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Senior Citizens Commission
Rockville Senior Center
1150 Carnation Drive
April 21, 2005 Meeting Minutes
Members Present: Richard Ahlberg, Stuart Crump, Ciriaco Gonzales, Marty Roney, Peter Sante, Jonathan Triandafilou
Absent: Audrey Beck, Constance Farrell, Nancy McIntyre
Staff: Lorraine Schack
Re: Opening and Welcome
Commission Chair Ciriaco Gonzales called the meeting to order at 10:10 a.m.
Re: Approval of Minutes
Chair Gonzales asked if there were any additions, deletions or corrections to March’s minutes. There being none, the minutes were approved as written.
Re: Club Reports
Audrey Beck, although not present, submitted her report for the Young-In-Heart Club. She advised that their next meeting will be held April 21st and Anna Skopec has been scheduled to review her book “My Life in Two Continents”. The club also plans to write notes to the veterans at the VA Hospital. The club will hold their officer installation dinner at Altland House Country Inn & Tavern in Abbottstown, Pa. on May 19th and she and Connie Farrell both plan to attend.
Audrey also submitted a report on the County Commission on Aging meeting that was held March 24th. Elizabeth Boehner, Executive Director, gave an overview of the budget that she will present to the County Council to include requests for money for respite care, a senior employment specialist, police personnel to locate missing Alzheimer’s patients, a new social worker position for after hours at the Crisis Center, the elimination of the 50 cent fare to ride to area senior centers, a new coordinator for the Schweinhaut Center and advertising for public information activities in the Senior Beacon and Gazette newspapers.
Stu Crump, reporting for the Willing 3 C’s, said their last meeting had been March 19th. Following the secretary and treasurer reports there were comments from the Senior Center liaison and Senior Commissioner, Stuart. The club members discussed their trip to the Afro-American Museum scheduled for April 16th that will be followed by lunch at the Old Country Buffet in Gaithersburg. In closing, Stuart said the club meeting ended with Bingo and refreshments.
Richard Ahlberg, reporting for Bethany House, said their last meeting was held April 4th with 27 members in attendance. Richard noted the treasurer reported a balance of $2,949.47 in their account and members appointed a three-person nominating committee to present a slate of officers. He added that Karen Lumpkin presented items of interest on Center activities and he reported on the activities of the Senior Commission. In closing, Richard said Art Farina, Club President, gave an informative talk on elevator and escalator safety.
Marty Roney, reporting for R.S.I., said Anne Robbins, City Council member, attended the April 19th meeting and spoke on the new rental units at Twinbrook. Marty said the Center has chosen to honor the Bridge Club as their corporate sponsor this year for the $66,327 (to date) annual fee paid for use of the building. Marty reminded everyone that the R.S.I. elections will be held next month with seven members to be voted in and three members appointed. In closing, Marty also reminded everyone of the upcoming Multi-lingual Health Fair to be held at the Center on Saturday, May 7th.
Pete Sante, reporting for the Triple F Club, said their meeting had been held April 11th, a regular meeting with entertainment.
Re: Commission on Aging
Ciriaco noted that he had attended their last meeting (March 24th) and had presented information on housing that included the fact that 86% of seniors who own their homes are in good health, pay taxes and do vote in local and national elections.
Re: U.S.M. Report
Ciriaco said he had not attended the last meeting but had attended the one in April. Ciriaco said that upon his recommendation, U.S.M. has decided to do away with the rally in downtown Washington D.C. and concentrate on talking with representatives who have not been convinced that the privatization of Social Security is not a good idea. He went on to say that the Department on Aging budget has in part been reinstated but does not include funding for Senior Recreation Center funding. More details on the budget will be available next month.
Ciriaco said U.S.M. members have decided to take a proactive rather than a reactive approach this year and will meet in July and September to develop bills for submission to the state’s legislature that are in favor of those issues that have been supported by the U.S.M.
Re: Chair Report
Ciriaco mentioned that he and Lorraine attended the Rockville Housing Enterprises Conference last Saturday, April 16th. It was noted that Ed Duffy, the City Manager, the Police Chief and Acting Head of Finance were also there. The County Housing Opportunities Commission representative was there with information and brochures and Sharon Wilson Geno, Reno and Cavanaugh, PLLC, presented her “Report from the Federal Perspective” that says the need for housing for low income households has never been greater while appropriations for federal programs has never been in more danger.
Re: Old Business
Pete Sante said he had been over and over the booklets and materials that he had collected on the subject of reverse mortgages and had concluded that there is no clear cut advice for any one household considering the plan. He went on to note that the only good advice he could give someone would be to read all of the material before making a decision and to remember to consider the $10,000 closing fees, the continued maintenance and upkeep of the home as well as the taxes that must be paid each year.
Lorraine reminded the Commissioners of the upcoming Health Fair noting that Pete had been the only one so far to offer ideas on the Commission display. It was suggested that the display be limited to just a few items of interest, as attendees would not have a lot of time to visit any one area of the fair. Pete suggested that the Commission offer to combine their efforts with R.S.I. however, since the two groups had different missions, a combined effort may not work well. Marty Roney suggested and moved that the Commission display concentrate on the key items they had been working on this past year to include housing, the candidate’s forum, transportation and the legislative rally. During the discussion, it was suggested that their display be titled “Your Link to the Mayor and Council” and Jonathan offered the services of his brother-in-law, who owns a sign shop, in making the display. All voted aye on the motion. A committee of three, Ciriaco, Jonathan and Pete, volunteered to develop the design and content of the posters for the Commission table at the Health Fair. Members will be at the table to answer questions.
Re: New Business
Ciriaco said he was interested in attending the Conference of Affordable Housing scheduled to be held at the Marriott Conference Center in N. Bethesda on May 2nd.
During the discussion it was decided that Ciriaco and Marty would attend and a portion of the Commission budget would be used to pay the registration fee.
Pete said he had recently e-mailed Jennie Forehand and had received a reply that included information on “Advance Directives”. Pete noted that everyone should have a completed form and Lorraine mentioned that copies of the directives could be obtained from the front office of the Center. It was also suggested that forms be available for those attending the Health Fair.
Re: Staff Report
Lorraine said she will speak with Tom Lowery, who has recently retired from Manna, about working with the Commission and the City to put together the ‘handyman’ program. She said he seemed interested in learning more about the concept.
Lorraine reminded everyone that the appointment of the Commission liaison to R.S.I. would need to be voted on next month. She also mentioned that she had recently been involved in interviews for the site manager position for the dining room. She went on to note that there would be someone coming in next week to try the job on a trial basis.
Lorraine said that as of last month, the Lincoln Park Community Center has been hosting the Evergreen programs from CCACC, including the Chinese lunch. She added that she hated to lose the Friday lunch and was hoping to find another sponsor for the program.
She also said that the citizenship classes are in jeopardy, as state funding has not yet been appropriated.
Lorraine noted that there would be a fundraiser at Hometown Holidays this year to benefit the Senior Assistance Fund. She said she will be purchasing flowers (wholesale) to be sold on Sunday (May 29th) and was looking for volunteers to man the booth / tent as all city personnel will be working other areas.
She also mentioned that the family of Bertha Reynolds had recently purchased an antique fire truck and had offered to loan it to the Center to use in the Memorial Day Parade. Would any of the Commissioners be interested in riding on the fire truck ‘float’? Those who might be interested need to notify Lorraine as soon as possible.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 11:50 a.m.