Senior Citizens Commission - Minutes - 04/27/2021

Waterford Senior Citizens Commission
Meeting Minutes
April 27, 2021
Page 1 of 2
Members Present: Carol Sanders, Joyce Vlaun, Anita Collins, Rev. James Johnson, Kathleen
McNamara, D. Judith Crawford. Via Zoom Dina Lopes
Members Absent: — Anne Darling
Also Present: Kathleen Pierce, Assistant Director
Public: None
1, Callto order: Chairlady Carol Sanders called the Waterford
Senior Citizens Commission Meeting of April 27, 2021
to order at 4:09 p.m.
Ih. Establish a quorum. A quorum was established.
Ml. Public Comment: No public comment
Vv. Approval of the minutes of the February 23, 2021. Chairlady Sanders
asked for additions, deletions, or corrections to the minutes.
MOTION: Motion made by Joyce Vilaun, seconded by Anita Collins
to approve the meeting minutes of February 23, 2021
as presented.
VOTE: 5-0-2 (Kathleen McNamara and Carol Sanders abstained}
v. Correspondence ;
a. Letters of recommendation for 3 members reappointment
b. Thank you note
Vi Committee Reports
a. Budget
The budget will be presented to the RTM on Thursday, May 6, 2021.
There was a discussion about the finalized budget and letter. Commission
Secretary will forward copy of finalized FY 22 budget to all members.

Waterford Senior Citizens Commission
Meeting Minutes
April 27, 2021
Page 2 of 2
b. Nominating Committee
Members of the commission were reappointed by the RTM at
their April 5, 2021 meeting. The members are Anita Collins,
Anne Darling and Carol Sanders.
Election of officers:
MOTION: Motion made by Rev. James Johnson, seconded by D. Judith
Crawford to keep the current slate of officers. Carol Sanders — chair, Kathleen
McNamara and Joyce Viaun —Co-Vice chairs.
VOTE: 7-0-0 Motion passed.
c. Transportation Committee — no report
d. Planned Giving Sub-Committee
The tiles for the Mural Wall are all in. The final placement of the tiles has
begun and should be installed this summer.
VIL Director/Assistant Director Report —
Highlights included (see attached)
Budget will be presented to RTM on Thursday, May 6, 2021 at 7 p.m.
Transportation requests are picking up. The Community Center is currently ina
“soft opening” stage. A grant was received from the State Unit on Aging.
Vill. = New Business — None
IX, Other Business ~ None
x. Adjournment
D. Judith Crawford moved to adjourn the April 27, 2021 meeting of the
Waterford Senior Citizens Commission at 4:47 p.m. seconded by Kathleen
McNamara.
Motion passed.
wh bee
Donna F. Payne
Recording Secretary

FIFTEEN ROPE FERRY ROAD WATERFORD, CT 06385-2886
TO: Senior Citizens Commission
FROM: Kathy Pierce
Assistant Director, Senior Services
Lisa Cappuccio
Director, Senior Services
Date: April 27, 2021
Events and Operations:
The budget has passed the first two hurdles in the approval process. The final budget hearing
with the RTM is scheduled for Thursday, May 6, 2021 at 7pm. This will be a ZOOM meeting.
We invite you to log in. As always, we appreciate your support!
Staffing and statistics:
In the February 19, 2021 we reported that our clerk, Barbara Pitkin, was temporarily moved to
the Youth and Family Services department (YFSB). YFSB have been working hard supplying
meals and food pantry items to citizens of Waterford. Barb has been helping out with this work.
As the Community Center starts to come back to life, we are hoping to have Barbara come back,
though this has not yet been approved. WYFB has been kind enough to send Barbara over
during extremely busy times when one of us were on vacation or having a day off. We are
always so grateful when Barbara comes over to help because she knows our transportation
system and is very familiar with many of the programs we offer.
The Community Center is currently in a “soft opening” stage. Anyone wishing to utilize the
facility exercise equipment, gymnasium, a room or area in the building are calling Rec & Parks
to schedule. Due to the department being understaffed at this time, without a clerk, we were not
able to take the lead in scheduling patron’s use of the building. We worked closely with R&P to
come up with a safe and orderly reopening plan. Currently that plan is being open from 8-4pm
by appointment only. As of May 3" the building will be open from 8am — 4pm with no
reservation being required. On May 10" the hours will be increased to 8am — 8pm. There are
currently no official group exercise classes or programs happening on site. This will change as
of July 1, 2021.

Many times those coming into the building between 8am — 4pm are seniors. One of the first
persons to come in was our 99 year old, WWII veteran, “Ruddy”. He was so happy to get back
to his daily exercise routine and be picked up by the senior bus to bring him back and forth to
his house. Many of our seniors have come in to greet us and it’s so nice to see some familiar
faces around the building! Rec & Parks has paid staff working the front desk, checking people
in, taking temperatures, checking [Ds and filling out contact tracing forms. The front desk was
formerly staffed with Senior Service volunteers but, for the time being, Rec & Parks will be
staffing the desk. We have been told that starting July 1, 2021, staffing will need to revert back
to volunteer staff, IF temperature taking is no longer a requirement.
The past several months have been very busy with “Tax and Vax” being the main bulk of the
calls. The following is a partial tally of the calls we handled. There are probably more calls and
appointments made for the vaccine. This is just a log of the calls we handled. It does not
account for visits made, appointments, or the amount of rent rebate or energy applications
handled.
Phone Inquiries Time frame: July 2020 — March 2021
Energy 184
Medicare 129
Rent Rebate 87
Housing 27
SNAP 57
Abuse/Neglect 5
AARP Tax 
209
Transportation’ 340
MSP 7
MISC / Vaccine / Stimulus /Programs 427
TOTAL 
1472
Approximately 120 Taxpayers were served by the AARP tax program. This year the program
struggled to do more returns due to the pandemic and the need for social distancing while
implementing the remote computer model which was needed. Our staff was an integral part of
helping with the entire process and those struggling with the technology required.
The COVID Vaccination was another major event that stretched our limits. We responded to
many people asking questions about the vaccine and those wishing to schedule their vaccination.
We assisted well over 100 individuals with the scheduling of vaccines and hosted a vaccination
clinic here at the Community Center where close to 300 people were vaccinated. The process
was difficult for many seniors to navigate through and often frustrating. On a daily basis we
monitored the various vaccination sites and the availability of vaccine locally where we could
schedule our seniors. Many people were grateful for our efforts and sent notes to express their

appreciation. Lisa is working with LLHD to arrange for in-home vaccination for the homebound
population in Waterford.
Transportation resumed on September 1, 2021. Since that time we have given 1254 rides, most
round trip, to 79 different seniors for medical appointments, errands and shopping. We
provided transportation on two Sundays to vaccine appointments at a LLHD clinic in Waterford
on 2/28/21 and 3/28/21. On 4/15/21 we began increasing the number of people we have on the
van from two to three riders. Recently we had a two driver day so we could accommodate
everyone needing a ride. Still, at this time, we mostly have one driver each day. We anticipate
that when the center opens we will need two drivers each day. We continue to encourage those
needing rides outside of our time frames and territory to use the ECTC medical rides. Many
times we assist in scheduling these rides as well.
Meals on Wheels continues to provide nutritious meals to over 40 homebound seniors. At the
time of this report information on the number of meals distributed is not available. Many seniors
are also taking advantage of meals and pantry supplies provided by the town food locker.
WYFSB reaches out to seniors in the various housing complexes to ask if they want a delivery of
pantry items and often a “special” meal provided by one of the town restaurants. Some seniors
have expressed that they have too much and have asked to be removed from these deliveries,
Budget:
We have spent 61% of the budget
e Clerical line has used 56% of their line
e Instructor line has used 25%
e Program line has used 11%
It should be noted that we have done many events and activities which did not require us to
spend money. We have successfully coached many of the seniors on the use of zoom and have
hosted activities on this platform. Although this has been successful, most seniors are anxious to
return to the center for in person socialization, learning & exercising.
Activities & Programs:
e We received a $2500 grant from the State Unit on Aging which enabled us to be
reimbursed for COVID related expenses. We are in the process of completing the final
step of submitting our invoices and being fully reimbursed for many items which will be
used for years to come.
e We continue to receive and make “check-in” calls to our homebound and at risk seniors.
e Vaccine appointment scheduling has slowed down. There are still a few folks “on the
fence” about getting the vaccine.
e The state has extended the CEAP Energy program for 2020-2021. Fuel delivery
authorizations have been extended to May 20, 2021 and the last day to apply for Energy
Assistance is June 15, 2021.

e We are happy to report that we have 86 people ZOOMING into our programs and
exercise classes! We hope to be returning a bit of revenue coming from our exercise
classes. Stay tuned!
e Some programs and classes will be offered on site, starting in June!
e We will be starting to offer Hybrid exercise classes starting July 1, 2021. Students will
be able to choose if they wish to do in person class or remain on the ZOOM platform.
¢ Our Movement and Dance class will soon hit a milestone of completing 100 classes on
ZOOM}!
e Beginning to take Renter Rebate applications
* Bi-monthly newsletters continue to provide information to over 800 seniors/households
Classes and Activities
e “Chatty Kathy” — Wednesdays at llam
e 4/28/21 - ZOOM Bingo
e Brain Flex with Lisa ~ Thursdays at 1lam
¢ M&W @9:30 Strength Training - ZOOM
« M&W ilam Yoga —- ZOOM
e T & TH 10am Movement & Dance - ZOOM
e May 7" @ lpm Guided Imagery (8 weeks) - ZOOM
e Nurse Judy returns for blood pressure clinics!!!!_ Wednesdays @ 11am (Wellness clinic
last Wednesday of each month 10 -12pm
e May 12 & 26—ZOOM Bingos
« May 18" - Pet Savvy Citizens -ZOOM
¢ May 19th Drive — in Luncheon celebrating Older Americans Month
e June 9 & June 30 ~ Welcome back BINGO (Hybrid)
e June 23 — Strawberry Social
e July 1 new summer sessions — 8 Hybrid classes being offered!
TRIPS
Day Trip — October 5 Van Gogh Immersive Experience, Boston
Overnight Trips
British Landscapes - March 27, 2022 ~ April 5, 2022
Cruise through Alaska - August 26 — Sept 2, 2022