Mansfield Commission on Aging Minutes
2:30 PM – Senior Center Monday, Sept. 12, 2005
Members: Please call the Mansfield Senior Center at 429-0262 if you cannot attend.
PRESENT: C. Prewitt (guest) REGRETS: E. Norris, J. Kenny
I. Call to Order: Chair S. Thomas called the meeting to order at 2:30 PM, and introduced prospective member Joe Chasin.
II. Appointment of Recording Secretary: K. Grunwald agreed to take minutes for this meeting.
III. Acceptance of Minutes of the June 13, 2005 meeting: The minutes were accepted, with the correction of the spelling of Nora Steven’s name.
IV. Correspondence – Chair and Staff: invitation to a meeting with consultants from Brecht & Associates on assisted living 9/15.
V. Optional Reports on Services/Needs of Town Aging Populations
A. Health Care Services
Wellness Center and Wellness Program – J. Kenny was not present but P. Hope
Distributed copies of her report. P. Hope noted that the Meditation Group is something
that started over the summer.
Mansfield Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation - Jean Kenny. D. Mercier reported that
there is no report for this month.
B. Social, Recreational and Educational
Senior Center – P. Hope distributed copies of her reports for August and July. She noted
that the summer months tend to be less active. We will be hiring a part-time staff person
for the kitchen. Eagle Scout candidate Chris Chasin worked this summer planting
perennials and repairing window boxes. We also purchased 12 arm chairs for the dining
room.
Senior Center Assoc. – J. Brubacher reported that the Association will be sponsoring an
auction this Saturday in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Senior Center. On the
21st there will be an anniversary luncheon, which will include people who were formerly
involved with the Senior Center. The Association is hoping to use the proceeds to assist
in hiring a geriatrician for the Wellness Center.
C. Housing
Assisted Living Project – the kick-off meeting will be held this Thursday at the Town Hall.
Juniper Hill has started rebuilding the apartments that were destroyed in the December
fire. B. Griffin mentioned that four of the units at Wright’s Way are handicapped-
accessible; members were surprised that there are not more. The Housing Authority has
applied for a grant to convert more apartments to handicapped accessibility. P. Hope
pointed out that there are different levels of accessibility. Some concerns were raised
regarding what the waiting list is for senior housing at the existing facilities.
Jensen’s Park, Other:
D. Related Town and Regional Organizations
Com. on Physically and Sensorily Impaired: K. Grunwald reported that this summer there
was a regional transportation forum held here this summer for people with disabilities. He
will be attending a state-wide conference this week on Community Inclusion. This Wed.
at 5 there will be a regional meeting at the Senior Center for services to people who have
disabilities. Town Community Center: no report
Town Plan of Conservation and Development: there will be a public hearing on the plan
on October 12.
Senior Resources of Eastern CT
VI.. Old Business
Report of the Nominating Committee – S. Thomas reported the Nora Stevens and Phil Secker
will be rotating off of the committee. The Council thanked them for their service. N. Stevens
reported that J. Chasin is considering membership and Mary Thacher has been nominated as a
new member for a three year term. A second individual (June Laslofey) was interested, but
may be moving out of the area. If she is unavailable, Norman Stevens has agreed to serve.
E. Norris has said that she is no longer interested in serving as Vice Chair, and someone will
need to assume this position. C. Phillips has agreed to be Chair of the nominating committee.
Preparation of The Long Range Plan - S. Thomas reported that we began this process in April
of 2004. K. Grunwald distributed copies of a draft of the long-range plan and went through the
plan as it has been developed. He asked that if anyone has changes or additions to survey
questions they get them to him by 9/26.
Proposed survey of elderly in Town: K. Grunwald will invite Waldo Klein to the October
committee
VII . New Business:
S. Thomas distributed a proposed calendar and agenda for the Commission to work from this
year. It identifies areas of interest and issues for concern, including how services for seniors
are funded. In general she feels that the Commission needs to be better educated about some
of these issues, including non-profit agency funding, transportation, home care services,
regional cooperation, and assisted living. K. Doeg made a motion to receive the agenda,
which was seconded and approved. One suggestion made is to form a sub-committee to
work on the survey, that would then report to the Commission. P. Hope suggested that
program reports be sent out with the October packet to free up more time for this discussion
at the next meeting, and this will be done. S. Thomas proposed that she will develop a
schedule with speakers to come to Commission meetings on a monthly basis. She also talked
about holding one of our meetings at the McSweeny Center. –
Proposed Schedule: Oct.- Waldo Klein, Nov.- Nancy Trawick-Smith, Dec.- Jeff Beadle, Jan.-
VIII. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 4:30 PM. The next meeting is scheduled for TUESDAY,
Oct. 11 at 2:30 pm at the Senior Center
Respectfully submitted,
Kevin Grunwald