Commission on Aging
Minutes of Regular Meeting
Monday May 17, 2010
The Commission on Aging held a regular meeting on Monday, May 17, 2010 at the Senior Center, 14 Riverside Road, Sandy Hook, CT. Chairman Thomas Dwyer called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.
PRESENT: Thomas Dwyer, Karin Aurelia, James Bernardi, LeReine Frampton, Joan Plouffe, Edward Rees, Barbara Wadleigh, Anna Wiedemann. EXCUSED/ABSENT: Norma Gray, Mary Ellen Lydem, Carol Mattegat, Marilyn Place. ALSO PRESENT: Ann Piccini, Director of Social Services.
VOTER PARTICIPATION. Frank DeLucia, Executive Director of Newtown Housing for the Elderly, Inc. was first selectman from 1972 to 1976 and served two more years on the Board of Selectmen. He helped form the Commission on Aging while on the Board. He and Mae Schmidle established the first grant for the Senior Center and the Children’s Adventure Center from Small Cities. He also helped establish the meal program.~He was also part of a committee to research housing for the elderly that obtained a loan program from World Development rather than requesting State funding because the State required a Housing Authority. We have received money from the Department of Economic Development. We have 134 units for people over 62 or disabled with no residency requirements in Newtown or Connecticut. We have a waiting list of
150 and 80-90% of our units are subsidized. There are very low, low and moderate categories of income that are eligible for housing. The majority of the waiting list now is very low income. We also have a congregate living program. We are going through a renovation process which we would like to complete before we build more units. He said that affordable housing in this area is based on the median income of the Danbury area. He said that Newtown satisfies certain areas of the affordable housing requirements and that Nunnawauk Meadows supports the Town in this area. He said that the rental cap for Nunnawauk Meadows is 30% of your adjusted income, or about $17,000. If rental assistance is not available when someone moves in, if someone signs that the person will pay the rent in the meantime, the resident will receive rental assistance when it becomes available. Mrs. Wadleigh lives there and said that the housing and amenities for the residents are outstanding. Mr. DeLucia said
that they have their own senior center. He invited the Commission to come over and view Nunnawauk Meadows and he distributed a brochure to the Commission.
CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.
None noted.
MINUTES Upon motion of Mrs. Wiedemann, the minutes of the regular meeting of April 19, 2010 were unanimously accepted as presented.
TREASURER’S REPORT (Attachment A). Mrs. Aurelia reported that the current balance in the Gift Fund is $39,328.94 and in the Trip Account $681.00. The budget is at the point that it should be. The treasurer’s report was unanimously accepted as presented.
DIRECTOR OF SENIOR SERVICES REPORT (Attachment B). The Commission unanimously approved the expenditure of $200 from the Commission on Aging Gift Fund for flowers for the boxes.
DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL SERVICES/MUNICIPAL AGENT REPORT. (Attachment C). Mrs. Piccini noted that the woman discussed last month was not a resident of Newtown and thus she could not assist this woman. Also she noted that she does not need a degree to assist such as person, as was noted last month. Included in her report were information about The Medicare Savings Programs, Medicare Supplemental Plans, ConnPace, and a Summary of Veterans Benefits.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
TRIAD. No report.
SENIOR CENTER EXPANSION. This refers to the proposed four season room. Mr. Rees said that the expansion refers to a glass enclosed room and that the proposal was changed from a two season to a four season room with heat. Mrs. Aurelia reported that the materials for the room should be here next week. Mr. Bernardi moved to change the agenda item to “Four Season Room.” Second by Mrs. Aurelia and unanimously carried.
NEW BUILDING. This item will remain on the agenda as a reminder that the request must be submitted yearly to the Capital Improvement Plan.
NEW BUSINESS. Mr. Dwyer distributed an updated list of the Commission on Aging members (Attachment D to original minutes).
Mr. Dwyer will distribute to the Commissioners for their comments the request from the Land Use Agency to update the 2004 Plan of Conservation and Development Goals and Strategies.
Mrs. Wadleigh is concerned that the new Town Hall does not have a handicap accessible door in the building. There are also no benches or chairs in the hall. The handicap parking is on the side of the building. She suggested that the Commission on Aging write a letter concerning these issues. Mr. Dwyer will draft a letter for the Commission to review prior to the next meeting.
ADJOURNMENT. Upon motion of Mr. Bernardi, the meeting adjourned at 6:10 p.m.
Ann M. Mazur, Clerk
| 
