MINUTES

Thursday, October 2, 2003; 2:30 PM

AUDREY P. BECK BUILDING, CONFERENCE ROOM B *

*PLEASE NOTE CHANGE IN MEETING LOCATION

PRESENT: K. Grunwald (staff), J. Heald, B. Lehmann (chair), P. Hope (staff), M. Hauslaib

REGRETS: E. Passmore, J. Peters

I. MINUTES:

Minutes of September 4, 2003 meeting: accepted as written.

II. COMMUNICATIONS/REPORTS:

A. Discussion with SSD Director, Kevin Grunwald

K. Grunwald discussed items in the packet including the following:

· Activity at the “Know Your Town Fair” and results of the survey that was distributed

· Status of the application to the State Department of Education for School Readiness

· Scheduled presentation to the Board of Education on Early Care and Education in Mansfield

· Status of the League of Women Voters grant for a Community Conversation

B. Review of Department activity and other items in packet

K. Grunwald reported that activity within the Department continues to be busy, with steady requests for services and increasing involvement in a number of community initiatives. Requests for seasonal programs are coming in earlier than usual, and it is anticipated that demand for these programs will be high.

C. Program updates

· Graustein Foundation: We have started the Community Assessment and Planning Tool, and will submit that at the end of October. Base level funding of $10,000 will be available for the next 4 years, with up to an additional $40,000 a year available as well.

· LWVCT Community Conversations: K. Grunwald and S. Baxter attended the orientation meeting for this event and have held one meeting with the planning committee.

· School Readiness Grant: We have submitted an application for $71,901 for the balance of the fiscal year, and are waiting to hear whether or not the grant was awarded.

· Senior Services Nurse/Wellness Center: see discussion with Patty Hope.

· General impact of State budget cuts/closure of Willimantic DSS office: Clients continue to have difficulty getting access to DSS services. There has been some discussion about the possibility of reopening the Willimantic office.

D. Other

K. Grunwald reported that he has been appointed to a joint town/university task force to address the issue of substance abuse, which was a recommendation from the UConn President’s Task Force on Alcohol and Substance Abuse. He is also working with the Regional Coalition Supporting Youth and members of the Town Council to explore the adoption of an underage drinking ordinance in Mansfield.

It was decided that Youth Services will be added as a standing agenda item.

III. OLD BUSINESS:

A. Agency Funding request process and timetable: A proposed criteria and a rating scale were distributed by K. Grunwald, and he will email information to all members to review a sample review prior to our next meeting. M. Hauslaib suggested that we try this tool to do a “dry run” with existing programs.

B. Fee waiver ordinance revision: Revisions have been made to the amended ordinance, and a public hearing will be held on this issue at the Town Council meeting on October 14.

C. December legislative meeting: K.Grunwald suggested taking advantage of existing venues; legislative breakfasts, etc. M. Hauslaib suggested that we not discontinue it completely, but look at revisiting this next year.

D. Mansfield Community Fund: K. Grunwald’s draft letter to the organizing committee was reviewed, with some modifications. He and B. Lehmann will meet on this prior to our next meeting and will present recommendations. Members of this committee were asked to submit suggested names that the letter should be sent to.

E. Other

IV. NEW BUSINESS:

A. Meet Patty Hope, new Senior Services Coordinator: the meeting started with Patty introducing herself and talking about her plans and vision for Senior Services in the Town of Mansfield. She has many new ideas, and is focused on increasing Senior Center membership by actively reaching out to a broad spectrum of the community and ensuring that seniors feel welcomed when they come to the Center. She also talked about plans for a November program to honor veterans, and M. Hauslaib provided information about an oral history project for WW II veterans that the Town of Enfield has been involved with.

B. Cynthia van Zelm: Mansfield Downtown Partnership: Cynthia did not attend due to two members of this committee being absent. She will be asked to attend next month’s meeting.

C. Other

V. PLANS FOR FUTURE MEETINGS

November 6: Agency funding requests; Mansfield Downtown Partnership

VI. ADJOURNMENT

Meeting adjourned at 5:15

Respectfully submitted,

Kevin Grunwald, Director of Social Services