MINUTES

WATERTOWN COMMISSION ON AGING

REGULAR MEETING<= /b>

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BUCKINGHAM TERRACE
THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2008 - 7:00 P.M.=

PRESENT:            =             &nb= sp;    Kathy Goulet

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p; Loretta Lambert

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p; Helen Lukowski, Secretary

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p; Coreine Peluso

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p; Kathleen Plunkett

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p; Cathleen Williams

= ;            &n= bsp;            = ;            &n= bsp;         Wanda Witty

ABSENT:             =             &nb= sp;     Melanie Flaherty

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p; Joanne Murray

OTHERS PRESENT:            Lisa Carew, Recreation Director

= ;            &n= bsp;            = ;            &n= bsp;         Darrylle Willenbrock, Senior Center Director

OTHERS ABSENT:            = None

GUESTS:        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;           None<= /p>

1.&nb= sp;        Convene Regular Meeting - 7:00 P.M.

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Ms. Peluso called the Meeting to Order at 7:10 p.m.

2.&nb= sp;        Roll Call

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Ms. Peluso, Chairman, executed the Roll Call.

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3.&nb= sp;        Correspondence

        &= nbsp;   None

4.      &= nbsp; Public Participation

            <= /span>None

= Watertown Commission on Aging
Regular Meeting

May 15, 2008

Page 2

5.      &= nbsp; Minutes

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A.&n= bsp;            = ;    April 17, 2008 - Regular Meeting

MOTION= :       (Ms. = Witty, sec. Ms. Williams) to approve the Regular Meeting of April 17, 2008 as presented.

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Discus= sion:       None<= /p>
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In Fav= or:        &= nbsp; Ms. Goulet, Ms. Lambert, Ms. Lukowski, Ms. Peluso, Ms. Williams, Ms. Witty

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Oppose= d:         = None

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Abstai= ned:        Ms. Plunkett

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MOTION= CARRIED (6-0-1)

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6.      &= nbsp; Municipal Agent’s Report

  &= nbsp;         Ms. Willenbrock gave the following report:

·        Energy Assistance is finished. The Center completed 106 applicati= ons for this year.

·        We are always doing Conn-Pace applications as they come due.

·        Seniors are definitely worried about increas= es that would be incurred from the upcoming Town and School Budgets as most ar= e on fixed incomes, and with increases in fuel, food, and utilities, cannot affo= rd a mill increase also.

·        It has come to my attention that Connecticut will= be increasing the gas tax come July 1^st.

·        Seniors are coming into hard times and I bel= ieve we must support and promote bills to lower costs.

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    =         A lengthy discussion ensued regarding the increased costs as well as an elder= ly tax rebate program.

        &= nbsp;   MOTION:       (Ms. Peluso, sec. Ms. Goulet) to send a letter to the Town Council asking them to consider a Town sponsored income based tax rebate for the elderly citizens = of our community, that parallels the State Rebate Program.

        &= nbsp;   Discussion:       None<= /p>

        &= nbsp;   MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

= Watertown Commission on Aging
Regular Meeting

May 15, 2008

Page 3

        &= nbsp;   MOTION:       (Ms. = Plunkett, sec. Ms. Lambert) to accept the Municipal Agent’s Report as presented= .

        &= nbsp;   Discussion:       None<= /p>

        &= nbsp;   MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

7.&nb= sp;        Senior Center Report

  &= nbsp;         Ms. Willenbrock gave the following report:

·        The Senior Center presented a Safe Steps Pr= ogram on May 8^th in conjunction with the University of North Carolina promoting safety in the home. They have to complete a questionna= ire which will be sent back and compiled into their data.

·        Today we attended a Health Fair in Naugatuck.

·        Next month the Rotary is sponsoring lunch on June 4^th so that they may enjoy the Wii game with the seniors.
·        Also June 12^th Opticare will be at the Center with the importance of routine eye car and macular degeneration = and the latest treatments.

·        Finally we will have our first picnic at Veteran’s Memorial Park on Thursday, June 26th.

        &= nbsp;   MOTION:       (Ms. = Williams, sec. Ms. Plunkett) to accept the Senior Center Report as presented.

        &= nbsp;   Discussion:       None<= /p>

        &= nbsp;   MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

8.&nb= sp;        Old Business

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    =         Ms. Willenbrock reported that the grant for the computers would be allocated in= mid July.

9.&nb= sp;        New Business

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    =         Ms. Peluso reported the State Parks and Recreation Commission sent her a Road M= ap To The Future, A New Direction In Long Term Care, and if anyone would like to borrow it, they are welcome to do that.&nb= sp; Ms. Willenbrock will review it to see if anything should be included= in the newsletter.

    =         Ms. Willenbrock reported she and Ms. Peluso met with Chris Murphy last month regarding housing and Medicare and future issues that will affect seniors.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Quarterly meetings will be held.
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Ms. Plunkett reported that Chris Murphy will be in Watertown on May 17^th, from = 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Stop & Shop for a Meet and Greet with the public.

= Watertown Commission on Aging
Regular Meeting

May 15, 2008

Page 4

Ms. Plunkett reported the HIPPA laws prohibit physicians from releasing informa= tion to a patient’s family so seniors should give that authorization in ca= se they find themselves unable to give that authorization at the time it’= ;s needed. This is becoming a pr= oblem for many people. She suggeste= d they have a speaker come into the Center to explain the benefits of having a Pow= er of Attorney. Dom Calabrese was supposed to speak on this issue before, but he had to cancel for family reasons, so Ms. Willenbrock will contact him again to see if he can resched= ule that presentation.

10.&n= bsp;      Adjournment

MOTION:       (Ms. Lambert, sec. Ms. Goule= t) to Adjourn the Regular Meeting at 7:40 p.m.

Discussion:       None<= /p>

MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

Regular Meeting Adjourned at 7:40 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Coreine Peluso, Chairman

Watertown Commiss= ion on Aging

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A= pproved: _______________________________

      Lynn M. LaF= orme, Clerk