HomeMy WebLinkAbout01122012 Human Services Contract Review Committee MinutesCONTRACT REVIEW COMMITTEE
Meeting of Thursday January 12, 2012
Minutes of the meeting of: The meeting took place on Thursday January 12, 2012 at
2 Fairgrounds Road, Nantucket, MA 02554.
Members Present: Mary Wawro, John Belash, Augie Ramos, Christy Kickham, Holly
McGowan
Members Excused: Jack Gardner
Staff Present: Pam Meriam, Ann Medina
Members of the Public: none
I. Called to Order: Meeting was called to order at 12:35
II. Quorum: a quorum was established
III. Approval of Agenda: Agenda was unanimously approved
IV. Public Comment: none
V. Action and Discussion: RFP proposal interviews
The Contract Review Committee (CRC) scheduled and posted this meeting to interview
proposers in response to the town’s RFP process.
Mary Wawro explained to each applicant, before their interview, that the process was
different this year. CRC members received ten packets from agencies requesting funds but
the amount of the proposal was not included. The template of a contract that had been
given out with the RFP is a consultant format not a grant agreement. Mary handed out a
copy of the contract she wants to use. Mary also informed applicants to pay particular
attention to the conflict of interest portion and the potential pitfalls and what they should
be aware of concerning conflict of interest. It is the vendor’s responsibility to make sure no
one is in conflict.
Nantucket Behavioral Health Services/Family & Children’s Services (NBHS), Peter Swenson,
Peter Hallowell, Amanda Congdon: The services NBHS is proposing for funding are
substance abuse education and treatment and mental health services. The town funds are
used to offset costs for people who do not have the ability to pay; these folks either have
inadequate health insurance or none at all. There are a number of people here that do not
speak English that come in for services and do not have insurance. NBHS does have
someone on their staff that speaks five languages. In addition to services already provided
there is now ‘in home therapy’ where someone will go into the home and work with the
family and friends who have suffered a tragic loss. NBHS offers both adult and adolescent
psychiatric treatment, NBHS is fortunate that there are two adolescent/child psychiatrists
that have homes here and they are available to treat patients.
Comments and questions: CRC would like an update on the Teen Center. The Alliance for
Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) had been asked by the town to take it over and they
did for a while but then decided they did not want to continue so NBHS stepped in and
now runs it like it was before. There are 15 to 25 kids daily that attend and NBHS has been
able to intervene in a few situations with kids. They have been surprised to discover that
some of the kids that come in after school are hungry and they have provided healthy
snacks for them. It is a requirement that kids who come to the teen center get involved in
the volunteer program one hour a week. Homework help is available also.
Mary Wawro commented that in the last contract there was a clear, strict statement of
work: how reimbursement was made, the town funds would partially subsidize units; in this
years contract there was a provision for the operation of the teen center and salary for Tim
Cummings; is that the same? Tim Cummings is currently an employee ASAP, money comes
into NBHS and they pay ASAP for Tim. NBHS is just requesting funds for the services they
provide; even though NBHS runs the teen center now they are not asking for funds to run
it. Funds requested have always been for subsidizing face-to-face counseling. Is there a
way to have documentation showing client contacts that do not have insurance that would
be a clear reflection of people who receive sliding scale services. In the past agencies
would include an audited statement and a copy of federal form 990, this year these were
not asked for however the CRC is requesting to see them.
At 1:15 Diane O’Neil the town’s procurement officer arrived.
Interfaith Council Emergency Food Pantry, Andy Reis director, Teri Anne Vigil chair:
The food pantry is very grateful to Saint Paul’s church for providing space for 22 years. In
November the food pantry re-located to the Greenhound Building on Washington Street
with the entrance to the pantry on the Candle Street side. The use of the food pantry is up
17% year-to-date. The food pantry had a record breaking night on Tuesday 1/10; the
number of people was 145 (this includes all members of a family – not 145 individuals).
The food pantry tries to provide 3 meals a day for 3 days. The process at the food pantry is
that most of the items are pre-bagged non-perishables; also available is milk, eggs, cheese
and some meats; there is a ‘free choice’ shelf and a client has the opportunity to pick out
some things and these items vary. A client comes in, and based on the size of the family,
this determines the amount of bags they receive. Last year the food pantry served 468
families.
Comments and questions: Is the food pantry abused? Not really, people are allowed to use
it 12 times and the average person uses it 4.5 times. Does the food pantry receive a
discount from the Steamship Authority for the van they use to pick up food? Yes, in most
cases we travel at no cost if space is available. Also, Nantucket Storage provides 2 large
spaces, at no cost, to the food pantry to store provisions.
It was suggested that a sign at the entrance of the grocery store, instead of at the exit,
would be helpful so people would be more conscious when they are shopping to purchase
something extra for the food pantry.
Interfaith Council Rental Assistance Program (NRAP), Janis Carreiro and Rev. Georgia Ann
Snell The proposal from NRAP is twofold. 1) To provide short term rental assistance to
folks experiencing financial difficulties or facing imminent homelessness. NRAP will provide
first and last month’s rent, not a security deposit, to private sector landlords. NRAP may be
paying a portion of the rent for someone who is a seasonal worker who is waiting for
unemployment benefits to start, or someone who has an unexpected illness and is out of
work. A person has to be a year-round resident for at least 2 years, employable and they
must be able to demonstrate that they will be able to continue to pay their own rent. NRAP
may change the amount available to applicants from $3,000 to $4,000 and the waiting time
to re-apply from 18 months to 12 months. The town funds are used to maintain operations
(funds are used to manage and run program). Grants from private sources are strictly used
for rent only.
2) IFC/NRAP is fully aware that the fuel assistance program is done by the town’s human
services office however the town wants to move to oversight rather than direct services.
Janis refers clients to human services for fuel assistance and human services refers clients
to Janis for rental assistance. Approximately 50% to 60% are clients in common and the
paperwork is essentially the same it would be just a matter of making extra copies of
information that a client brings in and Janis could do both the rental assistance application
and the fuel assistance application. Janis would become the contact for South Shore
Community Action Council (SSCAC state fuel assistance agency). This is the reason for the
extra funding in the proposal; this has been a conversation for more than a year that NRAP
could possibly take over the fuel assistance program. The significant cost of running the
program is for postage and paper.
Martha’s Vineyard Community Services, Kathi Hackett: Because of the weather Kathi was
unable to attend in person so she presented the proposal over the phone. Kathi has been
working with families on Nantucket that have a child with disabilities for over a decade and
has established a relationship with each one. There are eleven families on Nantucket that
Kathi works with right now; she also does outreach education and referrals. Kathi also
works with Kim Horyn (Autism Speaks) and Tina Steadman (Nantucket STAR Sports &
Therapeutic/Accessible Recreation), parent networking; they are working on a grant to get
a behaviorist to come to the island. Kathi provides case management and transportation
for families and she has a cell phone and is available 24-7. Kathi is on the island one to two
times a month and she is a strong advocate, on the state level, for funds for both islands.
She has made it abundantly clear that she works for both islands.
Questions and comments: Are you involved with the Nantucket Healthy Community
Collaborative? Kathi has heard of it but she has not attended a meeting but she wants to
make a connection with the group. One member suggested she could come to the island
and make a presentation to the group. She would be interested in doing that.
Small Friends (SF), Steve McCluskey: Small Friends’ proposal is for their food program.
Small Friends is the only year-round day-care center that is open Monday thru Friday
7:15 am to 5:15 pm that takes infants 3 months old and toddlers. There are 75
students/children enrolled at SF. SF food program follows state guidelines for schools and
early childhood centers. SF has some the children with developmental disabilities and they
work closely with the Nantucket Elementary Schools Pathways Preschool Program (which is
for students demonstrating moderate to severe needs). SF has had children that they
recognized having problems (i.e. autism) and they were able to get them help with early
intervention/diagnosis.
SF has been less expensive that other private day-care centers and they are very close
price wise with Wee Whalers. SF received $10,000 from Nantucket Golf Club to be used for
tuition grants and they keep this open for those in need financially.
The funds requested will be used for program manager/cook and for the cost of food. SF
used to receive funds from the town for a teacher when they were in the process of
building their new building and once that was completed they did not receive funding from
the town. The economy has affected SF and food prices have gone up significantly, that is
reason for request.
At 3:05 the committee voted to go into executive session. Diane O’Neil opened the
proposals and they are as follows:
1. Small Friends $ 70,500
2. Nantucket AIDS Network $100,000
3. South Coastal Counties Legal Services $ 4,000
4. Family Planning $ 12,530
5. Interfaith Council Rental Assistance $ 39,900
6. Interfaith Council Food Pantry $ 35,000
7. Nantucket Behavioral Health Services $130,000
8. Martha’s Vineyard Community Services $ 15,125
9. A Safe Place $ 50,000
10. Elder Services $13,000
Total
$470,055.00
Contract Review Committee has a budget of $317,883.00. The committee will
meet again to discuss recommendation. The next meeting will be Friday
January 20th at 10:00 am at 2 Fairgrounds Road. Meeting adjourned at 3:40.
Respectfully submitted by
Ann Medina