2013-11-18 4
TOWN OF BERLIN
COMMISSION FOR THE AGING
Minutes of Monday, November 18, 2013
* Berlin Senior Center * 7:00 P.M.
Members in Attendance:
Barbara Gombotz, Chairwoman
Frank J. Slogeris
Richard Krause
John Varley
Absent:
Donald Geschimsky
Staff in Attendance:
Tina Doyle, Senior Center Director
Juliet Benjamin, Secretary
1. Call to Order:
Chairman Gombotz called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.
2. Introduce New Commission Member John Varley:
Chairman Gombotz welcomed new member John Varley to the
Commission. Mr. Varley noted that he has been involved with the
Meriden Board of Aging.
3. Roll Call:
Present: Barbara Gombotz Chairman, Frank Slogeris, Richard
Krause, John Varley. Chairman Gombotz commented that she would be
contacting Commissioner Geschimsky to see how he is doing.
4. Approval of Minutes - September 16, 2013:
Commissioner Krause made a motion to accept the Minutes of Monday,
September 16, 2013 as written. Commissioner Slogeris seconded the
motion and the minutes were accepted.
5. Audience of Citizens:
None.
Commission for the Aging—November 18,2013 Page 2
6. Senior Center Director's Report - Tina Doyle:
Senior Center Director Doyle submitted her report outlining
activities for the months of September, October and current to November
15th. A copy of her report follows and she noted that the number of
participants listed is only for special programs and does not include the
count for lunches. She also provided the following additional
information:
Tuesday weekly movies are back and they are trying to make it
more comfortable for the viewers by using couches and office chairs
instead of the hard plastic chairs. They also provide popcorn and water
to the participants.
The Matter of Balance program ended on October 30th. This is the
fourth time that this program has been run and Director Doyle has seen
improvement among the seniors who have taken the course. The course
ran for eight weeks on Wednesdays for two hours. It was sponsored by a
subsidiary of Hartford Hospital.
The Renter's Rebate program ended in September and there were
270 applicants. Director Doyle said that the State of Connecticut is
"sun-setting" this program and if a senior did not apply or was not
accepted last year they were ineligible to apply this year.
The Live Well Workshop is a six week course on Mondays from
9:30 to 12:00 noon and is designed to teach seniors how to live with their
illness or pain.
The Dental cleaning program will continue through a grant from
the Central Connecticut Health District. They will be held three times
next year.
The Living Well Expo which was held on September 27th was very
successful. Edith Prague, of the State of Connecticut Commission for the
Department of Aging was the speaker and there were many programs
that the seniors took advantage of. They plan to do the Expo again next
year.
Pharmacy students from UCONN did a program in October on
organizing medicines that was very informative.
The Matter of Balance classes have also proved to be very
beneficial to the seniors.
Commission for the Aging—November 18,2013 Page 3
Ten people signed up for the seven week IPAD classes. The IPAD's
were purchased through a grant from Newman's Own. Classes were first
held at the Peck Library and now at the Senior Center and there is a
waiting list of seventeen.
The Senior Center has been hosting dances on Friday afternoons
and a ban from Bristol has been providing music. Director Doyle collects
$1.00 from people attending the dance and gives that money to the band.
The Commission for the Aging Fall Social was held on October 24th
with ninety-two seniors having a wonderful time.
The Holiday Boutique was held on Election Day and the Senior
Center was jumping with people voting, shopping and coming for lunch.
A Thanksgiving Luncheon, sponsored by the Andrews House was
held last Friday, November 15th, which ninety-four people enjoyed.
Energy Assistance Applications started being taken on October
29th for deliverable fuel applicants. This is done through the Senior
Center and New Opportunities of Meriden which oversees the program.
Applications for gas and electric customers will be taken in December.
The Book Club meets once a month at the Senior Center.
An excellent program on Consumer Scams will be presented this
Wednesday, November 20th by an Attorney. This is part of the Area
Agency on Aging of North Central Connecticut Senior Medicare Patrol
Program in conjunction with Connecticut Legal Services.
Report from Senior Center Director
Meeting Date: November 18th, 2013
September 2013:
9/16 CFA Meeting 6
9/17 "Free"Manicures 6
9/17 Movie 8
9/18 Matter of Balance 9
9/18 Renter's Rebate 7
9/20 Lunch Bunch Trip 11
9/23 Live Well Workshop 7
9/24 Dental Cleanings 5
9/24 AARP Meeting 53
9/25 Dental Cleanings 5
9/25 Frank Sinatra Tribute 115
Commission for the Aging—November 18,2013 Page 4
9/25 Renter's Rebate 6
9/27 Living Well Expo 90
9/30 Live Well Workshop 7
Total Attendance Special Programs-Month of September 2013 335
October 2013:
10/2 Matter of Balance 9
10/7 Live Well Workshop 5
10/7 AARP Brd Meeting 10
10/8 Movie 4
10/9 Matter of Balance 12
10/10 UCONN Presentation 5
10/15 AARP Meeting 49
10/16 Matter of Balance 10
10/17 Republican Meet& Greet 20
10/18 IPAD Class 11
10/18 10 Warning Signs&Myths of Alzheimer's 13
10/21 Live Well Workshop 5
10/22 "Free"Manicures 6
10/23 Matter of Balance 8
10/24 CFA Fall Social 92
10/25 IPAD Class 9
10/25 Dance 13
10/28 Live Well Workshop 6
10/29 Movie 9
10/29 Democratic Meet&Greet 17
10/30 KNS Halloween Parade 50
10/30 Matter of Balance '' 6
Total Attendance Special Programs-month of October 2013 369
November 2013:
11/4 Live Well Workshop 5
11/5 Holiday Boutique 90
11/7 Energy Appointments 9
11/8 IPAD Class 8
11/8 Dance 15
11/12 AARP Brd Meeting 6
11/12 Movie 3
11/15 Thanksgiving Luncheon 94
Total Attendance Special Programs- month of November 2013 230
Grand Total for September-November,2013 934
Commission for the Aging—November 18,2013 Page 5
7. Successful Fall Commission Social - October 24th, 2013:
Chairman Gombotz said that she was very pleased with the social
and everyone seemed to be having a good time.
8. Requested Senior Program Suggestions from the Fall Social of
10/24/13:
Chairman Gombotz spoke with seniors at the Fall Social and asked
what programs they would like to see at the Senior Center. One of the
responses was for the balance and preventing falling program. This has
been an ongoing program and they just need to check on the newsletter
to see when the signup is.
9. FYI - Library IPAD Program for Seniors:
This item was discussed above in Senior Center Director Doyle's
Report.
10. Senior Letters Regarding Handicapped Parking at Senior Center:
Letters from Mary L. Clarkson and Kathleen L. Murray regarding
the lack of adequate handicap parking at the Senior Center were
discussed. Chairman Gombotz has a petition with twenty seven
signatures and Commissioner Varley has agreed to put together some
suggested solutions to the problem. The Commission was in agreement
to put all the information together before forwarding it to Town Manager
McNair and the Town Council. The Commission realizes that due to the
enlarged size of the handicap spaces for wheelchair accessibility that
some handicap spaces were lost and converted to regular parking spaces
because they were not wide enough to be designated handicap spaces.
Commissioner Varley volunteered to look into other areas that might be
used for handicap parking.
11. Discussion of Proposed Subsidized Senior Housing:
Chairman Gombotz stated that she had spoken with Edith
Prague at the Living Well Expo on September 27th voicing her individual
concern, not in her official capacity as Chairman of the Commission for
the Aging, regarding the lack of affordable, subsidized senior housing
and the need for more of this type of housing. She expressed her
concern that seniors should not have to wait over two years to obtain
affordable housing or move to another city because nothing is available
in Berlin. After Chairman Gombotz conversation with Edith Prague and
Terry Gerratana she received a phone message from Joe Bajorski,
Chairman of the Housing Authority about it being a delicate situation
and that she should not be talking about it and should not have had the
conversation with Edith Prague. His message also said that she should
Commission for the Aging—November 18,2013 Page 6
talk to him first. Chairman Gombotz thought it very strange that two
days later there were two newspaper articles about the former Knights of
Columbus property being used to build affordable senior housing.
Chairman Gombotz said that she did not regret speaking with Edith
Prague or Terry Gerratana about the need for this type of housing.
12. Old Business:
13. New Business:
The proposed Schedule of Meetings 2014 was reviewed.
Commissioner Slogeris made a motion to accept the proposed Schedule
of Meetings for 2014 for the Commission for the Aging. Commissioner
Krause seconded the motion 86 it was unanimously approved.
14. Motion to Adjourn:
Commissioner Krause made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:32
pm. Commissioner Slogeris seconded the motion.
Respectfully submitted, Juliet K. Benjamin, Secretary