MINUTES

Thursday, September 4, 2003; 2:30 PM

AUDREY P. BECK BUILDING, CONFERENCE ROOM B

PRESENT: K. Grunwald (staff), B. Lehmann (chair), J. Heald, E. Passmore, J. Peters, M. Hauslaib

I. MINUTES:

The minutes of the June 5, 2003 meeting were approved as written.

II. COMMUNICATIONS/REPORTS:

A. Discussion with SSD Director, Kevin Grunwald

K. Grunwald reported on a number of activities that have occurred over the course of the summer including the following:

· Fund raising for the Special Needs

· Hiring of a Senior Services’ Coordinator and Wellness Center secretary

· Current local underage drinking initiative

· Participation in a State planning grant at E.O. Smith High School

· Attendance at the CT Eldercare Action Network’s Annual Meeting

· Involvement in the Windham Regional Coalition on Aging

· Plans for the “Know Your Town Fair”

B. Review of Department activity and other items in packet

An update was provided on proposed relocation of the YSB office. Minutes were provided from the YSB Advisory Group, Commission on Aging, and the Mansfield School Readiness Council.

C. Program funding updates

· Graustein Foundation: new plans call for base level funding of all communities for $10,000 a year through 2007, with an opportunity to apply for up to $40,000 a year in additional funds.

· Special Needs Fund/copy of article and letter: At this time the fund has received close to $3000 in contributions.

· LWVCT Community Conversations: The grant of $2000 was awarded to Mansfield, and we have begun to assemble a 20 member-planning group.

· School Readiness Grant: Legislation was passed at the end of the session making Mansfield eligible for decreasing funding over the next 3 years. We are still required to support 15 full-time slots, and are working with the 3 participating Centers to negotiate rates and get a commitment to support these slots.

· Senior Services Nurse/Wellness Center: We have been approved for funding from Senior Resources through the McSweeny Center to continue to subsidize the services of the wellness nurse.

· General impact of State budget cuts/closure of Willimantic DSS office: Staff report that we continue to see increasing numbers of clients having difficulty with fixed expenses including rent, utilities and food. Access to the DSS office in Uncasville continues to be problematic.

D. Other: none

III. OLD BUSINESS:

A. Discussion of process for Agency Funding requests: It was decided that we would form a sub-group (including representatives from the COA and MACNPD) to make recommendations at the Oct. meeting as to how to change the process. It was agreed that putting other criteria aside, the purpose of funding agencies is to support the mission of the Department. We also agreed that there is a need to develop more specific criteria to assist us in this process. K. Grunwald will explore the possibility of getting a budget from the Council to start with and work from this; there was not total agreement on taking this approach. The sub-group will meet to develop recommendations for changing the funding processes and will report back to this committee.

B. Update on SSAC collaboration with Recreation Advisory Committee on Community Center fee reduction policy/schedule: A copy of an email was distributed on proposed revisions to fee waiver ordinance; the changes will be presented to Council on 9/8. Advisory committee members were encouraged to attend to support the notion of developing alternative funding to support full access to programs.

C. Revisit issue of the need for a December legislative meeting: The question was raised of whether or not this is still a helpful mechanism. There was a general feeling expressed that there are other legislative meetings held in the area that would accomplish this. The suggestion was made that we speak to Denise Merrill and other local agencies about how to approach this issue; K.Grunwald will follow-up.

D. Mansfield Community Fund: K. Grunwald distributed a copy of a letter to be sent to community members who may be interested in being involved in this initiative. It was agreed that there is a need for more clarification about what is being requested in the letter. The Question was also raised about what the role is of an advisory committee in this initiative. K.Grunwald will revise the letter and email the changes to the advisory committee for their review. He will also request that each member submit potential names to be included in a mailing list for this letter.

E. Other

IV. NEW BUSINESS:

A. Other: none

V. PLANS FOR FUTURE MEETINGS

October 2: Orientation to Social Services’ Programs and Advisory Committees/Mansfield Downtown Partnership/Community Center/Patty Hope
November 6: Agency funding requests
December 4: Legislative meeting