[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6746060,"mediaKeyId","5131889-16913dd8109afa6f97e224627cc06f4a","parentId",5131889,"title","Council on Aging to launch community needs assessment; staff raise governance, staffing and funding questions","audioSeconds",916,"startMs",803000,"endMs",1719000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5131889-16913dd8109afa6f97e224627cc06f4a&start=803&end=1719","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5131889-16913dd8109afa6f97e224627cc06f4a/thumbnail_803000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6746060/Nantucket-County/Massachusetts/Council-on-Aging-to-launch-community-needs-assessment-staff-raise-governance-staffing-and-funding-questions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6746060-3e4e3261e2e92570141e1b65446b0c9e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154730&Signature=Dtihx37XC-Apj523B5Ka4cZOqLYpr-GT1gKarrGxWii7ITjVF~ZtIBDFuhnNZveTmP7D2~qOplof8Xm1uVcWx82FAgvLL8cxvRLTMC51UxzdSOmcXfsFBTDaD~zW2o9IgS5M0mKJvdpJhQ-A1Tn-FRwUJWl1jpqf290hQCHa8Eg7FmJMXI8Lw17kntCdAyWGXlTsjM12mlVVMuqQjgZo7hQW6U8UoqFlImpCprDKlODdN5ofhc3IghPUhgvo8ND72kPOT1HHNv7Ogf98gho2aIb67wM2Tyu~Vi3xeSujbK3gZ06KEOjir5ffNbCc9GoS7pI3DLFPl06BSH7WOBY6Nw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town-County of Nantucket, MA","date","2025-07-03T12:20:02Z","article","The Council on Aging met to review a new community needs assessment that staff say will combine focus groups, primary data collection and surveys to identify service gaps and support funding requests. The kickoff for stakeholder meetings is expected in late summer or early fall, and outreach will include the Nantucket Council on Aging, the Nantucket County Center for Elder Affairs and elder‑services providers.

Jericho Milley, who identified themself during the meeting as the newly named deputy director for health and human services, said contractors are still being selected for the assessment and that the survey work will inform requests for town and external grant funding. “We are initiating a community needs assessment, which is gonna be a combination of focus groups and primary data collection and then some surveys going out,” Milley said at the meeting.

Milley also described ongoing public‑health work tied to the assessment, including a planned longitudinal study of people with tick‑borne illnesses that will recruit local residents for multi‑year follow‑up. Staff said the study is intended to collect primary health data to help plan services and identify local needs.

Members discussed whether the council’s current legal structure and bylaws limit its ability to expand services. Multiple speakers suggested reviewing other municipalities’ council on aging structures and considering bylaw or charter amendments if needed. The meeting record shows staff and members agreed it would be useful to consult Betsy Connell, identified in the meeting as executive director of the Massachusetts Councils on Aging, for guidance on governance models and budgeting.

No formal decision was made on bylaws or charter language; members agreed to pursue fact‑finding, start preliminary conversations, and bring any proposed structural changes back for later meetings. One council member asked that the community assessment proceed while staff also begin examining the mechanics of bylaw changes so the council can act ahead of potential time‑sensitive town meeting deadlines.

The community needs assessment and the governance review were presented as complementary steps: collect data about service needs first, then use those findings to inform whether and how to pursue changes to the council’s authority or funding mechanism. The council did not set a timeline for a bylaw or charter change process at the meeting.

The meeting ended with routine business and adjournment.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Council on Aging - 7/2/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Nantucket Council on Aging heard that a community needs assessment will begin this summer to map existing services and gaps. Staff described public‑health projects, a new deputy director appointment and early discussions about possible bylaw changes to expand the council’s authority and budget.","taxTitle","Nantucket County, Massachusetts","taxId",61456,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6746046,"Council briefed on expanded wastewater monitoring for COVID, flu, RSV and drug metabolites",221,2374000,2595000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5131889-16913dd8109afa6f97e224627cc06f4a&start=2374&end=2595","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5131889-16913dd8109afa6f97e224627cc06f4a/thumbnail_2374000.jpg","/articles/6746046/Nantucket-County/Massachusetts/Council-briefed-on-expanded-wastewater-monitoring-for-COVID-flu-RSV-and-drug-metabolites","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6746046-a417400749ab0948ebef2f854efbe81d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154730&Signature=ZbLMUjEvpnQOQeuCMlIRkQrRmFJaBgcZz7GTQvUOi7II1vwLrB4ecgCqCkKUVl4SR4~HN~VcZ5zsrdHi-AL8vWmIq1c96s1~6n72oyKGy-oSYrp9545~OwS8XY-W5EI0xoKOpYM4oP9k7pkI1bVBqYYZ3kReqx5GkZossx4JJBAWpGXGwrdRbabWAhazpywIf4PErk43lAzboNGBqo8bALvPzYix64W79clTRtpco8-WK-RxFtC8H5CDxjJLPQycR8yVpilmDDsV7Y6XqQTudJx~aXuFwduixjLQhleUcRjbW1PV7zozyNxwHFBsW8oHfiLj0m7ywJrDLNGCfx01TA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Staff reported an expansion of local wastewater monitoring that began with COVID surveillance and now includes influenza, RSV and drug metabolites. The program will track concentrations over time to establish baselines and provide early warnings of spikes in infections or substance use.

At the meeting staff described the monitoring as a year‑long baseline effort to identify patterns in viral circulation and in drug use that can inform human‑services interventions. “We’re monitoring levels and concentrations in the wastewater over the course of a year. And then we'll see if we learn anything from those patterns,” a staff speaker said.

Council members noted the public‑health value of early detection for respiratory illnesses and the potential to use drug‑metabolite data to plan targeted substance‑use outreach. The monitoring results were described as material for planning and service design rather than as immediate cause for specific new policies.","Staff reported that wastewater surveillance has been expanded beyond COVID to track flu, RSV and drug metabolites. The council said the data will provide baselines, early‑warning signals and help tailor substance‑use and public‑health responses.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6746051,"Council recaps Senior of the Year ceremony, schedules Senior Expo for Oct. 18",400,433000,833000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5131889-16913dd8109afa6f97e224627cc06f4a&start=433&end=833","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5131889-16913dd8109afa6f97e224627cc06f4a/thumbnail_433000.jpg","/articles/6746051/Nantucket-County/Massachusetts/Council-recaps-Senior-of-the-Year-ceremony-schedules-Senior-Expo-for-Oct-18","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6746051-da9272efa8d01fb6946e1236b02d561a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154730&Signature=JHewbNkKQ5aTtjTe5QBxV9l74PTFvhv2pOnYeuJlumW6FKAKvSggnuG8wfoprU1IAyA15FzzE7j7DCYkY3w14e-pnAar1d~GLzXwdqzjpGVDwdhksdIsH35bvIsnsGUJAe5OBUl-ZC~w0mS76AKcViXVBOhyH07PBAhd4MtAzAS9mN5qh5ivSoZoqAyD2F9bjr-EQlvbDWUB6lICn4xvD1QeUmIzb3Au5gwMFaZCYiZnozpvxrLuizkdko3DKQbZUcF27T4T4Joc1KMlxTp3anIa3QyKNCQud6HQk8C0HVZcBt4ugO0gjxvx8InmMKlPgo2ES4KGUBkpsYqG3qCJcQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council members reviewed logistics for the Senior of the Year celebration honoring Kathy Bridal and Lee Saperstein, scheduled for Monday, July 7 at Sherburne Commons at 4:30 p.m. Members said roughly 75 guests are expected, Olivia will represent the town and stand in for the state proclamation if the state citation has not arrived, and the town will provide gift certificates for the winners.

The council also held a preliminary planning discussion for a senior expo tentatively set for Saturday, Oct. 18. Members agreed to contact the hosting school after the meeting and to form a volunteer planning committee. The event planners had already checked the Chamber of Commerce calendar and did not find competing events on Oct. 18.

No votes were taken on event spending or procurement at the meeting; members asked those who plan to attend the July 7 ceremony to notify staff by email.","The council reviewed plans for the Senior of the Year ceremony set for Monday, July 7 at Sherburne Commons and confirmed October 18 as the working date for an autumn Senior Expo. Members asked for volunteers for a planning committee and confirmed town representation for the ceremony.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6746056,"Council hears warnings about elder‑services funding; local grants used to fill gaps",191,2103000,2294000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5131889-16913dd8109afa6f97e224627cc06f4a&start=2103&end=2294","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5131889-16913dd8109afa6f97e224627cc06f4a/thumbnail_2103000.jpg","/articles/6746056/Nantucket-County/Massachusetts/Council-hears-warnings-about-elderservices-funding-local-grants-used-to-fill-gaps","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6746056-a551a612d5a2a6ecee3df0f3be5f2593/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154730&Signature=YhDvZ8FJi-g6iPP8ru2YAnoAuwnqlq6eiHRixeJHV9WwNY7wiVs23KLB5ETVO9g~yrpf1rfzjiUTPRIQRIlhb5J8E4tqSwx~q7HW9WbIkL10cRrqyqwF4ZFma0XgFcCWKC6gRiVGP89~-PptU4A-0P3vc86BC7Jvmjq4MnPkkXjiZQb6AFoPhidXGl~noIacNPR-P8r2XRV1pAf~UMN0iCHQxZBEZOlpfUY6oWfSTzbRriAvTFdH38Hw9jvcQgs5QE-TgcZ~ytBAQWa6I31nRoxanDldrE1mphue~Q~NvkpgJfI7kRQwbgjiApXg51K7YRTct6NYPpjSVKITLXfRCg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council members heard that elder services face uncertain funding as state and federal budget proposals evolve. Robert Kucharovich reported the sector is “in a holding pattern” while proposals and appropriations are clarified, and noted that local philanthropy and grant programs are providing stopgap funding for some services.

Speakers raised concern that proposed cuts could affect meals programs and long‑term care funding. Kucharovich said the community foundation is awarding another grant to elder services, and members reported a mix of grant writing and short‑term funding is being used to patch gaps while larger budget actions remain unresolved at the state and federal level.

Members also discussed program successes funded by recent grants. The council paid $8,000 toward recent facility improvements at the Saltmarsh (including a new entry window and ramp repairs) and funded a $7,500 grant supporting memory cafés for staffing and programming. Staff said the memory cafés have modest attendance—about a half‑dozen regular participants—but that the activities appeared successful and meaningful for attendees. Final reports for both grants must be submitted by July 30.

No formal policy changes were adopted at the meeting. Members urged continued outreach to funders and emphasized that the town and local nonprofits are planning contingencies if state or federal funding is reduced.","Members were told elder services are in a 'holding pattern' as state and federal budgets remain uncertain. Local philanthropy and grants are being used to sustain programs such as Meals on Wheels and memory cafés.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council on Aging to launch community needs assessment; staff raise governance, staffing and funding questions

Council briefed on expanded wastewater monitoring for COVID, flu, RSV and drug metabolites

Council recaps Senior of the Year ceremony, schedules Senior Expo for Oct. 18

Council hears warnings about elder‑services funding; local grants used to fill gaps