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 May 18, 2015 Members in Attendance: Chairperson Olive Buddington, Vice Chairperson Gen Bergendahl, Secretary Margaret Aldrich, Regular Members Michael Lahan and Jacquelyn Randall, Alternate Members Frank Jacaruso and Jan Stewart. Attending staff member were Lee-Ann Gomes, Mike Wolak and Anne Barriere. Chairperson Olive Buddington determined there was a quorum and called the meeting to order. Minutes: The minutes from 04-20-15 were approved as submitted. Communications: Mike passed around copies from Lee-Ann of a handout on the Ethics Commission. Also Jill asked Mike to remind the Commission that the Recognition Reception for the Docents is tomorrow at 10 AM at City Hall. Everyone is welcome. A note regarding Mary Lemire, who is our Receptionist. Her husband passed away unexpectedly last Friday afternoon. The Commission will send her a card. Human Services Report: Budget talks continue but look fairly good. Only small department reductions are expected, ~.5%, and would not affect current staffing. Ideas continue to evolve for the proposed aquatic center including a walking pool in addition to the lap pool planned. For its location the current focus is in the Kelly Middle School-Senior Center area. Looking through our By-Law’s, Lee-Ann would like to hear more from the Commission as to what seniors need. She sees that as a primary purpose of the Commission which is to tell her and Mike more about what programs, what facilities, and what types of things seniors in our community need and then to lobby and try to get money for it so that needs are met. Jan suggested that seniors don’t like to be over-programmed and that a minimum amount of programming would be good. Lee-Ann mentioned as an example, the Respite program for grandparents raising grandchildren which they can get up to $2,000 to help them. Senior Center Report: Last Wednesday we had a pre-bid meeting here with the City Engineer and the Civil Engineer with about 11 contractors that showed up. The bids are due to the City in a week or so and will be opened on the 29th and renovation will begin soon thereafter. So we are looking around the 2nd week of June for work to begin. We will post as soon as possible the planned disruptions to our regular activity schedule. Our Community Yard Sale was postponed due to rain. Mike received a call from NCDC last week and they received a small grant which will allow us to provide transportation to the Farmer’s Market starting in July. It will cover driver and fuel costs. Rides will be available to seniors, or seniors/disabled in senior housing to the Norwich Farmer’s Market. On June 17th, we will be hosting a program called “Understanding and Preventing Elder Financial Abuse”, which will take place from 6:00-7:30 pm. Jan asked for Mike to pass along to Hilary her highest praise for the creation of a recent yard sale information flyer. Chairperson’s Report/Legislative Report: No report except to say that the Legislature is working up to par. Old Business: Jacquelyn inquired about the current status of wind turbines. Mike said that they are used as a study and monitored at Kelly Middle School. We don’t know, however, how much power is actually being generated for the Senior Center. New Business: Although the Docent Program at City Hall is not a Senior Center program, Jan Stewart has reported that it is currently staffed by seniors and would like to see her updates included in future Senior Affairs meeting minutes. It was agreed by the other members that this would be acceptable. Next Meeting: Monday, Sept., 21, 2015 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