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 October 18, 2010 Members in Attendance: Chairperson Gen Bergendahl, Secretary Margaret Aldrich, Regular Members Michael Lahan and Jacquelyn Randall, and Alternate Members Antoinette Gwiazdowski, Frank Jacaruso and Jan Stewart. Attending staff members were Beverly Goulet, Mike Wolak and Anne Barriere. Absent was Vice Chairperson Olive Buddington. Chairperson Gen Bergendahl determined that a quorum was present and called the meeting to order at 9:01 a.m. Gen welcomed Councilman H. Tucker Braddock to the meeting. Minutes: Accepted. Communications: None. Human Services Report: We have been looking for a replacement bus for Paul but met with little success. So far the best used bus found looked great inside but was completely rotted underneath and would not be worth the cost to repair. Bev has scheduled a meeting with the City Manager for Friday to look at the situation. She suggested that it might even be necessary to approach the City Council for help for a new vehicle. For the last two years, Mike has put a new vehicle in his budget request, but was denied each time. Paul’s bus is 16 years old and Mary’s is newer but also past its suggested life span. Concern also is for the safety of the seniors should the vehicle break down on the road. Leasing a new vehicle is also a possibility and details will be discussed at Friday’s meeting. A new vehicle, even purchased with the State discounts, would not be available for at least 2-4 months. The Senior Center vehicles are extremely important to transport seniors who cannot drive and have no family to help. John from the City Garage is going to put together the details on the last two inspections which failed and how patchwork was necessary to pass inspection but that the next time it won’t pass and can’t be patched any more. Senior Center Report: The wind project is supposed to start any day now. Next Thursday will be our annual flu clinic and if anybody would like to help, let Mike know. On the same day we will also be having a Thrift Shop sale. There was a question about leftover lunch meals and who might be able to receive them. The biggest problem seems to be the waste of meals where the senior does not show up and has not called to cancel. Although we can try and remind seniors to call if they cannot show up, Mike said any questions about procedure or policy should be addressed with TVCCA directly. They use our site but we have no say on how they run their program.  2 The time to apply for the vacant Program Administrator’s position closed a week ago Friday. After Human Resources reviews the application, Mike will set up an interview panel. Hopefully, some time in November we will have the position filled. Chairperson’s Report/Legislative Report: Gen invited Councilman Braddock to discuss the bond issues mentioned in the paper. There are three: one to help revitalize downtown, one for new residential gas lines, and one for the industrial park. One goal is to say to the region at large that Norwich wants to change the downtown. The business park is getting run down and improvements are needed to help keep the businesses still there and make it more upscale to entice new business. The gas line project is a continuation of the expansion of gas services in Norwich neighborhoods which brings new service income to the City and the cost will be reimbursed by the residents who gain the new service. Some questions were fielded to Councilman Braddock regarding the upcoming bonding issues and hopeful revitalization of downtown. Other Business: None. Old Business: None. New Business: None. Next Meeting: Monday, November 15, 2010, at 9:00 a.m., at the Rose City Senior Center. Respectfully submitted, Margaret Aldrich Margaret Aldrich, Secretary MA/acb REGULAR MEETINGS OF T HE COMMISSION ARE SCHEDULED FOR THE RD 3 M O N D A Y O F M A R / A P R / M A Y A N D S E P T /O C T / N O V