Prior to the start of the meeting, there was a discussion with Mark Barrick regarding the Home Maintenance position. Commissioners shared their views regarding the importance of the job and their visions of how it began and how it should evolve. The discussion included safety and security and what steps to take to develop trust with the senior population of Rockville.
 
Re:    Opening and Welcome

Chair Gonzales called the meeting to order at 10:45 a.m.                                                               

Re:    Approval of Minutes

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

Re:    Club Reports        

Doug Bly, reporting for the Bethany House Club, said their meeting had been postponed so he had no report. 

Pete Sante, reporting for the FFF Club, said there had been a discussion of upcoming trips but that there had been so special business discussed.

Stuart Crump, reporting for the Willing 3 C’s said there had been no special business discussed and that their next meeting would be a ‘no bake’ bake sale.                                                                                                     

Audrey Beck, on behalf of the Young in Heart Club said there would be a special St. Patrick’s Day program with pianist Joe Morra. She added that there would be a St. Patrick’s Day lunch menu that included Irish Stew.  Audrey also noted the club is collecting ‘Beanie Baby’ type stuffed animals to support a mailbox project for Children’s Inn at N.I.H.

The Commissioners had a discussion about the frequency of their attendance at the respective Senior Club meetings and how to get the word out further in to the community regarding the mission of the Commission and the promotion of senior programs and services.

Re        R.S.I.

Pete Sante, reporting for R.S.I. , advised that the shredding fundraiser event did occur on March 14 with approximately 55 in attendance.  Pete noted that R.S.I. realized $365 in donations. He also said the FIOS program is continuing, as the fundraisers will help to pay for furnishings and equipment for the Senior Center update.  Pete said the Board had noted a drop in Senior Center memberships and there had been a discussion of why they thought this had occurred, noting that a large number of ‘free’ memberships had been given out during the 25th anniversary celebration that had not been renewed. It was also noted that Bingo was in need of new equipment. In closing, Pete said there would be a membership meeting on March 26th for all seniors.

Re:         U.S.M.

No report.

Re:    Old Business

Doug Bly passed around copies of the feasibility study for the expansion. The committee had discussed which alternative was better. There had also been talk on additional parking and traffic with the Task Force recommending the approval of the option with Carnation Drive as the only entrance to the facility. The Gude Drive entrance was deemed too expensive and would not solve the problem of increasing parking spaces.  The City Council will decide on when and if to go with the expansion.  He indicated that the taskforce found that the Center is out of code regulations as to the number of spaces but that the new zoning regulations are more flexible. Also, if people come by bus there would be no need for more spaces.

Doug said that at the next Commission meeting members of the Maryland National Capital Building Industry Association (Diane Swenson and/or Raquel Montenegro) would speak about accessibility in one’s own home

Re:    New Business

Re:    Staff Report

Lorraine reminded the Commissioners that the annual Health Fair would be held on Wednesday, May 27 and asked if the Commission would like to host a table as they had in prior years.  Audrey and Pete volunteered to staff the table.

The new caterer for the daily nutrition program is doing extremely well and the number of participants has increased.

As introduced, Mark Barrick, the Aging in Place Home Maintenance Coordinator began work on March 9 and will be meeting with seniors and community groups to discuss his role in Senior Services.

Staff is working on organizing a fundraising activity for the Senior Assistance Fund.  At this time we are considering an evening event with wine tasting and entertainment to be held at an off-site location.  The event will be open to adults of all ages.  More information will be forthcoming and there will be opportunities to volunteer to help out.

With no further business to discuss the meeting was adjourned at 11:45 am.