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Committee supports creating Lifeline revolving account as senior center takes over regional program
Summary
The committee recommended creating a dedicated revolving account to track Lifeline program receipts and expenditures after the Gardner Senior Center agreed to assume administrative responsibility for a regional Lifeline program; committee asked for partnership agreement and liability documents before full council consideration.
The Finance Committee voted to recommend the full Gardner City Council create a dedicated revolving account to manage Lifeline (personal emergency response) service activities administered by the Gardner Senior Center.
Senior Center staff told the committee that Haywood/Athol‑area partners had operated the regional Lifeline program for years but could no longer administer it; Gardner’s senior center agreed to take on administration to avoid program interruption for approximately 80 clients across the region. Staff said the center’s role is mostly administrative (processing payments and subscriptions) and that volunteers handle installs and troubleshooting; staff also said a grant‑funded outreach coordinator (about 15 hours per week) will support the program.
On liability, staff said Lifeline has a partner agreement and that each consumer signs an agreement or waiver; staff said tests are performed at installation and ongoing device maintenance and replacements are handled between Lifeline and the consumer. Staff asked for a six‑to‑eight‑month trial to monitor financial and staffing impacts. Committee members requested the Lifeline‑partnership agreement, the consumer waiver and other documentation for the full‑council packet; the committee recommended authorization with the caveat that the requested materials be provided.
