Senior Citizens Advisory Committee

AGENDA Madison Senior Citizens Advisory Committee Thursday, May 12, 2016 2:00 PM – 3:30PM, at the Senior Center 28 Walnut Street, Madison, New Jersey 1. Welcome 2. Roll Call - Secretary 3. Introductory Remarks – Chair 4. Update: Grotta Grant Status – Sandra Fielo 5. Council Liaison – Astri Baille 6. Senior Center – Edna Ierley-Byrne 7. Committee Reports and Needs: a. Bill List – Tax preparation b. Madison Library – Jeffrey Payton c. AARP - Ruth Barrett d. Rotary Club – Dennis Callahan e. Rexford S. Tucker Apts. – Lena Crasto f. Health Department – Marlene Dolan i. Portable disposals g. Healthy Bones – Peggy Donnelly h. Stay Healthy – Sandra Fielo i. Friends of Seniors – Lou Gaburo j. DDC Rep – John Hoover k. Thursday Morning Club Rep – Kay Leary l. RSVP – Kaye Shaler m. Y – Sue Sheeley n. At-Large – Phyllis Flemming 8. New Business a. Potential SCAC Projects/Programs 9. Next Meeting: Thursday, June 9, 2016 from 2:00pm until 3:30pm Madison Senior Center Senior Center Advisory Committee Minutes for Meeting May 12, 2016 SCAC Members: John Hoover (Chair), Ruth A. Barrett, Kaye Shaler, Lou Gaburo, Sandra Fielo, Jeffrey Paxton, Marlene Dolan, Phyllis Flemming, Edna Ierley-Byrne (Madison Sr. Center), Peggy Donnelly, Bruce Fielding, Bill List, Astri Baillie. Members Not Present – Lena Crasto, Susan Sheeley Other: Bruce Fielding (replacing Joe Smith representing the Rotary Club of Madison) Minutes They were approved and seconded. Minutes accepted. Senior Center – Edna Ierley-Byrne Edna reported on the different programs occurring at the Senior Center. One new initiative is an ongoing meditation program that had a very good attendance. Edna also stated that she was quite pleased with the cleanup on May Day at the Center. It certainly looked amazing! Friends of the Senior Center- Lou Gaburo Three landscaping companies have been contacted and will submit estimates for the grounds. This project will assist the Senior Center with the maintenance of their grounds. Hopefully annuals and other plantings will help to beautify the Center. Discussions are ongoing concerning Bottle Hill Day, the Mahjong tournament and an Open House for the Senior Center. The committee will reach out to the Master Gardeners Program for future ideas and other programming. Council Liaison – Astri Baillie Astri updated the group on the Madison Council’s Electric Rebate Program which was already mailed to the residents. She updated the Council on Edna’s conference and Madison’s progress as an “age- friendly” community. There was also discussion on the historical Round Table meeting and how well it was attended by the community. Even with the awful weather, May Day in downtown Madison was a huge success! Over 900 volunteers were in attendance. Next year a greater effort will be made to reincorporate the seniors into the planning and participation of May Day. ( After the SCAC meeting, John Hoover contacted the May Day Coordinator to request that SCAC reps be included in the 2017 May Day planning meeting) Finally, the Farmer’s Market will open on June 2nd on Central Avenue. Stay Healthy – Sandra Fielo Sandee stated that 378 surveys were completed for the Grotta Fund Grant. The date and place for the survey results has still not been decided and publicized. Tax Program- Bill List Bill stated that he and five other volunteers filed 167 federal e-file returns for 2015. It was also stated that there would be training for an entirely new software program in 2017 (for the 2016 tax year) and that the program may be interview based. Library – Jeff Payton The library renovations are done. There is new furniture, a new paved driveway etc. Wonderful summer programs have been planned for all. Rotary - Bruce Fielding The Feed the Hunger Project at St. Vincent’s created over 51,000 meals in a few short hours. Next year, many more will be attempted. As always, the Rotary is looking for new members. Please come as a guest to either a Thursday morning breakfast meeting at 7:45am at the Y, or lunch a meeting at 12:15p at Rod’s. Bruce will always welcome any or all new prospective members. Health Department – Marlene Dolan It is important for all to realize that the Madison Police Department has a 24/7 drop box for all discontinued, discarded and unused medications. Every county in New Jersey implements their own medication disposal system and the Madison Police Department is happy with our current program. Marlene had seen a different disposal system in Union County but Madison is not changing at this present time. This drop off system is used widely by many of our residents. More information is being learned on a daily basis concerning the Zika virus. Healthy Bones – Peggy Donnelly Peggy reported that she still has the same consistent 8-10 attendees once a week. There have been no new members for some time. This program is a national evidence-based program and there is extensive training to become an attendee. DDC – John Hoover John informed us that the Farmer’s Market will open on June 2nd. Plans are on-going for Bottle Hill Day. The selection process has begun for the consultants for the RFP that was issued. The purpose is to develop an economic revitalization program for the Downtown Business District. Three drinking fountains are to be installed throughout the town with three levels- adult, child and pets! Many new signs (5) have been approved and that means new businesses for the Boro . The DDC has also been promoting fixing pavers and replacing the older lights. Thursday Morning Club – Kay Leary There will be a Garage Sale fundraiser on June 16, 17 and 18. Also the holiday troop project has begun. AARP – Ruth Barrett - no report. RSVP- Kaye Shaler Kaye reported that the number of clients they are assisting has declined but the type of client has changed. The committee is not only dealing with seniors, but with those struggling with other challenging life situations. The total number of clients is 18. New Business: Sandee Fielo suggested having a MACA representative on our board. John stated that he would speak to the Mayor concerning this idea. Meeting was adjourned at 3:00. Next meeting will be held on Thursday, June 9th at 2:00 pm. Respectfully submitted, Phyllis Flemming, Secretary