EAST LYME COMMISSION ON AGING

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

MONDAY, OCTOBER 14th, 2008

Present:                        Philip Mountain, Chairman, Ilene Harris, Marge Caste, Jane Powers

Also Present:                Cathy Wilson, Senior Services Coordinator

Absent:                        Mary Broga, Carrie Janus, Donna Palumbo

1.  PRELIMINARY BUSINESS

Chairman Mountain called the Commission on Aging Regular Meeting of October 14, 2008 to order at 6:05 PM.

a.  Pledge of Allegiance

The Pledge was observed.

b.  Delegations

There were no delegations.    

c.  Approval of Meeting Minutes – September 8, 2008

Mr. Mountain called for any additions, deletions or corrections to the Commission on Aging Regular Meeting Minutes of September 8, 2008.

Mr. Mountain asked that on Page 2 in the MOTION that ‘Seconded by Mr. Powers’ be changed to read: “Seconded by Ms. Powers” .

Ms. Wilson asked that on Page 3 in the second paragraph under Senior Nutrition Program that the second sentence be changed to read: ‘An additional three to four coolers are needed.’

And – on Page 4 under Budget that a sentence be added to clarify that: ‘$2000 was transferred from the payroll for program instructors to the program supplies line. ‘

**MOTION (1)

Ms. Caste moved to accept the September 8, 2008 Regular Meeting Minutes of the Commission on Aging as amended.

Ms. Harris seconded the motion.

VOTE:  4 – 0 – 0.  Motion passed.

d.  Correspondence

Correspondence was made available for review.

Ms. Wilson asked that they add in Item 4. New Business after Review of Incident Report; Request from AHEPA Housing.

2.    STATUS REPORT

a.       Transportation

Ms. Wilson reported that the bus was at the garage for the quarterly review and other ‘nagging’ issues and that it will be staying for the week to have everything taken care of. The van also went in for its’ quarterly review and all is fine with it. To see them through without the bus, they are borrowing a van from Waterford Senior Services who were kind enough to loan one to them.

Ms. Wilson reported that they have received some caregiver portion figures of 1,052 one way rides amounting to some 5,645 miles. Stonington has also approached them about joining in with their transportation grant as ahs North Stonington. She said that they have let the DOT know and those Towns know how they would have to apply. The program is continuing to do well.

Ms. Wilson lastly reported that she will have a driver out on medical next week and that Robert Carter will be in to cover the route.

b.  Senior Trips

(1)     Enrichment Trips – Ms. Wilson reported that the following Enrichment Trips are planned:

      November 5, 2008 – to the Greek Festival for a cost of $2.25

      November 19, 2008 – trip Ella Grasso for a cost of $10.50

(2)     COA Sponsored Trips - Ms. Wilson reported that there were no new day or COA sponsored trips for November.

(3)  Day/Overnight Trips – Ms. Wilson reported that they were advertising a large cruise to Australia/New Zealand for February 28 through March 15, 2010 at a cost of between $5200 - $6600 and that they were doing this as a regional trip in order to try to have enough people sign up for it. This is something that they are trying and there will be a cruise presentation held on November 12, 2008 to present this for those interested in it.

c.  Programs

(1)     Senior Nutrition Program – Ms. Wilson reported that they are seeing a heavy load in meal deliveries for the Wednesday and Friday runs as people get ready for the weekend. They have two (2) new drivers and one person who is in training as a substitute.

(2)     Senior Center Programs - Ongoing – Ms. Wilson reported that they are holding a 55-Alive class this month and another one in November. They will not hold one in December. The whole program has started to calm down as the classes are held fairly regularly. She also reported that they will hold a dance with the Illusions on November 14, 2008.

(3)     Senior Center Programs - New – Ms. Wilson reported that she will offer the Chinese Watercolor class in November and see how that goes. Holiday Dinners will be offered on November 21, 2008 and December 19, 2008. New Wii Bowling will be held on Wednesdays at 10 AM. On November 24, 2008 at 1 PM they will go over Medicare Part D – the prescription part as there is open enrollment after November 15, 2008. With all of the notices that people have been receiving and the confusion, Senior Resources will be here to explain what is happening with this.

Ms. Harris suggested that perhaps a volunteer could compile a list of the doctors who take this as not all of them do.           

d.  Budget

Ms. Wilson reported that the budget is doing okay and that at the last Department Head meeting that Mr. Formica suggested that each department withhold 1.5% of their current years’ budget so that they would be able to cover later expenses. She also reported that she did get the grants that she had requested from Social Services in the amount of $5,450. She said that she wants to purchase a Wii with it and a laptop and wireless printer and wireless card so that she can be self-sufficient when she goes to other facilities to help people with various programs. She added that some of the money could perhaps be used to hire someone to also help and go out and do this to help out.

e.  Revenues

Ms. Wilson reported that the revenues are doing fine and are on track for this fiscal year.

3.  OLD BUSINESS

a.       Renovation of Senior Center Office

Ms. Wilson reported that she had spoken with First Selectman and that they would like to wrap this work in with other work that is being done within the Town such as the Fire Department roof as it is cost effective to utilize the same worker for more than one project.

b.      Update on Triad

Ms. Wilson said that the Triad program is comprised of People’s United Bank, Law Enforcement and the Community and that they expect some 60 to 100 people to be in attendance on November 7, 2008 at 1 PM when they kick this off. Attorney General Blumenthal will be present for this event. From this they will do programs on fraud and scam prevention.

c.       Other Pertinent Business

There was no other pertinent business.

4.       NEW BUSINESS

a.       Energy Assistance for 08/09

Ms. Wilson reported that they have been inundated with requests, with 25-30 being for October alone. On November 3, 2008 TVCCA will authorize the oil assistance. In November she goes to AHEPA and Twin Haven. She said that programs such as Operation Fuel were being very cautious as they were over-burdened with requests last year.

b.      PT Senior Center Position Update

Ms. Wilson said that prior to filling this that she wanted the office renovation to be done so that they would have the room. In the meantime, other things changed when a part-time person who worked for the Parks & Recreation department gave notice and left recently. Since then, she had been talking with them about combining a position so that they could share an Administrative Secretary person. She could have them for coverage in the mornings when she needs the help and then they could have lunch and work the afternoons in the Parks & Recreation department as that is when they most need the help. The only problem that they would have would be during the summer six to eight weeks when Parks & Recreation is busy with the beach passes; so she would reserve the ability to fill in with others during that peak time. The position would be a union position with benefits and would be 37.5 hours per week. The discussion is on-going between all of the departments and this is in the planning stage.

c.       Capital Budget Request and -

d.      Transportation Issues – and -

e.       Vehicle Purchase

Ms. Wilson reported that the Capital Budget Request is due this week Friday; October 17, 2008. She said that she is looking to see who is in charge of fleet management and will be speaking with Mr. Holyfield at the Town Garage in order to find out who is responsible for submitting the request for a new vehicle for the Senior Center and if she does it or it goes as part of the larger fleet of vehicles. She recalled that they have talked in the past of having the Senior Services and ELYSA (Youth Services) share a vehicle as they use it during the late afternoon and evening hours and the Senior Center utilizes it during the daytime. She said that they would like to keep it small enough for a passenger endorsement rather than a CDL. This means that a 12 passenger and two (2) spaces in the back for a wheelchair lift (which could also be used for packages, etc.) would be the size that they would be looking at. She said that ideally they would like to get two (2) 12 passenger with wheelchair lift vehicles and to keep the van. Both of the vehicles would have to have the wheelchair lift as they need the space for groceries, etc.

Ms. Harris asked about IGA and Tri-Town and if they would deliver groceries to people’s homes.

Ms. Wilson said that she would check with them and let them know.

Ms. Wilson explained that she also spoke with Doug Gifford regarding ways to purchase the vehicle either through the State or going out to bid with the Town’s money. It was also mentioned that they could try to fundraise the $40,000 or try for a 5310 Grant or STEAP Grant monies.

Ms. Harris noted that it is an arduous process to go through to try to get grant monies and then to have to wait so long before being able to apply for another. The easiest method would be for the Town to purchase the vehicle.

f.        Purchase of Refrigerator

Ms. Wilson explained that this is the gold colored refrigerator that is located in the craft room and that it was donated to them at some point in time, some time ago. It does not self-defrost. She said that she would like to get one that is frost free – perhaps from Best Buy or somewhere else and that there is money in the Parahaus account that will cover this.

**MOTION (2)

Ms. Harris moved that Ms. Wilson obtain estimates for a refrigerator for the craft room that would be purchased with monies from the Parahaus account.

Ms. Caste seconded the motion.

VOTE:  4 – 0 – 0.  Motion passed.

Ms. Harris noted that there used to be a grant system such as the Agency on Aging that paid for items of this nature – refrigerators, microwaves, etc. While she was not sure that it still existed, she suggested that it could be checked into.

g.      Review of Incident Report

Ms. Wilson noted that they had a copy of this and that everything has turned out okay.

h.      Request from AHEPA Housing

Ms. Wilson said that she had received a request from Terry Mitchell to use the Senior Center vehicle to transport AHEPA people to a Thanksgiving Dinner that is being held at St. Sophia’s on November 19, 2008. The dinner is from 4 PM to 7 PM and they would be willing to pay for the use of the vehicle.

The Commissioners asked Ms. Wilson if the vehicle was being used by the Senior Center at that time for scheduled programs.

Ms. Wilson said that they do have a day trip scheduled for that day and that they would not be getting back to the Senior Center until late as they would have to drive people home after the trip.

**MOTION (3)

Ms. Harris moved that in the request from Terry Mitchell for AHEPA to use the Senior Center vehicle that due to a previous trip engagement/Senior Center program that the bus is not available for outside usage on November 19, 2008.

Ms. Caste seconded the motion.

VOTE:  4 – 0 – 0.  Motion passed.

i.        Other Pertinent Business

There was no other pertinent business.

5.  PUBLIC DISCUSSION

There was no public discussion.

6.       ADJOURNMENT

**MOTION (4)

Ms. Harris moved to adjourn the Commission on Aging Regular Meeting of October 14, 2008 at 7:00 PM.

Ms. Powers seconded the motion.

VOTE:  4 – 0 - 0.  Motion passed.

Respectfully submitted,

Karen Zmitruk,

Recording Secretary, Pro-tem