TOWN OF SOMERS
THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO
THE ELDERLY
MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 12,
2006 MEETING
CALL TO ORDER: Meeting called to order at 11:00 A.M. by Jim Burgess.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Pat Bachetti, Elaine Bemont, Jim Burgess, Barbara Flebotte, Joan Sizer and Arlene Yarnes. Also present was First Selectman David Pinney.
MEMBERS ABSENT: Donna Doyker, Dorothy Hillman and Myrtle Pixley
VISITOR(S): None
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes of August 8, 2006 meeting accepted by Pat Bachetti and seconded by Joan Sizer once corrections noted by Joan Sizer and Barbara Flebotte were made.
CORRESPONDENCE: None
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Meals on Wheels – David Pinney reported that thirteen clients received meals for the period of July 31 through September 2. Cost of meals was $1,662 of which $1,185 was billed to clients and $477 subsidized by Meals on Wheels program. Funds remaining total $6,182.07. Cost of meals is $4.00 for hot meal and $3.00 for cold meal. Clients are billed $3.00 for hot meal, $2.00 for cold meal. Program subsidizes $1.00 for each meal. Pat Bachetti commented that it appeared the scheduling of drivers needed a little better organization. Some days two drivers are needed and other days three. There appeared to be some duplication in the routes traveled. It was suggested Dave Pinney needs to meet more often with the drivers to keep things running smoothly – perhaps quarterly. David has not yet contacted the person whose name was given to him as a possible individual to take charge of this program. Barbara Flebotte mentioned that perhaps one day a year could be set aside as Volunteers Appreciation Day or there could be some other small way of saying ‘thank you’ to all those who volunteer their services, particularly the MOW drivers (i.e., send a thank you card at Thanksgiving, etc.).
Senior Lunches – First lunch of the season will be on Tuesday, October 31st at the Baptist Church on Battle Street. Sign up sheet will be available soon.
Senior Citizens Club – Joan Sizer reported that the monthly Club meetings will start again in September. The Enfield VNA representative spoke on arthritis at the first luncheon in September. This was a very interesting presentation. Arlene and Joan were disappointed over the fact that the Enfield VNA was promoting some of their upcoming events during the September presentation while Somers is, in fact, under contract with the Vernon VNA program.
Communications/Senior Newsletter – Barbara Flebotte reported that she has received some positive comments regarding photos appearing in our senior newsletter. She would like to continue to do this but needs help in obtaining photos. She was going to check with the newspapers to see if photos could be included in the articles she sends them for publication. We will try to get a picture of the Senior Bus in the 4 Town Fair Parade.
Senior Center Sign – Donna Doyker was not present. However, it was agreed that we want to advertise the Flu Clinic and then the Nov. VNA presentation regarding Alzheimer/Dementia.
School Liaison – Donna Doyker and Myrtle Pixley were not in attendance.
Senior Support Services – Pat Bachetti reported that she continues to visit with her patients at Blair Manor and Evergreen. She will no longer be visiting patients in the hospital because they are usually very sick or in and out within a couple of days. The nursing home patients are more in need of these visits. Pat is preparing an article (and hopefully a photo of herself) for the next newsletter to make people aware of what she is doing.
OLD BUSINESS:
Powers Duties of Sr. Adv. Bd – Barbara Flebotte prepared a listing of the Powers and Duties of Advisory Committee to the Elderly. David Pinney took this sheet to the selectmen for their review and several good changes were made by them. This item will become part of the agenda for next month’s meeting so that we can determine if this is the final version of this document approved by the Selectmen. Some questions arose as to the duties listed, particularly the preparation of a questionnaire for the elderly, disabled and seniors as well as a long-time open issue regarding a computerized list of seniors to be obtained from the registrar of voters. It was felt if these are truly now our responsibilities, then we need to take the necessary steps to ensure we obtain on disk or via e-mail the information and documents needed to perform these functions. Another item of concern is the production of the Senior Resource Guide which originally was put together by Jim Burgess with the help of Len Slaga. This disk is currently with Connie Carenzo and the booklet has yet to be published. If this is a task that belongs to our Board, the disk needs to be given to us to figure out how to get this Resource Guide up to date, get it distributed to the town seniors, and then maintain it. We will put this on next month’s agenda. Perhaps a meeting will also then need to be set up with all three selectmen regarding the responsibilities of the Advisory Board. If necessary, this item could be put on the Board of Selectmen’s Agenda to discuss at one of their meetings.
NEW BUSINESS:
Senior Advisory Board Members According to Charter 5-17 – Discussion arose as to how the Board acquires its nine members. It was clear as who the Senior Club representative is and the Public Housing rep is. Question arose about the Senior Drop-in Center rep. and the three members from different geographical locations in town. This accounts for a total of seven people. Some language needs to be inserted regarding who the additional people are on the board to reach the total of nine. This will be on next month’s agenda. Our recommendation will be that the Selectmen update this part of the charter.
Senior Advisory Board Agenda: It was suggested (and we all agreed) that the order of business for future meetings should be changed so that Old Business and New Business are discussed before Committee Reports.
COMMENTS:
Barbara Flebotte suggested that a system should be in place for the Advisory Board members to be notified of the death or serious illness of our members so that a phone call or a card, etc. could be sent. Notification could be made via a phone call, email, etc.
ADJOURNMENT: Adjournment at 12:30 by motion of Barbara Flebotte and seconded by Pat Bachetti.
Respectfully submitted,
Elaine L. Bemont, Secretary