Natick Council on Aging Board reviews programs, staff coverage and seeks input on Johnson School property

Saul Beaumont, chair of the Town of Natick Council on Aging Board, called the Jan. 12 meeting to order and led a session focused on upcoming programs, staff coverage during a planned medical leave, committee workgroup updates and a request for community input on the future use of the Johnson School property.

Donna Tarutz, Director of the Council on Aging and Human Services, told the board she will be out beginning Feb. 11 for knee surgery and that Angela (last name not provided) will cover COA functions during her absence. Tarutz outlined planned and upcoming activities at the Natick Community Senior Center (NCSC): a book group (17 people signed up), monthly Morse Library technology sessions, an informational presentation by Needham Bank on phishing and spoofing scheduled for March 5, a SAFE program focused on online-shopping safety, a hoarding program developed with the Wayland Council on Aging (led by Debbie Bud), a "Care Starts Here" gut-health talk on Jan. 22, workshops on assisted living and home safety, AARP tax-assistance sessions, and performing-arts events with Stuart from Boston College and Walnut Hill.

Board members raised a procurement question about whether competing quotes are required for COA trips costing less than $9,999.99. The board was advised to consult Brian Leblanc for clarification of procurement rules. Tarutz also agreed to provide the COA report that is filed with the state to board members on request.

Workgroups reported progress. The Housing Subcommittee is working on strategic-planning goals and will attend a Union Street 62+ housing lottery meeting. The Governance Subcommittee will meet to consider extending associate-member tenure from one to three years and will address a Select Board recommendation to remove an effective-date line in Governance Article 10. The Strategic Planning Subcommittee added a fifth strategic goal and presented a template for aligning subcommittee goals, and the Health Workgroup is exploring participation in a regional Healthy Aging event in September and recommended notifying the Select Board liaison to coordinate timing (lead time: at least two months).

The Safety Workgroup recommended producing a simple SCAMS/FRAUD poster after sharing two local scam examples (an SPA scam and a Microsoft popup scam), urged caution when buying event tickets from third parties, and flagged pedestrian-safety concerns near the town's 9/27 project; members also recommended increased advertising of public transportation options, with COA staff member Katie Carew leading outreach planning.

Liaison and partner updates included a Dementia Friendly Community action-team meeting and a report from Select Board liaison Richard Sidney that Town Hall's audio-visual renovation should improve Zoom accessibility for hybrid meetings. The Friends of the Natick Community Senior Center planned a Jan. 13 meeting to consider program funding requests; Springwell's next meeting was set for Jan. 28.

Board business included a request from Chair Beaumont for members and the public to submit ideas for future uses of the Johnson School property (examples given: senior low-cost housing, intergenerational outdoor space, community gardens, and an expansion area for NCSC programs). Responses were requested by Friday, Jan. 16. The board scheduled its next meeting for Feb. 9, 2026, at 2 PM.

The board approved the December minutes (motion by Sal Pandolfo; second by Mal Sockol) and later voted unanimously to adjourn (motion by Mal Sockol; second by Sal Pandolfo). The meeting concluded at 3:47 PM.