Mansfield Commission on Aging Minutes

9:30 AM

Mansfield Senior Center

Monday, November 10, 2008

PRESENT: T. Quinn (Chair), S. Gordon, C. Phillips, K. Doeg, W. Bigl, P. Richardson (staff), M. Thatcher, M.Ross. J. Quarto arrived late. Guests: Attorney Joelen Gates and Attorney Lee Terry.

REGRETS: C. Phillips, J. Kenny (staff), K. Grunwald (staff), A. Holinko, J. Quarto, C. Pellegrine

I. Call to Order: Chair T. Quinn called the meeting to order at 9:32 AM.

II. Appointment of Recording Secretary: P. Richardson agreed to take minutes for the meeting.

III. Members indicated they did not receive the Agenda and the Draft Minutes of the October 14, 2008 meeting in the mail. P. Richardson was not aware of this error and will ensure that this does not occur in the future. The agenda and draft October minutes were distributed to the members that were present. The Committee will vote on these minutes at next month’s meeting.

IV. Correspondence – T. Quinn distributed a “Committee on the Aging” resolution that he believes dates back to 1972 .

V. New Business

- Guest: Attorney Joelen Gates and Attorney Lee Terry from CT Legal Services presented information on the type of services they offer. They receive a grant through Senior Resources to provide free services to individuals 60 years of age or older. Attorneys Gates and Terry cover all of Eastern CT. They assist with a range of services including but not limited to: credit card debt, advice to individuals going through foreclosure, reverse mortgages, and identity theft. 66 percent of their funding comes from interest from trust accounts. This money is substantially down from 2007, which may result in a reduction in staff.

- Nominations of Staff: J. Quarto reported that Tim Quinn, Mary Thatcher and Sam Gordon completed their first term which ended September 30, 2008. Mark Ross replaced another member; his first term ends September 30, 2009. April Holinko is in her first term that ends September 30, 2010. P. Richardson read last month’s minutes; the COA approved unanimously to reappoint T. Quinn, M. Thatcher and M. Ross for a new term. After discussion, J. Quarto made a motion to appoint T. Quinn, M. Thatcher and S. Gordon for another term for a period of three years to end September 1, 2011. Sam Gordon seconded the motion. This was approved unanimously. This was later amended by J.Quarto to state the appointment would end September 30, 2011. This was approved unanimously. T. Quinn indicated he would personally give a letter to the Town Manager’s office requesting the reappointments. The Committee requested that an updated COA list be sent with the agenda and minutes for next month’s meeting.

-

VI. Optional Reports on Services/Needs of Town Aging Populations

A. Health Care Services

Wellness Center and Wellness Program – J. Kenny was not present; no report.

Mansfield Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation – J. Kenny was not present; no report.

B. Social, Recreational and Educational

Senior Center – P. Richardson distributed copies of her monthly report. The number of seniors participating in the November flu clinic was down from previous years (365). More seniors received their immunizations directly from their primary physician and there are many flu clinics available in the community.

Senior Center Assoc. – John Brubacher (for Tom Rogers) was not present; no report.

C. Housing

Jensen’s Park: W. Bigl reported 28 individual received flu shots at Jensen’s during their flu clinic.

D. Related Town and Regional Organizations: no reports.

VII. Old Business

- Long Range Plan for 2007- 2010: Update on Action Plans (all): no discussion.

IX. Adjournment

Meeting adjourned at 10:21 AM. Next meeting: Monday, December 8, 2008 at 9:30 AM at the Senior Center

Respectfully submitted,

Patricia Richardson