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 Sept. 19, 2011 Members in Attendance: Chairperson Gen Bergendahl, Vice Chairperson Olive Buddington, Secretary Margaret Aldrich, Regular Members Michael Lahan, Jacquelyn Randall, and Alternate Members Antoinette Gwiazdowski, Frank Jacaruso and Jan Stewart. Attending staff members were Beverly Goulet, Mike Wolak and Anne Barriere. Chairperson Gen Bergendahl welcomed Councilman H. Tucker Braddock to the meeting, determined that a quorum was present and called the meeting to order at 9:03 a.m. Minutes: Accepted as corrected. Communications: None Human Services Report: For a long time the Senior Center with its generator, has been designated as an Emergency Shelter for seniors and/or disabled during emergencies. During this last hurricane (Irene), it came to be questioned whether the Senior Center should be opened up for anyone in the region. Bev refused the request stating that the Center is not equipped for such a quantity of people, for instance there is only one small shower. Kelly Middle School or Norwich TECH across the street are better choices with larger facilities including showers that shelters really need. Senior Center Report: Received $25,000 from the Lord Foundation to help cover the Health Clinic. Alderman Desaulniers donated his Council stipend of $1,200 as promised in June, which is earmarked to be used to cover backup drivers for daily transportation when regular drivers take vacation or sick time. Thanks to Bev, Sunrise Rotary gave us a $500 donation to help seniors who cannot afford it to pay for classes with an extra fee. Eastern Bank awarded us a $1,000 grant toward our Outreach program. Senior Resources, Area Agency on Aging awarded $6,500 also for Outreach as well as $5,000 for the Podiatry Clinic. We are pleased to share that since September 2010, we’ve had 308 new members in addition to our current renewals, an over 10% increase. We will be offering our Annual Flu Clinic, hosted by Backus Home Health, on October 25th from 9-Noon. Please see Mike if you would like to volunteer. Chairperson’s Report/Legislative Report: Regarding the TVCCA Lunch program it is noticed the quantity of leftovers that cannot be given away to leave the building. Unfortunately, it is a safety precaution and cannot be changed. It was asked whether the Senior Center could offer homemade soup and sandwiches once a month as a replacement lunch.  2 Other Business: Gen called for a vote for her replacement as Chairperson and nominated Vice Chairperson Olive Buddington for the position. With no other nominations it was unanimously voted that Olive take over the Chairperson position. With the Vice Chairperson position now vacant, nominations were then opened. Nominated was Gen Bergendahl who was unanimously approved by the Commission. Mike asked how an alternate member becomes a regular member or for that matter, how an outsider might become part of the Commission. Nominations and appointments are handled by the City Manager and City Council as per definition in the City Charter. Upon announcement of an opening a citizen may submit a letter of request to join the Commission to the City Manager. Old Business: None New Business: None Next Meeting: Monday, Oct. 17, 2011, 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 on the 3rd Monday of Mar/Apr/May and Sept/Oct/Nov