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 May 19, 2014 Members in Attendance: Chairperson Olive Buddington, Vice Chairperson Gen Bergendahl, Secretary Margaret Aldrich, Regular Member Jacquelyn Randall, and Alternate Members Jan Stewart and Frank Jacaruso. Absent was Regular Member Michael Lahan. Attending staff members were Mike Wolak and Anne Barriere. Chairperson Olive Buddington determined there was a quorum and called the meeting to order. Minutes: The minutes from 04-21-14 were approved as submitted. Communications: We recently received two donations, one from the Women’s City Club and one from the Italian Women’s Club, each $100. We also received a thank-you to the Norwich-Montville MED RIDE II program from a dialysis patient whose is very grateful for the opportunity of this transportation. Each month they donate $50 to the senior center. Due to some unused funds we are currently able to expand services with local Taxi companies to accommodate the sometimes early hours these folks have to travel for their treatments. Human Services Report: None. Senior Center Report: Director of Human Services, Beverly Goulet is scheduled to officially retire June 13th and will not be coming back during the interim. Lee-Ann Gomes will be filling in as Acting Director until the position is reviewed by the City. We all wish Bev well in her retirement. We may finally have a replacement for our open position on the Commission. Elizabeth Braddock has shown an interest in joining. She participates in a lot of programs here at the Center and will be a welcome addition. Mike will be giving a presentation on Wed. at Three Rivers Community College about the Senior Center and the programs and services it offers. Mike will be presenting for two grants in early June; for the Podiatry Clinic and the Benefits Counselor. He will also be applying for the Lord Foundation Grant which funds our Health Clinic. We postponed the Yard Sale to the 31st, due to a stormy weather forecast. Unfortunately, it was a gorgeous day after all. Chairperson’s Report/Legislative Report: None. Old Business: None. New Business: With the retirement of the Director of Human Services, many of the Commission members would like to promote the idea of the Senior Center becoming its own entity, and not under the canopy of any other City department. Along time ago there was a push to combine different departments in the City but the reality is that it can interfere with communications and daily services because of the extra steps the workers have to deal with. Mike wanted to clarify that Lee-Ann does know about the movement to promote separation of the Senior Center from the Human Services Dept., but should it not happen at this time that Mike will do his best to work smoothly with whatever system the City Council decides is best for now. A motion was made, seconded and passed to send a letter to the City Manager regarding this topic. Each Commission member will sign this letter endorsing their preference that the Senior Center be a single entity. Next Meeting: Monday, Sept. 15, 2014 at 9:00 a.m., at the Rose City Senior Center. Respectfully submitted, Margaret Aldrich / acb Margaret Aldrich, Secretary MA/acb Regular meetings of the Commission are scheduled on the 3rd Monday of Mar/Apr/May and Sept/Oct/Nov