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 September 20, 2021 Members in Attendance: Regular members: Frank Jacaruso, Jr., Laurieann Messore and Rebecca Melucci Attending staff members were Mike Wolak. Member Jacaruso determined there was a quorum and called the meeting to order. Absent: Members P. Michael Lahan and Janice Stewart. LeeAnn Gomes Minutes: The minutes from 05/24/2021 were approved. Communications: Mike shared that the Women’s City Club made a donation of $200 to the Sr. Center. Sr. Center has received many thank you notes and verbal communications for reopening and having programs again. Frank asked about volunteers returning and if it was adequate. We are doing well as many of our volunteers have returned. Human Services Report: NONE. Leeann, thru Mike, expressed her sorry for not making the meeting as she was dealing with a personal issue. Senior Center Report: Mike briefed the members on reopening and reiterated it was going pretty well. Numbers aren’t exactly where they were pre-pandemic but attendance is pretty good. Recently we ran a trip to the Big E and that had 40 people on it and went well. We have decided to hold off for the time being on any additional large trips. We will run more local trips with our vans. We have a FT staff member out due to a full shoulder replacement but hired 2 former Norwich firefighters, Brad Keltonic and Jim Kurasz to out per diem pool which also includes Joanne Trainor. The three drivers are doing awesome and the seniors really like them all. Chairperson’s Report/Legislative Report: None Old Business: Jackie Randall officially resigned from the Senior Affairs Commission back in July. We now have 2 spots available on the commission. In addition we will need to name a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Secretary. The group has decided to table that until the October meeting. New Business: Laurieann asked about the ARP funds and if the Senior Center was going to receive any directly. Mike stated that our seniors will be impacted with such funding for basic needs, rental assistance, etc., but that he was hoping next round that the Sr. Center would be impacted more. There is some talk of a Community pool. Frank has heard rumblings regarding that and it would possibly be near the Sr. Center. Frank just wants to make sure the Sr. Center doesn’t become a Community Center. Mike did tell the group that he heard the Schools as Community Centers were funded thru ARP funds so he didn’t expect that to even be considered. SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS: October 18, 2021 November 15, 2021 March 21, 2022 April 18, 2022 May 16, 2022 Next Meeting: Monday, October 18, 2021 2020 at 9:00 a.m., at the Rose City Senior Center. Meeting adjourned Respectfully submitted, Michael Wolak Michael Wolak, Director Regular meetings of the Commission are scheduled on the 3rd Monday of Mar/Apr/May and Sept/Oct/Nov