Commission on Aging
Minutes of Regular Meeting
Monday, April 21, 2014 @ 5:00 pm
MINUTES ARE SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY THE COMMISSION ON AGING
The Commission on Aging held a regular meeting on Monday, April 21, 2014 at the Senior Center, 14 Riverside Road, Sandy Hook, Connecticut. Chairman Curt Symes called the meeting to order at 5:03 pm.
Members Present: JoAnne Albanesi, Karen Aurelia, John Boccuzzi, Joanne Davis (Co-Vice Chair), Margaret Imbro, Larry Schneider (Treasurer), Curt Symes (Chair), Sheila Torres (Co Vice-Chair). Support & Advisory Present: Marilyn Place, Director of Senior Services and Ann Piccini, Municipal Agent for the Elderly; Excused: Joan Plouffe, Anna Wiedemann, Anne Rothstein and LeReine Frampton.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: Several members of the public were present but did not request to speak.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Ms. Imbro motioned to approve the minutes of 3/17/14. Ms. Aurelia seconded the motion. All were in favor. The minutes were approved as written.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT (Attachment A): Mr. Symes reviewed his report wishing everyone a Happy Easter and Passover holiday season. He discussed articles that have been in The Bee focusing on subjects of interest and importance to seniors in Newtown. Mr. Symes discussed the upcoming Charter revision and activities and meetings for the proposed new Community Center / Senior Center. He recognized that Marilyn Place, Director of the Senior Center, will have 25 years of dedicated service on May 1st of this year. He also acknowledged the passing of William Brady, an active member of the senior center.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
New Community Center – Senior Center Meetings Feedback: Ms. Place said the meetings are going well and she feels very positive with the outcome. She said many years of planning are finally coming to fruition. She and Ms. Torres are working on additional programming for the new senior center opening. There is a Q & A being worked on. Mr. Symes said the two years before the new center opens will provide time to organize and work on grants to help fund programming. The Bee will be the primary vehicle to disseminate information, as well as Voices and the Patch.
Newtown Senior Survey Update: Ms. Imbro said the grant to fund the survey has been submitted and the questions are being finalized. Ms. Place said there were 35 responses to the Senior Center mini survey that was in the newsletter.
CoA Senior Grants Research for New Programs Funding: Mr. Boccuzzi asked about the commission’s grant administration process. The commission and the grants team will work on this. Mr. Symes said that the Director of Finance and the First Selectman have final signing authority. The commission can work on placing the process in writing. Mr. Symes met with a couple of professional grant writers from Newtown. There is one person who is willing to provide guidance. In order to actually write documents or re-author documents there may need to be some funding to pay for this. He felt maybe some of the gift fund money could be used to help with grant writing. Ms. Davis said she feels there won’t be a need to hire a professional for the types of grants and that the
commission needs to identify what programming they are looking for in order for the Grants Team to pursue the funding.
New Grant Proposal & Discussion: (Attachment B) Mr. Boccuzzi distributed and discussed a document entitled “Proposal for Senior Health and Wellness Grant, Newtown Senior Center.”
CoA Legal & Financial Update: Ms. Davis said they received a few responses on the report. They will reconvene and finalize what they have. Mr. Symes said that he and the legal team will need to work on the Commission on Aging portion of the Charter for the Charter revision.
NEW BUSINESS
Plans for CoA Discussion & Forum on New Community Center /Senior Center – Mr. Symes said there will be continued communication on this and information will be disseminated as it becomes available. Ms. Torres said there will be a second Q & A coming out. Ms. Place said the acceptance of the GE Gift went through the Board of Selectmen on April 7th. It will then go before the Legislative Council and Board of Finance. A town-wide referendum will follow.
TREASURER’S REPORT – Mr. Schneider said at the end of February the gift fund totaled $40,557.00. Three transactions followed: a $100 donation, $100 paid out for the Newtown Cultural Arts Festival registration fee, then a $300 donation from Taunton Press which raised the total to $40,857.00 at the end of March.
DIRECTOR OF SENIOR SERVICES REPORT (Attachment C) – Ms. Place submitted and reviewed her report dated April 21, 2014. She said the senior center is losing volunteers. She then discussed the cost of activities and the need to increase annual fees. After discussion, Ms. Albanesi motioned to increase the out-of-towner fees to $20 per year and to increase the in-town fees from $12 per year to $15, beginning on July 1, 2014. Ms. Torres seconded the motion and all were in favor. The motion passed. Mr. Symes suggested the idea of having Charter CV-21 film significant events at the Senior Center to provide greater availability and visibility of information to seniors unable to attend.
MUNICIPAL AGENT FOR THE ELDERY REPORT – (Attachment D) Ms. Piccini submitted and reviewed her report dated April 21, 2014.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION – Ray Baker said he is having a difficult time finding agendas and minutes on the website. Mr. Symes suggested to Ms. Place that they be posted in the Senior Center on a new Commission on Aging bulletin board to be created.
ADJOURNMENT – Mr. Schneider motioned to adjourn the meeting, which was seconded by Ms. Davis. All were in favor. The meeting adjourned at 6:40 pm.
Respectfully Submitted by Tammy Hazen, Clerk
Commission on Aging
Regular Meeting
Monday, April 21, 2014 @ 5:00 pm
MOTIONS
The Commission on Aging held a regular meeting on Monday, April 21, 2014 at the Senior Center, 14 Riverside Road, Sandy Hook, Connecticut. Chairman Curt Symes called the meeting to order at 5:03 pm.
Members Present: JoAnne Albanesi, Karen Aurelia, John Boccuzzi, Joanne Davis (Co-Vice Chair), Margaret Imbro, Larry Schneider (Treasurer), Curt Symes (Chair), Sheila Torres (Co Vice-Chair). Support & Advisory Present: Marilyn Place, Director of Senior Services and Ann Piccini, Municipal Agent for the Elderly; Excused: Joan Plouffe, Anna Wiedemann, Anne Rothstein and LeReine Frampton.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Ms. Imbro motioned to approve the minutes of 3/17/14. Ms. Aurelia seconded the motion. All were in favor. The minutes were approved as written.
MOTION REGARDING ALLOCATION FOR FUNDING FROM GIFT ACCOUNT
Ms. Albanesi motioned to increase the out-of-towner fees to $20 per year and to increase the in-town fees from $12 per year to $15, beginning on July 1, 2014. Ms. Torres seconded the motion and all were in favor. The motion passed.
ADJOURNMENT – Mr. Schneider motioned to adjourn the meeting, which was seconded by Ms. Davis. All were in favor. The meeting adjourned at 6:40 pm.
Respectfully Submitted by Tammy Hazen, Clerk
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