2005-06-20
TOWN OF BERLIN
COMMISSION FOR THE AGING
Minutes of Monday, June 20, 2005
* Berlin Senior Center * 7:00 P.M.
1. Call to Order:
Chairwoman Gombotz called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.
2. Roll Call:
Members in Attendance:
Barbara Gombotz, ChairwomanBette Baldyga
Rev. Hugh PenneyConnie Marshall
Paul MacDonald
Juliet Benjamin, Secretary
Staff:Antoinette Pajor, Community Services Director
JoAnn Budzinski, Senior Center Director
3. Approval of Minutes – May 16, 2005 Meeting:
Commissioner Penney MOVED to accept the Minutes of Monday,
May 16, 2005, as written. SECONDED by Commissioner Baldyga.
4. Audience of Citizens:
None
5. Community Services Director Report – Antoinette Pajor:
Antoinette Pajor, Director of Community Services outlined her
report, a copy of which is attached to these minutes, and offered the
following additional information. In reference to Available Housing in
Surrounding Towns, Ms. Pajor asked whether the request of the
Commission was to inquire about “subsidized” senior housing or private
low-income housing? Commissioner MacDonald noted that he wishes to
know how much subsidized senior housing is in other communities.
6. Senior Center Director’s Report:
Senior Center Director JoAnn Budzinski reported on events held
during June and discussed some events that are planned for July. A
copy of her report is attached to these minutes.
7. Discussion on Senior Housing:
Minutes of the Commission For The Aging – June 20, 2005 - Page 2
Chairperson Gombotz noted that Lorraine Clark had sent her a
note with a copy of the recent Legal Notices for the Planning & Zoning
Commission. One notice lists the granting of a one-year extension to a
Special Permit/Site Plan Application of Alling Grove Hill, LLC @ 462
Alling Street (former Town Community Center). This building remodeling
is now proposed as a private developer’s project and grants will not be
sought for a subsidized senior housing project.
The second Legal Notice pertained to the Public Hearing of June
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9, and Special Permit Use Application for Toll Brothers, Inc. for a 95-
unit development of active adult housing on the Berlin Turnpike, behind
the Hawthorne Inn and Motel.
Commissioners again expressed concern that many senior housing
projects have been proposed, but none seem to be within the reach of
many Berlin seniors. There have been no proposals for low-income
subsidized housing and that is what the Commission has had the most
requests for.
It was noted that the Housing Authority is on the Town Council
Agenda for a Small Cities Block Grant request for renovations to the
existing Marjorie Moore Village and Percival Heights senior housing
projects.
8. Plan Date for Fall Social:
Community Services Dir. Pajor and Senior Center Dir. Budzinski
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both spoke of the 20 Anniversary Celebration of the Senior Center to be
held on October 20, 2005. This celebration will be an open house on
that Thursday and they wished to keep it separate from the Fall Social.
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Special events are planned for the 20 and their hopes are that the open
house will attract new people to the Senior Center.
After discussion, Commissioners agreed to have the Fall Social on
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Thursday, October 27 from 3 o’clock until 5 o’clock, with entertainment
from 3 to 4. Community Services Dir. Pajor noted that agreeing on the
date would give them sufficient time to choose entertainment for the
social. All Commissioners agreed on a Halloween theme. The menu will
be decided at the September meeting.
9. Discuss Summer Issues:
Commissioners were in agreement that they did not have any
particular summer issues to discuss.
10. Old Business:
Chairperson Gombotz noted that she had not received a copy of
the Planning & Zoning Commission meeting minutes that she requested.
Senior Center Dir. Budzinski stated that she would get a copy and mail
them to Chairperson Gombotz.
Minutes of the Commission For The Aging – June 20, 2005 - Page 3
Chairperson Gombotz noted that she would contact the Senior
Center in Plainville and inquire about affordable senior housing in
Plainville.
11. New Business:
None
12. Motion to Adjourn:
Commissioner Penney MOVED to adjourn the meeting at 7:55 P.M.
SECONDED by Commissioner MacDonald & UNANIMOUSLY
APPROVED.
Respectfully submitted,
Juliet K. Benjamin, Secretary
June 20, 2005
Community Services Director’s Report for Commission for the Aging
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Non-Resident Fees
—We had a total of 11 non-resident seniors pay
the prorated fee to join the Senior Center for the balance of F/Y
2004/05 ($106total revenue). JoAnn will be sending letters to them
to remind them that they will need to pay the $24 annual fee for the
new fiscal year beginning July 1, 2005. We had one non-resident
already decide not to renew.
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Renter’s Rebate Program
—We have begun to take applications for
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Renter’s Rebate and processed 25 on June 9. We anticipate
completing over 200 by September 15, 2005.
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Medicare Part D
—We have met with staff from the New Britain Office
of Social Security and have selected dates in August, September and
November to have them come to forums here at the Senior Center to
assist residents with signing up for Medicare Part D. Social Security
has been subcontracted by Medicare to help with the initial sign up.
We will also be having a presentation by Eric Rodko from the North
Central Area Agency on Aging CHOICES Program in October. This
will be an afternoon and evening program to maximize the
dissemination of information to residents and their families.
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Available Housing in Surrounding Towns—
I am still working on
this.
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Berlin Senior Center Anniversary—
The Berlin Senior Center will
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celebrate our 20 anniversary on Thursday, October 20, 2005. We
are planning an Open House throughout that day. The Town Council
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was informed of this at their June 7 meeting. We should have a
draft of the day’s events at your September meeting.
Minutes of the Commission For The Aging – June 20, 2005 - Page 4
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Commission Socials F/Y 2005/06—
You will have another $500
from our activities budget for your Fall and Spring Socials. We
recommend Thursday, October 27, 2005 as the date for your Fall
Social (could still use the Halloween theme) and we would book your
entertainment and pay for it from your budget of $500.
CRT Congregate Lunch Program—
I have been asked by Judy Nimro
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from CRT to mention the congregate lunch program-The Community
Café-that we host here at noontime Monday through Friday. They are
looking for ways to advertise this program and thought you might be
aware of individuals who may be interested in coming for lunch. They
are also doing outreach to the area churches. Their homebound
numbers have exceeded their on-site participants so there is a
temporary hold on accepting new members for the homebound
program. They are also looking for additional volunteers as drivers for
the homebound program. If you know of anyone who may be
interested in volunteering they would need to contact Mary Bianca,
Berlin Site Manager, at 828-9016 between 10 AM and Noon Monday
to Friday. We include their monthly menu and information on the
program in our monthly newsletter.
Senior Center Director’s Report
Monday, June 20, 2005
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This month we had our annual Strawberry Festival on Tuesday, June 14.
Entertainment was provided Middi and the Country Gentlemen, a country and western
band. We served 88 seniors some delicious strawberry shortcake with whipped cream.
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The next day, on Wednesday, June 15, we had a timely program on Identity Theft and
Seniors. We had 16 seniors attend. Although this program was not well attended, it did
receive a nice write-up in the Herald the following day.
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Today, Monday, the 20 of June, we had a continental breakfast that we served to 75
seniors. They enjoyed juice, fresh fruit, pastries and coffee. Then Mickey Fendell, a
piano player entertained them with some oldies.
Our summer plans include our annual ice cream social in July and our annual picnic in
August. The dates still need to be firmed up.
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Our annual Red Cross blood drive will be held on Friday, July 8 from 1:15 PM to 6:30
PM. The AARP Berlin Chapter will be helping us with staffing and refreshments. Every
year we have a very good turn out and are hoping that it continues again this year.