Commission on Aging
Regular Meeting
February 11, 2008
Present: Philip Mountain
Ilene Harris
Mary Broga
Marge Caste
Jane Powers
Donna Palumbo
Also Present: Cathy Wilson, Senior Services Coordinator
1. PRELIMINARY BUSINESS
Chairman Mountain called the Commission on Aging Regular Meeting of February 11, 2008 to order at 7:00 p.m.
a. Pledge of Allegiance. The Pledge of Allegiance was observed.
b. Delegations. None.
c. Approval of Meeting Minutes – December 10, 2007. Mr. Mountain asked for additions, deletions or corrections to the Commission on Aging Regular Meeting Minutes of December 10, 2007.
MOTION: Mary Broga moved to accept the December 10,
2007 Commission on Aging Minutes,
as presented. Seconded by Jane Powers.
Mrs. Palumbo and Mrs. Harris abstained from voting. (4-0-2)
d. Correspondence. Correspondence was made available for review.
2. STATUS REPORT
a. Transportation. Cathy Wilson reported her drivers are well and the vehicles are running fine.
A driver will be on vacation for a week. His route will be covered during that time.
Mrs. Wilson visited AHEPHA. A SEAT bus will be on their route beginning March 3. The Estuary Transportation District will pick up those wishing transportation and take them to Hope Street where they will transfer to a SEAT bus.
East Lyme, Groton, New London and Waterford are reapplying for the DOT Municipal Grant.
b. Senior Trips. Mrs. Wilson felt it was necessary to consider a higher surcharge for day trips because of the price of gas. She recommended the following surcharges: $1.50 for trips under twenty miles; $1.75 for trips 20-40 miles and $2.00 for trips over forty miles. The other possibility would be to limit the mileage for trips.
Mrs. Harris felt it should be higher because of the price of gas. Mrs. Powers did not feel mileage should be limited for trips. She felt the suggested increases were still very reasonable.
MOTION: Mrs. Powers moved to increase the surcharge
for day trips to $1.50 for trips under twenty
miles, $1.75 for trips 20-40 miles and $2 for
trips over forty miles. Seconded by Mrs. Broga.
(6-0) Unanimous.
(1) Enrichment Trips. The following Enrichment trips are planned:
February 13 to the Olive Garden in Waterford, February 27 to the Steak Loft in Mystic, and March 12 for the Bodies Revealed Exhibit in Hartford and March 26 to Old Tymes Restaurant in Norwich.
(2) COA Sponsored Trips. The following COA sponsored trips are planned: March 17 to John J. Sullivan’s banquet facility in Ansonia for dinner and to see Cahal Dunne with Irish singing and piano playing; on June 19 to the Newport Playhouse to see “Over the River and Through the Woods”; on August 14 Bobbie Ventura and December 2 for a holiday spectacular at Chez Josef.
(3) Day/Overnight Trips. The following Day/Overnight trip is planned: From May 1 to May 4 a trip to Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, Maryland and August 17-24 for a Bermuda cruise. There will also be five day trips as follows: On April 9 to New York City on your own, April 27 to the Thomaston Opera House to see “Annie Get Your Gun” and May 13 to Chinatown, on May 19 to Springfield, Massachusetts for a performance by the Royal Highland Regiment of Canada and May 22 for a Cornerstone Production at Mystic and a trip to Mohegan Sun.
East Lyme and Waterford senior centers have agreed to advertise both trips at the same time.
c. Programs.
(1) Senior Nutrition Program. On March 1 there will be change in providers. This week equipment is being switched over. In the future meals will be warmed in the Senior Center oven.
There is regional discussion with the Senior Nutrition Program on how it has been administered. It will be discussed by COG.
The Site Manager’s last day is Friday.
(2) Senior Center Programs-Ongoing. All programs are doing fine.
(3) Senior Center Programs – New. A Fitness Class will be held on Monday and Wednesday from 2:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. An afternoon Yoga Class will be held from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Mondays.
Every Friday morning in February, March and April AARP Tax Advisors will provide free tax counseling. Returns are being done electronically.
A Senior fitness testing will be held on February 26 at 2:30 p.m.
Waterford has requested that Mature Driving Safety classes be held in East Lyme because of serious parking problems in Waterford. These AARP sponsored classes are open to the general public. A class will be held on March 11 and 12 for a fee of $10. After eight hours of class you may receive a discount on insurance.
On February 24 and March 6 Hospice will sponsor a Loss Group. Six individuals have attended.
On March 14 a dance will be held at the Senior Center.
A St. Patrick’s Day dinner will be held on March 20 at 6 p.m. for a cost of $6.
The Quilting Group will meet on the second Friday in February and March.
Waterford Senior Center is working with the Community Foundation on a grant to train an instructor to teach seniors at senior housing regarding falls.
d. Budget. Mrs. Wilson reported she anticipates a random drug testing shortfall of $40. She plans to transfer this sum from conferences.
There will be a shortfall in both trip accounts because more trips are being offered. Mrs. Wilson checked with Anna Johnson, Director of Finance on whether or not individuals can write checks directly to the travel agent, and she feels it would be better if individual checks were made out to the Town of East Lyme and one check for the total written to the travel agent.
c. Revenues. Cathy Wilson stated revenues are doing fine.
3. OLD BUSINESS
a. Renovation of Senior Center Office. Two quotes were received for renovation of the Senior Center. One for $9,096 and one for $18,219.82.
b. Budget Request 2008/2009. Mrs. Wilson and Mr. Mountain attended a Board of Selectmen Budget Review.
c. Other Pertinent Business. There was no other pertinent old business.
4. NEW BUSINESS
a. Election of Officer. The Commission was asked for nominations for Chairman of the Commission on Aging for 2008.
MOTION: Jane Powers moved to nominate
Philip Mountain as Chairman of
the Commission on Aging for 2008.
Seconded by Donna Palumbo. (6-0)
Unanimous
There were no other nominations.
MOTION: Jane Powers moved to close nominations
for Chairman of the Commission on Aging
for 2008. Seconded by Donna Palumbo.
(6-0) Unanimous.
A vote was taken and Mr. Mountain was unanimously elected Chairman for 2008.
The Commission was asked for nominations for Vice Chair of the Commission on Aging for 2008.
MOTION: Jane Powers moved to nominate Mary
Broga as Vice Chair of the Commission
on Aging for 2008. Seconded by Donna
Palumbo. (6-0) Unanimous.
There were no other nominations.
MOTION: Jane Powers moved to close nominations
for Vice Chair of the Commission on Aging
for 2008. Seconded by Donna Palumbo.
(6-0) Unanimous.
A vote was taken and Mary Broga was unanimously elected Vice Chair of the Commission on Aging for 2008.
The Commission was asked for nominations for Secretary/Treasurer of the Commission on Aging for 2008.
MOTION: Jane Powers moved to nominate Ilene Harris
as Secretary/Treasurer of the Commission on
Aging for 2008. Seconded by Donna Palumbo.
(6-0) Unanimous.
There were no other nominations.
MOTION: Jane Powers moved to close nominations for
Secretary/Treasurer of the Commission on
Aging for 2008. Seconded by Donna Palumbo.
(6-0) Unanimous.
A vote was taken and Ilene Harris was unanimously elected Secretary/Treasurer of the Commission on Aging for 2008.
b. Vacancy on Commission on Aging Board. Cathy Wilson reported Beverly DeFord has resigned from the Commission. She placed a notice in the Lyme Times. Cathy Wilson read Carrie Janus’ resume. Mrs. Broga felt she had much experience and highly recommended her.
MOTION: Mary Broga moved to recommend Carrie
Janus to fill the vacancy on the Commission
on Aging. Seconded by Donna Palumbo.
(6-0) Unanimous.
c. Review Quarterly Stats for Municipal Grant Program. Cathy Wilson reported this grant is doing very well.
d. National Safety Council Defensive Driving Course for all Senior Center Drivers. Mrs. Wilson reported CERMA will train drivers.
e. Meeting with Terry Mitchell—Vehicle Purchase. Mr. Mitchell wishes to apply for a grant, and the Town will have to approve of it.
Sally Ritchie and Cathy Wilson are working on obtaining a vehicle through DOT. DOT is looking for collaboration.
f. NCOA Conference in March. Mrs. Wilson is unable to attend this conference.
g. Other Pertinent Business. Cathy Wilson suggested creating an endowment using the Parahus Account, as well as an annual drive. She has discussed this with First Selectman Paul Formica and Finance Director Anna Johnson. Community Foundation is willing to administer the funds. Mrs. Wilson would like to invite a member of the Community Foundation to meet with this Commission to discuss this further.
Mrs. Wilson reported high school students are interested in becoming more involved in Town government. She suggested that students play Wii with seniors. The students can help seniors who are not familiar with the game. She also suggested an intergenerational program on how to stretch food dollars.
Mrs. Caste reported in the last issue of the Lyme Times there was an article on the Twenty-fifth anniversary of the Senior Club.
5. PUBLIC DISCUSSION
There was no public discussion.
6. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: Ilene Harris moved to adjourn the February 11,
2007 Commission on Aging Regular Meeting at
8:30 p.m. Seconded by Mary Broga. (6-0)
Unanimous.
Respectfully submitted
Frances Ghersi, Recording Secretary