Uh 60 and older, um, you have to be a town resident, I think. That's it. Okay.

SPEAKER_09 24:24

And it's limited to whatever the if the departments are looking for.

SPEAKER_01 24:30

Yes, so right now we've been having 10. So this year we're trying to get to 13. So trying to get more town departments involved. Um, we have had some new ones. Last year we had highway pick up um someone which was new. Um, so I keep sending out letters to the department heads. I'm gonna mention it again this Thursday, the Save program, and hopefully we'll get more slots to get more people. Right, because you need to help you. Because we're getting people, but then there's it's hard nowhere to put them. Exactly. So what kind of positions are they uh they're available? Um, so here we have people help with our single servant and stuff, or front desk. I have somebody here usually on Fridays to help with the phones and coffees and stuff like that. So we have we usually we try to take at least three here to fill some slots. The library has some. Um I don't know what she they do with the library. Usually she comes up with a project type thing. So she needs something reorganized, bookshelves or books numbered or something like that. She comes up with some kind of project. Um the board of health taking people. Highway. Um Highway is doing the transfer stickers. Oh yeah. I know somebody there is helping with the stickers um this time of year. Can you check with Marcia Sylvia? She takes um one or two people every year. Yes, she helps with the voting. Yes, um, she always takes people. Um can you get enough hours doing that with the voting?

SPEAKER_06 26:05

Well, I'm I'm you can go more than one place. Yeah.

unknown 26:09

Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_04 26:10

But she also at certain times of year, like when the the uh census comes in.

SPEAKER_01 26:16

Yeah, and she does that kind of thing. Yep, she does, yep, she always takes people. Um building department takes people for phones um when they're on vacations and stuff like that to fill in. Um usually I'll partner with building because they won't be able to get all their hours in, so I'll finish the hours here. Um what else? Um Greg in the administrator's office took someone when there was a gap. Um a gap in an employee there to answer phones manually and send emails where they belong and stuff like that. So those are all different things. Or if any department comes up with a project, a file-in project or any kind of project, they think, um we could probably fiddle it if it's it. It's 67 hours, so it's not a ton of hours. Um it's fairly easy for I feel like it's fairly easy for a department to give 67 hours to someone. But yeah.

SPEAKER_00 27:25

So that's another one.

Board Reorganization & Roles

SPEAKER_09 27:27

Alright, reorganization of the board. I guess we need a new director or uh chairman.

SPEAKER_02 27:35

Uh-huh. Oh.

SPEAKER_08 27:42

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 27:44

We have a spot on a member to move up to.

SPEAKER_06 27:49

Tuesday. Say that again, please. Since two people uh two. Yeah, I'm nominated.

SPEAKER_09 27:58

So there was a minute, let's talk about we got an associate member.

SPEAKER_01 28:02

Associate member can move up to a member. I believe it's Paulette and Evelyn are the two associates left. But there is an um opening now as a member.

SPEAKER_04 28:15

Which one has been here longer?

SPEAKER_01 28:16

So if you want to do that first and then Which one has been here longer? Paulette. Paulette's been here longer. She's not here, so no, she's not here.

SPEAKER_07 28:33

Or do we vote her in?

SPEAKER_04 28:35

She's not here, we can do the vote and can we nominate her to be abductive member pending her approval?

SPEAKER_09 28:44

Okay, and nominee pollett as a full member pending approval or her approval for a second.

SPEAKER_04 28:56

Okay. I nominated. Does that need a second? Yeah, I think so.

SPEAKER_09 29:10

All in favor? No, opposed.

SPEAKER_00 29:20

Okay.

SPEAKER_09 29:20

So that makes a full board with her.

SPEAKER_01 29:23

That makes a full board.

SPEAKER_04 29:25

Now do we need another associate member?

SPEAKER_01 29:27

We can get an associate one, yeah. I think there's two spots. Two spots okay.

SPEAKER_04 29:36

There's two associate spots in there. This is kind of tricky, but Suzanne wouldn't mind coming back. Suzanne as an associate member. Really? Would she come back? Well, really? She said she would.

SPEAKER_09 29:53

So what do you have to do? We're only seeing her in church.

SPEAKER_04 29:59

A discussion in church. Well, could she come back as an associate and see how that goes? That's why she would come back as a because she resigned.

SPEAKER_01 30:08

Yeah. Yeah.

unknown 30:11

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 30:11

Because you have a full board right now. Pending and all that. But um, so I guess now it's the same.

SPEAKER_09 30:21

We're not reorganization. I guess we need a new chairman of the board. I nominate Jeff. I nominate any one of you.

SPEAKER_02 30:31

And we both nominated.

SPEAKER_04 30:33

And you have to say whether you would accept the nomination. Oh, just say it.

SPEAKER_03 30:40

How much work is involved in it compared to I know, but uh I mean, what what what do you what what what extra? What do you have to say?

SPEAKER_09 30:48

I'll I'll accept the nomination for one year.

SPEAKER_03 30:52

Okay.

SPEAKER_09 30:53

We're supposed to re-elect every year anyway. I'll do it for one year. Um it's on the record.

SPEAKER_00 31:01

Put that in capital letters.

SPEAKER_09 31:04

We have a video game for me. I don't want to get ganged up on next year.

SPEAKER_07 31:12

What today? Unfortunately, you took the position today, so but I just and you did great.

SPEAKER_09 31:20

You all eyeballed me when I walked in the door.

SPEAKER_04 31:24

You knew it was coming, Jeff. As soon as John said he was retiring.

SPEAKER_00 31:29

Wow.

SPEAKER_04 31:30

You are the next senior member of the board.

SPEAKER_03 31:34

I actually am the senior member of the board. Okay, you are the judge then.

SPEAKER_08 31:39

I'm a nominee.

SPEAKER_03 31:40

I'm the oldest one here now. I have the oldest in age.

SPEAKER_09 31:50

You were here when I got here. You were the secretary. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 31:53

Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 31:57

That's why she was asking what was involved in the job.

SPEAKER_01 32:00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 32:02

Is it just chairing readings or is there anything else really?

SPEAKER_09 32:07

I nominate high rank.

SPEAKER_04 32:08

Chairing readings. Chairman.

SPEAKER_09 32:11

For chairing readings.

SPEAKER_03 32:12

What are the you already accepted? We haven't voted, but okay. But I mean, I don't know anything about town stuff. I'm not into town stuff like you said.

SPEAKER_08 32:27

John did all the heavy work. He scrolled along with him. Um, you know, I'm not in the stuff.

SPEAKER_02 32:32

What do you have to know about town stuff?

SPEAKER_03 32:34

I don't know. You kind of have to have connections, I think. And that's why I don't see myself in that kind of thing. I think the share is our connection. Yeah, excuse me.

SPEAKER_09 32:49

She's doing the heavy lifting.

SPEAKER_01 32:50

Yeah. Thank you. Yeah, I can work with the slackboard air.

SPEAKER_06 32:59

Well, if you make it look easy, then somebody might be willing next time. Or it could be a rotating one.

SPEAKER_03 33:06

Or you could say one year and then uh yeah. All right, I'll do it for one year if everybody agrees.

SPEAKER_09 33:12

Well, now we've got two nominations.

SPEAKER_07 33:15

So now we have to have a secret ballot, or do we write and then?

SPEAKER_03 33:19

I'm okay with not doing that. I just I just took on the treasurer's role at the Retiree's Association.

SPEAKER_09 33:28

Any other nominations? Nominations are closed. Is that how it works? And now we vote.

SPEAKER_02 33:38

Now who are we voting for?

SPEAKER_04 33:39

Either Pat or you? Yeah. Could I make a suggestion before we vote? I would suggest Jeff take it for one year and you nominate you for vice chairman and you can learn from him what's involved.

SPEAKER_03 33:54

That sounds good. How does that sound?

SPEAKER_04 33:57

Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_06 33:58

And if he's not here, there's no way to take the position to the case. There will be a number of times I will. Then he would run the meetings.

SPEAKER_00 34:07

When he's not here, you run the meeting.

SPEAKER_03 34:09

All right. All right. Okay. You can take me off the thing. If you don't like it, just thank you. No, we have to vote.

SPEAKER_02 34:18

If we don't like you, we can take you off the thing.

SPEAKER_05 34:24

We have three things we could vote for. One, you know, each individual as the chairman, or your suggestion.

SPEAKER_04 34:32

I think we have to vote for chairman. Mine was a suggestion. It wasn't a vote for the chairman.

SPEAKER_09 34:39

Just chairman. So I nominate Pat Rank as vice chair. Vice Chair.

SPEAKER_04 34:43

Well, don't we have to take care of chairman first?

SPEAKER_09 34:46

Well, then we can vote the slate. I guess we need a secretary and a treasurer.

SPEAKER_04 34:51

We haven't had a secretary for a long time.

SPEAKER_09 34:55

Well, in theory, we're going to have to make it.

SPEAKER_01 34:56

Everyone makes a book just on the just on the paper.

SPEAKER_09 34:59

And treasure's the same way. It's a town budget, so you don't.

SPEAKER_01 35:03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 35:04

None of us are accountants.

SPEAKER_04 35:08

So okay, what are we doing, Jeff? You're still running the meeting at this point.

SPEAKER_09 35:14

All right, let's vote. Let's vote for chairman. And I guess the only person nominated for chairman is myself, correct?

SPEAKER_04 35:24

Correct. I say we elect Jeff Chairman on a unanimous vote. Second.

SPEAKER_09 35:32

Second. All in favor? I aye. Voting for Vice Chair Pat Rank. Same.

SPEAKER_04 35:43

I I vote we I suggest we vote Pat Rank unopposed.

SPEAKER_09 35:49

All in f uh second? Is that a second or a vote? I don't know. All right. All in favor? Aye. Now we need a secretary. A name only.

SPEAKER_02 36:06

What do you mean a name only? Well, as we resented the work.

SPEAKER_04 36:10

I nominated Susan as secretary and name only. Name only.

SPEAKER_09 36:16

Okay.

SPEAKER_04 36:16

Oh, you're going to be treasurer.

SPEAKER_02 36:19

Oh, you want to be treasurer?

unknown 36:21

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 36:22

As long as I don't have to do the notes or anything.

SPEAKER_09 36:25

This we're this is secretary, right? We're voting. Okay. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Okay, now we need a nomination for treasurer.

SPEAKER_04 36:34

I nominate Carol. Well, I was gonna nominate you. I figured. I decline. I decline. I nominate Cheryl. Okay.

SPEAKER_09 36:48

Okay, all in favor.

SPEAKER_04 36:50

As long as it's in Name Owen.

SPEAKER_09 36:52

All in favor?

SPEAKER_03 36:55

Yeah, I was secretary in Namol for a while, too, until Joe became the secretary. So I mean I was a regular secretary.

SPEAKER_09 37:03

Well the bylaws say we have to have all these positions, but the church the the the the uh town budget like the minutes.

SPEAKER_04 37:12

You know we really had no say maybe we should change the direct bylaws too because some of these jobs are not there.

SPEAKER_03 37:24

They're they only up the bylaws originally.

SPEAKER_01 37:28

Where did they have no idea? They're on the website on the town.

SPEAKER_02 37:34

Is this what you printed out?

SPEAKER_04 37:36

That's some of it, yeah. Yeah, yeah, we should check the town website. The last time I looked, I was still vice chair, and that was several years ago.

SPEAKER_01 37:45

Yeah, I don't have access to that page.

SPEAKER_04 37:48

Um good to get on this thing.

SPEAKER_01 37:51

Yeah, he just um filled the position over there, so they should be able to update it. Oh good.

SPEAKER_06 37:57

I got the ability to drop for someone to do the save program.

SPEAKER_09 38:02

So it's myself, Pat, Sue, and Sheryl. Sheryl. Okay.

SPEAKER_04 38:08

And Peggy and I are just members.

SPEAKER_00 38:10

Peggy and I'm back once your terms coming up.

SPEAKER_04 38:14

Well, that's why I had two reevaluate the structure.

Senior And Veteran Tax Exemptions

SPEAKER_09 38:21

Okay, so now any other matters? The only other matter I had was was the exemptions for tax billing purposes, veterans and senior citizens.

SPEAKER_04 38:34

Seniors are exempt from what?

SPEAKER_09 38:36

No, you get uh I I'm not up to date on the law, but you can get the exemptions change. It's it's income and asset driven. There's two different exemptions, 41, ABC, and there's a 17. 17, and again, I haven't read up on this in years, is based on assets only. The 41 is based on income and assets, and uh I think you can get up to$1,500 off uh depending on what statutes the assessors have accepted here. So I'm gonna have to go over there and read up on that.

SPEAKER_05 39:15

This is for seniors, and all seniors are eligible.

SPEAKER_09 39:19

No, it's income and asset if they need again. I have to look at the eligibility requirements. Again, they've changed over the years.

SPEAKER_06 39:29

And when you say 41.

SPEAKER_09 39:32

That's the clause numbers. It's 17 is elderly based on assets, 41 is income and assets, and I believe clause 22 is veterans.

SPEAKER_01 39:46

I'll reach out to the assessors and try to get um like a presentation or somebody to come here and explain. That would be great. That would be great. I'll reach out to her today and see if we can set some up for February. Yeah. Yeah, so I'll reach out to her. That way she can explain the different ones and the qualifications.

SPEAKER_02 40:09

It's all through the assessors office. You know, whichever you want to.

SPEAKER_09 40:16

I you know, like everyone else, I got my tax bill, and like everyone else, I'm annoyed.

SPEAKER_00 40:21

So I haven't opened it yet.

SPEAKER_09 40:24

Well, I was in uh I was in the assessor's office in Melbourne for a number of years, so uh it they're available, people are entitled to them if they qualify.

SPEAKER_05 40:34

It's very it's it's under the radar, nobody knows of it.

SPEAKER_09 40:38

Oh well I've heard. No, it's on the back of your tax bill. Oh my goodness.

SPEAKER_04 40:44

Nobody carries it over.

SPEAKER_09 40:45

No, you're shocked with you have three months to apply for these, so as opposed to overvaluation where you have 30 days to apply if you feel you're over-assessed. That's a different ballgame.

SPEAKER_04 40:58

That would be interesting to have someone talking about.

SPEAKER_03 41:00

Yeah, and then come here. See how you need to have somewhere in that position.

unknown 41:06

Okay.

SPEAKER_09 41:08

Any other business?

SPEAKER_04 41:11

Make a motion to adjourn. Second. Second.

SPEAKER_09 41:15

All in favor?

SPEAKER_00 41:17

Okay, we're about ten twenty-two.