2022-05-16
TOWN OF BERLIN
COMMISSION FOR THE AGING
Minutes of Monday, May 16, 2022
* In Person Meeting * 5:00 P.M.
*Meeting held in person & open to the Public, on Zoom or by phone. Note new time of
meeting.
Members in Attendance:
Barbara Gombotz, Chairwoman
Frank J. Slogeris
Lois Ustanowski
Kay Murray
Ann Gamelin
Staff in Attendance:
Tina Doyle, Senior Center Director
Juliet Benjamin, Secretary
1. Call to Order:
Chairman Gombotz called the meeting to order at 5:05 P.M.
2. Roll Call:
Present: Barbara Gombotz Chairman, Frank Slogeris, Lois
Ustanowski, Kay Murray, Ann Gamelin.
3. Approval of Minutes – March 21, 2022 Meeting:
Commissioner Slogeris made a motion to accept the Minutes of
Monday March 21, 2022, as written. Commissioner Murray seconded
the motion & the Minutes were approved.
4. Audience of Citizens:
5. Senior Center Directors Report – Tina Doyle:
Director Doyle wanted to remind the commissioners of the Spring
Social on May 26 from 3:30 to 5:30 pm. Pizza, Salad & Dessert will be
served. The entertainment will be singer Noah Lis. He was a finalist on
the Voice. Director Doyle noted that she has been very happy with the
participation in programs recently. Even with the uptick in Covid people
have been coming and wearing their masks.
There will be a Setback Banquet next week and there were many
good programs for Older Americans Month in May. Joel Silvestri will be
bringing back line dancing, which was very popular before Covid. There
is a Walking Club on Thursday mornings and they have made trips to
walk in Walnut Hill, Pistol Creek, Hungerford & Timberlin Park.
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Commission for the Aging - 5/16/2022
Chairman Gombotz discussed the requirement of CW for people to
sign up for lunch at the Senior Center a week in advance. She
questioned that if people sign up and don’t show up what happens to the
meal that has been set aside for them. Director Doyle said that they
usually offer it to someone else that is at the center. Chairman Gombotz
thought that signing up a week ahead of time is difficult if you don’t
know what your schedule is going to be. Director Doyle will look into it.
6. Town Housing Report – Ann Gamelin:
Commissioner Gamelin said that the Advisory Committee will be
giving an informational report to the Town Council at the Council’s
meeting tomorrow. She believes that Joseph Bajorski, Chairman of the
Housing Authority will attend. She said that the Advisory Committee has
been discussing new housing projects within the Town. They are
concerned that the new developments would not offer a sense of
community that a senior only development would.
7. Senior Center/Community Center Report – B. Gombotz:
Chairman Gombotz noted that the Advisory Committee for the new
Senior Center/Community Center has visited facilities at eight different
sites in Connecticut. The YMCA does not offer any programs for seniors,
so it would be the responsibility of the Town of Berlin to provide for those
programs.
8. Former Knights of Columbus/Percival Ave. Bldg – B. Gombotz
Chairman Gombotz has spoken with Joe Bajorski, Chairman of
the Berlin Housing Authority and he is waiting for guidance from Jim
Mahoney, Economic Development, regarding the Brownfields Grant &
testing paperwork. Mr. Bajorski had stated that the construction funds
for the new senior housing project are in place.
9. Old Business:
Due to redistricting, the Senior Center is no longer a poling place
for elections. Chairman Gombotz noted how unhappy she was at having
to go to Griswold School to vote. Her experience was that she parked in
a handicap space and found the doors to the school were locked. She
was told that she would have to go to a different door to vote at the end
of the building. After moving her car to the other end of the building she
found that there were no parking spaces because school was in session
and staff parks in that area. She called the Registrar of Voters and was
told that she could go back after school hours. This was not convenient
so she didn’t end up voting. Chairman Gombotz was very concerned and
wondered how many other seniors were not able to vote due to the
parking situation.
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Commission for the Aging - 5/16/2022
Chairman Gombotz understands that the Registrar of Voters is
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planning to have an information session at the Peck Library on June 9
to discuss the new redistricting of voting places. Chairman Gombotz and
Director Doyle would very much like the Registrars to also have a
meeting at the Senior Center to make the seniors aware of the changes.
Voting will only take place at Hubbard, Willard & Griswold schools now.
10. New Business:
Chairman Gombotz stated that she has a copy of the ADA Guide
for Small Businesses. She had an experience at a medical office (not in
Berlin), where the handicap regulations regarding walkways were
incorrect. She was concerned whether the handicap regulations are
being enforced for all small businesses in Berlin.
11. Motion to Adjourn:
Commissioner Slogeris made a motion to adjourn the meeting at
6:20 pm. Commissioner Ustanowski seconded the motion & it was
unanimously approved.
Respectfully submitted, Juliet K. Benjamin, Secretary