In Yesterdays News: Council on Aging expected to survive serious cuts Eryn Dion News Staff Writer #TEMPLETON — Despite several rounds of devastating cuts that have left her department without funding, Council on Aging Director Bethany Loveless is determined to keep the Scout Hall’s doors open and continue providing services to Templeton’s senior citizens. The first reduction came in January when the Board of Selectmen mandated a 5 percent slash to all department budgets, which for Ms. Loveless resulted in the loss of her Social Service Coordinator. “We knew we could make that cut without negatively impacting services,” she explained. “We thought if we were proactive, it would protect us.” When word reached her that the $505,000 override vote had failed at the ballot and massive cuts were necessary to keep the state at bay, Ms. Loveless brought a plan to the collaborative meetings between department heads and Town Administrator Bob Markel to iron out the necessary measures. Ultimately the Food Pantry was limited to one day a week, Meals on Wheels drivers were left with only two-and-a-half hours to make their deliveries, and the COA bookkeeper was relieved of her duties, but they remained open – largely due to sacrifices born by other departments. “We’re hugely grateful that other departments made such large cuts to allow us to get by and stay open,” Ms. Loveless said. While the reductions were devastating to every department in town, Ms. Loveless said it was vital they do everything possible to prevent state intervention. To the Department of Revenue, she said, they were just a number, a line item to be cut without regard to seniors in the area and their needs. “I don’t know of any other senior center in the area that also serves at the Food Pantry,” she said. “The state wouldn’t know that. I don’t have relationships with whoever would come from the state.” But when news that an additional $60,000 was needed to balance the budget, Ms. Loveless knew the COA was in line for a big hit. After funding for the Board of Health and Building Inspector was totally eliminated, the town was still about $5,000 short and Advisory Board Chairman Wilfred Spring regretfully explained that the additional money could only come from the COA budget. “His statement goes to show how well the town is educated about what we do,” said Ms. Loveless. To cover the gap, Ms. Loveless offered the remainder of the COA’s salary and expense accounts to the Board of Selectmen, saying the amount was originally meant for dining room tables and chairs for the new senior center and the department’s payroll could be covered by their formula grant. According to Ms. Loveless, the state provides an allocation every year of about $8 per senior in the community. Templeton’s COA had about $4,000 left from the grant to pay for the tables and chairs, but Ms. Loveless met with the Executive Office of Elder Affairs to explain the town’s financial situation and the need to pay salaries. “They unequivocally said pay the staff, keep the services running, and buy the tables and chairs later,” she said. For the council, their focus is now on getting into the new senior center being built off Bridge Street in early fall and trying to recoup some of the funds that were lost to budget cuts. “The next step for us is going to be fundraising,” said Ms. Loveless. Ms. Loveless said the COA is thinking about hosting a benefit concert in August to help raise money, and that the effort would be much larger than any previously undertaken by the department. Work on the senior center is still progressing through help from carpentry and plumbing students from the Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School, although it has slowed considerably due to the spending freeze. Money allocated for construction by the town cannot be used to float the operating budget, but it cannot be spent until the freeze is lifted. Throughout the process, Ms. Loveless said the council has had to scale back their construction targets but she still holds grand plans for the future. “Our main goal is just getting in the first floor,” she said. “No frills.” Ms. Loveless is also working with Representative Denise Andrews, D-Orange, to secure an additional $200,000 for the center in the state’s budget to help get back some amenities previously eliminated. “We’re really planning on an innovative senior center, and that $200,000 would go a long way towards making that happen,” Ms. Loveless commented. While the series of cuts have been painful across the board, Ms. Loveless said she was extremely proud of the collaborative effort and teamwork put forward by her fellow department heads to move ahead and bring the town through this financially difficult time.
Posted on: Sat, 24 May 2014 11:37:27 +0000
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