Commission on Aging, Brookfield CT

Meeting 3 March 2010

 

Attendance: Commissioners Dottie Miles, Betsy McIlvaine, Nancy Tolmoff, Marsha Mebus

Others: Director of Senior and Social Services Ellen Melville, Municipal Agent Jeanette Holliday, MaryBeth Petrie, Community Relations Director from Visiting Angels,  and Velma and Rita, RSVP Volunteers at Bethel Healthcare.

 

Minutes of the 3 February 2010 meeting were approved unanimously.

 

Regular Reports

Senior Center

a.     Senior Center Expansion and Renovation Project – moving along on schedule with estimated completion date of late June/early July 2010.

b.     Income Tax Prep begins this month as a volunteer service of AARP – the calendar of available slots is almost full

c.     New information/education resources provided:

                                                               i.       Crock pot cooking

                                                             ii.      Art of Self Healing (6 week series(

                                                            iii.      Fall and Balance Screening with Bill Neeb (8 March)

                                                          iv.      Public Power Company Presentation – are you spending too much on your electricity

d.     Tony Bivona, Superintendent of Schools, discussed the school system and the 2010-2011 budget proposal on 5 March

e.     Future  ‘Town Official’ lunch sessions, including monthly Lunch with Bill program, include Paul Avery, Town Sanitarian, and Jay Purcell, Brookfield Police Department

f.        The Senior Council is planning spring fundraisers- the Spring Boutique and Art show is Saturday, 27 March

g.     Commission on Aging Coffee at the Senior Center – 11 a.m. on Tuesday, March 30.

 

Social Services

The department continues to receive heating applications, but the majority of applications have already been processed.

 

Brooks Quarry

No report                                                                                              

 

Old Business

 

Mrs. Tolmoff demonstrated the COA website. Several suggestions for enhancements were made. Mrs. McIlvaine will provide some help in completing the site.  Mrs. Miles will photograph volunteers in action at Huckleberry Hill School, the Senior Center (including Meals on Wheels), Bethel Healthcare and the April 7 Commission on Aging meeting.

 

Mrs.  Miles presented a draft version of a survey to be sent to registered voters over 60.  Several suggestions were made for changes. 

 

Mrs. Miles distributed a letter to the editor or op ed piece designed to encourage volunteers to join COA.  The letter appeared in the Housatonic Times 5 February 2010. A volunteer opportunity was listed in the News Times 4 March 2010.

 

Mrs. Melville suggested she may ask for COA support for the Senior Center and Social Services budget shortly.  She announced that Jay Purcell will speak about a program designed to replace Code RED at the Senior Center in April.

 

Mrs. Tolmoff suggested that a phone system be designed to connect seniors.

 

Meeting adjourned at 1:25 p.m.

 

Respectfully Submitted – Betsy McIlvaine