| I. Introduction:
The Senior Center is a municipal building of the Town of Shrewsbury
and as such must comply with all the By-Laws, rules and regulations
of the town. The General By-Laws of the town, the Town Meeting Act,
the Town Manager Act and the Acts of the Legislature accepted by
the town as amended, are included by reference herein.
Article 4-1 refers to the establishment of the Council on Aging
(COA), a human services organization. Its mission is to develop
and support community activities which enhance the well being of
residents of the town who are age 60 or older. The COA has prepared
this statement of policies and procedures to carry out its mission
more effectively and to facilitate the day to day activities of
the staff, volunteers, visitors and all who come to use and enjoy
our facility.
II. Facility Use:
Regular business hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through
Friday, consistent with other municipal departments of the town
of Shrewsbury. When schools are cancelled by inclement weather,
all Senior Center activities will be canceled and all transportation
and nutrition services will be suspended. However, the Council on
Aging Offices will remain open to assist residents as usual.
The Senior Center Use Request and Agreement Form must be completed
and submitted to the COA office by organizations and individuals
who seek space for:
- A regularly scheduled ongoing meeting (weekly or monthly)
- For each modification of a scheduled meeting
- Any one-time use.
At times restrictions on the use of equipment, some sharing of
spaces and some compromising between competing program activities
may be required. Cooperation with the COA staff is expected.
- Council on Aging services, programs and activities will have
priority, based on the
monthly schedule and space availability established by the COA
office.
- Shrewsbury Parks and Recreation activities for seniors, which
charge registration fees, will develop their schedules with the
COA office.
- Recognized and responsible senior organizations which meet
for educational, recreational, social or civic purposes, (such
as Friends of the Shrewsbury Senior Center, Inc., the Shrewsbury
Senior Citizens Club or the Shrewsbury Friends) may apply to the
COA office, completing a Request Form, to use available meeting
space without a fee. Each group will make available to the COA
Director a copy of their by-laws, the names and addresses of elected
officers, statement of membership dues, etc. It is hoped that
the organization will consider donating to the Friends of the
Senior Center, Inc. in support of its financial assistance to
the COA activities and facility.
- Other Shrewsbury organizations which are recognized and responsible
and meet for educational, recreational, social or civic purposes
that are not senior related (such as other town departments, Welcome
Wagon, church or theater groups) may request use of the Senior
Center on weekdays by submitting a completed Request Form to the
COA Office. Their contributions and those of their members to
the Friends of the Shrewsbury Senior Center, Inc. would be most
appreciated.
- Individuals who volunteer to provide programs or services for
seniors should complete and submit the Request Form to the COA
office. They may receive a nominal suggested donation from participants
for each session and shall comply with all procedures identified
by the Volunteer Director.
- Other municipal purposes may need to be scheduled at the Senior
Center by the Selectmen and through the Town Manager, as space
for a precinct on election days, and may supersede COA scheduling.
All groups which use the Senior Center will be responsible for
setting up and breaking down any equipment, COA owned or other,
and cleaning up after themselves.
Organizers of an event not sponsored by the Council on Aging shall
be responsible for any custodial expenses which may be incurred.
III. Senior Center Property and Equipment Use:
- No commercial soliciting or sales by individuals are allowed.
Written inquiries regarding any other types of sales should be
directed to the COA office.
- Approval by the COA office must be given before any bulletin
board posting. No notices are to be posted on walls or doors.
The written request of an organization to display its material
within this public building must come to the COA Director.
- Storage space in cabinets or the refrigerator for use by groups
will be designated by the COA office, labeled for that group’s
use, and any property labeled by them.
- Equipment in activity areas, (such as the room divider, sound
system, TV, VCR, kitchen appliances) may be used only by those
who have been given prior permission by the COA Office and understand
any special operating instructions that may apply.
- Use of any COA office equipment (including phones, copier,
fax machine, printer) will not be allowed unless permission is
given by Office personnel.
- Users of the public computers must agree to the Usage Notice
posted near the computers and not use the computers for illegal
or pornographic activities.
- Trash receptacles at the Senior Center, including the dumpster,
are not for public use.
- Any spillage, damage, or potential hazard should be reported
immediately to the COA office. It is expected that persons will
clean up after themselves in the general public areas and bathrooms.
- Those using the Senior Center are encouraged to fill out a
Senior Center Comment Form to inform the COA office of problems
with equipment, furniture or features of rooms or other issues
which need further attention.
- If a senior’s car will need to be left in the parking
lot after hours, the COA Office shall be notified.
IV. Personal Conduct:
The following guidelines have been developed to help maintain
harmonious relations for all users of the Senior Center:
- Be responsible for personal care, i.e. hygiene, toileting,
continence, cleanliness, feeding. The Center is not responsible
for providing assistance with personal care. Appropriate dress
is always required in the building.
- Understand and maintain appropriate behavior, i.e. no violent
behavior or threats of violence, no disturbances or disruptions.
Use common courtesy in interacting with other participants, with
respect for their property and persons.
- Be reasonably oriented to access Senior Center activities.
Be able to independently plan and make decisions around service
requests, including transportation, lunches and financial transactions.
- Be responsible for own health care, i.e. medications, special
diets, medical appointments, emergency provisions. The COA is
not responsible for providing assistance with medications and
other personal health and medical care.
- The COA recommends that each person involved in any activity
complete an Emergency Card at the desk. Any senior who is injured
at the Senior Center should fill out an Incident Report at the
COA office, no matter how minor the injury.
- Alcohol and illegal substances are not allowed in or about the
Center. Inebriated behavior will not be tolerated and staff will
take appropriate action.
- No gambling is allowed, except when games involving money and
chance are organized by user groups and in compliance with the
relevant rules and regulations of the state Lottery Commission.
- The Senior Center is a no smoking building. There is a designated
smoking area outside the rear of the building only.
- No animals are allowed in the Senior Center except for assistance
animals for the disabled.
Anyone having questions regarding these policies may bring them
to the attention of the COA Office Staff or the COA Board of Directors.
Updated by the COA Board on June 9, 2004
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