City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire Mayor's Blue Ribbon COVID Response Task Force Committee, 1 Nov 2022

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From YouTube: 11.1.2022 COVID Response Task Force

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11.1.2022 COVID Response Task Force

A

Yes, now we're recording, thank you so uh call to order uh like to entertain a motion for approval.

B

Of the minutes of twin uh october 18th, I think we need to fill in item number two before we can.

A

Ask for approval. What do you mean? I can't we weren't remembering? Oh, yes, yeah! No, but.

B

We can, we can uh ask for a motion and then we can afterwards we can. So if we get a motion, foreign.

A

Discussion on the minutes, any any changes. Yes,.

C

Does anyone remember who motioned for approval of the minutes left last time.

B

You motioned and seconded who was said who seconded was it? I actually guessed abby, but.

C

I don't know sure yeah. I did second at one point so yeah you guys were both sitting.

D

Here right there and it sounded like it was coming from there, but I wasn't 100 sure, okay.

B

uh All in favor of approval of the minnesota, 10 18. say: hi hi any nays, any abstentions.

B

um Motion passes. Thank you uh kim mcnamara.

B

Our favorite health information officer, shall I just sit here- sure: can everyone.

E

So I'm just going to give you a brief update of where we are with the community health profile.

E

And needs assessment and where it seems that we can move forward now, we've broken it into segments.

E

um The data gathering work is now underway by the community health.

E

Institute out of concord and that portion will be completed by december 15th with.

E

A simple report and, of course, all the data and files that we can manipulate.

E

um They will also update us if there are sections of the profile that are completed prior to that.

E

Date, the next steps are we're going to begin the information gathering of vulnerable populations.

E

And describe individual and collective challenges, since this group here is a very strong collection.

E

Representing vulnerable populations in portsmouth, we would like to connect with this group.

E

um As an initial contact group and I'm asking if you would be willing to devote.

E

One meeting for these members here to discuss two questions that we have to kick off the process.

E

The questions will be we'd like to know what your experience as an organization has been.

E

What makes it difficult for you to provide services to the populations that you serve.

E

And the second question is: what is your perception of the impact of covid and.

E

Everything else that came with it over the last three years on the people that you serve.

E

From that meeting, we will develop specific focus groups for the population served and.

E

Others that might not be represented at this table, but to make sure that we include all.

E

Those that we know about and any that we learn about from the data gathering, that's going on.

E

We're looking at um facilitators for this next segment of focus groups, we're talking to two.

E

Now and we will likely also use key informant interviews as part of that process and it's from.

E

These focus groups, that much of the narrative and from the interviews that much the narrative about.

E

Specifically, what is happening in portsmouth will be written, so we're about to start that stage that.

E

Is my update? I I missed the date. Jsi is doing the report and then by december 15th. It's due.

B

But uh beyond december 15 for that initial data gathering phase.

B

And this other phase that you're talking about um that involves that you'd like to.

B

Involve this group that's going into next year, we can start that agree.

E

You gave us a date for a meeting. We would start at that date with this group and then from this.

E

Group break it off into you know, who should be the focus group for our unsheltered homeless.

E

Population, who should be the focus group for our developmentally disabled and so on and.

E

So forth, so we would have several focus groups going on at the same time, but it will start if.

E

You're willing to have this group serve as that initial discussion. um I'll speak for myself. I.

B

Think that would be a wonderful idea. My concern would be that we, I believe we have three meetings.

B

Left uh through this month in december before we have to report out to the city council, and we need.

B

Those meetings to really put our report together so I'll open it up to the floor for ideas, because.

B

I think that's an important thing that we should be definitely engaging in I'm just wondering if.

B

If how we're going to fit it in before the end of the year right, I think we need a separate meeting.

F

For the week that we're not meeting one of the weeks, the tuesdays- I don't know if people could.

F

Do that, but you could you could also extend this meeting by an hour or whatever, if you.

D

Had critical mass at one of our standing meetings? Okay, whatever the group thinks, is um more doable.

B

I think that um maybe we can discuss that later on, but we certainly so I think you have a yes from.

B

The committee we'll have to figure out whether it's an extended hour or whether we fit it in.

B

um At some other point before the end of the year, does that make sense to you guys, yeah? Yes,.

B

B

Next, we have alan tally. Who is uh ellen? Is your title director welfare welfare? Okay, thank you.

G

Hi everyone um before I tell you about what I.

G

Think is going to happen when I look at my crystal ball, I want to give you a little.

G

History of what's happened in the welfare office in the last few years um prior kovid, uh the the.

G

Three quarters prior to covid, which was in fy 20.. I was spending about 26 27 000 a month and.

G

That's pretty average, it was not untoward, and that year I saw I had 469 office visits. The.

G

Following year, um 263 office visits I spent 165 000, which was extremely low for the considering.

G

And the following year, after that fy 22, I only saw 65 people and I only spent I spent less than forty.

G

Thousand dollars, which is I've, spent that much in a month before so far this year we are of seeing.

G

Very few people assisting very few people, but of course I expect that to change in the pretty near.

G

Future because the e-wrap money is gone and that's where primarily, the savings have come about to my.

G

Office for just so people know what does e-wrap stand for emergency rental assistance program.

G

um It's the money that you've been hearing about the governor needed to do something we.

G

Did end up getting a couple of million dollars more money in the state of new hampshire, but.

G

It's only two days worth of money, so it's not going to make much of a difference and.

H

You're saying most of that money is already spent. Yes, it's gone, it's gone yeah. Can I ask.

C

A quick question: do you know what happened with all of the rental assistance money the county had.

C

Spent all of that, because they were having trouble spending that right well, they were having trouble.

G

Spending it there were two phases of money. The first phase in the second phase that state was.

G

Having trouble with the first phase, because it was hard to get them up and running, I guess to.

G

Get the program going and they took a long time doing it and- and I don't know exactly.

G

Why but the second phase of money was easier to get going and spend so they spent the second.

G

Phase of the money they had to give back a whole bunch of the first, so they dig it back. Okay, yeah.

G

um So my my immediate concern is that um there are hundreds and hundreds of people across the.

G

State who are living in motels, who cannot self-pay going forward- and I happen just.

G

One motel in portsmouth, the strafford county has played, has filled 18 rooms at the anchorage, motel.

G

With stratford county residents, now the money's running out and they're calling us we are doing.

G

Our best to return them to the town of their origin, um but if they self-pay for two or three.

G

Nights then they belong to city of portsmouth and there's nothing we can do about it. Really. I've.

G

Had considerable discussions with the welfare officers and the in stratford county, um most.

G

Memorably rochester's, somersworth and dover, and we are all in agreement that no, the folks shouldn't.

G

Be the responsibility of the city of portsmouth, but it doesn't always work the way we want it to.

G

um And also another thing that has acted our favor in the last few years is that.

G

The portsmouth housing authority has not evicted anybody based on money. Their evictions have been.

G

For lease violations only and I'm afraid that that may come to an end as well, so we'll do our.

G

Best to keep anybody who's in public housing in public housing, but it's just a just a little bit.

G

Of a forecast of things to come, alan d, uh the reason why pha has not evicted anybody.

B

Because of money is because they're getting the arpa funds, they are getting some of the funds and.

G

And because when an applicant applies, they can get their back rent paid as well as rent going forward.

G

But now that the money's gone, I'm not really sure what's going to happen.

G

Because I I know of somebody right now, who's over at one of the family units.

G

And they owe three thousand dollars in back rent and they've used all of the opera money.

G

um Folks got kind of complacent, they didn't pay their rent for 18 months and now all of a sudden.

G

They have to pay again and they they don't know how to do it anymore. You know it's very difficult.

B

I I'll say that, based on what ellen is saying that that we are going to see a huge influx of.

B

People, individuals and families into the shop, certainly into crossroads.

B

um I I was speaking to betsy andrews parker, who was the executive director of stratford.

B

County cap the other day- and she said she has 185 hotel rooms- I don't know how many they are.

B

That's just in stratford county uh through cap. I don't know how many they are in rockingham.

B

County but it's a significant vulnerable population that are going to find themselves.

B

um All of a sudden uh homeless- and um it's going to be a significant challenge for for the seek.

B

For us, yes, um in addition to that, and and uh this is just hot off the press- we're going to.

B

Serve as the rockingham county emergency winter shelter um so that um that is going to happen as.

B

Well, so we we will be able to accommodate uh some folks and emerge during really really cold days.

B

um So that's going to put some additional pressure, certainly on on crossroads house.

B

um But this is a this is this is a problem in this. Population includes people who are barred.

G

From crossroads house, who traditionally would have doubled up with family and friends and.

G

They didn't have the need to do that with the the money that was available to them, but now.

G

They have to negotiate all of those things that they haven't had to do in the last few years. Yeah.

C

How much was that money over the and what was the time frame of it being spent.

G

The every individual people who applied they could get up to 18 months of their rent, paid.

G

They could also some of that money could also be used to utilize, paying their utility bills.

G

So it was a pretty significant lifestyle change for some people to not have to pay your rent.

G

Or your utilities for 18 months is a big deal.

H

So that when you said ending, it's done, it's done already, they stop taking applications october 23rd.

H

Okay, that's what I heard. What does that mean for these people if you're, if, for instance,.

G

If you're in a motel, um you can't recertify to get more money, you're you're, just you're.

G

Done and the hotel people are really across the state. This is the population that the welfare.

G

Administrators are concerned about because these are folks who can't get into a you know, because of.

G

Any variety of reasons can't get into a an apartment can't get into another motel. They.

G

Can't get into a shelter, and I I just I had to put two families in a motel yesterday I had 660.

G

Dollars a week in the cheapest motel in portsmouth, and that's not going to go away anytime soon,.

G

You know because they have those obviously, as well knows it's a huge bottleneck, a.

G

Crossroads house, especially for families, and so it's it's going to be a long-term.

G

Thing for us and it couldn't come at the worst time of the year, we're going to the winter months.

B

um Anything else you've done. No, I think I wasn't getting any.

G

More questions, so I thought I'd sneak away quietly. Thank you ellen. Thank you.

B

Okay, so next up seacoast public health network and who are we speaking with maria reyes, maria.

B

Reyes, can you spell your last name? Yes, r-e-y-e-s. Welcome. Thank you. So um I'm here to provide some.

I

Information about the seacoast public health, on the continuum of care facilitator and it's.

I

A pleasure to be here I I've always wanted to come, but I was pulled away in other projects.

I

And of course, covid-19 really monopolized our lives so but it's nice to start peeking out again.

I

um Basically, uh to prepare for this I did a mini's youth survey and most of the populations.

I

That I deal with are youth and young adults all the way to elder adults. We were trying to do a.

I

Trans kind of generational program with young adults and older adults living together in these.

I

Units that we, this is something we made up and we created, but we're still looking for the funding.

I

To do that, so I work with aarp scott bogle and he is coming up with some really good programs right.

I

Now for that project, so um we we did a little survey just to give you a little snapshot of.

I

What's going on in the seacoast public health, I work in the 23 towns portsmouth. I used to work.

I

Before the pandemic hit, I worked with every just about everybody, especially during the integrated.

I

Delivery network, if some of you who probably know about that and that's where all of my.

I

Focus was so now we're trying to execute some some projects, some programs and people. If you.

I

Have any ideas brainstorm? If you want to text me or email me, I'm happy to look at things and.

I

Maybe we can come up with some really good, innovative ideas. We've we've done executed.

I

Some really fantastic programs over the years and our greatest assets is our coalitions. We.

I

Have three coalitions: the soarock coalition, uh the raymond for youth coalition and all of our.

I

Partners like austin 17 house, these are youth serving organizations that are just powerhouses.

I

When it comes to executing deliverables- and so I partner very closely with them this last two.

I

Years they really worked hard on the 988 eye care suicide prevention initiative. The the youth did.

I

Some incredible signs and really promoted in a way that there's no way we could do it so that.

I

Was really fantastic and the raymond for youth coalition? That's a that's been around forever. They.

I

Also, did they focus on vaping, because vaping is still quite a problem with young people and austin.

I

17 house- I don't know if you all are familiar with that they're in brentwood and they have a very.

I

Nice facility that has an array of of skills, life skills for young people from youth, young adults.

I

Parents can go there and they really concentrate on the life skills. Like you know, cooking.

I

um Really cool outdoor projects, uh like you, work in a farm and all the way from uh you know, helping.

I

Out in any way, they can learning their school work, so they have like these classrooms and the.

I

The I've been there a million times and I love it. They have such a powerful presence and they really.

I

Generally, have kids that just love to be there, which is like amazing, so and they've been around.

I

For a few years- and they have much more funding than they used to be, we've also been helping in.

I

That area so they're the boots on the ground that are executing a lot of these projects and we, my.

I

Goal is to make sure that they have the funding and that they continue the progress that they're.

I

Making, because this is this is something that is very valuable to the seacoast public health region.

I

um And really the top concerns for youth is having safe alternative activities. That's often sometimes.

I

A problem and the other areas of concern are the mental health, especially with depression, suicide.

I

Ideation and suicide attempts that has been on the rise for the last. I would say before.

I

The pandemic and it just went off the charts during the pandemic as and I know I'm preaching.

I

To the choir here, so please forgive me for that, but it still needs to be said. What's going on.

I

um Also, the transitional period from high school to college is a vulnerable vulnerable period, so we.

I

Are really throwing our assets in that area as well, and that's really making an impact.

I

We also want the young adults to be the key players here. I am an adult, but I like to get.

I

Myself out of there, I give them information when they need it, but it's amazing some of the stuff.

I

They do they take the ball and they run with it, and this is exactly what we: what we need family.

I

Stress, as is at an all-time high, the covid, the social determinants of health, have been a.

I

Huge impact on people lack of transportation, food access- you know the usual uh stuff that is really.

I

Impairing people and family stress the biggest one right now is inflation, the just the just going to.

I

The grocery bill gives me like angina because it's unbelievably expensive, so I can't imagine.

I

For folks who cannot afford food, it's either. You know if you're, really low income, you can get some.

I

Support, but if you're in the middle, sometimes it's where people are get are being affected.

I

And um basically, let me see if there's anything else, the same drugs uh with the lethality of.

I

Fentanyl is the game changer, so we are really looking at that, um especially with young people.

I

Just a little bit of that fentanyl is so lethal that um you know we're doing everything we can.

I

To educate the community, both the families and the youth about this, um and let me see.

I

If there's anything else, I missed or if you have any questions that you'd like to ask.

C

um I have a quick question. Yes, when you mentioned trying to ensure that the folks had the funding.

C

That they need, where do your resources come from? um Our resources come from. uh Let's see.

I

um From the grants from the state we we have different pockets of money through that.

I

um We have the new hampshire charitable foundation. They also provide some funding.

I

We're doing a project with them and, um let's see uh those are the main ones, is the stay in.

I

New hampshire, charitable and there's some others that escape me right now, but if you need a full.

I

List I can get you that and who exactly is the public health network? Who is it you mentioned.

C

The three coalitions but okay they're part of the seacoast public health. We have uh 23 towns.

I

Including the city of portsmouth, so um that's a lot of today's representation from each of those.

C

Yes, there is in various degrees like so wrong is part c seacoast public health, and they also are.

I

Part of another region because they got split and it's a little complicated. How the how the.

I

Public health networks evolved, um but right now we have the 23 towns of seacoast public health.

I

And that's a lot um and I can't be at all places. I have other colleagues that work, but.

I

They work in different areas like fep, uh public health emergency and um we have, uh let's see.

I

It's just me fep and we do we. We break ourselves apart, so to speak, and we do things from lead.

I

Poisoning prevention: uh we do a lot of the young adult strategy, grant we do um older adults, I mean.

I

We we cover the whole range of of the age span. So did that who asked that question? What were the.

H

Three coalitions: the three coalitions are so rock for me, so rock and so uh capital rock r-o-c-k and.

I

These all different places in the state. No, no. This is just uh the seacoast public health region, okay,.

H

Yeah, okay, and if you want to look to see what the towns are just go on our website, seacoast public.

I

Health network is that what you mean by coalitions based on different tones or or different.

H

um The the coalitions um like the raymond for youth is in raymond. Okay and that's part of the.

I

Seacoast public health and the soul rock they're part of the seacoast public health. They are also.

I

Part of south central region- it's just the way that they are geographically so they're kind of.

I

Broken up and then austin 17 house is not really a coalition they're, a youth serving organization.

I

So those are our big, our big partners right there. Yes, I just had a question um about the.

J

Youth survey, the safe alternative activities: can you talk a little bit about what explained that.

J

A little bit about what that might mean yeah um the safe alternative activities are things like.

I

um When they participate in some of the projects that we are working with, for example, austin 17.

I

There may be some vulnerable youth that have been using drugs and alcohol and the prescription drug.

I

Abuse has been escalating, so we target these these kids to either go to raymond for youth coalition.

I

Or to austin 17 house just to increase those protective factors and decrease the risk factors.

I

That they're heading into so we we try to use the prevention model to you know to help them not go.

I

There yeah is the website sql sql's, public health, dot org or what's that at seacoast public health.

I

Network? Okay, if you just plug in that okay it'll come up yep and it's just been revised. So, okay.

B

So, uh maria right, yes, if you had to say you know this- is all these challenges and issues.

B

That we're doing posts during covet and post covet and we had a limited number of funds.

B

And obviously, the funds applied particularly to the city of portsmouth- that's our catchment, but.

B

um What would you recommend to this to this committee to consider in terms of where we should.

B

Be putting our money or making recommendations to the city council. um Thank you for that question. I.

I

Think the most important thing is using young people to really you know ablaze the trail.

I

um They have been phenomenal, the the folks that I've been working with and.

I

I don't want exclude other populations, but youth and young adult historically.

I

Haven't gotten that much attention, and so, but we're throwing a lot of assets.

I

In that direction and we're seeing really fantastic results, so I my money is with that.

I

um And then, on the other hand, I also have a passion for older adults, so um I want to make.

I

Sure that they have the resources, because they're often a forgotten uh group of people so and.

I

Working with arp has been phenomenal because they are putting some resources in that area, so I would.

I

Say the young folks, the earlier the better. The intervention is my philosophy and you know that's.

I

Not rocket science, the earlier you intervene, the better the prognosis so um and that's the way.

I

We've been doing it for the last I've been working with public health for about eight years now, so.

F

For example, if they needed funding, they would come to you as the seacoast public health network.

F

Not necessarily they have other resources. um You know, they're they've got lots of different folks.

I

That support them. We do some funding, but you know we'll do like typically grants like, for example, we.

I

Funded a small grant to a magnolia house. They, you know they're, pretty still kind of new they've been.

I

Around I think, going on their third year, so we've been very uh close partners with jules johnson at.

I

Magnolia house and they just opened up summerwood house, there is a shortage of recovery houses. I.

I

Mean that's not that's a it's not a flash bulletin. It's been ongoing, very difficult to get recovery.

I

Housing, so this is another passion of mine to try to try to get funding for that, because the.

I

Work that they're doing at magnolia house has been absolutely phenomenal, so they just need.

I

More resources, okay and then the other question. I just want to go back to the youth and young adults.

F

And older adults living together projects that you're working on this is a dream: okay,.

F

So this is sounds awesome, um so that is something that is kind of like a dream scenario that.

F

You would have to fundraise for, etc, yeah. It would be yes, I'm I haven't given up on that.

I

um I've seen models in the country that I'm uh that I'm very excited and when I see it I go oh.

I

My goodness, because you know I'm older adults, so I would like to be a part of that action so um and.

I

I think it would be good because we can learn from each other and some of the data that I've seen has.

I

Just been outstanding, so anything that jazzes me up like that and we, our team, is very out of out.

I

Of the box, so we sit around and just brainstorm about dreaming about these projects and programs.

I

And some of them have come to fruition, so you know it's it's worth doing that. I think thanks yep.

B

B

Thank you, maria really appreciate you coming hi. Thank you kindly. I appreciate it.

B

Okay, so we're not going to open it up to the committee for discussion on.

B

On where we're heading- and I know that abby you had leave it with you right abby that had proposed.

B

Doing some sort of a graph for us that I did the question the question should I try to share it.

D

Here I didn't get my act together in time, so well I mean next time but yeah. So I can. I did make.

F

um A google uh slideshow, so I shared it with karen just of a format that we could stick our ideas.

F

In it and then that we would have something to present to the council, so I think we talked about.

F

Did we talk about december december 5th? Is the council meeting yes right? What's the.

F

Next week, together, that's the city council meeting. Oh the council meeting yeah.

F

So just the idea that we would spend, because we have two more meetings.

F

This november 15th and 29th to um put our ideas into a format to share, and I think.

F

As currency doesn't have to be finalized, but at least we have something to share.

F

um So yeah I mean I basically just did the slides with all of our headings put our community members.

F

I'll add I kind of did q and a's so that people could see all of the people we've had to come.

F

In and talk to us, you know that that could be part of it too yeah. So just I'm making it.

F

Obviously this is just what I came up with. We can, I don't know google.

D

Docs, how do you make it full screen at file view and slideshow on the top right.

F

You're going over sorry am I right yep. Okay, look at that.

F

So I just yeah so like I said this is just what I came up with, but we can do whatever, but.

F

um Just doing the our mission statement there, um so I pulled those out of the notes that we.

F

Had from our meetings just so, I thought that if we were presenting to this the council, this.

F

Is just a reminder of what our mission is great and then you want to go to the next one. Karen, our.

F

Names who we are um okay? Next, we can, we can make sure this is to everyone's satisfaction, yeah, as we.

F

Refine it well, that's the other thing I didn't know if I, if I share it for everyone or if you.

F

Are the gatekeeper how that works? I don't know um so I will add our other speakers. We had visit us.

F

Today, so that we just couldn't kind of show that we've been talking all these people and getting.

F

All this information very nice, the critical needs that we had. I didn't fight early on and then I.

F

Just did a couple slides where we would put our ideas as we brainstormed them at the meetings.

F

So that's great, thank you for doing it. Thank you for your transportation. Let me back up yes,.

F

So those were the four we had identified. Okay, um I'm happy to circulate this okay. Thank you.

D

I apologize, I think that let the group down by not sir no I didn't know honestly. I was like I.

F

Can do it, I don't know if I'm supposed to do it like trying to follow the rules right. Can I ask.

A

A question on this process yeah because I don't want to overstep whatever the state laws are on.

A

Being able to contribute to the document is that allowed? Are we allowed to it's a great question.

D

Because that's the part I didn't know because I was like, are we allowed to put in ideas or.

F

Does it all need to be well? We sit here that we're putting in the ideas. I'm gonna say that that could.

D

Be problematic, so let me let me get confirmation of that for for, let me try to do that, while we're.

D

Sitting here, okay, thank you um because I thought twofold that if we shared it as a doc, we could put.

F

Things in and then join to talk about them. But if that's not the case, then maybe we're just jotting.

F

Them down or something, and then everyone goes around here- yeah we can. I can work on a document.

B

Myself and then bring it to the meeting right like we could all do that kind of share it between and.

F

Then just share our ideas and then one person just and then just be the note taking coordinator yeah.

F

And then, as we sit here, I can type in your ideas into the document. If we're not allowed to do it.

F

Outside of the meeting, but let's just let's go on that assumption until I get clarification, but.

D

I do like the idea of people doing their own work and bringing it back here. Yeah.

F

um Yeah, so I think I don't know how we want to do it if we want to just then.

F

Kind of go through a slot go through slides and then um housing isn't listed. Yeah.

A

um And that clearly is a yep area of need. So if I, if I modify it here, that's the beauty.

D

Of a google doc right, it saves yep. Is that correct, yep so just enter in. Thank you. Karen.

D

Yeah wanted to know something new. Every day I got you back. I got you back.

A

In terms of the slides that follow, I am a little uncertain and I apologize. I.

A

Wasn't here last for the last meeting is this committee? There was a conversation about like.

A

Suggesting that a fleet of vehicles were procured somehow- and I I guess I was coming to this group-.

A

And task with a little bit of a different optic, um since there are organizations and structures.

A

In place that know this work the best and know how to best and most efficiently spend money.

A

And spend dollars and run those programs that perhaps we would take the position of.

A

Providing a list of organizations that in their mission, that is their one of their priorities,.

A

So, obviously, if we wanted to suggest that some money be spent to house those who need it, who.

A

Are vulnerable, as particularly in this upcoming season that we would indicate crossroads house.

A

Like we would then indicate have a list of organizations that provide housing.

A

In part of their service provisions and that we aren't the ones to say, we think you should buy a.

A

A bunch of cars to be able to drive these people around. We think you should have a bucket of money.

A

And you guys decide what you're going to do with it, not for us to get that weedy about it. But then.

A

After hearing the meeting last, the last time you guys were together, it seemed to go further into.

A

The weeds, so I just wanted to get clarification from the group about what we're thinking.

K

Well, doesn't it matter like the funds have to be spent on a specific.

K

In a specific way right, so if we were to say crossroads is an example, give them a bucket.

K

Of money, they'll be considered unrestricted and they could spend it as they want, and I don't think.

K

It's the mission of this money yeah, I think. Procedurally, if the group and the city council.

D

More of the city council were to direct funds to a specific recipient. There are very specific.

D

Restrictions and rules about sub-recipients use of funds and reporting of the use of.

D

Funds, it gets mm-hmm, messier I'll, say less less seamless than the city spending the money itself.

D

So the city would be making a deliberate uh appropriation funds and turning the end.

D

User of those funds into a sub-recipient of the grant for which there are reporting requirements.

D

Okay, I don't know if I answered your question, I mean I agree that that makes the most sense to.

L

Do it that way, even though it's more complicated, because those are the experts out there, the city.

L

May not have that expertise or working with that population and, like I'm sort of thinking.

A

Of dialing it back like so the city council doesn't have the lived experience to know of.

A

All of the organizations that are doing the work in these particular categories, so I think step.

A

One is partly just education, like did you know that there's all of these organizations in the.

A

Seacoast region that are focused on transportation, mental health, workforce, child care, housing and.

A

Some obviously are going to cross right, like there's some organizations that have multiple.

A

Focuses in their missions! So if we at least start with some sort of identification of what those.

A

Organizations are that are doing this work already and then the council could come back to us and say.

A

This is fantastic. Can you now do x, y and z? I I just, I feel so uncomfortable about overstepping.

A

The expertise of an in of a group, an established non-profit that has been.

A

Doing this stuff for years to say this is what we think is best that you do with this money.

C

I don't know, I do think that there might be opportunity for a little of both like part.

C

Of what I see our task is is to try to use our expertise and knowledge to be a little creative.

C

On is there an opportunity of some collaborative piece that could be done and invested in that.

C

Would help multiple organizations addressing the same issue or is it around specific things.

C

That it would make more sense to have some you know, restricted funding, but funding that was.

C

For the organizations to come up with creative ways to address a certain topic area that we've.

C

Identified- and I I think for me the best way to do it is to just let's dive into these different.

C

Topic areas and come up with what you know: what do we think? Is there any sort of creative idea or.

C

Do we need to leave it up to those organizations and because I mean so many of them do cross over.

C

Like everything up there right and and for me, I think, um to add to what laurie and and um kathy.

B

Said part of the exercise that we're going through is, at least in my mind, is we have limited funds.

B

um And we're talking about post-covered, how do we help some of these vulnerable populations.

B

um Both in the immediate and longer terms, so that means how do we as non-profits working with the.

B

City leverage these funds, as best as we can um and part of that is going to require, I think, to.

B

Kathy's point that we work together as best we can find ways to leverage resources and say: okay.

B

We have this this problem, whether it's in child care, housing, transportation, etc, and how do we.

B

Ensure that we are thinking about that long term and take the the resources that the city.

B

Has and allocate them in the best way possible so that again we we are bringing our collective.

B

Brain trust and resources to the table to work together and that's I say that because I think.

B

That we're all well-intentioned, but a lot of times we are in our own little worlds, trying to solve.

B

The problems that are immediate to our non-profits and not really kind of coming outside the box.

B

And thinking, okay, how do we, uh how do we figure out the problem around child care and or mental.

B

Health collectively- and I think that there's an opportunity here for the city council to.

B

For us to guide the city council to think in those terms, um so at least that's that's, you know this.

B

Is that's an opportunity that I see here yeah should should we try an exercise where we take.

J

Transportation, for instance, and say: okay: this is the problem that we've learned about. This is what.

J

We identify as just as a group what we learned and then that's part of the transportation and.

J

Then the other part would be like what solutions do we see what organizations would be involved.

J

And what would be the recommendations of the group, so each each area is split up into two. What we've.

J

Learned is the problem and then what are some suggested organizations and suggested ideas.

J

Because that's that's really what it's just an idea right! We're just gonna give what we've.

J

Learned I like the idea. Sorry, no, I like the idea of identifying what the problem is and.

A

Then here's some suggested solutions and here's the organizations that are focused in that area.

A

Yeah, at least as a starting point, maybe I can take notes um the resources I do. I just think we.

M

Would be remiss if we missed public health either framing mental health and substance misuse under.

M

Public health, so that we're capturing the full scope of that bullet point I think, leaving out.

M

Substance, misuse and other aspects of public health would be problem. Yeah good point define.

F

We could define the headings too, you know, um do you want that to be added to this slide, since we.

D

Got it up and I'm typing, I think substance abuse misuses its own yep yeah category yeah. We can't.

M

Solve housing or workforce shortage unless we look at the substance, misuse point of entry, yeah.

M

I mean, and we could argue that public health encapsulates all of these right.

D

What else am I writing whitney good race substance misuse, we're gonna, leave it at that. Okay,.

B

So we want to start with transportation. I mean try as a question.

B

I I don't see why not, I think uh the group, the group formally would.

D

um Vote to allow uh [laughter], but that would be public comment, so you make a motion. No you.

D

Can suspend the rules to allow folks to speak at any point in the meeting yeah.

B

Okay, so we take a vote, is that is that the way it works we'll take a vote? Yeah? Okay, uh those.

B

In favor of allowing kim mcnamara to speak and any other yes and any other guests, yeah.

B

Say aye and for the record I know tori jenison is also participating via zoom, so you may hear.

D

From tori, if she wants to chime in okay, thank you. Thank you. What you're talking about is.

E

So important with the narratives that I spoke about because you're looking at subjects like.

E

Transportation and housing we're looking at groups of people that are affected by those things, and so.

E

I know that our timing may not work out perfectly with your december deadline, but those narratives.

E

Are going to get to exactly how transportation affects people who you know? Seacoast mental health.

E

May have uh funding to provide services, but if people can't get there, that's a transportation.

E

Issue and then you know you might have people with developmental disabilities that work in a certain.

E

Location downtown, but they can't continue with their job because they don't have transportation.

E

So all of these uh different narratives from the different subpopulations of vulnerable people are.

E

Going to tell you an awful lot about the subjects that you're you're talking about up here so again,.

E

As far as the timing goes, we'll do our best to get it to you as soon as we can, but it's very.

E

Important those narratives be paid attention to. Thank you. If I can to the chair, can you you may.

D

Or may not have been in the room when we've talked about giving the council a status update on where.

D

We are and, and perhaps it it includes an extension request to be able to incorporate what you find.

D

Out knowing that you'd be delayed a little bit, so thank you. I don't think this group should feel.

D

Jammed in in an artificial deadline, if it needs more time to incorporate what you're working on.

N

Thank you. Thank you kim. As long as you've suspended the rules, oh yeah come on.

G

So to piggyback on what kim had to say about all of these uh things being interconnected and I'd.

G

Like to speak to the fact that, 15 years ago, the city of portsmouth had a number of rooming houses.

G

Primarily the there was a large rooming house at 21, bristol street. It had 32 rooms, so you could.

G

Often find as many as 50 people in there there are couples singles. Whatever you had and folks who.

G

Lived there, it didn't matter if they were drinking on a daily basis. It didn't matter if they came.

G

Home high, it didn't matter if they were spending 750 of the 800 a month income on their rent. It was.

G

A place for them to live and they could stay there, and so there was 21 brewster street. They had 32.

G

Rooms years ago, 18 islington street was a roaming house. They probably had about 15 rooms and now the.

G

Only one remaining in town is dan's rooms and I'm not sure, maybe he's got a dozen rooms down there.

G

But this was is the kind of place that we need to have where people can go and just live their.

G

Life with whatever their issues are, I know that whitney often sees folks who need exactly that.

G

They just need a room to land, it doesn't have to be anything fancy. A shared bathroom was fine with.

G

Everybody, generally speaking, uh and and so I think we as when you talk about housing, you need to talk.

G

About places where people who have been barred or evicted, it's it needs there needs to be a place.

G

For these folks to go where they they can live out their lives. However, they do without having to be.

G

Constrained by a lot of rules and regulations, thank you ellen. That's very important to note.

B

So we have another 10 minutes or so how do you want to spend it? Do you.

B

Want to go through this uh one by one and talk about transportation.

H

For transportation um prior to this moment or this time, it's a major issue which it is.

H

Where did the money come from before you know to have the you know, means of transportation up to.

H

This point, where where's, that from well, it's not just the money, it's the lack of workforce, yeah.

L

I thought you also said you needed. Besides workforce, you also needed some other new.

H

Vehicles that was mentioned at one point, or at least a conversation I had with some people.

H

So it's mostly workforce, that's what we heard from when we had her. So that's that's the critical part.

H

Of why we list that it's not the need for new or updated or anything. Well, I think if we go.

C

Through this exercise, and particularly around transportation, we can identify what we heard as.

C

The challenges and then we can come up with some things and then maybe I really like the idea of.

C

Doing this and then we could take the other topic areas and come to the next meeting prepared to do.

C

The same thing with okay with all of them, so that we're just really diving right in yeah.

C

Oh, my goodness, so karen you can share this over. So at least we can, they can see. Look through it.

F

Okay, we just won't edit it correct outside of the meeting. Until we get guidance that says we could.

D

Otherwise, if everyone brings, however, it works for you type, it write it whatever and then we'll just.

F

Add it here, so he also talked about um how to get how to be able to drive those buses that there's a.

L

Lag, there's only one place in the state of new hampshire or something like one school cdl hdl.

K

Licenses yeah and it's also expensive- to get your cdl license, so that can also it can be.

K

Cost per fitted for folks to be able to pay for them to get the training they need. Okay,.

F

And also wasn't one of the things rad said: post covid was that a lot of drivers are driving for.

F

Like amazon and other places that are getting paid, more okay, they'll burn out faster, but.

B

So the drivers- that's also a workforce issue.

D

We can finesse this way to fix it and then also the difficulty of finding other transportation.

C

Like less uber availability, and so even if you have the resources not having access to.

B

And, and one of the impacts of a lack of workforce um is that you have to shut down specific routes.

B

um So that creates gaps for people to make connections and and so on and so forth.

B

um So, in a sense for the vulnerable populations that need to get to their doctor's appointments.

B

To jobs and so on and so forth it it um it makes it usually challenging. I think, as we tease this.

A

Out we will get to this to figure out what the what format is going to make the most sense, but.

A

I think it's going to be important to also include why this is a problem and and how what the impact.

A

Of the community health is, is that those folks who rely on public transportation now can't get to.

A

Medical appointments, they can't get their prescriptions, they can't sometimes perhaps.

A

Get to um procure food, I mean the list goes on and on, and we heard maria say that it puts huge stress.

B

On families and individuals exactly exactly so, we can figure out where it makes sense and how.

A

Like what formatting stuff- but I think that's good because it what's the problem, what's the.

F

Impact and what are the solutions and then maybe another one is: what are some agencies that we know.

A

Of exactly tackle that exactly so this is this is um so the the transportation issue is is in.

B

Itself, a structural challenge for vulnerable populations, but it impacts public health and.

B

From there, who knows what else I mean it could, you know, could lead to other things.

B

But certainly the public health um can, I say, an impact public health, but also um affects.

K

People's employment like if parents it can affect their job if they can't get in kids places yep.

C

Well, we also heard from the school department limited buses and the.

C

Ability for kids to have access to stability after school activities.

A

I feel like we're getting some really good momentum right now, and this is very exciting.

F

I think we have a format except for it's all about. Oh what the issues are, we're gonna fix them.

A

I want to also note that um thank you kim and all the work that you're doing to get.

A

A new assessment and all of that stuff created exeter hospital, just published.

A

Their most recent public health assessment, um if anybody's like just curious about what.

A

They look like, and it did include portsmouth as one of the regions that they studied. It's.

A

um It would just be helpful driver, maybe for some of these discussions, um and I think what mark.

A

Douglas has a recent one out as well um likely the same issues are going to be highlighted.

K

Driver's ed right now is incredibly about 900.

K

Pit and they don't give scholarships typically, so that's that's preventive. I would say of youth.

K

Being able to gain a life skill being able to drive and we want safe drivers, we don't want.

K

Them to wait until they're 18 to just walk in, and you know, take the test and figure it out right.

L

So that would be a solution right. That's a problem.

D

I don't know how to do it or subsidize or whatever yeah.

N

D

I've never had so many people watch me type before it's stressful, isn't it.

A

Makes you feel better, I can't see it there's typos more slides. Oh I'm sorry, but I think the.

J

School department- I know they- I remember um the superintendent saying that they are, they are like.

J

Chronically late for school and then chronically late to get home or to the activities so again.

J

That's like just stress, building little little pieces every day, yeah and missed things right like.

J

If you're late to school and they're getting breakfast in school and they just yeah, okay,.

B

So something like transportation has a huge domino effect on all.

B

Aspects of an individual's life or a family life.

B

Do we want to add some solutions that.

B

um I mean this will continue to evolve. So maybe, if you have any thoughts on on potential solutions.

L

Scholarships for the cdl too, or something maybe yeah yep. I got that up there yeah the one that.

K

Right through the city or through rec department, or something or at least.

F

For the school kids yeah, like the third party, buying non-cdl vehicles right and.

M

Then doing it that way I wrote down. A to-do for me to find out is if the city were to.

D

Spend arpa money buying a fleet of vehicles how how could those be utilized? What's the liability.

D

We have our insurance carrier. What would they say about that? How do we operationalize that? So let me.

D

Look into that I mean the one thing that and that for that particular issue, that comes to mind for.

B

Me is is who drives those where's the workforce? I mean if we don't have a workforce to drive.

B

The regular buses, how are we going to find I? I was also had this idea. um The last time we met.

J

Just about a solution idea, I didn't know if, at least for the city like for the school department,.

J

um And thinking about andrew's, you know vision about a high impact low cost. How could we use.

J

um The fire department or the police force or retired for for dry, like I don't know I I don't.

J

Know how I was just thinking in the realm of like who we already have on our team, so to speak um as.

D

Drivers, well, that's a good segue. Councilor bagley keeps checking in with me. Hey do you? Does it make.

D

Sense for me to come join a meeting, and I said I haven't heard that yet you're always welcome.

D

But maybe that that could be the if he's able to join us either in person or by zoom for the next.

D

Meeting just to see how we're doing right yeah, he does say that he watches every meeting so he's up.

D

To speed, but it might be good to have him here and I have a question: is there still the advantage of.

L

When you work for the city of the schools that there's pension plans, because that probably.

L

Doesn't happen in the bus, correct, say that again say it again. So if you use the microphone janet.

L

Sorry, if you work for the schools or the city, there's pension plans. So if you can talk to.

L

The drivers about that there's an advantage of doing that having regular money when you retire.

L

um As versus working for coaster, because my guess is they don't have pensions right, so I think also.

M

um There's the part-time workforce availability if we were creative with perhaps issuing vouchers.

M

Directly for their housing, um for instance, so it's not included as their income, because.

M

I think that's the concern right. We have this whole workforce that might be on, let's say, ssdi.

M

And they have a certain limit um so, but they are perfectly great drivers right and they're. Looking.

M

For purposeful activity, as long as there was a way to pay directly the vendor, it's.

M

Not their income and that might be a workaround and then we keep people housed at the same time,.

L

Ssdi and people medicare too exactly those are oftentimes: social security, disability recipients.

B

So I I really like whitney's and and amber's ideas around part-time workers or workers who.

B

Are maybe able to to take some some degree of hours on to do some of this work, but yet.

B

They're not being tapped, which means if, if we were to recommend something.

B

Like this, there would have to be some sort of a marketing campaign to recruit.

B

And but but if there is a a part-time workforce out there to do some of this, we definitely should.

B

Be and it sounds like there would be if we, if we approach it correctly, it's just they're they're.

M

Not going to respond to financial bonus and incentives, because it's it's threatening.

M

A

On the other side of that, I'm just thinking of utilizing some of the.

A

Community colleges that are in the area to help with that marketing.

A

uh And potentially to be drivers, um my next question in my brain went to so who, who would.

A

Run all of this like this has to be housed under some umbrella um because we're not the.

A

Ones that are gonna manage all of this, so who runs it? Is it a city? Is it like? That's.

C

So I'm wondering, since we would have two meetings to to do this, like I really like the idea of.

C

Throwing out these ideas and like we're finishing up this meeting in the next meeting, coming with.

C

All of our ideas getting them all out there and then taking that next. The third meeting.

C

To really look at okay, these are some of the recommendations that were thrown out there. Let's.

C

Kind of see, if there's any that resonate with all of us like this, is what we want to put our.

C

Yeah pretty behind yep, and can we maybe extend one of our meetings so that, like even if it's the last.

A

Meeting before we are with the city council, just to not walk away and feel like oh gosh, we're not.

A

Finished yeah- we're probably gonna, have to do that, but also to if we're. If we want to include kim.

B

um um And um the work that they're doing so that's, but there also is a calendar, invite for a meeting.

C

That's after the city council meeting, I don't know if that would make sense for.

C

Right what kim requested yeah yeah? Okay, um I have a question. um We have to shut down topics that we.

H

Know mental health workforce shortage child care housing? All of that I don't know how we're going.

H

To have just eating meeting three more times how we're gonna have enough time to discuss.

H

All these different, we will because that's our homework, that's our homework. Talking about it.

H

As a group, well, we don't have a choice, we're going to have to figure it out and have an.

B

Extension of a meeting, uh fortunately we're past one o'clock, so there's a motion to adjourn. Second.

G

Second, thank you um all this in favor of closing down the meeting say aye aye. Thank you very much.