Council on Aging reviews staff hires, shuttle ridership and policy rewrite

SUDBURY -- October 21, 2024, Sudbury Council on Aging gets staffing relief and a transportation reality check. Director Debra Galloway told the Oct. 21 meeting that the senior center has hired a new program coordinator and a new assistant director and outreach coordinator, Jill Dube, formerly of Wellesley's COA, though a front-desk position remains open. Member Bob Lieberman reported the MWRTA's Catch Connect on-demand shuttle is running at 60 to 70 percent of its July peak but, per MWRTA Director Jim Nee, still "exceeds their wildest expectation"; the hospital shuttle has only a handful of riders. Lieberman said volunteer Alice Sapienza is effectively working full time and the town needs a paid coordinator. The Friends of Sudbury Senior Citizens, per President Jeff Levine, are seeking to replace roughly $130,000 spent on the center this past year. The board will skip November and meet Dec. 9.