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Hubbardston senior center Friends approve minutes and finances, discuss town account review and ice-safety steps
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Summary
At the Feb. 18 meeting, the Friends group accepted minutes and the treasurer's report, heard that a town-led review of center accounts may extend into summer, raised safety concerns about ice on building gutters, and finalized plans for upcoming fundraisers and a Maine day trip.
The Hubbardston senior center Friends group met Feb. 18 and approved its Jan. 14 minutes and the treasurer's report before spending most of the session on community programming, a town accounts review and safety steps for icy conditions.
The meeting opened with an invocation and a roll call. The secretary reported the Jan. 14 attendance list naming chairperson Flo Pervier, vice chair Nancy Afonso, secretary Mel Shaughnessy, treasurer Ken Horvath and board members Sue Grama, Pat Lamoreaux and Kathy Vincent; Paul Sweeney was recorded as absent. A motion to accept the minutes was moved by Sue Grama, seconded by Nancy Afonso, and passed.
The treasurer presented account balances reported that morning: supplies $1,876.78, services $909.40, gift account approximately $7,004.62, formula grant $9,339.67 and art grant $1,007.43. Members moved and seconded acceptance of the treasurer's report and the motion passed.
A member reported that she and the center director, Claudia, met with the town's temporary supervisor about the center's books and records. Outside staff are reviewing the accounts, and the member said a full reconciliation is not expected before summer; she also said she "did not leave with a good feeling" about that meeting. The group agreed to offer assistance if town staff have questions and to share account information on request.
Facility safety drew substantial discussion. Members said ice had built up in a gutter and that some heating wiring and a downspout were damaged or disconnected. Town maintenance personnel (referred to in the meeting as Travis and his crew) inspected the site, cleared a path to the entrance and planned follow-up work. The center's director emphasized that keeping people safe while repairs proceed is the priority; volunteers were reminded to use "common sense" and to call before traveling to the center on storm days.
Participants also discussed operational details when the center operates as a warming or cooling site in extreme weather, noting that plowing and opening depend on police/DPW coordination and school/plow schedules. Members advised volunteers to check conditions before coming in and described past situations when events were held but attendance was limited by weather.
On community programming and fundraising, members reviewed the recent Feb. 14 "Pie for Breakfast" fundraiser (about 87 tickets sold; raffle winner named as Michelle Johnson), and planned a St. Patrick's Day soup-day event with music and sing-along on March 17. The group also discussed a one-day bus trip to Maine to see a play at the Ogunquit Playhouse with a three-course lunch at Jonathan's; the full price was quoted at about $204 per person with a nonrefundable $50 deposit required to hold seats. A new volunteer, Anita Falco, was added to the substitute list, and organizers outlined plans for April 4 fundraising "lottery trees."
Procedural motions on routine items were handled during the meeting and the session was adjourned at about 4:50 p.m.
Next meeting: March (date discussed in the meeting).
