Commission on Aging

Regular Meeting

December 10, 2007

Present: Philip Mountain

Ilene Harris

Mary Broga

Marge Caste

Jane Powers

Also Present: Cathy Wilson, Senior Services Coordinator

Andy McKirdy, Board of Selectman ex officio

1. PRELIMINARY BUSINESS

Chairman Mountain called the Commission on Aging Regular Meeting of December 10, 2007 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 – November 13, 2007. Mr. Mountain asked for additions, deletions or corrections to the Commission on Aging Regular Meeting Minutes of November 13, 2007.

The following corrections were noted: On page 2 the December 4 trip to Radio City was a Day/Overnight trip. On page 3 the second sentence under d. Budget to be revised as follows: “There will be a shortfall in the Trip Account.” On page 4 the last sentence under item h. to be revised as follows: “The grant is for $12,000 and is due November 15.”

MOTION: Mary Broga moved to accept the November 13,

2007 Commission on Aging Minutes,

as amended. Seconded by Marge Caste.

Mrs. Powers abstained from voting. (4-0-1) Unanimous.

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.

All drivers’ medical cards are current.

She plans to meet with Sally Ritchie and Terry Mitchell on December 17 at 10 a.m. at the Senior Center to discuss transportation.

Ms. Wilson received an application for a 5310 grant through DOT to apply for a grant for a new vehicle.

b. Senior Trips.

(1) Enrichment Trips. The following Enrichment trips are planned:

January 9 to Colchester Bakery, with lunch on their own for a cost of $2.25 and January 23 to the new Cabalas, with lunch for a cost of $2.25.

(2) COA Sponsored Trips. Ms. Wilson reported COA sponsored trips are being planned.

(3) Day/Overnight Trips. The following Day/Overnight trip is planned: January 5-16, 2008 for a Caribbean cruise.

c. Programs.

(1) Senior Nutrition Program. There will be a new provider beginning in March.

(2) Senior Center Programs-Ongoing. All programs are doing fine.

(3) Senior Center Programs – New. Fitness and Yoga will be offered in the afternoon.

d. Budget. There will be a shortfall in both trip accounts. Ms. Wilson plans to speak to the travel companies to determine whether or not individuals can write checks directly to the travel company.

e. Revenues. Cathy Wilson stated revenues are doing fine.

3. OLD BUSINESS

a. Renovation of Senior Center Office. There is nothing new on renovation of the Senior Center Office.

b. Discussion Regarding New Vehicle Specifications. Commission members reviewed daily log for drivers.

The replacement vehicle will be a 15 passenger bus. Although only 13 passengers can ride on it, it allows the Senior Center to draw from a larger pool of drivers.

c. Review of PT Driver Hours. Ms. Wilson reported Tuesdays and Thursdays are busy days. Commission members reviewed information on hours worked by part time drivers since July 1, 2007.

d. Other Pertinent Business. There was no other pertinent old business.

4. NEW BUSINESS

a. Budget Request 2008/2009. Commission members reviewed Memo dated November 27, 2007 from the Director of Finance giving guidelines for the 2009 budgets.

Commission members reviewed proposed draft budget for the Commission on Aging. Ms. Wilson informed the Commission the union contract ends June 30, 2008. She has requested a non-union part time position at an hourly rate of $12.50. Program instructor’s salaries needed to be increased. Office supplies have increased, because she would like to be included in the quarterly publication for Parks and Recreation, Youth Services and the Senior Center. She will request a revolving account for trips. Mr. McKirdy felt the way trip money is handled right now does not give an accurate picture.

MOTION: Mrs. Broga moved to accept the proposed Operating

Budget for the Commission on Aging for 2008/2009

In the amount of $222,669. Seconded by Mrs. Powers.

(5-0) Unanimous.

b. Review of Annual Report. Commission members reviewed the Annual Report for 2006/2007.

MOTION: Ilene Harris moved to approve the Commission

on Aging Annual Report for 2006/2007, as

presented. Seconded by Marge Caste. (5-0)

Unanimous.

c. Schedule for 2008 Commission on Aging Meetings. Commission members reviewed the schedule for 2008 Commission on Aging meetings.

MOTION: Mrs. Broga moved to accept the schedule for

2008 Commission on Aging meetings, as

presented. (5-0) Unanimous.

Commission member Ilene Harris left the meeting.

d. Quarterly Publication with Parks and Recreation. Mrs. Wilson reported she wishes to do a direct mail to those individuals 55 and over. The cost of this publication is $1200 quarterly. The cost will be shared by Parks and Recreation, Youth Services and the Senior Center. She showed Commission members sample publications.

MOTION: Ilene Harris moved to go forth with the publication

of a calendar of events for East Lyme. Seconded

by Mrs. Broga. (4-0) Unanimous.

e. Other Pertinent Business. Ms. Wilson provided Commission members with a Day article from December 5 “TVCCA seeks local solutions to shortfall”, as well as letters of support for Adult Education and a permanent location for Care and Share.

Ilene Harris encouraged Commission members to discuss with Rep. Joe Courtney the need to expedite social security disability decisions, especially since many servicemen may need this service in the future.

Jane Powers left the meeting.

5. PUBLIC DISCUSSION

There was no public discussion.

6. ADJOURNMENT

MOTION: Ilene Harris moved to adjourn the December 10,

2007 Commission on Aging Regular Meeting at

8 p.m. Seconded by Mary Broga. (3-0)

Unanimous.

Respectfully submitted

Frances Ghersi, Recording Secretary