Re: Opening and Welcome

Chair Gonzales called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m.  

Re: Approval of Minutes

Chair Gonzales asked if there were any corrections, additions or deletions to the January minutes.  None were noted and the minutes were approved as written.

Re: Club Reports  

Audrey Beck, reporting for Young In Heart, said their February meeting, running concurrently with the Commission meeting, would be a special program to celebrate Montgomery County Heritage. She said that Phyllis Anderson would be giving a special reading in celebration of Black History Month and Dr. Edward Stonestreet would discuss some interesting things about his practice in Rockville.  Audrey went on to say that the club would encourage its members to prepare CARE packages for a U.S. hospital in Mosol and that members would be told that their Closet Clutter Sale raised more than $700 for the treasury.  In closing, she mentioned that the unsold items were donated to the Senior Center Thrift Shop.

Doug Bly, who has submitted his report for Bethany House prior to the meeting, noted  their February meeting had been held on the 4th.  Thirty-five members attended with one new
Senior Citizens Commission member. The Treasurer reported $1,333.49 in the club account and it was noted that there would be a bake sale on the 23rd.  Doug said the club is preparing for a trip to see the cherry blossoms with the Triple F Club and that the program for the February meeting was entitled “Two For the Show”.

Stuart Crump, reporting for the Willing 3 C’s advised their meeting was held February 16th with seventeen members and three guests in attendance.  The Treasurer reported $1,0951.96 in the treasury.  Stuart advised there were the usual brief reports followed by a potluck lunch.  He said the program was a talk on the history of the Montgomery County Black School System, given by Nina Clarke.                 

Pete Sante, reporting for the Triple F Club, said twenty-two members had attended their last regular meeting on February 11th.  He noted that the Treasurer reported $3,749.86 in the club account.  The program centered on Valentines Day and there were discussions on upcoming trips including one to see the cherry blossoms on April 7th.  Pete said that a pianist entertained the group and Karen Lumpkin handed out thank you gifts to the newly re-elected officers. In closing, Pete mentioned that he had spoken briefly on ‘historic districts’ and the benefits and regulations involved in having a property declared historic.

Katherine Foti, reporting on her Health Care Advocacy program, said she had made several inquiries with numerous resources and found some assistance, but in general, most company representatives would not release any information listing the specific services they provide, but would only answer in the affirmative or negative if someone in need was inquiring about one particular service.  She went on to say that the greatest need seemed to be for those seniors whose income was slightly above the poverty level, those who could not qualify for low-income assistance.

Re:  Montgomery County Commission on Aging

No report.

Re  R.S.I.

Pete Sante said he had attended the R.S.I. meeting February 19th.  He said they had worked on revising their charter to make necessary corrections in grammar and punctuation, etc.  He said they also talked about the upcoming Bazaar and the new food regulations regarding gift baskets and the food that was sold to visitors during the event  He went on to note that there was a lengthy financial report and there were discussions on the 2008 elections of officers and appointments to the Board. 

Re:   U.S.M.

Ciriaco said he had attended the last, long, meeting held February 14th. He said testimony had been presented to the Maryland House of Representatives on several bills U.S.M. is supporting:

HB 37 – Medicare Part D – Tax Assistance Act – to close the ‘donut hole’ in Medicare for the many who have been affected by the current Federal regulations.

HB 79 – proposing an increase in the state income tax deduction from $1000 to $3200 for those who are at least 65 and/or blind

HB 792 – Requiring the Dept of Housing and Community Development to adopt as a modification of the standards a minimum standard for visibility in the design and construction of newly constructed single-family dwellings

HB 1343 – An income tax credit & modification for long-term care insurance policy holders to allow a deduction for premiums annually and not just as a one-time deduction.

HB 517 – An income tax personal exemption to allow for inflation

HB 122 – An income tax subtraction modification on retirement income

HB 736 – A property tax credit for individuals at least 65 years of age and

HB 377 – A solar energy tax incentive, currently allowing a $2000 credit, to allow for grants that would offer financial assistance to help cover the costs of having solar energy installed in residential properties.

Ciriaco encouraged the Commissioners to do some research on the above and either telephone or e-mail their delegates to make their wishes known regarding the support or non-support on any of the bills:

Luiz Simmons – 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3037 or luiz.simmons@house.state.md.us 

James Gilchrist – 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3744 or jim.gilchrist@house.state.md.us 

Kumar Barve – 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3464 or kumar.barve@house.state.md.us 

Re:  Chair Report

None.

Re: Old Business

No report.

Re: New Business

Pete said he had brought up the subject of a lifetime membership during the R.S.I. meeting.  He had proposed, and submitted a draft of a fee schedule that would allow a discount for the one-time purchase of either a Senior Center Membership alone or in combination with the Fitness Room Membership fee, to be known as a Lifetime Membership.  It was noted that this would ultimately be an R.S.I. decision but Pete said he would continue to work on it for submission to the Board.

Re: Staff Report

Lorraine said she continues to work on the Homestead Credit proposal with the city Finance Dept. 

She mentioned that her request for an Aging in Place Coordinator had been denied but that the other position, that of a Mental Health Coordinator, has been submitted as a grant.                       

She also noted that the Federal Tax Rebate would not be automatically mailed to everyone.  For those who do not normally file a return – specifically those whose income is not sufficient to warrant the need to file, would have to file a return for 2007 in order to get the rebate. Lorraine said the volunteers who come to the Center on Mondays during February, March and April to prepare income tax returns have also volunteered to come on Tuesdays, during the month of March, to prepare returns for those who otherwise would not need to do so.
She said flyers have been prepared and will be going out with the March newsletters to alert Center members to this program.

Lorraine also said there would be a Health Care Advocacy program on June 4th, sponsored by GROWS, to be held at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre.  The program will be entitled “How to be a Health Care Advocate” and anyone interested would be welcome to attend. 

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 11:35 a.m.