Senior Affairs Commission

ROSE CITY SENIOR CENTER 8 Mahan Drive, Norwich, Connecticut 06360 (860) 889-5960 s fax: (860) 885-1160 SENIOR AFFAIRS COMMISSION Meeting of Sept 27, 2012 Members in Attendance: Chairperson Olive Buddington, Secretary Margaret Aldrich, and Alternate Members Frank Jacaruso. Attending staff members were Beverly Goulet, Mike Wolak and Anne Barriere. Absent were Vice Chairperson Gen Bergendahl, Regular Members Michael Lahan and Jacquelyn Randall, Alternate Members Antoinette Gwiazdowski and Jan Stewart. Per the Bylaws, a quorum of three was established with the voting attendance of Alternate Member Frank Jacaruso. Minutes: Accepted. Communications: We have received donations recently in the amounts of $300 from the AARP #1004 group, $100 from the Italian Women’s Club, $100 from a private individual to assist with memberships, and $100 from our Wednesday night Pinochle group and $4,500 from a couple who are very active members here for the Senior Center fund. Human Services Report: In another month we’ll be working on next year’s budget but for now things are fairly quiet. Remember though that any time you can, your presence at City Council meetings does make a difference. It is not necessary to speak, just to have a Senior Center presence shows we care and follow what the Council votes on. Senior Center Report: It’s been a very busy summer with the north parking lot being dug up to install drainage before the resurfacing later in the Fall. Mike’s office has been dug up as well looking for a long-time leak into that room. Hopefully what they find out will help other area in the building with long-term leaking as well. Next year we hope to see funding for a new roof, which comes out of the City’s Capitol Account. Two of our grants have been extended, one for the Podiatry Clinic which begins Oct 1st, and the other for the Benefits Counselor (Natalie) one day a week. We have received our new bus which is working out very well. There are a couple of little things which will be taken care of in time. The seniors love the new bus, its large windows and comfortable ride, especially on the longer trips which we can now use our own bus for. The cost for the bus was around $80,000 with the City’s portion around $55,000-$58,000 and the rest being for the natural gas conversion which was paid for by a Clean Cities’ Grant. This March we hope to apply for another grant through the State for a second bus. Our old bus has been in the shop for the last six weeks waiting for new AC lines. Hopefully in the next couple of months we will be hiring a permanent 21-hr part-time escort car driver to fill the vacancy left by Bob who advanced to the full-time position of Van Driver vacated by Paul who advanced to Lead Van Driver when Mary moved to the Receptionist position when Roberta retired last Spring. We are having our Annual Flu Clinic for seniors on Thursday, October 25th from 9:00-Noon. Medicare or Blue Cross will cover it. If other insurance doesn’t cover the cash cost will be $40, but we will recommend they go to CVS or other local pharmacy which only charge $25. TVCCA has begun accepting applications for heating assistance. Chairperson’s Report/Legislative Report: None. Other Business: None. Old Business: None. New Business: None Next Meeting: Monday, Oct. 15, 2012, at 9:00 a.m., at the Rose City Senior Center. Respectfully submitted, Margaret Aldrich, Secretary MA/acb