TOWN OF SOMERS
SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD
MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 14, 2006
MEETING
CALL TO ORDER: Meeting called to order at 1:05 P.M. by Jim Burgess.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Elaine Bemont, Jim Burgess, Barbara Flebotte, Joan Sizer and Arlene Yarnes.
MEMBERS ABSENT: Pat Bachetti, Donna Doyker, Dorothy Hillman, Myrtle Pixley and First Selectman David Pinney.
VISITOR(S): None
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes January 11, 2006 meeting accepted by Barbara Flebotte and seconded by Joan Sizer with correction of adding Arlene Yarnes’ name to members absent in January.
CORRESPONDENCE: E-mail received from Pat Bachetti vacationing in Florida and wishing everyone on the board well.
Letter received from Phyliss and David Gwilliam asking a few questions to be posed and answered in the newsletter. These questions relate to the availability of exercise classes at the senior center, fee for using the senior bus and whether dividers had ever been looked into for the senior center in order to have multiple activities going on at the same time.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Meals on Wheels – David Pinney submitted report stating that twenty
families have been served a total of 488 meals at a cost of $1,786 paid to the
Plaza Restaurant for the month of January, 2006.. $1,320 was billed to clients and there was a subsidized amount of
$466 for the month. $8,292.41 is the
account balance. Norma Meyer will be
taking over the responsibilities for Meals on Wheels once a newer computer is
transferred to her from the First Selectman.
Norma also needs to participate in mandatory training programs put
on by Easter Seals. She is also very
much in need of an updated computer system, hardware and software, and the
necessary training to make her job as assistant to the municipal agent
possible.
Senior Center – President Joan Sizer had several items to report
on, as follows:
§
February 17th
– Joan has been working with Dr. Vespe, Supt. of the Somers schools, regarding
a Tropical Reading Day and the seniors are invited to come in and read to the
students or just enjoy the activities of the day. A free lunch will be served.
§
Dr. Vespe and First
Selectman David Pinney will speak at the senior lunch on March 1st
regarding the town budget which will be submitted on March 13th.
§
Dr. Vespe enjoyed a pot lunch
at the senior center recently. He wants
to reciprocate the hospitality by working together with Steve Roberts and the
high school students to provide a free lunch to our seniors on Tuesday, April 4th. Menu will consist of Caesar salad, bread,
beverage and dessert. This will be open
to paid-up club members only.
§
Another program in the
talking stage is “adopt a grandparent program”.
§
Dr. Vespe is willing to
foot the bill for newsletters containing information regarding school
activities involving our seniors if normal funding is not available for this
info. He is also checking into free
admission for the seniors to attend various sports activities.
§
The Enfield VNA is
interested in running free educational programs at the Somers senior center
dealing with heart, nutrition, safety, etc.
This would be held on a bi-monthly basis.
§
The weekly calendar for
the senior center is being updated. A
new, updated membership form is also being prepared.
Senior Lunches – Arlene Yarnes reported that the next luncheon will be held on February 28th at the Somers Congregational Church. Future luncheons for the season will be held on March 28th, April 18th and May 16th.
Communications/Senior Newsletter – Barbara Flebotte reported that the next newsletter is ready to go to print. It will be run on 8-1/2 x ll inch paper and will be stapled for ease in the folding process. Labels will need to be added. This will be done on February 22nd after the usual Wednesday luncheon.
Senior Center Sign, Tax Program, School Liaison – Donna Doyker was not present. Question arose, however, as to if enough letters are available for use on the sign. Currently a “y” is missing.
Senior Support Services – Pat Bachetti is currently in Florida but has kept in touch with her special patients via mail and cards.
OLD BUSINESS:
Policy Statement – Dave Pinney has not discussed this topic with the other selectmen as yet. We eagerly await his response.
A list of seniors 50 and over has been provided by the Regiatrar of Voters. This list has to be decoded to see if it can be downloaded to a useable system to be of value to us.
NEW BUSINESS:
Norma Meyer – Concern arose as to the equipment and training that Norma has received. A motion was made by Joan Sizer and seconded by Arlene Yarnes posing a request to the selectmen from the Advisory Board requesting that Norma Meyer, assistant to the Municipal Agent, be provided with computer training and have access to a computer with the necessary hardware and software for her to do her job as assistant to the M/A. Joan Sizer will prepare a letter to the selectmen regarding our concerns and seeking a resolution.
Dr.Vespe wants to know who the person/persons are that act as representatives of the seniors to the selectmen. As of right now, no one person has this responsibility. Jim Burgess cannot do it because he is an employee of the town.
COMMENTS:
It is imperative that Norma Meyer attend the mandatory training programs provided by Easter Seals or have someone come locally to train her.
Cholestrol screening will be done at the senior center on March 31. Details of this will be in the next newsletter.
ADJOURNMENT: Adjournment at 2:20 P.M. by motion of Arlene Yarnes and seconded by Joan Sizer.
Respectfully submitted,
Elaine L. Bemont, Secretary