Senior Citizen Advisory Committee Minutes
November 20, 2003

In attendance: Vice-Chair, Jane-Helen Ross (At-Large), Nancy Stilwell (Dir. Social & Youth Services), Donna Mattison (Senior Center Coordinator), Kathy Bagley (Dir. Rec. and Parks), Christine Taylor (Municipal Agent), Kitch Breen Czernicki (AARP), Grace Piencikowski (Wethersfield Seniors Club), Adele Antoniou (At-Large), Estelle Knurek (At-Large), Mary Pezzlo (At-Large), Susan Miller (Alternate), Elizabeth Smith (Alternate) and Joselyn Valente(Clerk),

Absent: Chairperson, Janet Klett, Kathi Liberman (Housing Authority), John Cascio (Council Liaison), and Wendy Vencuss (Clergy).

  1. CALL TO ORDER:
    1. Vice-Chair Jane-Helen Ross called the meeting to order at 3:05pm.
  2. INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS:
    1. Chief James Cetran and Lieutenant Kevin Dillon
  3. MINUTES:
    1. The October 16, 2003 minutes were reviewed. No corrections were noted.
    2. Kitch Czernicki made a motion to approve the minutes. Christine Taylor seconded the motion. The motion passed.
  4. CHAIRPERSON'S REPORT:
    1. Correspondence. Chairperson Klett was not in attendance and there was no incoming correspondence.
  5. OLD BUSINESS:
    1. Glass Show Income. Kathy Bagley updated this committee on the Glass Show checking account question. It has been determined that the Jim Dwire (the Glass Show promoter) will not use a checking account with the SCAC name as he has in the past. Ms. Bagley also asked Mr. Dwire if he was still interested in having the SCAC as the sponsor of the Glass Show. He stated that he is still looking into it and would like to come to our January 2004 meeting to discuss it further.
    2. Update on Committee Membership. Jane-Helen Ross has reported that she has been reappointed to the At-Large position. Mary Pezzlo reported that she has been reappointed to the At-Large position. Sue Miller reported that she has been newly appointed to the Alternate position and Elizabeth Smith is interested in filling the last Alternate position. Ms. Smith will contact Dolores Sassano with her information. Ms. Ross asked that Joselyn check with the Town Clerk's office prior to the January meeting to confirm all our positions are filled.
  6. NEW BUSINESS:
    1. Discussion of Elderly Protection - Visit by the Wethersfield Police Dept. An informal discussion was held with Chief Cetran and Lt. Dillon. They discussed a booklet (Business and Residential Security) that Chief Cetran has put together. Though most of the booklet touched on the Business Community, he suggested that he might put together a few chapters that would pertain to the Senior Residential Community. They also discussed Identity Theft and how you could limit your exposure to that type of criminal. They mentioned the free cellular phones that were distributed to seniors and how the 911 calls would be received. They also touched on the subject of unsavory home repair contractors. Lt. Dillon suggested that they return to do a power point demonstration at another meeting in the future.
  7. REPORTS:
    1. AARP - Kitch Czernicki reported that the AARP Craft fair was a success and have scheduled their December 15th Holiday meeting at the Chowder Pot. She said that everything was going well and that their January and February 2004 meetings will be held on the 2nd Monday of the month instead of the 3rd Monday.
    2. Elderly Services - Christine Taylor passed out a survey from the Connecticut Coalition on Aging and asked that the members of this committee fill it out and return it to her. She also distributed her 10/02/2003 memo on Legislative Updates and a report on Medicare Reform (both were included in the Oct. 16, 2003 minutes). Christine also invited everyone to attend a meeting to be held by the Connecticut Department of Social Services, Elderly Services Division. It is a focus group on Alzheimer's disease to be held on Wednesday December 17, 2003 at the CRT in Hartford, contact Christine if you are interested.
    3. Wethersfield Seniors Club - Grace Piencikowski reported that the Bingo attendance has continued to improve. They made over $400 on the October Craft Fair and November Turkey Raffle. The Club's Holiday Dinner will be held on December 10, 2003.
    4. Social Services / Senior Center - Nancy Stilwell noted that the new Dial-a-Ride Program has come in within budget for the first month of service. They will be able to add a West Farms trip twice a month. The Holiday Food Drive was going well and they planned to distribute food to needy residents on Saturday, November 22, 2003. The department has received 75 requests for food. Nancy has plans to reach the corporations in Wethersfield to request monetary donations for the Special Needs Fund. The Stuff-A-Bus program was a success as it has been in the past. Nancy also wished to acknowledge the Stop and Shop on the Silas Deane Highway for helping. Nancy Stilwell filled in for Donna Mattison and reported that the next Senior Net registration will be on December 1st and there are openings for the January thru June computer classes. A film crew taped the Sister Collette program and it will be shown on Channel 14 soon. The December 1st entertainment program will be music and songs by "The Rocky Hill Review".
    5. Council Liaison - Kitch Czernick updated the committee on the recent Council changes. The new council will be sworn in at the next meeting. The Council passed a new dog ordinance and has established an Advisory Committee on Information & Technology. The Council will be revisiting the MDC and WHS Field issues soon. The Silas Deane Middle School will have it's grand opening on November 22nd and everyone should make an effort to see the state-of-the-art improvements that have been made.
    6. Wethersfield Housing Authority - Kathi Liberman was absent but Adele Antoniou wanted to let this committee know that AHEPA senior housing complex on the Berlin Turnpike has been approved for funding for the additional building they have planned.
    7. Clergy Representative - Wendy Vencuss was absent.
    8. People with Disabilities - Janet Klett was absent.
    9. General Comments - Vice-Chair Jane-Helen Ross asked if the committee would like to cancel the December meeting due to everyone's hectic schedules around the holidays. Everyone agreed. So we will meet next on January 15, 2004 and Jane asked that we all be thinking about goals for the New Year.
  8. ADJOURNMENT:
    A motion to adjourn was made by Adele Antoniou and seconded by Grace Piencikowski. The motion passed. The meeting was adjourned at 3:55pm.