Senior Affairs Commission

ROSE CITY SENIOR CENTER 8 Mahan Drive, Norwich, Connecticut 06360 (860) 889-5960
fax: (860) 885-1160 SENIOR AFFAIRS COMMISSION Meeting of September 15, 2008 Members in Attendance: Secretary Margaret Aldrich, Regular Members Olive Buddington, Jacquelyn Randall, and Alternate Members Frank Jacaruso, Jan Stewart, and Antoinette Gwiazdowski. Attending staff were Beverly Goulet, Mike Wolak and Anne Barriere. Absent were Chairperson Michael Lahan and Vice Chairperson Gen Bergendahl. Secretary Margaret Aldrich determined that a quorum was present and called the meeting to order at 9:10 a.m. Minutes: Accepted. Communications: Congratulatory notes from community regarding our new National Accreditation status as well as printout of current web site contents were added to Anne’s binder was on table for review by members Human Services Report: What a proud day for the Rose City Senior Center and thanks to Mike and his staff as well as commission members, volunteers and community members who helped make it possible. A special thanks goes out to Sue Sabrowski who came back after retirement and volunteered to continue the long process until National Accreditation was achieved. Mike will have framed the many plaques celebrating the day and display them at the Center. Soon it will be time to work on department budgets for the next fiscal year. Senior Center Report: Mike commented how pleased he was at the great turnout by seniors and the community. Mike is pursuing suggestions by our Participant Committee including new signage for the North parking lot and updating the sign on Harland Road, which is faded. The toilet paper boxes in the bathrooms will be replaced. A commission member was asked if attention will be put on replacing the paper towel holders to a sensor-fed system and to replace the gel-type hand sanitizer bottles around the center with foam style to help prevent product mis-use. We have changed the process for trip registration (see Web Site or Oct Voices) to a phone call-in system after hours with a staggered schedule starting with current members who are Norwich residents. The south entrance has no handicap system for the door or a proper ramp. This will be looked at soon to make it more accessible like the north door. Use of the last row and the grass on the North parking lot is allowed by an agreement with the college and new signs and an attendant will be added to insure the students do not take spaces reserved for senior center visitors. Chairperson’s Report/Legislative Report: None Other Business: None  2 Old Business: None New Business: Bev brought up the need to vote for a new chairperson, one who is more able to fit our meetings into their yearly schedule. Bev will follow up on this. Bev and Mike will work on having a legislative forum to address any bills of concern. This would probably take place after the upcoming elections. Next Meeting: Monday, October 20, 2008, at 9:00 a.m., at the Rose City Senior Center. Respectfully submitted, Margaret Aldrich Margaret Aldrich, Secretary MA/acb (Regular meetings of the Commission are scheduled for the 3rd Monday of Mar/Apr/May and Sept/Oct/Nov.)