Re: Opening and Welcome Acting Chair Pete Sante called the meeting to order at 10:02 a.m.
Re: Approval of Minutes Acting Chair Sante asked if there were any additions, deletions or corrections to August’s minutes. There were none and the minutes were approved as written.
Re: Club Reports Audrey Beck, reporting for the Young In Heart, said their first meeting of the club year would be starting at the same time as the Senior Commission meeting. She advised that ‘friendship’ will be the theme as they begin the year. Following the business meeting there will be a social meet and greet for members. Prizes will be given for the most notable tales of summer happenings with a luncheon to follow. Steve Lipson advised he had no report. Pete Sante, reporting for the Triple F Club also had their first meeting of this club year and that he spoke to the members briefly about the ESOL grant, the FORS & STARS programs and the Home Maintenance position. He went on to note that the club would be joining the Young In Heart members in November for their Thanksgiving luncheon at the Golden Bull restaurant in Gaithersburg. In closing Pete said 27 members attended the meeting with the Treasurer reporting approximately $4,000 in the checking account. Stu Crump, reporting for the Willing 3 C’s, said their first meeting of this club year would be held on the 21st
Doug Bly, reporting for Bethany House, said 33 members attended their meeting with 10 new members. The Treasurer reported $1,953.44 in the account and the business meeting was followed by ‘vintage’ entertainment. He went on to say the he had asked the attendees, while updating them on the Commission’s F.O.R.S. program, what they considered ‘senior friendly’ when dealing with local companies and businesses. Overwhelmingly the response was the staff, followed by special services for seniors, special prices for seniors and special events for seniors. Doug said they would also like to see senior waiting areas with benches so they could wait for their transportation in comfort.
Re: Montgomery County Commission on Aging No report
Re: R.S.I. Pete Sante said he had attended the last R.S.I. meeting held on Tuesday, September 16th. He said the Chair had received a written resignation from the Recording Secretary, Vivian Dupuy and that the vacancy would need to be filled. The membership voted to recruit someone new to join the Board and accept that position. He went on to say that Karen Lumpkin had provided samples of lanyard and name badges that the Board had said they would like to see worn by the staff and volunteers. Pete also spoke briefly about the community shred the Board has been working on as a fundraiser noting that the prices have increased significantly so their partners were working on getting the fee reduced or finding a new company to work with. He also spoke briefly on the other fundraising ideas that were discussed that included a Senior Center sponsored community flea market, grocery certificates, a program with Verizon concerning the new FIOS program, reacquiring a Duplicate Bridge group and a silent auction at the Bazaar. In closing Pete said that George Galasso had received word of a bequest that had been made to the Senior Center by an unknown person in his will. He had written the attorney of record and had been notified that the gentleman’s collection of LP’s, CD’s and tapes had been left to the Senior Center. Re: U.S.M. No report.
Re: Chair Report No report.
Re: Old Business Katherine Foti said she wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for the support on the S.T.A.R.S. program that will have their first meeting September 23rd. Steve Lipson, reporting on the F.O.R.S. program said he and his committee have been working on the criteria and was continuing to do research on the Internet. As an example he provided information from a community in Minnesota where it had been determined that a project of this nature had easily become a far-reaching, monumental task. During the discussions the Commission decided that for now, they needed to start small and let the program grow as needed. Ann Wallas, Planner with Community Planning & Development, began her presentation by handing out copies of the City of Rockville Comprehensive Master Plan dated Nov. 12, 2002 and an explanation that all jurisdictions in Maryland with a 66B status are mandated to review their Master Plan once every 6 years. She went on to say that city staff have been performing an audit to determine how current / relevant the 2002 plan is now that we are in 2008. Her division has been asking all city Boards and Commissions if they would be interested in reviewing the information as they have also been doing public outreach asking the public for their input. What her division wants to know now is whether or not the plan should be revised and if so, by how much. Ms. Wallas noted that we are only 1½ years away from a national census which would prove to be a valuable tool in any major revision of the city’s Master Plan. As it stands now, the city may do a technical update for the short term in preparation for the receipt of the census data. Ms. Wallas went on to say that there are many counties and municipalities in Maryland that are ahead of state requirements because need has required some areas to continually update and upgrade services and infrastructure. Ms. Wallas said the Commission was welcome to respond as a whole or the members could respond individually, or both. As Ms. Wallas went through the plan and explained how the 2002 plan prepared and laid out, explained that the Master Plan is the city’s vision / dream for the future. She explained the relationship between the Master Plan and zoning which deals with the regulations / law for implementing the vision. While the Master Plan is reviewed once every 6 years the zoning laws are being reviewed constantly. She went on to explain how Chapter 10 held a discussion on housing as she knew this was of interest to the Senior Commission and their work on senior friendly and affordable housing. She also explained that there is a timeframe for these reviews, that city staff is to have their recommendations to the Mayor and Council by January so she is requesting that the Boards and Commissions have their comments to staff by Thanksgiving. In closing Ms Wallas said she is scheduled to come back to the Commission in November if they wanted her to return with an update. All the Commissioners indicated they would like to have her return.
Re: New Business Norene Stovall said she has been working on marketing and had a suggestion for the Newsletter. Norene said she has heard comments recently by several seniors, both members and non-members about why some seniors choose not to use the amenities that the Senior Center affords them. She would like to see information each month in the Newsletter that highlights all the new programs and changes whether that is with programs, the facility or with staff in an effort to appeal to those who have not been coming for one reason or another in the hopes that some of the changes that have been made would now peak their interest. The Commissioners also entered into a brief discussion about a suggestion box when it was noted that there is one at the front desk. Several Commissioners indicated they had no knowledge of one so it was suggested that the box be placed in a more prominent spot, painted a bright color and outfitted with pens and paper.
Re: Staff Report Lorraine said the Senior Center Manager position posting is now closed and that the city has received many applications. She said the city will be reviewing the applications and scheduling interviews. Lorraine also said that Melissa’s position has been changed in title and duties and is currently being advertised. Audrey Beck said she would like to mention that on Saturday, from 9 am to 1 pm, in the Juror’s parking lot along with the Farmer’s market, several health care providers would be available to pass out materials and answer questions. With there being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 11:50 p.m.
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