APPT-2024-5 : Appointment of Erica Brown as Council of Aging (COA) Director effective August 31, 2023

Transcript (~13 min @ 1:50)

Speakers identified by voice; unnamed voices are numbered within this recording. Auto-caption text — verify against the video.

▶ 1:50 Manjula Karamcheti: I think the first one is the one some people are pretty excited about. Um, this is appointment. We got horns and bells. Um, this is appointment 2024 dash five, the appointment of Erica Brown as Council of Aging Director, effective back in time on

▶ 2:12 Manjula Karamcheti: August 31st, 2023. Uh, mayor Broder is here to present his candidate. So at this time, I will motion by unanimous consent to suspend the rules. Seeing no objections,

▶ 2:28 Speaker 1: the rules are suspended. Mayor Broder, the floor is yours.

▶ 2:30 Paul Brodeur: Thank you, Madam Chair. It's not just a crowd, it's a crowd without pitchforks, which is particularly, particularly delightful, um, at a public hearing. I just want to acknowledge these folks, if you wouldn't mind by a show of hands, uh, rather than speaking individually, how many of y'all are here to support this nomination? Woo hoo. I'm gonna go with a round number that's about 20 and, um, and kinda leave it at that. I do want to, um, take a second to talk a little bit about why this is important, because the, the Council and Aging and the Senior Center aren't here often, and you've heard me talk about this a little bit, but what the heck time's running short and I get to speak. Um, so the US Census for population estimates that here in Melrose, 18.6% of our populations is 2020. Census data is 65 or older. That is 20% higher than the rate in the, in the kind of the metro Boston, Cambridge Newton area, which is a weird census track. And it's 10% higher than the overall Massachusetts data. Median income for a senior in Melrose is a little under $55,000. Uh, needless to say that the, um, the median income for the rest of our kind of income producing our wage earning population is about three times that. Uh, I only, if you wanna break it down a little bit further, 70 plus our population, that's 12.8% of our population, and in their sixties, which is another way that folks qualify for some, um, programs for older persons in Massachusetts, is 11.5% for a total of 24.3%. So, a quarter of our population, uh, that is, and pardon me if I'm preaching to the choir, this is why this appointment and the services provided by the Council in Aging and the senior center is so important and why all these folks are here in support, not just America, but of the programs and services that are delivered. Uh, so more formally, it's my pleasure to submit to the Honorable Council you all the appointment of Erica Brown to serve as the executive Director of the Melrose Council on Aging. Again, effective August 31st, 2023. You know, as you may be aware, um, Ms. Brown has served as the, um, Melano Center manager since July of 2021. And just to be very clear about that date, that was in Covid. And that makes all the difference in the world in terms of, um, figuring out on the fly how to be nimble with service delivery, where to move it, um, particularly when we take away your center and then say you stop to deliver, um, all the services. But she's literally, um, done it all in terms of daily operations, um, management, scheduling of programs, volunteers, interns, and the like. Um, she has been instrumental and active in developing and executing sale activities, workshops, classes, to meet the diverse and evolving needs of melrose's older adults. Uh, Ms. Brown has also been an invaluable partner to our former director. Stacy Ello, as you know, has gone to the private sector, and we are mostly happy, but a little bit resentful that that took place. Um, but not so much because we have this excellent candidate, um, here, here before us. And beyond the educational and recreational and social offerings, uh, Ms. Brown has really embraced, um, what certainly social workers and some social service policy makers understand this. No wrong door, meaning if you come and present yourself at the Milano Center, you don't get, you know, if someone presents, let's say 59, oh, you know, we'll see you next year, or we'll see you five years from now, they will plug you in to the social worker there, or we'll walk you over to veterans or send you over to City Hall where we have other robust social services. Again, assuming, assuming that is the need, um, in terms of qualifications, you know, about her experience, if you had a chance to, uh, visit the senior centers, I think many of you have. Um, she has a dual bachelor's degrees and psychology and gen, gender and, uh, sexuality studies from Stonehill. We've had very good luck with Stonehill folks, I would say, and a master's in Management and Aging services, uh, from UMass Boston, which really is a premier, um, location for elders services, the Gerontology Institute, and things of that nature. She worked on the private side as the re, uh, director of Residence Life at Brigham House assisted living in Watertown. And as the interim Senior Center director and program coordinator at the Lynn Council in Aging. Uh, we are extremely fortunate to have Ms. Brown ready, willing, and able to step into this role. And it's important to note that one thing that I'm exceptionally proud of, of, uh, the c o A and the Milano Center, is from day one, they have been very, very thoughtful about succession planning. So when Erica arrived on the scene, Stacey and the c o a were very deliberate in, um, I don't wanna insult you, I say training you up, but familiarizing, uh, Erica with everything about the center. And that, um, that also includes some of the more mundane or perhaps less interesting things like, you know, paying the bills, working with Munis, the things that, um, probably, you know, no one outside this room, um, understands, again, the c O A is services are fastest growing population. I am a thousand percent confident that Ms. Brown is exceptionally well prepared to continue the success and grow the success, uh, of that center. I do want to just note that, um, in your packet, there should be a letter, essentially, of endorsement, if you will, from the Council on Aging, um, speaking very, very enthusiastically about the potential for her appointment and the prospect of her stepping into this role. With that, I thank you for listening to me, and I'll turn it over to Erica. Thank You, Mr. Mayor. You bet,

▶ 9:26 Speaker 2: Uh, counselors, it's, it's an honor to be here, uh, before you tonight. Uh, Mr. Mayor, uh, my colleagues here, um, thank you everybody for, for taking time to be here. Uh, I really appreciate it. Um, so, you know, af over the last two years, um, I've been very grateful to be a part of, of the c o a, um, as a very welcoming, uh, and knowledgeable, um, resource for older adults in our community. Um, we support them in, in, uh, you know, different aspects of life, whether it be, uh, socialization and recreation or, uh, educational opportunities, um, resources, um, referrals. You know, we, we kind of, um, very multifaceted. Um, so I've been grateful to be a part of that. Um, and to work alongside, uh, you know, the previous director, um, who, like the mayor said, uh, you know, created a very welcoming, uh, no wrong door policy. You know, if, if somebody walks through the door, we wanna make sure that they leave with a sense of, um, you know, uh, the staff being helpful and, and, and meeting their needs, whatever it might have been when they came in the door. Um, as director, I would be, uh, very happy to continue the great work, um, that the c o a has been doing over the last, um, few years, and to introduce, you know, new and exciting programs for older adults in our community, um, as well as continue to, um, you know, be a hub for, uh, resources for, uh, any, any issue that they might be facing and, and be advocates in their corner. So, thank you for the opportunity. I appreciate it.

▶ 11:07 Manjula Karamcheti: Thank you so much. Any questions from our counselors?

▶ 11:14 Speaker 1: Councillor Stewart?

▶ 11:16 Robb Stewart: Uh, thank you, Madam Chair. Uh, thank you Ms. Brown for being here. Thank you, Mr. Mayor, for this, uh, that very nice introduction. I don't really have very many questions. I just want to, uh, compliment you on, on your background. I think it's a great fit as representative of both Fuller and Levi Gould. Um, I have a number of, um, constituents that I think take advantage of the, of the senior center. It, it's a great, obviously a great location for them, uh, but I know it's a, a well run facility. It's embraced and appreciated. And, uh, given your background, the history and, and the work that you've done to date, I will fully support this and look forward to, uh, seeing you. You, uh, take, take over. Thank you so much. Thank you, Madam Chair.

▶ 11:56 Speaker 1: Thank you, president Greg.

▶ 11:58 Jen Grigoraitis: Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Mr. Mayor and Ms. Brown for being here tonight. I'm thrilled to see you before us. I wanna thank the Council on Aging Board for their endorsement and also for their work in succession planning. It's something that we do too little of in government at every level. So I'm really thrilled to see you all taking the time to make that happen. Um, I've had the opportunity to spend some time at the Milano Center over the past couple months, and I've seen firsthand not just your dedication to, um, our residents, but your passion for delivering services that meet the needs of everyone. Um, and also how well received you are by the community you're looking to serve. So, I'm thrilled about this. Um, I know sometimes thinking in a different direction is the right way to go, but I think right now, at this moment, particularly as we continue to come out of C O V I D, um, having you and your insight and knowledge and expertise of what our Melrose older residents need is a real asset for us. So I am thrilled to support this. I am happy to make a motion to recommend for passage unless second Madam Chair, you wanted to. Oh.

▶ 13:00 Manjula Karamcheti: Um, first, for the record, I'd like to say that Councillor Williams is now here. Um, we have a motion, uh, for approval by President Gita, seconded by Councillor Stewart. Um, on discussion, I will just say that I am also delighted, um, that this is happening right now. And just the Milano Center of the Council on Aging is so important to the fabric of our community and the work that you do, um, the serious work and the fun work really matters. And so, just, just grateful and very much appreciate the support. Um, and with that, all in favor,

▶ 13:42 Speaker 3: Aye. Aye. Aye.

▶ 13:46 Speaker 1: Any opposed? All right. Well, we will give the people what they want.

▶ 13:53 Speaker 3: Congratulations. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you.

▶ 13:58 Speaker 1: Thank you for being here tonight in this motion. We'll move to full council.

▶ 14:05 Speaker 1: Y'all don't need to appear next time, but you're welcome to come back.

▶ 14:10 Manjula Karamcheti: Um, okay. Well, now we are going to move on to our second appointment. This is Appointment 2024 dash six, appointment of Rebecca Blumenthal, 50 Stillman Road to the Historical Commission for a term to expire on the last day of February, 2025. We are still under the suspension of the rule. So, mayor Broder, please go ahead and introduce the candidate.