RECEIVED MAY 14, 2009 @ 12:30 P.M.
Kerry Miserendino, Redding Asst. Town Clerk
2 Pages
TOWN OF REDDING
COMMISSION ON AGING
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2009
9:00 a.m.
HERITAGE CENTER
Commissioners Present: Alternates Present:
Rosalind Kopfstein, Chairman Janet Cianci
Sam Crocker Lore Handy
Florence Hayes
Janet Metzger
Bill Morris
Alice Pardee
Sharon Rehme
Staff: Gail Schiron, Marie Sibilio
Community Participant: Lou Ann Lang
The meeting was called to order at 9:01 a.m.
I. Approval of Minutes from April 1, 2009
The minutes were approved as submitted.
II. Reports
Ms. Sibilio presented the Heritage Center Report to the Commission. There were 247 van trips in April for a total of 1,831 miles.
An extra municpal car is used as a back up for needed rides to services.
Ms. Schiron presented the Municipal Agent’s Report to the Commission. There is just under half of the total collected left in the Redding Shares The Warmth Account. The program will be publicized again next year and continue to accumulate donations. Municipality grants in the amount of $5,000 and $3,000 were received for computers and municipal agent related items regarding senior support services.
There was discussion as to available grant money to assist with the cost of the lunch program from the EFSP program by FEMA and Meals on Wheels programs. Other creative options for economizing this program were discussed. There are nutritional programs in place that could assist the Heritage Center lunch program through volunteers and agencies such as The Volunteer Center.
M.O.W. volunteers will provide reminders to meal recipients about bill paying.
Ms. Metzger had no update on affordable housing.
Sam Crocker gave a brief update on Quality Living in Ridgefield and Redding. Implementation of the program to keep seniors living in their homes as long as possible will move forward. Mr. Crocker briefly reviewed the business plan for the program to enable seniors to remain not only in their homes but their communities, through enhanced community support and coordinated community partnerships. The organizations involved already have programs in place. A full-time Program Coordinator will be hired by July 1st which will be funded by the Ridgefield VNA. There are currently 5 applicants. The position will be further funded through grants and fundraising activities. No fees will be charged to seniors for these services. The RVNA will meet with the Bethel
VNA to coordinate and provide additional services.
Survey results show that there is an interest among residents to remain in their homes, and that there is a dramatic need for non-health related services.
III. New Business:
Rosalind will be attending an all Commissions on Aging meeting on Saturday at the New Fairfield Senior Center.
IV. Adjournment
The next COA meeting is scheduled for June 3, 2009 at 9:00 a.m.
There being no further business before the Commission, the meeting was adjourned at 10:25 a.m.
Submitted by vak 5/13/09
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