The Council on Aging (COA) Board of Directors issued an urgent reminder regarding the April 1st deadline for senior tax exemptions during their Wednesday meeting, while simultaneously grappling with communication failures exposed by a recent blizzard. Chair Lynon Lonn shared a report from Director Julie Wieleba-Milne detailing a robust operational response—including wellness checks on 50 residents, 140 emergency lunches, and the use of COA vans for fire department shelter transport—but board members were quick to highlight where the system fell short for isolated residents. Lonn urged residents to check income limits for the nine available tax credit options, noting that staff are actively assisting with applications. This push for fiscal relief comes as Harwich navigates a tightening property tax levy capacity and rising school assessments.

Board members who experienced the storm firsthand shared accounts of information blackouts that left many seniors vulnerable. The storm pointed out a real deficiency in people knowing where to get help, Carol DeLina said, noting she was without power or phone for several days. If you lose internet and power, you've got nothing. My home phone was dead. Angie Chilaka added that technical issues even affected backup systems, noting that plow drivers told me Generacs weren't working because people didn't clear the snow around them. The air intake got caked with ice. One board member recounted their own displacement during the weather emergency, saying I wasn't here in the storm. My son made me go to his place. I wanted to come back home but the governor said not yet. In response, the board pledged to work with the Director to prioritize emergency preparedness seminars and better utilize cell-phone-based communication for seniors who are not traditionally tech-savvy.

The board also debated a proposal from the Friends of the COA to establish a vetted directory of plumbers, electricians, and contractors to protect seniors from being overcharged. However, the initiative hit a wall over potential municipal liability and the risk of the town appearing to endorse private businesses. We have to be careful as an organization for the town, Lonn cautioned. If we recommend someone and they don't show up or they overcharge, it negatively impacts the COA's reputation. John Batchelder strongly agreed that the department should avoid endorsements, stating, I just don't think we should enter that realm. We represent a town agency. We should not be in the business of referrals. The board reached a consensus that while the COA may provide links to external review sites like Yelp or Next Door, it will not host its own list of recommended tradespeople. Lonn emphasized the need for caution, stating We're the safety net. We have to be so careful to vet everything so we're held on a higher pedestal.

Improving the town's digital and physical outreach remained a central theme, as the board reviewed website traffic showing that most users find the COA through Facebook or direct links rather than search engines. Bob MacCready, reporting on recent tech training for volunteers, emphasized that hardware alone isn't a solution. There was a big emphasis on access. Not just giving people stuff—you can't just give them an iPad and expect them to know what to do, MacCready said. Sheila House, who also serves on the Facilities Committee, questioned the analytics behind the new harwichcoa.com site, asking Is unique visitors people looking for the first time? when reviewing the 180 unique visitors recorded over the last 30 days. House suggested that better coordination with the community center's front desk and local realtors could help bridge the gap for new residents who are currently unaware the facility exists.