Sudbury COA approves minutes, accepts annual report and recommends new member; staff updates and senior programs highlighted

The Council on Aging (Town of Sudbury) on March 10 approved amended minutes from its Feb. 10 meeting, accepted the COA’s 2024 annual report and unanimously recommended a candidate for appointment to the COA. The meeting also introduced a new programs and publicity coordinator, reviewed senior center usage statistics and discussed modest recreation and housing-trust initiatives.

Key actions

- Minutes: The committee approved the February 10 meeting minutes as amended. (Motion carried; mover: Tom Ryan; second: Doctor Bloskey; outcome: approved.)

- Annual report: The COA voted to accept the COA annual report for 2024 and the accompanying financial page. Several members moved and seconded the motion; the meeting recorded unanimous “Aye” votes.

- Membership recommendation: The COA’s membership subcommittee presented Jane Kilty (spelled in the materials as Jane Kilty) as a candidate for appointment to the COA. The full committee voted to recommend her appointment to the Select Board. The transcript records a motion to forward the recommendation; the committee voiced “Aye” votes and the recommendation will be forwarded to the Select Board for formal appointment.

Staff and programs

- New staff: The committee introduced Tali Garrabedian, the new programs and publicity coordinator (hired in August). Garrabedian described duties including the newsletter, press releases, the senior center Facebook page and event coordination; members thanked her and welcomed her work on upcoming programs.

- Usage and services: The director reported year-to-date figures for the current fiscal year (starting July 1): 245 new participants so far this year; last year totaled about 480 new participants. The center recorded about 16,400 units of service or activities last year and had roughly 13,000 already in the current fiscal year at the time of the meeting. Staff and volunteers said March and April calendars are busy and that the Friends group funds many activities under a new quarterly budgeting review process.

Smaller initiatives

- Recreation equipment request: The Friends and staff proposed a modest, portable bocce/horseshoe package (portable bocce court 60x12 feet, accessible equipment and related items). Initial cost estimates discussed were about $1,832.77 for a basic portable kit; the Friends indicated they could fund the purchase and asked the COA to forward specifics at a later meeting.

- Housing trust update: The COA heard that the Housing Trust is pursuing evaluation of a roughly 4‑acre town‑owned parcel near the main fire station on Hudson Road for potential future housing development; the trust also described recent small grants and grant-seeking challenges for small authorities.

Votes at a glance

- Approve minutes (Feb. 10, amended): mover Tom Ryan; second Doctor Bloskey; outcome approved. - Accept COA 2024 annual report: mover not specified in transcript; outcome approved (unanimous Aye recorded). - Recommend appointment of Jane Kilty to Council on Aging (forward to Select Board): mover not specified in transcript; outcome recommended (unanimous Aye recorded).

Quotes

“We have about 245 new participants for this year. Last year, a total of 480 new people.” — Director’s report (Council on Aging staff remarks at March 10 meeting)

Ending

Committee members set the next regular meeting for the second Monday in April (April 14) and directed staff to continue assembling materials for follow-up items (membership paperwork for Select Board, updated annual report copy and recreation equipment estimates).