City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire Mayor's Blue Ribbon COVID Response Task Force Committee, 14 Feb 2023

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From YouTube: 2.14.2023 COVID Response Task Force

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2.14.2023 COVID Response Task Force

A

Well, thank you so, since uh just for the record, we don't have a quorum for the meeting yet.

A

um But we'll get started, um we will skip the approval of the minutes until we have quorum.

A

um That will go to the third item on the agenda, which is having.

A

Council member andrew bagley coming talk to us about [music] his thoughts and where we are and.

A

Kind of uh progression, so that we have a little bit more guidance as to how to proceed since.

A

We have uh believe four or five meetings left, so thank you, council and bagley to uh for coming here.

A

Today and kind of just uh I'm assuming that you've been listening to the meetings and would love some.

A

Of your feedback on on your thoughts as we kind of go through the process and eventually get to.

A

A place where we can make some recommendations to the city council uh yeah. Thank you will and I have.

B

Watched all the meetings- and I really appreciate the time and effort that's been put into this.

B

um I think it's been more productive than than I could have hoped for. um You guys have identified.

B

A lot of needs in the community that are going on met either due to covet or previous to covid and.

B

Perhaps some gaps, we have a lot of non-profits in the community, but there's some gaps that no.

B

Non-Profits uh seem to cover because it just falls outside of their mission, but it kind of.

B

Prevents them from doing their mission, one of those seemed to be transportation, which I think.

B

You guys have realized is a very expensive uh issue. I did particularly like your idea about.

B

Taxi vouchers not sure if that would qualify for covid funds, but um you know small efforts.

B

To improve the capability of people to get to meetings for mental health, doctor's appointments.

B

Child care, I think, are huge. One thing might be worth looking into. I know you had coasts come to.

B

A meeting they do offer a shuttle service, so it may be worth the city reaching out to make sure.

B

They have the resources they need and if they are at capacity, if there's anything, we can do to help.

B

Them with capacity another idea that I think one of the things you guys have helped identify is is.

B

Especially for kids, the lack of social interaction during the height of the pandemic has caused a lot.

B

Of follow-on actions as a father I can attest, you know the kids they're very resilient, but this this.

B

Is ongoing effects and one suggestion that has been proposed in the past and kind of dovetails.

B

Neatly with where you guys were talking about vans, is there has been talk in the past about.

B

A library, bookmobile and the library has a ton of tremendous outreach programs. They have the little.

B

Libraries around town, but I think it's sometimes under utilized resource and a lot of that has to.

B

Do with uh you know, parents with young children, they just don't have a lot of time on their hands.

B

Because that's just how it is so they may not be aware of these resources or they may not have the.

B

Capability to to get over to the library, if you bring a bookmobile to the different communities.

B

In portsmouth it raises that awareness. It almost creates like a neighborhood night out every time.

B

It happens so parents that live close to adjacent to each other might get a chance to meet other.

B

Parents there might be carpool opportunities, so I think that might be something this group.

B

Could identify that's a real actionable item and would have a tremendous impact? I love that idea.

A

Is I'm sorry, did you say that the bookmobile already exists, or is that something that I.

B

Think it's something that's been proposed, but never funded. Okay, the city manager wants to.

C

I'm looking at kim because she's got more history than I do, but when we were first polling staff.

C

uh Upon receipt of arbor money, we asked all the department heads: what would you use our.

C

Funds for and the library has two different, bookmobile ideas in mind. One is a little more.

C

Lavish than the other, but it was a former library director and then the current library director.

C

So that great minds, think alike, they've been looking to consider a bookmobile and it's just.

C

Been a matter of funding and then how do you operationalize it? Does that sound right? Okay,.

B

And then the final idea I have, which also may be difficult to complete, is you know we have a lot.

B

Of summer camps in the community- um and I don't know that it's necessarily a funding problem in.

B

The sense that uh most of the camps, I think, go to capacity. I know they did when my daughter was.

B

Younger so there's not really a lot of vacancies, but there are a lot of members of the community.

B

That just can't afford tuition to those camps, so um you know pmac theater by the seas papa. I know.

B

The city has the recreation department that we offer some sliding scales. I think, but strawberry.

B

Bank, you know there may be things especially in the summertime over the next two years, that we.

B

Can do to get those kids out in the community and interacting with people, so those are three kind of.

B

Ideas that I have I don't know if they're they're, feasible or not, I think they might be worth.

B

Looking into- and I think, ideas that have a similar kind of cross-structure might be worth considering.

B

But I think you know whether or not we execute on any of these ideas. You guys spending the time.

B

To talk about all this has raised awareness and graded connections that I think is invaluable, so.

B

I think it's uh safe to say that this has already been a huge success and- and I hope we'll get some.

B

More out of it, but uh you know it's it's been more than than I expected when we came up with this.

B

Concept, question. Yes, please! So! Thank you. I like those ideas, I think, when one of the places where.

D

I keep getting caught up in is that this group has done a great job, identifying, as you said, all of.

D

The needs that are out there, where we've gotten caught up a little bit, is what do we do around.

D

That, knowing that there's lots of organizations, some of you just mentioned that are addressing.

D

Some of these needs, and ultimately I know we're making um for making not proposals, but we're.

D

Making recommendations but the decision-making process isn't really clear. I mean it seems like.

D

In my opinion, it feels like we've done all of the work that we can, because it's now up to the city.

D

To kind of bounce that around and come up with the ideas like you were talking about, we might be able.

D

To come up with a few ideas, but I'm I'm guess I'm just kind of a little bit stuck in terms of.

D

What do we do from here, because I know the original intent was ideas, like you just said,.

D

Which are the low low dollar higher impact ones, but the issues that we've come up with.

D

That people are struggling with are so big and there's such little amount of money um and just.

D

Trying to figure it out seems challenging. I think another thing- and this is just coming to me now.

B

Thanks to your question that this committee might be able to do, or the city might be able to do.

B

Is- and I've heard it said in the past, we don't really have a inventory or a master directory of.

B

All the non-profits in town, which I imagine would always would be dynamic because it changes as some.

B

Open and close, you know that could be something this committee proposes is that there just be.

B

A uh an email list or a distribution so that when you know the city receives something from.

B

The new hampshire municipal association saying there's a grant available. We just automatically.

B

Fired off to all the non-profits, so that might be something this committee could recommend.

B

As well, which would be low cost, but I think high impact in the fact that it continues the.

B

The open door communication between the different groups as well as the city, because I think what.

B

Will happen is, as time goes on, things will be proposed, or things will will arise that we can't.

B

Anticipate at this moment and and a lot of the problems I'm seeing, is we don't necessarily but.

B

We don't mean the city, I just mean say: the federal government or the state government has a grant.

B

But it's not a municipal grant, so it doesn't really come to the city. It should go to say.

B

Crossroads house or to haven, but it doesn't get there for you, know, communication reasons. So the.

B

City might be able to take a little bit stronger role in, and I don't know what the current role.

B

Is maybe that's something we're already doing, but that might be another way to address those.

B

Types of things we did come up with a concrete piece around the community resource network. We.

E

Discovered so this is the community resource network and it's exactly what you're saying.

E

It's all the non-profits, it's just not extremely user friendly, because it's like a pdf, you download.

E

So we were even saying at one point: if there was money to fund, you know some web development to.

E

Make it user-friendly so that you could go in and search as a community member or something.

E

Like that, so that it's not just a pdf, that's being downloaded because it exists, it's just.

E

Not very user friendly yeah, so that would be a good in my opinion, proposal to bring to the.

B

Council, because it's it's a finite thing, it's discreet amount of money. It's not a.

B

Huge amount- probably I don't know, that's not my background, all right, but it seems like something.

B

That you know we could use- and you know be good use for some of the coveted monies okay.

E

It's like um you're, saying too it's those proposal pieces like I guess, that's where we have a lot of.

E

Ideas- and we did the slideshow with some of our ideas, so so we have them so now. What do we do.

E

With them for in terms of the city council- and you know, I guess that's the part- that we're kind of.

E

Struggling with because we're like, okay, even the ideas, you said, awesome scholarships for a summer.

E

Camp, the bookmobile, so then what happened like what happens next, I guess: how does that happen so.

B

You don't know, I don't know, I think what could be good is um you had the slideshow with the issues.

B

Yep come up with five to ten actionable items and then work with city staff to see which are the.

B

Most feasible because the council is gonna um well, I can't predict how the council will vote but as a.

B

Counselor, it's much easier to vote for or against something yeah than it is to kind of come up with.

B

A a solution on the fly, so I think if there were some you know, maybe you don't need the details.

B

About a bookmobile, but we think the council should right at least look into this idea. I think.

B

The council should look into this idea or under those kind of mean headings like transportation,.

E

uh I don't know mental health summer camp option, you know scholarships or something like that and.

B

Then, with academics, okay council could do is look at those ideas and take maybe the the top five or.

B

Whatever and refer them to city staff or report back right and then the city can report back to.

B

The council, which each item is anticipated to cost yep looking to the city manager, does.

B

That make a, I think, that's a great idea and that could help guide staff on one of the important.

C

Policy directive of our priorities that you, as a group, see from the work of this task force.

A

So, and as it relates to process, because you mentioned it, would it be.

A

Better for us to come up with a set of recommendations, work with the city.

A

Administration to say, okay, these- these are the these are the things that we want to recommend.

A

To city council, what are you as a city? What do you think is doable and then at that point it goes to.

A

Council council, then I mean at that point because the city's backing it. These are the things that.

A

We think we can back is that to your point about the council voting on something? That's one been.

A

Vetted by us also vetted by city administration, it's easy for you to get on board. Yes, I I think.

B

The best way to do it is for you guys to make the suggestions the council to refer either all.

B

The suggestions or some of the suggestions to city staff or report back so that they can come.

B

Back with you know the financials, how much they think things will cost what the timeline might.

B

Be you know the the logistical side, so you guys would present the idea side. The council would.

B

Either accept or deny the ideas and then report those ideas to city staff for a report back the.

B

City then, would report back to the council. I would imagine saying uh you know this is.

B

What each idea costs these are the ideas that you know, staff thinks are easiest or.

B

Hardest to implement and then the council would vote, I'm just kind of spitting all.

B

In here I don't know, if that's the proper way to do it, but that's kind of how I would envision it.

B

Because you guys are kind of the uh the view from thirty thousand feet and then the staff.

B

Would be the technical details if I can add to that, I think yes, I think what would be important.

C

That any recommendations for the expenditure and obligation of arpa funds requires a public hearing.

C

So to go through the steps that councilor bagley mentioned would be good, because then we could.

C

um Distinguish through the notice process, what are the items that would be coming.

C

um To to counsel for consideration of expenditure of our funds.

F

Can I just ask one question about this, which is just in terms of the process.

F

So you're saying send it out to the or give it to the city staff to follow up on the cost on.

F

Different items right and then would it would we want it to come back to this group to think.

F

About prioritizing, based on the costs, what our recommendations were, because I mean it's, it's.

F

Kind of a it could be, you know uh fifty thousand dollars, it could be two hundred fifty thousand.

F

Dollars, and would that make a difference in terms of what we would recommend moving forward with. I.

B

Think it would once you make the recommendations to council, it becomes a political decision where.

B

To spend the money, so council would have to make that decision now that doesn't mean that.

B

The council might decide that we want to get more insight, but I do think that once you guys make.

B

The list of recommendations, it kind of um that's when it sets sales so to speak right. I was just.

F

Curious if there, if we try to do anything around ballparking, like cost of different.

F

Things to get a sense of what we really could recommend I. I would shy away from that, because.

B

um It's pretty difficult to ballpark. I've learned a lot of things. You know, you think something costs.

B

Say 25 000 and then you learned that you know just the the study cost twenty five thousand dollars so.

B

So ball parking can be um challenging yeah. Can I go back to your your you were talking about.

A

Kids and the social interaction and library summer camp, a lot of that sounds like on the younger side.

A

um Are there any activities that would be recommended? That would be just as.

A

Effective for teenagers or or older um yeah, I'm glad you brought that up actually.

B

um I kind of tend to focus towards kids, but the bookmobile could also go to some of the.

B

The senior communities in in the community and the rec department and the senior center.

B

You know could also potentially offer you know. Scholarships say like we do. Do meals.

B

um At the senior center, sometimes in a community campus and- and you know maybe for the next two.

B

Years we we have 50 vouchers for those meals or or something along those lines. What we want.

B

To try and do, or at least my intent is to reach those the most that need, and I think.

B

um Those most at need, oftentimes are the hardest to reach, because they've got so much. You know when.

B

You're, when you're going through a crisis or you're you're having a lot of challenges.

B

um It's difficult to know where to go to help, sometimes so so, like you can get overlooked.

B

So I think proactive into the community type things, um because then, by word of mouth people.

B

Will start to learn that oh there's a there's, a dinner I'm going to or where the bookmobile is.

B

Coming or something that's happening that you know kind of spreads organically helps reach.

B

You know all the different age groups well, and I think, if we're thinking about that idea, too of.

E

Scholarships or funding like, if I'm sure, through the rec department, too I mean sometimes it is an.

E

Issue of funding, but looking at teens that might be something that could be you know, could it be.

E

Funded to have you know some programming similar to like new heights that existed, that's gone, but.

E

Like taking kids rock climbing, you know teen programs, which we don't have a lot of right.

E

Now, but that might be a new initiative that if they had funding they could do you know and say.

E

Like that they're taking them on a three-day camping trip or just different things, that.

E

We haven't thought of yet, but with funding, maybe they're able to do to reach that teen population.

E

um Something like I don't know, we think about that and then I have another question and I.

A

Know that the task force has discussed some bigger picture stuff like housing and workforce.

A

um Do you have any thoughts around around any of that? um I've got a lot of thoughts on that housing.

B

um And then child care, I would add to that as well. um I think that's! Those are huge needs in.

B

The community but they're too complex to solve, with with low-cost type impact solutions to kind.

B

Of put it bluntly, I think but yeah those those are, those are big challenges and.

B

um They are not simple challenges: no and they're not going to get solved by.

A

Three million dollars or five million dollars so.

A

uh Any other questions for counselor bagley.

A

I think your input has been really helpful. Thank you very much.

A

Any other thoughts before did you have a question yeah. I was just going to say um what you were.

G

Talking about is pretty much all the response I would get from all the people. I would ask, and.

G

Talk about these issues in the community, you know I mean um there's so many problems in what comes.

G

Up often is housing and workforce which we just sort of dismissed. You know that people that are.

G

Working here and all of our little businesses and stuff cannot afford to live here anymore. You know.

G

And that that is an issue I know this money is not going to be able to go out to them, but that.

G

Is a major issue for our city? I'd say it's like six out of ten people say that to me every time I.

G

Speak with them, yeah I mean I get. Emails and phone calls all the time about people whose families.

B

Can't stay in here, or they have somebody's come back from college or their their folks are older.

B

um I guess what I I said elegantly is we're trying to address that through zoning changes through.

B

Adus through affordable housing projects, so the the council is very concerned in working on these.

B

Issues- I just don't know that um I don't think the arpa funding is gonna is really an effective way.

B

To solve those problems because they're such big long-term frame problems, so I didn't want.

B

To dismiss the problems and say they're not issues. I just don't think that we have. We can.

B

um Address them through this community just to offer this to you as a student council, I mean.

G

A council member um people suggested that perhaps there might even be a forum at the library, because.

G

We used to have public forums about issues in our city and a public forum about those issues.

G

And have people open up and talk about it and hear what are possibilities instead of just you know,.

G

Speaking with the neighbors- and you know I mean it would be an interesting public forum to have.

G

At the library or something yeah I mean we could have more forums, we did have one about a year.

B

Ago at the south church we had one at the music hall. Of course we just had the the meeting at the.

B

um Lister school um that wasn't really so much a forum, but I think there's going to.

B

Be a lot more talk and a lot more addressing of this issue um 10 years ago, affordable housing.

B

Wasn't really looked at as a crisis, except by maybe people that could see where we were.

B

Headed, I think today everybody has a relative or a friend that can't afford to stay in the.

B

City and that's not unique to portsmouth or new hampshire, it's across the united states, so I.

B

Think, affordable housing has become an issue that is acknowledged by almost everyone, so.

B

But there's no simple solution, so I think those are great ideas and we'll be doing more of that.

B

um But yeah it's it's a tough one. Thank you. Thank you. Council bagley, for coming sitting with us for.

A

A few minutes yeah, thank you. Thank you guys for all the the work you've been doing it's it's.

B

Been great to see thanks, so I want to uh just take a few seconds to approve the approve. The.

A

Minutes of 117.23, so, given that we have a quorum now I'll entertain a motion for a pool of minutes.

D

Emotion, kathy made the motion as I need a second second, okay abby. Thank you uh all. Those in favor.

A

Of approving the minutes of 117-23, say aye aye any nays, any abstentions. Thank you very much. Could we.

C

Take a moment to welcome our new member. Oh yes, of course, and hayes we're so happy that you're a.

A

Member now very brief, it's okay, and actually that was very quick, so thank you. Karen you're welcome.

A

um Okay, we're gonna have a presentation from um kim mcnamara.

H

So this is all right, yeah, of course, okay.

I

Well, will I be able to say, see attached presentation, or should I take minutes on this.

I

uh It's probably, you can just say, see attached. Okay, this is this is all in draft the background.

H

So this is part and parcel of our community needs assessment and community health profile.

H

So I just want to give you some examples of what the reports are going to look like.

H

And I'd like to speak a little bit about seniors, which we've had some stakeholder.

H

Meetings already in focus group attempts with this population, but this is also to introduce.

H

You into the reports, mostly in draft form, because there's a short timeline here- that.

H

You will be seeing over the next few weeks as we really are getting a lot of data in.

H

And we're having a lot of these meetings to pull together. Information for how covet has.

H

Affected our vulnerable populations and potential solutions to that.

H

So uh the one thing I wanted to ask, based on the conversation that just occurred, is.

H

Could the health department have a copy of all of your proposals or your ideas, because.

H

What I heard discussed around this table is very much at the heart of some of the equity.

H

um Issues that we're looking at and ways to overcome that which is really what arpa funds.

H

For the public health side were intended to to address established inequities that.

H

Are inherent in a community and start to overcome them, so it's very glad to.

H

Hear that conversation, if we could get a copy of that, that might show up in our needs assessment.

H

If that's okay process wise karen uh all right so so these are just a few of the many slides that.

H

We have for the demographics that came back. The full report will go to the city council.

H

And city manager, when it's done but just to start off, you will see basic uh demographic information.

H

Presented like that, like this, portsmouth is a little bit higher percentage of females than males.

H

Which is a little bit different than the rest of the state and an interesting, but next slide.

H

Please, for the age distributions in fort smith, we have these. Both of these graphs show the same.

H

Information, it's just easier for people to grasp different levels of it, but you can see our age is.

H

Less than five are around four percent ages: 5 to 19 13 ages, 20 to 34 24 35 to 54 27 percent 55 to.

H

64 is 13, and then our age is 65 plus is 19 percent, and this is portsmouth specific numbers next slide.

H

Please so part of the reports that you will see are these little introductory paragraphs. um You.

H

Know these are just statements of what we're finding so far they're very undeveloped, but I.

H

Wanted to give you a sense of where these reports start from so with child care. You know parents.

H

Can't go back to work without safe, consistent child care. Daycares are suffering from a constant.

H

Lack of adequate staff to operate within the required and safe staff to child ratios and loss.

H

Of a single staff person can close a classroom for a day or for a week or for an extended.

H

Period of time, so recovery from covert requires paying enough to attract and retain adequate and.

H

Qualified staff, including providing benefits to those staff so that workforce can remain healthy.

H

um Support services for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities you'll be hearing.

H

More on this, but supervision and support is often required around the clock without a direct care.

H

Workforce which we are lacking and have been for a long time, many persons with intellectual and.

H

Developmental disabilities have been isolated and languishing since 2020 unable to have the.

H

Support to even do simple activities because of this lack of support staff and many have.

H

A higher risk factor for contracting covet and the outcomes of that, so they are a particularly.

H

Hard hit group of our vulnerable populations, families who must now provide all of the care.

H

And the supervision and be the sole advocates at this time to protect services and quality.

H

To their family, members are exhausted and under emotional and financial strain from this recovery.

H

Requires financial assistance to open supervised residential programs in secure housing provide.

H

Inclusionary supports in local recreation and arts and cultural opportunities, local employment.

H

And social opportunities and local championing of legislative changes on a state level to protect.

H

That population I'm not even going to talk about affordable housing, but it's important to know that.

H

The inclusion of this group is so vital in city planning. They should be, they should be considered.

H

Whenever we're talking about any of these issues- transportation, housing kim, can I ask a question.

A

About that, what are we talking about? Do you have any sense of numbers of this population in the.

A

City, um I have a sense, but I'm verifying so next week next week or next time I bring to you I'll.

H

Have persons with overall disabilities in the city is is about 10 percent.

H

um But we've we're drilling down into that debt as we speak, I would say: lori mcintosh would probably.

C

Be the resident expert on that yeah. So maybe we can get her to weigh in at the next meeting.

H

um uh We'll talk about substance use disorders in the upcoming week, so I'm going to go right to.

H

Isolated seniors, because this is what I've uh drafted for you today so covet has left.

H

Many seniors without the necessary personal care and in-home support services, continued concerns.

H

Over circulating virus also causes the uh contin the isolation to continue, and particularly those.

H

With mobility or resource constraints, recovery requires an expansion of the home health care.

H

Workforce accessibility, repairs to aging homes and a system of well checks as well as this is.

H

Exactly what councilor bagley was talking about when he said that it's very difficult to reach.

H

Those most in need- these are folks that cannot get to senior services that can't get to the savior.

H

Senior center some can't get to their doctor's appointments so on and so forth. So somehow finding.

H

Ways to include them and all the healthy things that we do for the general senior population is.

H

Going to be very important next slide, please, um so this is what our experience has been.

H

And we also sit on the community care team, which this resource guide is a is a product of there's.

H

Many people there that that interact with seniors- and this is what we have found so far- exacerbated.

H

By covid-19, there are more seniors being found in high risk situations too often with poor outcomes.

H

That we didn't see pre-covered these seniors often have higher and more complicated needs.

H

Than pre-covered, as their supports, resources and services continue to be diminished through covert.

H

Recovery next slide, please, so here are some exam uh examples of recent situations that have been.

H

Encountered in the city we found persons living in in sanitary conditions that are not discovered.

H

Or reported until they are discovered by emergency services, so things have to get pretty poor before.

H

That occurs and then they're reported to the health department or the state bureau of elderly.

H

And adult services we have disabled adults and seniors that are living with and cared.

H

For by other disabled or medically frail persons, this includes persons with advanced dementia and.

H

Multiple debilitating or end stage diseases. We have seniors that are not able to complete.

H

Applications for medicare or long-term care, uh not that they're, simple applications, but reasons and.

H

Can include things like the regulations you can't apply to long-term care in both new hampshire and.

H

And massachusetts at the same time and then there's just overwhelming living situations.

H

That make it hard for people to focus on that. We have persons in frail situations leading.

H

To hospitalization being discharged into those same unsafe conditions, we have seniors who live.

H

In their family, homes becoming disabled with age or injury and those homes are no longer safe for.

H

Their needs, but their needs are a little more than what we can find grant funding for to do repairs.

H

um And we have misplaced seniors in portsmouth we find elderly or highly disabled persons.

H

Suffering from dementia and mental illness and other handicaps, we find them in our homeless.

H

Shelters or in public housing without the necessary assistance or supervision.

H

Next, please, the effects of this on the community are low quality of life and unsafe living.

H

Situations and leading to increased morbidity and mortality for some portsmouth residents increased.

H

Costs for emergency services, increased costs of avoidable hospitalizations and surgeries potential.

H

Increased costs for city welfare and increased city department's time spent on case management.

H

Type services that were traditionally handled by outside agencies by non-profits next, please.

H

And then we do have possible contributing factors. It includes things like just that loss of.

H

Interaction with the larger community, the loss of local case management services, some limitations to.

H

State reporting and response we have um shortage of medicare beds and long-term care facilities and.

H

Really lack of planning for the aging intellectual and developmentally disabled populations.

H

So these are some of the contributing factors, I'm sure there's many more next, please.

H

Potential solutions restore the local broad case management services. Let's well checks completed.

H

On all right, can I ask a question about when you say, restore a local, broad-based case management.

D

Services, what does that mean? Well, um we did used to have the idn network that did broad case.

H

Management services they were looking for funding. uh Unfortunately, the funding didn't come through.

H

The first year tory jenison cub to get together funding, but then it was lost during covet and.

H

So they no longer exist now some of those people were hired by another local non-profit. That does.

H

A lot of public health work, but the the intake is different. Their focus is much more mental health.

H

Rather than these broad senior needs, so we've lost that okay. Thank you sure. um As far as well.

H

Checks, it takes staff to do that. We did just ask portsmouth housing authority to do this because.

H

We were running into some of these issues in their facilities and they did a great job going in just.

H

To checking to make sure people are okay, but of course that took time staff time we need things.

H

Like a system of guardianship, appointment, that's responsive and easy to navigate. This is one of.

H

Those things I talk about when I, when I said in a few in past meetings that sometimes the things.

H

That we need is a legislative support. It's not funding. It's just. You know. We have a very active.

H

Legislative committee- and maybe we could bring some of these issues to them and then long-term.

H

Care facilities should be included in community development planning and supporting housing.

H

Supportive housing for seniors with intellectual and developmental disabilities should also be.

H

Included in community development planning- I don't know if that means master plan, I'm not.

H

That well-versed, but so then so so these are all the vulnerable populations that we are looking at.

H

On from a data perspective and also from a needs assessment perspective- and these are conversations.

H

We've started having and and writing up these these needs assessments and we'll be having.

H

Hopefully, in the future- and I understand uh will by your timeline- we'd love to have this done by.

H

The end of april, and then there was a question that could we could we just go over those just.

G

A minute to just kind of look at that, I'm sorry, I'm just absorbing yeah, so much stuff.

G

You know, even though we've spoken a lot about this stuff, it's incredible that you're listing.

G

All the stuff that is absolutely critical here- these are just the vulnerable populations that.

H

We've already identified, there are more that are coming through when the data comes through.

H

But this also points to the need that this might want to be a long-term ongoing type of assessment.

H

You know that that can be done low level every year or every couple of years. Thank you. Thank.

H

You and then the question keeps coming up and I watched the last meeting, so I just want to be.

H

Really clear about this was just a tally of um a sampling of the community non-profits that I.

H

Reached out to and just asked about, their needs when we first started learning about the arpa.

H

Funds, so the health department requested the sixty three thousand dollars and it was granted for this.

H

Needs assessment and community health profile that's going on now. In addition, we asked for 3.

H

Million to be set aside for the outcome of this needs assessment. So all these vulnerable groups.

H

When we finally identify these needs, there will be money to address those needs. That is, in addition,.

H

To these requests that came in, I took the names off of the agencies that requested these, because.

H

It's been, these came in a year ago, so their needs may have changed and I don't I didn't want to just.

H

Put that out there, but this has a great overview of just a sampling of the needs we saw. So we had.

H

Multiple applications for recovery services being identified as a good use for arpa funds.

H

To the tune of 1.4 million, the intellectual and developmental disability, supportive housing and.

H

Program at that time was looking for ten thousand health and dental care and family support services.

H

For special populations- 500 000., so you can go through this, but what I really want to point out.

H

Is that there's a broad range of non-profits in the sampling? One of the things that's repeatedly.

H

Mentioned is the summer camp idea. You know a great way to build equity, whether it's for.

H

Minority populations or low income populations or disabled populations, the idn region network.

H

There they did request funding, but they they have since gone away, and so the other thing.

H

I want to point out: is there is such a need, as we've all been talking about, and so little money.

H

So that's 2.9 million dollars in requests that came in that are separate from what the health.

H

Department is asking for so I just want to clarify that, because that keep question keeps coming up.

D

Can can I ask a question about what you're asking for so you're saying the health department wants.

D

Three million dollars to address some of the needs that come out of the assessment. I want to make the.

H

Health department would like to make sure that once we identify these needs that there's some.

H

Money left to address those needs, as is one of the main functions of the arpa funding. As stated.

H

By the federal government, when they put it out so, but the three million dollars is not for the.

H

Health department to address the needs, the three million dollars is to go to the non-profits and.

H

Others who address these needs because they're doing a fantastic job, let's just keep them in.

H

Existence is the thinking, so what would be like? I understand, recommendations in the city's councils.

D

Part of decision making, what would be the decision making around the funding that you're asking for.

D

It's all city council's decision making it's still city council's decision. Okay,.

H

Just a request, a dream got it. Thank you, okay, other questions of kim kim is that the end.

A

Questions kim the ones that say tbd, that's not obviously included in the almost 3 million from.

F

Not profits. This is for illustration purposes. This is to show you the need. That's been in existence.

H

For at least the last year that we've known about to to be determined, we didn't receive any requests.

H

Even though there were multiple things listed, you know we would like this this this and this this.

H

Can help but there wasn't any any financial amount right, and some of this has changed.

H

um There was a way where pmac pmac was able to work with the school system and through esser.

H

Funds they were able to get the music camps up and running in time. So um so this list isn't solid in.

H

In it of itself, it's to answer that question that keeps coming up. Thank you when it is important to.

D

See that it's a sampling because, as kim said, not not all nonprofits were included in that.

A

I have um just a question about the kinds of things that you're seeing that are so tied into.

A

Workforce and and then obviously from workforce to housing. So a lot of the things related to for.

A

Example, addressing the needs of the elderly um or or people with disabilities is going to.

A

Require workforce that we currently don't have, so I guess maybe this is a question for for karen in.

A

Terms of a broader plan is: is there a a plan, that's being developed that is beginning to.

A

Address the issues around workforce um because obviously we just don't have the workforce to.

A

Address these needs, so how how so we can? You know we can make recommendations for funding, but if the.

A

Workforce is not there, then it's it's, it's a moot point right and that's where we would bring in.

C

My colleague and kim's colleague sean clancy, to work on that piece of the puzzle, but you're right.

C

It's you know we could come up with summer camp scholarships, we could. uh We could put money to all.

C

The groups that organized summer camps, including the city, but we can't find bodies to hire. We and.

C

We would hate to promise something that we couldn't deliver and I'm sure other community.

C

Other organizations are in the same boat same with the child care piece of things like you,.

D

Could recommend more staffing for child care places, but they can't get them if I may respond.

H

Also uh so, during our conversation recently with the seacoast mental health center and also with.

H

The recovery community- it's been pointed out that there are some very able-bodied persons looking.

H

For employment and that's a large part of their recovery plan or their health plan, and so how do.

H

We connect employers that need employees with these employees that need employment, and I did.

H

Have a brief conversation after that discussion with sean clancy, our economic development director.

H

And so those are means of of addressing this issue that don't take into account. You know.

H

You don't have to deal with the entire workforce issue, but there might be hidden workforces capable.

H

Of doing jobs that are not considered, and I would include the eye intellectually and developmentally.

H

Disabled people in that, and so I think we need to look at those people as as a resource that.

H

We might be able to used to address this issue one of the important things about this needs.

H

Assessment that we're doing is we're looking at it on a level of what can a municipality do not.

H

You know how can we solve all the world's problems, so we are going to be focusing on the things that.

H

Can be done on on a community level and a lot of that might not be. We can't solve the workforce.

H

Issue, we can't solve the housing issue, but we can be sure that in city planning persons with.

H

All these, these vulnerable populations are all included when you're planning for that mm-hmm.

A

Thank you very much.

A

um Any other final questions for kim before we move on to general discussion.

A

Thank you. Kemp. That's been very helpful.

A

So now open it up to general committee discussion around.

A

Some of the things that we heard today or or any thoughts from prior meetings.

D

Well, one of the things that I was thinking about, as both I guess we're speaking, is thinking about.

D

Like what the different non-profits are doing right now, on that small scale to address some.

D

Of these issues I know we're looking at. Are we purchasing our own vehicle to address some of.

D

The transportation stuff- and that might be an interesting conversation to have with so.

D

Many of us at the table about you know what are we doing around the child care piece of.

D

Things or or not, or nothing um to just come up and see if there's any like-minded things that.

D

People that groups are doing that would be the smaller boxes to larger problems.

J

You know it's, um my grandson goes to the daycare center on a piece, and I know that we have had him.

J

Many times because of kobach had his classroom down last week. It was a water issue at the school.

J

Closes classroom so for people like me, who comes into one of the other senior categories.

J

I mean I don't know what my kids would do if they didn't have us around, but I wonder I'm.

J

Wondering this out loud, I don't know anything about it. I wonder if some other people that go.

J

To the senior center, because I know I live right near there- there are people there all the time if.

J

There's any way to work with the seniors that go there, predictably, that are in okay shape, wouldn't.

J

It be nice to have them be able to subsidize child care in an emergency kind of situation.

J

They might like snuggling up with some of these kiddos. It might serve a need for everybody. I mean.

J

Don't think for a second, I don't love having my grandson around, but don't think I'm not tired.

J

When he leaves so, I wonder if there's any way, we can dovetail some of that thinking and solve.

J

A couple of problems, because there's a lot of people that go to the senior center, who just.

J

Go there because they're lonely, you know they might like to. I don't know. I don't even know.

J

It's feasible kim there's an idea for you. Thank you. um Play groups at a variety of locations.

I

We expanded that and we have play groups on on site at our portsmouth location.

I

To be patients to join the groups, what do you do around transportation? We don't [laughter].

I

um Typically, like we were in idle hurst and somersworth, and it's the kids are there or the.

I

Parents are driving or walking there because it's the parents and the kids and they really.

I

Appreciated that just after covid the peak because they had been isolated with their kids.

A

So I I think to kim's idea that there are these populations that we tip in in years past. We have.

A

Not included uh in our workforce um and they may have limited capability, but nonetheless they have.

A

Some capability and whether it's it's an elderly population that gets paired up with young kids or.

A

um I know that there are many companies that are hiring people with with intellectual.

A

Disabilities and and that's um so so there there is something there. I I think.

A

um That probably needs to be paired up with the transportation issue, so that.

A

um It makes it easier to get people around to where they need to be so maybe.

A

I don't know karen how much the city is looking at that, but it is. I think that there's something.

A

Something there to some of some capacity. I think you get into um things like background.

C

Checks and and provisions or requirements that we might have that. I would imagine similar.

C

Organizations may or may not have to varying degrees. So just something to put out there.

I

My workplace, we do get a lot of background checks that we have.

I

um We've we've really loosened a lot of our raids. For that very reason.

I

You know if somebody lost their license or right, then we still take those people into employment.

K

I um so job launch is a workforce program that safe harbor runs um and you know taking into.

K

Consideration that 10 of the portsmouth population is disabled and I'm not sure if that even includes.

K

The other eligible disabled individuals, which are those people in recovery from substance, use.

K

Disorder so we have, along with in individuals with developmental disabilities, we have all.

K

These employment opportunities that just need a little support from the existing nonprofits um and.

K

I think you know we need the health department to help structure. These requests with the city.

K

Council is, it looks like there's a process already in place of some sort. No okay.

K

So yeah, that's all I mean, I think that that's to me that's the challenge that exists is that.

D

Some of these great ideas are not just quick fixes that we can ask the city to fund they're.

D

Complicated, I was thinking transportation, I'm like, oh, maybe the city can buy a bunch of vehicles.

D

That we're trying to buy for to help with the transportation piece. But it's hard to think.

D

Of the things that wouldn't involve all the hr components of implementation, yeah yeah, just just.

F

Following up on what linda was talking about with matching up seniors with um younger kids, I don't. I.

F

Haven't been to like the portsmouth senior center, so I haven't seen what it looks like, but I know.

F

Years ago, when I um worked with our church to do a young mom's group and they could bring.

F

Their kids there and we had you- know kind of classrooms set up and seniors mostly seniors.

F

Were the ones who were helping with the child care- and I think you know I'm sure any number.

F

Of the nonprofits here have done, have done and could do background checks for people if need be.

F

um We do them all the time for staff and volunteers, so it's not not a hard thing to do.

F

But if you could get the funding to set up a room and stuff or a few couple of rooms where people.

F

Could do that and also more helpful for seniors if they're, not one-on-one or you know like it.

A

It helps to have a group of people dealing with a group. You know so that you could, because we've had.

F

We've had staff members, we have, you know a single dad on staff and with all of the viruses and.

F

Things like that going around boy, you know if your kid can't be in school either, because you know you.

F

Know if, if they're bringing home all these things, and you can't go to work because you're, sick and.

F

They can't go to school because they're sick and it just really builds into a perfect storm.

F

Of problems, um so if there's opportunities to do that, I think you know. Obviously you.

F

Don't want to have sick kids in my seniors, but there might be something that could be done.

F

And on that, just on the transportation side we did have, we had a I work at gather.

F

um And we did have a senior valentine's day dinner last night and um like kelly, uh let's go from.

F

Portsmouth housing did bring a group of seniors there with their transportation and another.

F

Person brought a group from where they were from a housing complex, so it's a nice way to get some of.

F

That isolation, it was a really nice opportunity, um but using some of the transportation that.

F

Exists or maybe to your point: could we get more of that transportation, because once you can bring.

F

People together that helps with that social isolation is what we're dealing with actually.

K

um A lack of coordination. What would happen if we put the funding towards one hiring that had a.

K

Budget and then was vested with coordinating. All of this I mean is that something that's possible.

C

um I think the question is who would house that person and what happens when the coveted money.

C

Has to be expended by 26, so do you set it up to be an expiring kind of situation? I would assume.

K

Yes find other funding by the time right, maybe that's part of the job of sustainability and.

K

Social services coordinator and they attend the community resource network, and they, you know their.

K

Job would be to make sure all the moving parts are integrated, um because it seems like that's.

K

Where we're falling short along with the power and capacity to spend the money making this happen.

K

So I mean that's where I think way to get the most bang for our buck as a committee. But.

K

I don't know what's going on, I was just gonna um I'm remembering um years ago I've been a teacher.

G

Forever, but during the summer I would do some other things and a couple of years. I've don't know.

G

Who I worked for, I was trained by, but I worked with seniors. I would be sent to seniors homes.

G

And I would visit them maybe twice a week and spend time with them and go over lots of things.

G

And my backgrounds with in health and wellness, so I could connect with how they were doing and.

G

um So I did that, like I remember doing that for an a whole summer and then, when school.

G

Started I actually had one of the seniors that I visited, who was like in his mid 90s, who had.

G

Just incredible life history, I invited him to one of the classes to speak to the students.

G

About who he was and how he sold newspapers in new york city at seven cents, a paper when he.

G

Was a child I mean, and that just so lifted that person's spirit to even connect him to get him.

G

Out of his house- and I also I don't think it was the second same program, but I also.

G

Worked another summer with troubled teenagers and I'm talking about a long time ago. But.

G

Oh god, I mean this, not some of those kids were in such bad shape. It was incredible, but by the time.

G

Like the end of those summer months ended, I was connected with those children and I stayed with.

G

On with one young girl, I could tell you an amazing story: write a book about her um stayed connected.

G

With her and she passed away after a while and I'm still her mom still calls and and says how.

G

Important that work was for those couple of years, which are two great examples of some of the ideas.

D

That we're talking about I mean and I'm thinking yeah you know probably was minimum wage that I.

G

Got during that that summer, but but the connection with those people was amazing yeah, I think we'll.

G

Need they are today kim scooted back up to the table because she said she has something thank.

C

You thank you. I just wanted to clarify one thing. When I was talking about the workforce, I wasn't.

H

Necessarily talking about the representation from what's at this table, I was talking about.

H

The broader community, with my restaurant hat on I know our restaurants are struggling tremendously.

H

They had to cut hours, they can't do specials, they don't have the the folks to help them. I know that.

H

Some of the success stories are people in recovery uh going to work in restaurants, and so when I'm.

H

Talking about the workforce, it's the broader community! How do we connect with them? For that.

H

So I just wanted to make that clear and I wasn't saying the health department doesn't want to help.

H

I was just saying: well, we don't have a process, yeah yeah and it's not something you're. Looking to.

K

You can't there is no agency in order to structure a process and accept proposals for funding. Is that.

K

Correct, well, it's a very large ask um or a broad ask. I should say one person could do it if they.

H

Were dedicated to that, but we are, we are very busy and I don't know for that sort of community.

H

Planning that the health department is the best option, the health department is a good option.

H

For speaking up for vulnerable populations and the overall broad picture, I'll leave that up to.

H

The city manager to discuss it it's too bad that the idn does not exist anymore, because with that.

C

Have been the ideal place to to suggest that this role lives? Well, the idn is a lot of case.

C

Integrated delivery network, yes for individuals. So if we were working on a difficult case and.

H

The person didn't have insurance and they were, the hospital was discharging them. They didn't.

H

Have a safe place to go, we would call the idea- and they would do all that case management and.

H

They help with things like. If you have lost your naturalization papers, they can get that they can.

H

Sign you up for mega, like usually focused on an individual, but I don't see why that.

H

Couldn't translate into a community type of of coordinator or planner for some non-profit to.

H

Want a house we used to have an organization kathy what was her last name. It was down in.

I

Northampton it used to be a care coordination. It was an organization that went away for.

I

Healthcare yeah yeah. What was that called and support services? They were tucked away, um yeah.

I

I can't remember they actually had an office in here too yeah one point: well, we know we know.

A

The idns are sorely missed and I I to this day I just don't know why they went away because they.

A

Were performing something really valuable in the community across the state, really um they ran out.

A

Of money: well, I understand they, they ran out of money, but that was something that somebody should.

A

Have done something about um okay, so I think we need to close the meeting uh just just to.

A

uh Briefly, discuss what happened on today, so we had uh andrew council andrew bagley come and visit.

A

And I think some of the some of the thoughts that he had uh as it relates to some of these.

A

Potential programs for transportation, kids uh and so forth seem to make sense and seemed to.

A

Fall in line with some of the things that we've discussed, those are the low-hanging fruit, so I.

A

Think that that's what we need to continue to focus on, because I don't think- uh and I think.

A

We're all on agreement we're not going to solve. Unfortunately, the housing or the workforce issues.

A

That are that have been going on for a long time and are going to continue to go on for some time.

A

um So I'll leave it there there any final thoughts. uh I think we just need to continue.

A

Along to to to think along the lines of some of these low-hanging fruit, that council bagley.

A

Brought to the table today and, of course, thinking about also about what kim brought to the table.

A

Yep, um I would just remind people, um I know I can't make the next meeting. So if you can let.

D

Jessica know if you cannot attend so that we make sure we have a quorum. Let me show them the meeting.

C

Cadence with everyone we we meet every other tuesday at noon, so the next meeting would be.

C

Feb 28 at noon, followed by march 14th march 28th, and then we have one final wrap up april. 18Th.

A

Thank you so, at this point, I'd like to um is there anybody for a public.

A

Comment there is not okay, I'd like to entertain a motion for to adjourn.

A

Okay, moved by anne second, the second last one kathy seconds all in favor. Thank you.