I am going to call to order the Todd Vand over board and special meeting Friday, October 24th, 124. and our first order of business is the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance
to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Okay. this special meeting has been called this to sit there and get an understanding of community center and staffing issues. So first item two is public. So Julia, how would you like to start? getting you getting coffee.
Is he getting coffee?
No.
Good.
well, I've been a regular here since it opened. I don't attend all the events because they're not always my personal interest, but I do enjoy immensely the ones that have been my favorites. One of which is cherry yoga and the others I've done some of the craft ones too. Before the senior center opened, I kind of had no hope it was ever going to happen.
So I had been going regularly to Bolton and Vernon. Vernon is 25 years old. They built their senior center when it ran around the first time to be voted on. Got totally voted down here back when Jean Gasper was involved and other people that names you remember were still alive. And so I decided that now I really was a senior and so I was going to go to these other towns. For $15 you get a lifetime membership and they do fantastic variety of things. Many of which are now on the roster here which is nice. I went to a chair yoga class for two or three years in Bolton
and I've been I was going to half the time I go to Bolton, the other half I go to Vernon. Vernon had speakers. they were both quite a bit the physical plant was a lot bigger than this and they had an auditorium and they had people come and talk to seniors about how to save money on their electric bill. they'd have authors come with the books they written about some adventure in their lives or their famil family's lives and they would talk about the book and you could buy it if you wanted to. There was a nice variety of events. the they used their auditorium like we use this room and they'd have u performers come that would sing and he just have a sing songfest was very very enjoyable. So, I just kept going. But I was delighted when this facility got up and running. And I am not I keep saying I should go back to Bolton for one or two things, you know, but I never get get there because this
keeps growing in the ability to pull me here and why not? It's my hometown and the activities and the variety that's offered, the speakers have been very good. And I love the chair yoga class. That's one of my favorites. Tina and I come twice a week once to cherog and the other to strength was strong and steady. And another interesting aspect of this that I learned fairly recently. I have United Healthc Care for my insurance and they give me credit for coming to chair yoga and any kind of exercise class at my age. And not only that, they see a value in the social interaction and they here's another benefit to getting that you can get from them from just attending events at a
senior center and they they put it out on a regular basis and I do that. So I qualify for two little.
That means you can donate more to the senior center.
Perfect. Julia, thank you for your question. I appreciate it.
All right.
does anybody have any other questions?
I have a question.
Well, who's that?
Okay. Is that okay for me to ask?
Well, I'm trying to do public speak, so I'm trying to go this way. She was just up first.
Julie, you good?
it's just public speech.
Okay. You can you can ask me that way.
You can talk.
I think that Joe does.
I'm all set. You're all good, Bill. first like to say this is, you know, I've already mentioned some of the history with Vernon and having to go other places for this and I think this is a great this center is a great asset for the community. I have had haven't had the opportunity to take classes or things like that, but as a member of the Greater Hartford Foundation, the Andover Committee, we did have an event here. So, this is great for things like that for events. So, so I'm here to to learn more about about the facility and going forward in the operations. And right now I cycle a lot so I will come here to do things but at some point I'll be coming and attending the chair with you Julie and
thank you all and I leave early. It's due to a lack of interest or maybe in the deep for a rail trail ride so that's why I'll be leaving early.
Colleaga.
There you go. Thank you.
Well I'm a new in town. I only moved here a couple of years ago and I wasn't able to attend anything because I was taking care of my husband who was sick. The last year I started to attend the meetings and come and became more and more involved. It just great I think for the retired people to meet each other to even chat for a few minutes on the bus. It's it's I think it's quite big.
I love all the arrangements here or the programs. I do yoga. I love it. I play do those and
killer do I play with I just learned it. She wins all the time.
All the programs the program with the kids traveling time and the previous ones it just It brings me closer and lets me know the town more than I have in India.
So I love it.
Thank you.
I I don't know.
Kathy,
thank you.
Yeah, I'm Kathy Campin and I am a former employee of Andover Public Library. So the budgeting in Andover pretty much paid for my job. But what I'd like to address because I also agree with everyone that said everything here and have been able to attend programs and will continue to support and attend programs. But I would like you to look at the budgeting part of this because when you put together an idea of having a facility like this that combines the senior community with the community in general, not only do you have to worry about I'm sure what Eric went through going down the whole list of this is what I need for building, this is when it's going to happen, this is the space I need, and last of all, How do I fund this adequately so it can operate? Because otherwise you're giving us a gift and saying don't open that.
Yeah.
Because we can't afford to give you what's inside the package. Now, when I was working at the library, I had a set number of hours. And what happens cuz I'm a really nice person is I couldn't get it done within those hours. So what did I do? Who knows? What did I do?
Volunteered.
I stayed and worked
for free. I have an education, a degree in children's education, K through 12. I was not being paid at that level. I was being paid at the level somebody walked in at the street. But what did I do? I made programs of art and interest that involved children, that involved adults. In fact, if I hadn't been doing that, we would not have the lower level of the library to use because I was grandfathered in because I brought a chair from home and a rug and a lamp and proved that it had been an active space. and I wanted that to continue. So, my my assessment of what's happening here is the same thing as what happened to me. And I want to prevent the fact that we have people that are going to have to volunteer their time, which equates to
money, but might not equate to their education and their experience. Therefore, we might not be able to have them. And that package would have the wrapping open just a little bit so we could see what's there. The programs that could happen here won't happen. They will not have the time to research what's out there, who's available, when can we have it, coordinate the calendar and the money, whatever budget they have. So, what I want you to think of is
you know, you you allow your kid to have a license, right?
But then you give them the car keys
and no money for gas.
So, that sits there and we look at it as what it could be, but we need to give the town has to give our employees in this facility gas money to go forward. Thank you. Very good.
Can I get your name?
Ruth.
And Ruth is here as one of the program
visitors. Yeah. So she comes and we would not have met had that been.
so and we also have other out of town people that come because it's a senior center opening.
Ruth, you're providing gas money. Well, we're hoping that the town provides that gas. It's
all right. Volunteers can provide gas. Kim,
you're up. Can I speak public speak?
you can say no. I'd be okay with that.
Okay. No, I think that the community center is on track. you have wonderful staff, wonderful volunteers, but I think it needs more town support. I know if if we get more people involved, we get the word out there, I I think we can go pretty far with this.
Okay, Liz.
I don't really have anything to say at this point. I pass it off,
Diane.
Okay. I agree with everything everybody said. Again, it's a beautiful building. The staff is wonderful. Programming is coming along delightfully. And I I applaud everybody that has a hand in making this what it is today. and we're looking forward to the future growth. And while I'm at it, I'd also like to thank Elaine Bukard for videotaping these meetings, all the meetings that she does. I think that's a it's a wonderful thing and I don't think you get enough appreciation. So, thank you Ela for giving her a chance to speak.
Oh, Kathy.
okay, I will speak. First, I want to say that Kathy Camden, I've known her for many years and she helped she helped on Wednesdays to bring up my great my grandson. He is now 22. So, that's how long I've known her before then, but that's how long I've really known Kathy and she's done a superb job. I felt really bad when she left the library. But getting up to this wonderful building, Mike and I were part of the original building committee and I think that everyone that was on the committee know Scott Pson on was on the committee. and I know how hard he worked to get a great building for you. coming to the staff my, you know, everybody has a vision. So my vision way back when I was a senior coordinator and the head of transportation and prior to that the municipal agent and prior to that a register of voters. So
wait wait wait all volunteer right
all volunteer.
Correct. Well no no no register voter. No
no
remember you get paid for register vote.
You didn't mention register of voters until just then all those other things volunteer. Right.
Right. Right.
Thank you. That's You're welcome here.
Big volunteer.
That's not what I That's not the point I'm trying to make. I'm trying to make the point that at my vision was I thought we should have a person that was transportation person. And guess what? You gave me one. We have Linda. She's great. She's doing a really good job for you. Then you said, "Okay, for the what are we going to have for the building?" My dream or my vision was we should have a a an instructor whatever you named or called her. that person should handle all the okay like exercise programs I think have haircut programs quilting programs all the programs that you have trips that you have you're going to take people on that I visualize as being a person and then because I know the town wants part-time employment that's why I see three people if you're doing full-time perhaps you can do the lastly and most important actually is an administrator you have to have an administrator handle everything that person when I say everything would take care of getting grants for the building right now I I see from using transportation which I desperately need
now I see that we really need to replace our van. And I and this is a 2014. I see also we need to replace our or add to our bus because the bus is a 2017. It's time to update. we right now have the opportunity to get more grants for those two positions, for those two vehicles. And I see your third person as being your administrative person who will be getting your grants for you who will be supervising let's say supervising the building supervising I I guess is a good name but an administrator who would handle those physicians those projects make sure that everything that other the other people are doing their job there has to be a person like that there has to be someone in charge And and that's the way I see it. And I'm not saying names. I'm just saying people. I did say Linda because she's doing a great job right now. And I think Haley's doing a super job. I think that Tessa is doing a good job. but I
think that to say to any one person now, I want you to do all those jobs, but I want you to take part-time job pay. That's so unrealistic. I can't even tell you.
So that's that's my thought.
Okay.
My vision. delay.
yeah. I
like to get off.
No. as chairman of the commission on aging, as you know, I am all for everything that we do here and everything we can do and look forward to the future that things bigger, better, more community stuff because that's, you know, we concentrated on the seniors and now we're concentrating on the senior and community and then some of just community we need to add to this whole mix. But I, you know, certainly, you know, you have a good amount of staffing right now. and I would hope that you would have a full-time, a part-time, and a part-time.
Thanks.
All right. Thank you. Did I miss anybody?
Okay. so item three is discussion and act on personal staffing levels in the community center. That's really not the truth of a discussion just so you understand. The discussion is really more and and I'm speaking to Tess and Haley mostly how how we understand your roles, how we understand the programs you're doing, how we start to as a board interact more with you and then obviously everyone is telling us about the financial issue. We all are aware of the financial issue. It's something that that we as a board have to address as to how we handle that moving forward. but this is more of an interactive meeting as to what you guys are up to, how you're breaking up your roles because, you know, and I'll tell you from my perspective as being here is it's a new building.
I mean, Eric, when did you open it up? About a year ago.
August of last year.
August. We're on month 14 now, right?
Correct. you know, I'll go back to Kathy. You know, at the present, you got to open the box and you got to see what's inside the box. Well, you have to open a new building with no infrastructure, with no standard operating procedures, with very limited amounts of information as to what programs should be run, shouldn't be run. You've got to have patience. All right? So, first thing is patience. But we as a group, as a board need to understand what's going on, how the two of you are interacting, and then we've got to come to an understanding as a board as to how to fund this because I will tell all of you and Kathle, it's not easy. It's there's certain things that have to be evaluated. We have to sit there and and identify where we can get resources to support this in
that this manner. And this is where I would tell you guys and in front of a public audience, we need to find ways to generate additional funding, whether they're grants or whether they're programs that that that the community is willing to pay for. And that those are things that we as a group all need to do. And then I will tell you all on one thing. This other thing we will never have enough money as a community in my head to put the total number of people that I would like to see in this building as employees. So we all need to volunteer. So what Kathy did all those years is what we all have to do. Now we just have a place to do it. So before Kathy was doing all this volunteer work in my mind
and she was doing it at the old town hall. She was doing it in the community room. This is a much better building, which much better. I mean, I love your artwork on the wall. I I think that's great. I mean, you know, but I got to sit there because this group needs to ask questions, needs to understand what you're doing and get in there. But please, it's interactive and and I know there's a level of stress that I really don't want here.
I mean, please, please, no stress. I mean, come on. This is something that we as a group have to try to get past and and I'll let you guys talk.
Can I just say one thing before they start?
No.
Come on. Go ahead. I hope that they're able to let you know what they do within the time they're here, not so much within the aotted hours because that will help you formulate a picture of what you need because you have a certain amount of things you want done and if it's reasonable to have that done.
That's the last outburst I'll teasing. You ready?
Yeah. So, I'm going to hand you guys just something that we sort of put together some ideas
I feel better when I stand.
You can stand more confident.
Nah, I'm good here. roll your board over here. Get it closer to the camera and you're good.
No, I'm good. So, I just want to thank the public because without you, we wouldn't be here and I appreciate your support not only from day one but for the length of time that I was gone and and just as a warm welcome when I came back. I truly love it here and I've made some really deep conversation or deep relationships and I'm very thankful for each one that came out today. board of selectmen, you will see that first page. When I started here, I was asked for a vision and that vision hasn't changed. our passion is to be a community that connects, grows, and serves together regardless of age by fostering opportunities. number one to stay active and then there's sort of the mission of that vision of how we get there. Number two is prioritize mental health and well-being. Nourish the body through diet, cultivate social connections, and embrace lifetime learning. And so this was in the first newsletter that was produced back in December. And and that hasn't changed. Have we got there fully 100%? No. But I think that
we are well on our way to get there. And I think that I heard Julia and a couple people say that we are a work in progress and that we're growing. And so for that I'm thankful. I don't think that we should ever stop. It's a lifetime of learning and I think that this position needs to reflect that as well. On that second page, you will see senior director. and I I just want to go back a little bit before get into the roles and responsibilities. when I came here, the first person that we connected with or I connected with to do a program here was Haley and that was in part by Kathy Palazi and so that
was chair yoga and from there Haley has in is the instructor of four classes here. So, one, she is vital to this building and two, vital to the community in offering those things. so, as you can see, I'm well, as you know, I'm contracted for 26 hours a week. I don't think I've ever worked 26 hours. I think that is part of who I am is I I volunteer a lot and that has always been who I am. The heart of who I am is to volunteer and so coming here wanting to do a great job, wanting to do the job to the best of my ability. I am I I would want to invest and and I felt like I was being invested in in the beginning as well. So I had support
from the town administrator and and the seniors as well. So going through here realistically 26 to 32 hours per week. going down for the overview provides leadership coordination across senior programs, community partnerships and daily operations. I don't know how much you want me to read this. No, you don't need your
listen just talk from your heart. Once it's off, come back.
so on these the key responsibilities there is in parentheses about how many hours it does take to do that per week. the on the third page you'll find community director and approximately how many hours that would take to be that person as well. What those key responsibilities are. There is a lot of overlap in during this last month. It has been a challenge to see what has been done in the time that I was gone. how can we grow together and what does that look like between us? I'm very thankful that Haley and I had a relationship that was out of respect and transparency and that has continued since day one since I've been back. So, I'm very thankful for that. and very supportive of each other. And so almost to the point where she could probably finish my sentences. and so just the overview of who of of what that
community director might look like and some of the responsibilities as well. so this is the job description on page four of that senior director and the community director job description. I'm not sure if that was in that same order. there are some things on that last page that we would like to see happen and some things that would make our life a little bit easier to relieve ourselves a lot from time that we're taking to to complete some of those jobs. One of those is that newsletter. So, we had a lot of feedback the last meeting that was here, regarding the newsletter, and so we have made changes to that newsletter. You all have that now. I'm hoping it's a little bit easier to read. and you'll find that there's a lot more things in there, not only for September for October, but for November as well. So, we are booked in November. There's a lot going on. that first thing that newsletter that we'd like to see happen. I'd like to see a deeper a monthly meeting with the chairman to communicate so that you all know exactly what's happening here. I've seen some of you and I'm very thankful
excuse me a monthly meeting with either somebody from the board that we can communicate on a better communicate better. Please don't call me a chairman.
Sorry.
I mean I feel older than you already
chairman.
I think what would really help us is to have a software system. I know that we have we have requested that but we are we are requesting that again. a color printer. I don't know if you all know but for us to make copies we can do black and white here but for anything that is in color we have to go next door. So those newsletters, we are printing those next door, which is helpful, but on a daily day-to-day basis, even on today, we have to run next door get the key, go downstairs and and do that. So just out of convenience.
what kind of printer is that? Is it a is it just a desktop? Is it
No, that's a window. You know, we have we have service contracts on two large printers because our cost per sheet is so much lower than individual printers.
Yeah.
So, there's one upstairs and there's one downstairs. The one upstairs in the tunnel where it's just black and white.
Black and white. Correct.
So, the one single color printer
is down in the building department.
Correct.
So, a small color printer. Haley and I were actually talking this morning about a tax credit for volunteers that is getting implemented in a senior center that we're aware of and we would like to try to see how that could impact our volunteers. the sixth one is we do work collaboratively with a lot of different departments in town. park and park and I keep saying park and wreck because park and wreck is from my town so I apologize. So from the wreck commission and I think that there's a lot of overlap there and it could be a lot more but so we're asking for an exeicio member one of us to be that member on the rec commission for purpose of collaboration. and then this the seventh thing was more information about Silver Sneakers and Renew Active. And so those are things that we can provide to the community and how do we get that working. So I think overall I'm very thankful to be back looking forward to what the future has for us. I think there's been a lot of unstability in instability unstability not stable things have not been stable not only for the community but I think for the seniors as well and so what I would like to see is a settling happening something that they can count on are
is there going to be classes for them is there going to be lunchons for them and and I would like to be a part of that going forward is there anything you want to Okay. my name is Haley Cotto and I've been serving as the interim director while Tess was away and I have really enjoyed working within this beautiful building, working with you all, working with the public. since Tess has been back, we've really been able to up our ability to work even more within the community, starting the homework club and chess and checkers club. And it's been fabulous to get to know the parents on a greater level. You think I should already know them because my kids are in the elementary school, but my previous job did have me commuting to New Haven daily. So, it has really helped me get to know people in the community and I do love working here. and Tess and I got along fabulously before her departure and so coming back and we just kind of fell into the swing of it. it is a challenging circumstance but I think that you know it almost made us grow closer more quickly just because of the ch we were both with the understanding of how challenging the circumstance was. we work well together. We have our own strong suits that pair nicely. And I
think that the goal of this building, similar to the inability to unwrap a gift that's sitting in front of you, that with the two of us here, I think we have the potential to really continue to grow something, right? And that's what we want to see. We want to see more pro programs. We want to see the potential for revenue growth. and I think that's something we can really hone in on if we have a little bit more manpower than just the one director at 26 to make these things happen.
Okay. Anything else?
Yeah, I do one more thing. I do want to say we have added art classes in the evenings. So that starts in November. we do have the art gallery. This will be an art gallery once a month and that artists can come share and display their items. we will have an open house for them. and and they get to display their items all month. This particular artist is Kim D. Roger and she is going to be our art teacher, our art instructor. And so she'll not only teach the community but she will teach the seniors during the day. So and While that is not going to like this is a good example while that is particular thing is not going to be necessarily a huge revenue generator for the center. the ability to run the community version of the adult class is going to fund the ability to have this same art teacher come in and work with the seniors for a very discounted what is it the $8, right? The seniors come and take these art classes for $8, right? So, we're able to collaborate together, bringing this art class to the community and using that ability to then offer more senior programming at a very discounted rate.
So, like a class like that, how many seniors take that? Would I mean I know you're starting in November, but what do you think the the number of seniors that would take that class?
Well, the does she have a 12 person cap? So it's a 12 person cap of who how she can teach within a space like what's acceptable. However, the goal would be that if instead of having her once a month, you know, could we grow that popularity to have her in on a weekly basis, you know, could we have more offerings per week? you know, she this is the art teacher we have coming in is a mixed media artist, which means she can do oil painting, she can do watercolor, she can do collage, right? So, there's this opportunity for people to study different mediums with her
and and this just goes because I'm businessoriented.
Yeah.
is there any part of that $8 that goes to fund your budget or is it all going to the art teacher? Ideally, the revenue coming in from the adult version of the class is funding the senior art class. And so the $8 would be moving into our budget.
Okay. So, are you paying?
Are you paying the art teacher? Okay. So, that's what I'm saying. So, how much do you think you're paying the art teacher? Is it is the art teacher $6 and it's $2 for the That's all I'm after. It's just a number.
It's just like how because I look at your your free classes and I understand that's all part of the budget just like that. He's telling us we got to increase the budget to unwrap the present. But you have these other programs. you know, chair massage $32. My favorite person, Linda Derek. How much of that is Linda and how much of that is and and those are not things I need to put out now but you guys need to think about
because you need to realize that we need to we as a group as a as a as a team as a town we need to generate some funding out of the building to assist to pay for all the additional hours and the other items that you're talking about. So those things to me just go what can we do and where are we at?
So I don't need an answer today. I don't need a I'm not going to pin down because I'd sit there in my head go you might only fill six seats. You might not have any seniors that want to do art for $8 box. I don't know that. We don't know that just yet. But we all we all have things to work.
And if we can fill that community center art class we can decrease that price to our seniors or and have it free. So, correct.
so money in the budget or provide something for free.
And what other new programs do you think that you are on the horizon?
I'll I'll speak if I can speak first. I am really excited to have such a great connection with the elementary school. And what we started last year was a PAL program where the seniors would come and meet people across lifetimes. And so the there was a a book that Tammy Garheart wrote and it was all about community getting together even though we have differences. How are we alike and how can we make connections that way? So we introduced the PAL program and those were activities that seniors could do with their little buddy. They were in kindergarten. this year is going to continue and hopefully it will continue to grow every year. Not only introducing a whole new set of kindergarten kindergarteners but also the ones that can keep their buddy from last year. so that's continuing. I was introduced to another author, local author and he has written a book called Travel in Travel in Time in Connecticut. And so what we are going to do with the sixth grade class, we've already met in a sixth grade class and some of the seniors will be getting together and going on local field trips and talk about the history of Andover. In the end, we will be writing a book and so producing our own book and so the kids will bring in their research. The seniors will have interviews with the students and artwork as well. So whether the seniors and the students have artwork or whatever else they however this goes, it's very fluid at this point. but but that's something that we're really excited about. We do have connection also with Cheni Tech and hopefully Windham Tech as
well in the culinary arts having them come in maybe teach a class to either the students or the community and sort of grow on those relationships that we already have. So I'm excited about that. That's what makes me that's what makes me excited. And and seeing the the feedback from the seniors. it's it's been quite positive and the excitement from the kids. The kids want to be here. This is a club. They don't have to be. They can they can be doing anything else, but coming here and spending time with seniors is is is something that we we love.
Any of the seniors participate in that program?
The pal. Not that I know, but there have I mean I I do not.
Bye. Enjoy the ride.
Thank you.
I love your shirt.
Yes,
Julia. Julia and Kina from looking around. Kathy was was there as well. So last year I think maybe came in a couple.
I was also involved in it the first time.
Yeah. a little chaotic that first time when 21 of those kids came in. It was
just information.
I was
at the meeting where this the sixth graders came before the trap.
Yeah.
And I was so impressed
with the enthusiasm
to write a book.
Yeah. And I mentioned a few things that I had learned from people in town as I've lived here. I've been on the bounds. I've heard from stories from our historian and I mentioned a few things to them about when we bought an old house in town, how we determined it was sound because the builders came and stuck the pen on all the beams in the cellar and they didn't go in very far. So that meant they were sound ter. Yeah, no termites. But they were so interested in so many of the visible things I have heard about.
I didn't realize I was going to be so impressed with this group of sixth graders who are to write a book about history in Andover. And
well, they have a project on handover every year and it's the same information Kathy, I'm sure can tell there's only three books in the library.
So, if they can write a better book, then guess what? We don't have to do the project doesn't have to be very good at it.
It might be bored, Jerry.
And it was great too, if I could also add, it was great, too, to have one of our seniors who is 100 years old and for these students to just their shock and awe I think of just having somebody's older and and so alive and exciting to be here with them, too. It's it's a it's a mutual relationship and just a sweet bond that's happening. I I just love to see it.
Are are you two keeping track of the amount of people that come in and out of here? since we we we did prior
prior to her leaving
it was something that was being tracked. I did not
here was not enough time to collect scraps of paper respectfully and and count the names. it is time for a computer system. respectful.
Okay, we know that.
I know. I know. I just
So when I look at the
hours and then the job description. So just so we're the two of you split this out according to what your vision is as to the different positions, right? So, you're telling us 28 to 32 hours and 28 to 30 hours and then the job description offsets those. All right.
Yeah, you're happy I came, aren't you?
I just want,
you know, I have to tell you, this is a totally different meeting than I ever run. I don't let us hear people talk big audience and and you know you know Julia took so much time.
She's very good at that. It was eight minutes.
I don't I don't have any idea.
Go ahead. Yeah,
I just want to make sure it's not overlooked that when Tess told you her job things and that she's allotted 26 hours and Haley, she's allotted 19, right? When November 15th comes, unless there's some funding there, you're losing 19 hours of work.
That's why we're here.
Okay. I just want
we're trying to be here and get get an explanation of what and I'm really glad Liz is here from the board of finance because
at the tribe board meeting that was what was expressed we have two issues financially within the community from what I am one is the town administrator's position and the other is the senior center community center so we have to figure it out and so we either have to find money from other places or we have to sit there and dedicate more of our budget to right
where we're going. So, please understand that this board is really not here to sit there and and we may we're under budget constraints.
We may not be able to do everything they want, but we have to sit there and get an understanding of what it is
and then get a feel for the community. I mean, one of my things that I would come back and tell you guys, you need to do quarterly surveys
because you cannot allow, and I'll say this as nicely as I possibly can, the crankiest person to get to other members on this board and just tell them what they want. You have to have data from the rest of the community to understand how this center is performing across a larger group of people
because it is really the truth. If the squeaky wheel gets the grease
and if somebody is in someone's ear,
that's who they're hearing,
right?
And you can't allow that,
right? We can't allow that.
All right. So, I need a survey on a quarterly basis as to what you as the users of the of this facility think because
I'm not here, Barry. I don't I don't consider myself a senior. I have white hair like Diane, but I do not consider myself a senior. And and and I do work full-time, so I I still work.
So, you have to tell me. I have to see the data or the person that is claiming is going to get this.
Yeah.
All right. Go ahead.
I wholeheartedly agree and would love to be able for us to provide that. and this is just another little can we please get a program because here is feedback, but I have no real way to present it to you all in a
please get with the school
and ask the school and the technology person to develop you a a Google survey sheet. Get a a get a an iPad or some type of I mean you guys are getting good at technology, aren't you?
Seniors, I'm looking at you being better. I mean, if we got them a tablet and we asked them to take the survey on a tablet before we sit there and even get to the whole issue of soft,
that's a different issue. We got to find that money. We got to figure out how to do it
and we'll work toward it. But
okay,
you can do these things. You just have to be creative how you do it. And if you have a good relationship with the school, they have the technology. They send these things home to parents. Ask Mrs. Frasier or ask Valerie to ask Mrs. Frasier. She'll she'll work with you and maybe make it a sixth grade project because kids can do anything, right? and develop a survey that you hand the seniors a tablet and say, "Hey, please take this survey and let us know how we're doing." And then you can give the data to the board and then we can go, "Okay, there is positive feedback coming for the community." And you have to be honest. If you're not honest, we'll never get better. So, the seniors have to be honest, right? and give us the data because then I can look at it
and say okay the the users of the facility are happy with the direction the facility is going and then how do we expand it more and they will also tell us the things that they don't feel are being done properly
and we can allocate what we need to but you have to do that as a bare minimum because small towns work in strange ways And whoever is talking is the one that sits there and and gets information and then maybe not everything gets translated correctly or is in everyone's interest and that's what we asked.
How much is the tablet?
Oh, you can use any tablet, but we could get you a tablet for $100.
Eric, before he leaves can figure that out.
Great. there.
Diane,
thank thank you for patience is not one of my strong suits and I've been waiting very patiently and
well what I say that's missing here is a major part of what they're doing and that's the senior transportation
ly nobody's talked about it. I know.
Well, I can't because she's working over here and early voting,
right? But it's see you've got the administrator, you got the program, and then there's the senior transportation, which
we'll talk about.
Okay. Like I said,
thank you for bringing that up.
Okay. Thank you.
Do you have any resources to help seniors senior center get more grants? Well, that's something that we need to sit there and look at the administrator and we need to work as to how we're going at this. But that is something that we really have to do a better job of.
I can speak to a little bit about that. Kathy, you brought up a good point in having one of our transportation fleet one of our vehicles that was very old and it's time to retire that vehicle. in April, I did apply for a grant and we have yet to hear about that. So that would be replacing that van. And so
replacing the van.
Replacing the van.
And now it's time to put in for another vehicle for for the bus.
Correct. Yep. Yep. So So so yes, thank you.
I just came through yesterday.
Yep. So we are that is
you're still getting emails.
I know the people down here.
So it is it is time consuming and that is something that it was a lot for me to do. I was also doing everything here and transportation and I wrote that grant. I was exhausted and and thankfully Haley does have a little bit more experience in that. And so that's again one of those ways where we work well together. So so I'm thankful it takes it takes time. It takes time to do to do it. So yeah
well that is in the works. Is there more than one place to apply for grants for the vehicles? So, you're applying for multiple places then or or what?
that's a great question, Ann. And for myself, I I know that there's lots of grants that we could apply for and getting creative and how we can use that. we are in the midst of actually applying for a grant and each town in the state of Connecticut receives a $10,15 grant just for applying and it is used towards transportation. So that could be maintenance. It could be $1,000 of that $10,000 will go to administration. there are things that you can be created in there. Could it help with the software system? Absolutely. We just have to be creative enough to to make those that work. So yes, there are different grants that you can apply for for vehicles. That's that's going to take some research. So
yes,
I guess on a whole, yes,
I only know one real transportation that you can fund vehicles.
and if you look out there, three of the four vehicles that we were funded from that grant over the years,
rarely does we get that the first time. So, I'm assuming that we're going to resubmit that grant for another van. because in all likelihood we haven't been told yet because they don't announce them even though we applied, you know, last March, you know, it's there's often a year lag time before we even found out when we got the last grant. So the goal would be to be ready to go to resubmit that grant again for a van. Just as a quick a quick thing that I would like you to do. Can you tell us all what grant funding is coming into this building potentially within the next 12 months? We have the legislative money. We have different funding sources. I'm not talking about running. I'm talking about finishing off parts. So, if you're talking about building specific stuff, there is a federal request through the US Senate for money that would be used to finish the basement of this building, as well as put in the generator backup, which would cover this building, the town hall, and the fire station to replace the 35year-old generator there with a propane
generator. that is right around $300,000. I don't I don't have the exact figure off the top of my head. if we get that, we would supplement that with the next legislative appropriation, which we will have available sometime around July 1 of next year. Won't actually be July 1. It'll be sometime later in July when they announce it. which would be another $250,000. Between those two, there should be enough money to complete that project completely as long as somebody decides what we're actually doing with the basement. you know, we put it before the board a number of times what the goals are for the basement, but without knowing what we're building to, it's hard to to understand like what level we're building the basement to, what we're trying to do with it. So those determinations would have to be be done. That should be able to be done without any real town tax dollars. If we get both of those, if we don't get both of those, then somebody's going to have to make a hard-nosed decision about whether the priority is the generator or whether the priority is finishing off the basement of this building. Personally, I think the priority is the generator. because this building has zero backup.
The generator in the kitchen.
Absolutely.
I mean that's Yep. I mean if you went step one, step two, right? It would be the generator and the kitchen
and then the basement when we
decide what we need to. So if you don't get the Senate money, we would use the Connecticut funding for
we should either one.
Right. Remember, there is also there's sitting out there about $150,000 in the multi-use building fund that's earmarked for finishing this off because we didn't know we were getting legislative grant anyway.
So, you there is there are some fairly big pools of money you can tap if that if and when that funding comes through. It just, you know, you got to see it through,
right? So that's just a little background information for everybody so we all understand what we could potentially do or not do.
So now now we got to come back to your issues. And
I guess I guess I would ask like I look through your job description and I look through this and
let's talk about the the senior transformation coordination. so none of that is currently on your on any of your job descriptions right now and you have oversight capacity, but how is that being handled currently, so we're all aware. And how do you think it's working?
I did have a paper. I'm sorry I didn't get in your packet, but yeah, we did have that as well. before I left, I was doing the senior transportation. it seemed to be working well. We didn't forget too many people on a regular basis. Yes, there are mistakes and and we have forgotten a few and I still apologize Kina that we did forget you. but as it goes it was easy under one one roof. now that Linda has that she is working at least 10 hours a week and she oversees that. We do communicate. it would be easier if we were able to communicate and share a document, share a calendar that's live and so we are working on that. So, so that's something that we're working on so that when we schedule a trip or a program, she'll be she will already know that that is on her calendar as well and
she can do the transportation part. so, so before it was easier on one communication been a little bit challenging, but I think going over to a new software will definitely help that, but using the same live calendar is going to help alleviate a lot of those problems.
until we can get the software work with the school again on that, that's another technology project that would be good for them.
but
how is senior transportation going right now?
Any issues?
I don't think it's going right now.
Any issues with senior transportation?
I use the law and the guns and several other people were on the route
and it works very well. I've never had somebody booked to take me to a doctor's appointment not show up. I've never had that.
I find it tremendous for doctor's appointments in Glastonbury and occasionally at Farmington Medical Center.
Yeah.
A lot of seniors here attending there. so they can get here. Otherwise, they would never be able to do it.
But those that just don't ever drive can't even get here unless they have those vans,
right?
Even though they may just live a half a mile away, you can't walk a half a mile on a narrow lake road around the lake to get here. It's not safe.
Yeah.
And she has to do a great job. All great feedback has been coming back. I think it was a really good move to take it out of your the job of the persons in charge here and have somebody separate like Linda do it.
Yeah.
Really? because
that's it's confusing. It has the potential for a lot of mistakes if you're doing six other jobs at the same time and the phone's ringing and you're trying to print a program. So the people that are coming to the building here know what's coming up doing these billboards, I mean display boards and putting out this.
I mean,
so Linda hasn't made any mistakes.
Not for me. And I've used it quite a bit because I haven't driven since I got back from having a serious tick bite starting in July.
Okay.
Weeks and weeks of not excuse me interrupting. I would like to see added to the transportation. it's part of the rules that we originally have set for the dean of transportation that if there's a vote like we're having voting now voting on November 4th. and if there's any meetings that evening, board of selectment that should be in public or board of finance or whatever, the bus is available supposed to be available to take the seniors if they need to go even if it's only one or two seniors. that has not been happening and I'd like to see that added. I know that you did know about a Tesla and we did we have provided transportation to boating last year. We did do that.
You did do the voting. that last year. So, so thank you for bringing that up.
Yes, I want to see that. But I do like the idea if you have
I do like the idea if there is some sort of a PC interchange where Tess Haley and Linda could see the trips like you're talking about or any thing coming up a vote or or a meeting that means there's available availability if they want to go.
Correct. Does anyone want to come to our meetings? Really?
I know you love coming to our meetings.
But you like sitting in your kitchen with with mine.
I'd love to see it done. But hey,
understood. I mean, this this is more an understanding of I mean, let's just talk for me numbers. So you got an admin let's say 26 hours and and let's see is that currently 26 hours Frank test your number
for me currently.
All right and then we got we got
we'll just call it Haley because
what was your title? What's what are we calling it? my my I was the interim senior director.
However, I've really been leaning into, you know, since she's been back, I've just been trying to utilize my time in a way that helps us grow. So, leaning into the community aspect.
Okay. And currently, right now, you're 19 hours,
correct?
All right. And Linda is 10.
That is correct. budgeted, we had 26.
Just so you know, and I'm talking to the board of finance.
Yep. Where
we had 26. So, if we choose to move forward with this, we have a financial issue that we're going to have to address.
Okay.
Are we taking a vote on this right now?
No, we're just talking. We're just talking. I mean because what we have to do from the board perspective is we all have to come back and you know at our next meeting really because Jeff's not here we really do need to talk about how we're going to proceed and and I believe Eric when we when we extended Haley's contract we extended it till after the election to the 15th.
Correct.
Okay. So, we have to decide at our next meeting exactly. We have to give you enough time, Haley. This is not It will not be We're going to sit there and deal with this.
If you're not making the decision today, you do understand she's actively seeking other employment because she does not want to take the risk of being unemployed.
Understood.
So, if you're not going to do it, understand that that option may not be available to you in a week's time. Okay. All right. what other questions does everybody else have?
I just had one. You said that another senior center is looking for tax credits for volunteers. Which senior center, please?
yeah, it was a senior center in Massachusetts, Newbury, Mass.
Okay. So, their laws would be different than ours.
Correct. So that would be
cause we had there's a state statute that empowers us to create an ordinance for our fire department
y
abatement. So I'm not sure that we have something like that but new mask
I'll call them
you can you can call we we are already in research and we are in communication with them as well. That would be great.
And the only other thing, Exeicio, you are both more than welcome to attend any recreation commission meeting. And as
Haley can attest,
we're very interactive. We don't quiet people like Jeff wants. We want to speak outside of public speaking. We welcome
I've mentioned
your ideas and we love to hear them. So we more than welcome both of you. anyone else who would like to come direct when she meets second Tuesday of every month.
Awesome.
We meet in person.
Yes, the meetings in person are very nice. I've been going to the meetings and enjoying it. everybody on the commission is fabulous and I just think that us working together more helps to grow it. You know, there's going to be times, especially once you get into the winter seasons, where the rec commission is going to need access to space like this, and I want the, you know, to make sure they're high on the priority list of getting what they need.
And so, me being there, I've been trying to go to all the meetings I could.
And there Saturday, we're having our Halloween funday where we give out candy. and the community and senior center is running quite a few other little things for the kids. So, we're hoping that you're joining with us.
Absolutely.
Encourage more people to attend. I I believe that. So, thank you for that.
Jeeoff, can I just share one more thing and and then I I think then I'm done. getting senior center in director and director. I I don't think that, you know, we have it all figured out yet. I think it's something fluid and and that we're growing into and and speaking with setting up a a meeting with area directors, senior center directors this past week has been very informative and you were there and I appreciate that. Thank you. I I don't think that we We need that. We need to hear from our peers. We need to know how things are going in other places so that we can make adjustments as well. I think that's important that we have communication with you so that we know what's going on or you know what's going on so that you can provide feedback and impact too. So, so after that meeting and and whenever you want to I can share or we can do that at another time. three other senior centers came and it was very informative. It was interesting to see how how far we actually are compared to people that have been there in their positions for 19 years and some 12 19
years and so so that was good. I I I left there and I was very encouraged. I think you were too. Eric was there pretty much the whole time.
So so it was it was a good thing. So know that we aren't just coming up with we don't have it's not wisdom in our own eyes is that we're actually going out there and seeking wisdom from other people as well. to you.
Well, I think it's a great thing for you to do because we are 25 years behind the time
of when these other senior centers started. And if they're willing to meet with you and tell you what those growing pains were 20 years ago, that can only be helpful. Yeah, they have a lot of things worked out that you might be pondering about and they could tell you how they solve it.
It's almost should be required.
Yes.
That you see them maybe twice a month. Get to know them. How can you would you be two of my hours though, Julia?
Yeah, that's what happens. That's what I wanted to know too is what are we not going to be able to do if they don't have like what do you do after your 26 hours that you're giving them?
That's a great that's a great question right now.
I don't know if they'll let me talk again so much.
I'm leaving for me.
Well, the one thing that I think I I would like to know is if I had any input in this is if they're you know we have to move forward budgets of concern but when you look at what they're able to do within their 19 and 26 hours and 10 hours what will they have been doing that they cannot continue to do
right so there's evening programs and then so some of their hours go to that are we going to still be able to do that I mean those are things that would interest me as a president that takes advantage of it.
Well, there's no good employee. There's no good person. If you've ever had work for you or that you've done a job where you haven't put in extra time,
right?
I understand that's that's a personal that's a personal choice. It's like Eric Anderson, he's not a 40hour a week employee. Yeah,
we knew that. I knew that.
Yeah.
I don't work 40 hours a week. I mean, it's just if if I'm hiring someone for her position and it's a 19 hour or 26 hour position and she doesn't put in some extra time, she's not going to be here.
I mean, I'm just saying that. I know it's a negative, but I'm just telling you, Eric looks at it that way. And I'm just saying I know I it's just how it is. It's and and I don't mean it that I'm going to to to push that person out. They're going to push themselves. Well, I think also, you know, you as a person, I'll speak for myself, if I'm supposed to be putting in 10 hours, but what I'm trying to accomplish will take 30 and I put that 30 in. How do I feel about myself after 10 15 years of doing that and not
getting
being compensate? That is not compensating. That is not healthy. Not healthy. And any organization has to sit there any good organization
should sit there and evaluate the people that are putting in the extra time and reward them for that. That's just how it should work. But in historically in this town it has not worked.
Historically in this town it has not worked because we are financially constrained.
Yes.
And and I have told Tess this that I believe her role and she didn't put it on any of the information is a volunteer coordinator because if we don't have volunteers, if you don't volunteer, if I don't volunteer, if our neighbors don't volunteer, right? If we don't, then the amount of programs within this building are going to be limited because we don't have the financial capacity to
You're saying that she's a vol the coordinator of the volunteer
of you, of me, of everybody else. I want to come in and do a card night. Okay. Jeff McGuire wants to come in and do a card night. Jeff Magcguire is going to run that program, right?
I'm not going to get compensated for it unless I win some money.
Yeah.
Right.
Well,
well, I'll probably lose. That's okay. But, you know, that's that's what you have to do.
So, I I think too, if I could just speak to that a little bit, I think with any position that you do take is there's a level of investment and and there's heart behind it and you want to go in with passion and heart and serve the community, whatever job it is. And so I think that when you are appreciated and valued for your investment and there's a good working relationship and communication that really does solve a lot of it and when there's communication and there's needs then we can work together at the table and say hey I need this and it's a mutual there's there's a mutual benefit. Thank you. And I don't want you to misunderstand me. I love working at the library and I love going in and subbing, you know, whenever. I enjoyed it. It's just came time to retire, you know. They were wonderful to me.
So, you and
Oh, yes.
So, that's what Tess would stay there for 30 hours a week, you know. No, I didn't. If I didn't care.
Okay.
Can I Can I ask Jeff?
Oh, can I just ask Jeff? Oh, I No, seriously. I would like to ask you a question.
Seriously, when we were planning the building,
did you as being our firstman, did you not think that we were going to be spending money and it was not imaginary money. We had to have money.
We asked We asked for $20,000 more than the board of financing. So, so we understood that we had a level of investment that was required and it was not even enough. Even what we asked for wasn't enough,
But we were cut down to X, right? So, and it's not a negative on the board of finance. The board of finance has a a very difficult job that the board of finance has to take what available tax dollars we have and identify where they can be put out. And so what the board of finance did at the time and said it's a new organization start with less. That's what Eric listen Eric's job across everything has been to sit there and take what he's been given and spread it out as best he can and do the best
possible job through the community. That's what his job. That's what the administrator's job entails. We're here to try to set priorities and a vision to sit there and say, "Hey, listen, administrator, do this. Members of the community center, do this. We want to see this this." We ask, so I don't control every purse stream, right? So, we ask, and this not a negative on the board of finance, don't get me wrong, but if the board of finance sets the priorities to do certain things, they're going to set financial priorities. I can't spend that money. And okay, we got to live with it. But that's where you got to look at the board of finance. And this is why I had the conversation with the tri board meeting. I've got an issue with the town administrator's position and I've got an issue with community center. Those are my two my two as a member of this board. Only one member, please. Only one member. But as my those are the two issues. Those are financial issues I have to raise more forcefully with the board of finance to get them to understand that we need to push money into these to gain the correct value. That's so yeah. Now Liz from the board of finance have that.
Oh, so I my question getting back to a point that you mentioned earlier was revenue generating revenue and is I guess what are you doing to track the revenue that's been coming in? can we see some kind of report from that? And I mean, cuz I see some of these programs are really expensive.
Which one?
well, the yoga
massage, the chair massage one.
yeah. Oh, the chair, I'm sorry, the chair massage.
the stained glass.
Yeah, the stained glass that I went to, which was really fun. and that was that was expensive. It was $65. And I guess it would be my question is is that all going to the teacher? And if someone's coming in to provide some kind of a a lesson like that, I think they should I don't know the price should be negotiated I think a little better or and or part of that should be should go to revenue to the senior center.
So it should be rent or use of the facility.
Yes. Right. to generate
and listen those are all things that we need to get to we need to come back to you and work with you to understand how it's doing but yes
I mean listen I will tell you the truth that we're getting in trouble what should happen for the town of Ando and the community center is the after school program and the school should be incorporated into the community center that's not going to be popular with the parents and the PTA and the people that are running that program
why not that benefits the whole community of course Of course it should and and the money that's generated from that program should be able to assist in funding you know the director assistant director and the other directors and the employees that work with the kids over there and it would integrate us for just like every other community if you went to Marble and you went to Hebrin and you went to the our our surrounding communities it's all run that way and that's something chef no we never had a community center right
and we never had a community center director so the school I understand when my children abused that program. That's how it was run. If you wanted after school, before and after school, that's how you did it. Times are changing. Those are things that should be considered.
I'm just saying,
Liz, I I I hear what you're saying. And yes, some of these are do appear expensive. but it is hard to find volunteers that will come in, professional artists that come in, chair yoga. I think a man is worth his wages as well. And so for them to come in and that's part of their livelihood, then absolutely I think they should be paid. Do I think that a lot of these things should be free? Absolutely. So how do we how do we generate that?
I think she's talking about something different. I think she's sitting there saying if you're charging money
Yeah. Is 25% of that fee allowed to sit there and go into a to a a pool of monies to offset different other programs for the seniors and for everybody else? Where is that money going and how is that money being tracked? It's more of an accounting board of finance.
So the money is being tracked and submitted deposit monthly to
the treasurer's office. the P currently right now, and this is just what was set before I walked in the door, it's a flat fee per head of attendees, which means if we're charging $7 for chair yoga, it's a much bigger percentage than the $32 chair massage. Does that make s kind of make sense to people?
And so that's where we had we had to start somewhere.
We had to start somewhere. And so when you say per head, what are you talking about? When it's $2 or $3 for it's $2 per head for town residents and $3 per head for out of town residents. And so
and the remainder goes to the instructor.
And the remainder goes to the instructor. So, if we sat there and used the $32 chair massage,
$29 goes to the individual giving the chair massage and $3 per person goes to the community center.
Yes.
Okay.
That that that's clear and understandable now.
Yep. And now to just one other question on that because I and I think this is for Julie. you had mentioned that in another town you pay $15 a year to go there. Oh, not there.
$15 for your lifime. For your Oh, for your lifetime.
You get a a lanyard with a photo and a membership number that you put up to a lock.
Okay.
A reader outside the door to get in.
And what does that do?
Doors are locked all day and all night.
Okay. So, I guess I'm I'm wondering what the benefit of the $15 door is. It is it
's just for entrance.
Just for entrance. So, do you get a a special rate as a member or or
would you pay for other services in Bolton?
Absolutely.
Okay.
And those higher fees are
This is why I've been waving my hand. That's not a price that's special for a senior center.
Okay. No, I was just curious.
If you want to go to a salon and have a pedicure, you're going to pay that amount of money.
Oh, I don't trust you. No, I mean these people are doing it for their living. So they they're not going to come out here for a reduced rate really.
And I'm sure if you two directors here, co-directors go and talk to people in the senior centers in greater town area, you're going to find the same kinds of prices,
right?
Because I had a pedicure at Boulder
and it's up there. It's not. It's like if I went to a place at Evergreen Mall or something. That's those are the going rates.
Oh, yeah. I I'm not just It's not the It's not the rate. And what you did for us is you told us that other senior centers charge for services. So, that helps us out. Now, the question is, are we charging enough? And that not you guys are just doing a new program. It's fine. We're working toward it.
I think there's a few ways that can help to generate more revenue and distri distribute it a little bit more fairly from the you know I have the the view of being the person running programming as well not just from an administrative standpoint but as the teacher right and so if it's moved rather than a flat rate to a percentage base then you would be getting a larger percentage for those more expensive offerings. And the people trying to teach something for very little amount of dollars aren't having to pay out necessarily as much of their the money coming in. But the bigger thing that this space can be used for to help generate funds is events,
right? So renting it out to members of the community. you know, there are these these routes we could take to help to increase revenues to help offset some of this stuff. and
we just need the board to approve the facility usage forms and we can move forward with that as well. So what price and how and that's the way the board can help us is to approve those. And for our next meeting, can you get usage fees for Ingram Marlo Columbia?
Yeah, because I think that's another thing where maybe we we all in the town might have wavered back and forth, right? Like we want it to be really, this is the community center. We want it to be really expensive for the community members. Yeah. But if it's but if it's so inexpensive that it's like we're undercutting ourselves, you know, some of the rates we've explored is like $25 an hour. And you know, if that's what we go with, fabulous. But if one of the issues is we can't properly staff this building because we don't have the money and your average rental hall runs $200 an hour. you know, I want it to be inexpensive for town members, but maybe 25 is a little too low realistically.
Realistically, and maybe that's just something we can kind of like explore, talk about, hash out as a community, you know, because I can see, you know, we need really need to weigh that,
right?
What is that, Jeff? I had to talk to my board members if you don't mind.
so, one thing I'd like to ask, Haley, is you run how many chair yoga programs here?
so I have two chair programs. One's chair yoga, one is resistance, a resistance band class, and then I have a community like floorbased offering. And then I kind of oversee the sewing group which is free to attend.
Okay. So you have four classes that are paid for,
right?
Three classes that are paid for and one is free to attend.
One is free to attend. And how how is the attendance in those programs? chair yoga has anywhere between 8 and 12 people weekly and resistance band is has also been falling somewhere between five and 11 people weekly.
All right. And just so I understand and the group understands they're $5 each session, some $7.
Seven. So both of them are $7.
Okay. So, so a class generates somewhere between $10 and $20 for the community center and you get the rest of the funding the money from those from running those programs. Yes.
Okay.
And those are not included in the 19 hours that you're
correct. That is outside.
Outside. Okay. So, and how many of those types of programs do we run on a weekly basis
currently? Right now, let's see. We run the four listed and then we have the massage and the Linda's community evening Thursday night yoga. So that puts us at six. we are on the hunt for a new foot person because our person just left, but normally we have had that and it's been running. And then we have two haircut options. So that puts us at nine.
so I think it goes to Liz's issue just for all of us. Can you give us for our next board of selecting meeting, can we get a revenue summary for the last four months?
Yes.
Right. and sit there and let us know what the the the community center has generated,
you know, because what's happening and I'll just go from an accounting standpoint.
It's going over the treasures office and it's getting dumped in the general fund.
No, where's it going?
We have we have our own
it's going into account.
We have an account.
So So last year
get get us the report from the L account for next month. I can do it this month.
Right. And that would be helpful to know what's there because it will help us as a board go, okay, here's funding that we can sit there and and deal with the additional hours and the additional support, you know, before we go to the board of of finance and say you got to increase the total line item in by X, Y, or Z, whatever we come to.
I can just ask question. Is it going into the programs liability account or the senior launch liability account? I'll I'll tell you there used to be one liability account for the community and senior center. we requested last year that that get split into three. So one for trips, one for programs and one for the lunchon. So whenever we have a lunch in that money that we have the revenue has come in that goes back into the lunchon. So for for this Christmas party we're taking out of the lunchon. We could technically maybe take it out of the trips as well because it is sort of a trip but but definitely don't.
Can I just ask? So you have three liability accounts is what one liability
account just three categories
. So that probably is the old senior lunch liability account. It used to be the senior lunch. And so when January came, it was after January that we had requested that the board of finance split that into sort of like three line items for us. And so we know how much money is going in from those different places. Yeah.
Right. Because we've always had the three within the budget because I've noticed that the senior lunch has substantially increased. There's $12,000 now that's been budgeted for that. That's a lot more than it ever was. The trips is at 4,000.
Correct.
And programs are also at 4,000 now.
Correct.
So when this money goes into the liability account, it doesn't go back into the general fund. It's just going to roll over every year.
Correct.
But what we need what we need to do is reduce the expense, especially on senior lunch. We're over budget.
So So what happened? We're not over budget because we have $12,000 that was put into this fiscal year. I know in the past we had but we did fundraisers.
Right. So, so I'll say this spending last year spending for lunches providing lunchons at $5 after December would not have sustained itself. That we would have gone well over budget. And so my solution was to up the charge of those lunchons from 5 to7 to $10 to help one bring in revenue and two to help offset the cost and to make it through to the end of that budget season. And so what happened
id we
I'm just asking
so I
wasn't here during that time.
Okay. Did we make that did we as June 30th 2025 with senior lunch and over budget
so okay with the offsetting funding out of the L account
let's talk about that in our next meeting
I don't know my hand
then two not only offsetting from there but the money could also with trips and programs would have because usually within the budget if one department overextends on a certain line but under spends one another that just gets moved. But it's all within and this the senior trips programs and lunchon is reported under a separate department that's separate from the community center budget. So
well it'll help the board of finance.
She's writing down.
So so I do I I will I will say this what was is not what is. And so we are generating a whole lot more programs. We are generating a whole lot more trips and lunches as well.
Have you had a decrease in the lunch count?
No.
Okay. Right.
In in in people coming in.
No. No. It's it ranges 25 to 30, sometimes 35.
Yeah. And so so I think that it's it's it's fair to say that we do have a larger budget than last year for lunches. We are spending that. We do have to be careful. What we would like to see is the kitchen fixed so that we can decrease those and and it would be great to not charge anything. and I think that once that gets completed
You didn't say that.
No, I did.
Well, I agree with
I'm sorry. I that was where I was going too. We have 12,000 in the senior lunch program. Why are we charging our seniors? We have a That's a lot of
Well, I agree. Listen, I I think part of it is too. We were spending $570 for one lunch on a Friday. That's not sustainable to have that.
I'm sorry. I'm going to tell you, non seniors, I'm not a negative person, but if you're getting lunch, you got to pay for it. I mean, I would love to do it for free. And I know if you didn't get a drop off by moving from 5 to 7 to 10, the seniors are coming for the level of community as much for the food
and and the fellowship.
And the fellowship. Yeah. So, so you've got to charge because if you don't charge, we will have a difficult time increasing hours,
right? So, all of this information that you're bringing to us now, and I'm assuming the seniors would support more hours if they have to put a little bit of money into the lunch program or a little bit money into another program to have more hours and more more staff in here.
Am I wrong?
Julia, am I wrong? You'll you'll you agree with me?
You're not wrong.
I'll tell you how they do it in the other senior centers that are well established.
They don't have a general lunch. We do here. They have a kitchen staff
and three or four days a week. They put out a menu in a in a program like this. They have a kitchen menu and you have to sign up by 8:00 the day before you want to go. I was going to take Helina so she could see it, but I missed the deadline and we've been too busy coming here. Okay.
So anyway, it's a separate entity and they don't charge $5. They charge I don't know whether it's $12.95 or $15 for lunch.
Well, we all we have to ask ourselves we have to ask ourselves from my stand food and and senior lunches are if the senior needs assistance and they need they need the the meal, I have no problem doing it for free. But if it's if it's community and we're trying to bring everybody together and we can offer a high enough quality meal, we've got to charge for it because if not, then we're just going to the board of finance and saying, "I need money, money, money, money, money." And this town is not built that way.
Yeah.
This is not built,
right?
Why don't we charge the school kids 12 bucks a meal?
Eric,
it's good that you're sitting there. Please
stay quiet.
Liz,
hi. So, did I did I understand this right that Okay, so now we're
the lunch budget is up to $12,000 and and we're over budget. Is that right?
Not yet.
We are not currently over budget. We are stretching it. We have increased the amount of lunches that we're offering per month. I which I think is appropriate considering of how much of an increase the town granted us. we're very happy about it. We brought that price back down to $5. which you know, some towns charge less, some towns charge more, but we, one of the goals we had that we could agree on was getting it to at least once a week, you know, only having two or three a month. Other senior centers are offering lunch. Some are every day, some are three times a week, and like doing it at least once a week. And so that was one of the goals with this big increase getting the lunch down. You know, for some seniors 10 was too much. So we brought it back down to $5 and then we added it to added to the schedule to make it more regular and now it's every single Wednesday.
Okay. So now it's once a week. So the reason I'm trying I guess I'm trying was trying to understand why with a $12,000 budget which is higher than it used to be, why is it so close? And you're saying you've increased the frequency of the lunches, right?
Yes. And we're not necessarily over budget this year. Where we went over budget was the last fiscal year.
And so
June 20th,
the June. Yeah. So that we we did technically go over lunches then. I want to know we were under on transportation.
One second.
I want to know how much they've collected to offset that overspend
and because I'm not sure that it's getting reported to us that way. like I sit there and we have to identify the lines on the budget that have revenue associated with them
and we have to get a better job of that done so that when we see those line items Eric and we know we have some revenue to offset that so if there's a negative on the budget line items I know there's revenue to offset that
and if we can get that and we can put that together now Haley keep going
can I just ask one thing and I'm sorry to interrupt him but for the lunches I know that when Kathy did them, it was twice a month. She did two Fridays a month. Now, I know you switched it to Wednesdays. So, two of the Wednesdays are hot lunches, if I understand this correctly. And the other two is when you have card games and maybe sandwiches and light snacks. Is that correct? So, it's not really a full lunch.
It's it's what I would call a cold lunch. And so, we do it's with bingo is the game. So, now we because we had a request for increased bingo as well. So, the two cold lunch days,
we two to three, depending if there's a a fifth Wednesday of the month. Okay.
We do bingo and we have sandwiches and the sandwiches are served with fruit, salad, chips, and dessert. So, what I would argue is a, you know, nice full lunch,
a normal lunch.
And is that free for the seniors? I know they pay for bingo cards.
It is also $5. It's $5. Does that
include their bingo card?
Yes, it does.
Okay. So, all right.
And normally the bingo cards are a couple dollars, $2.
I think we were charging a dollar before per bingo card. And so, they get two bingo cards with their $5 ticket for lunch.
Okay.
And it it's just a cold lunch, not a hot lunch.
can I just ask a question? regarding that,
we have I work for the, NCAA volunteer and, I'm the vice president of our advisory and we have money, for lunches. And if you want to apply for that grant, I know that you will be able to do so because we've never had it for annual. This would be the year we get it for annual if you wish. And you can ask how many days if you wanted, one day, two days, three, whatever days you wanted. If you want to do your little lunch, you know, you still have your hot lunches on Wednesdays.
Yeah,
absolutely. Thank you. Thank you.
You're welcome.
So, I will say this, we do partner with Cheni Tech. Chenite Tech when they come, they have a full meal and so because we would be extra for salad, we can do provide salad for everybody that comes. 30 people for under $20, right, Kim? And so we can provide salad $20. I'm sure it would be much more expensive if we we had them do it. they provide the hot lunch, bread, rolls, condiments. they provide the meal itself and dessert. And it's not just cookies. It is it is a dessert. I can't eat it, but it looks really good. Any so, so I will say this, it costs about $3 to $400 for that. So $5,
Liz, $5 everybody comes, right? And then everything is it's discounted to five and then the senior center with that $12,500 puts in the extra. And so so is it for free? No. But it is at least coming back somewhat. We are getting some revenue towards that. So it will offset it.
Those are really good details to have to present.
Yeah, absolutely.
When the time comes.
Can I just ask one other thing too? I know that CRT does a lot of the meals for surrounding like Columbia has three days a week. They charge $3 and they have a lot of really nice meals there. They do hire someone to come in
to take those meals, put them together.
CRT CRT CRT CRT.
What is that?
Community renewal team.
Okay. Thank you. So they hire someone, as a matter of fact resident, to go in there and prepare that and serve, and I'm sure they buy extra stuff like the fruit and things like that just to supplement these meals. but I know they're really cheap to buy. I know it's CRT and there's one other one that will that provides the same ones, too. So
those are terrible things.
You try I'm telling you I Columbia. I didn't like it.
Wow. They had a lot of people when I was there.
They do cuz there's a lot of
Sounds like a good resource. people.
Listen, I will we're only going to go 15 minutes long.
So, it's two hours.
I'm sorry. It'll be two hours.
Julia took up a quarter of our time.
Thank you, Julia. She always does. I would
like to recommend that we do this quarterly.
Thank you. Good idea.
All right. And and we invite more seniors in and
you know the more seniors the better. This is more of an open discussion as to what can be done better and so we should do this quarterly. we should get Liz as many members of the board of finance as we possibly can get to show up if they are free. No, because I do think it's good that we all hear the same.
You're right.
Right.
Yeah.
It's better to hear the same stuff than
Jeff. Not only seniors, but I think you should get some of the younger community people because this is a community/ senior center. Absolutely.
And you see what what they want.
It is. But we have to build in small steps, right?
Find out what they want.
We've got to get our Listen, the seniors.
We did have the survey, too.
I love surveys. I give
the seniors have never been treated properly within the town of Daniel as far as long as I've been in ever really. I mean
I I don't think
we had the resources now we have a building that has resources. Let's work the seniors as hard as we can and then the the the the parent the parents and the school all down. I really think Tess you're working with the superintendent and doing some of those is really positive. I think it it can only benefit how this building is interacted with.
Right. So, I'm I am 100% fair. I know Ann's been waiting. She's got to say something.
I'm in favor of
I think that a lot of the community stuff. We talked about the AES school. We talked about the seniors. I think the teens are group and they could they would love have a place to be in the evening and that's when the seniors aren't here. So, it would be a great thing to have if it's a drop in in the lounge area or something else. I know my daughter used the West Hartford Teen Center which was in their library. They had a big library. But, that kind of thing would really be great to open up. get hooked up with a few of the teams and then they'd probably spread the word and or they might be able to be a resource as to what they're looking
if if you get appropriate volunteer to run the program.
Correct.
It is investment hours on our end to get it going and then pass the big so that absolutely that could be done upstairs even before the basement's finished. I I would
sorry,
I'm going to recommend that the information that be provided back for our next meeting because I am we're not going to be able to make any decisions of consequence today.
All right. So, just letting everybody know and I'm sorry the president is staying wrapped for too long. You torn those you torn it over everybody else. That's important.
I'm glad you like my metaphor.
So, Jeff, thank you. I I think that this whole thing was a catalyst for change and I am excited about what's to come. I'm excited about about the future for Community Senior Center and and a working relationship with the board of selectment.
Okay. we only have 10 minutes left. So Julia, you have one minute.
One minute,
but I'm not even starting to get clean.
Well, I enjoyed the meeting. I'm glad to hear everything that we discussed. we do need extra help for these ladies because we all work, so we know how it is when you have to put extra work. in minimum time. But all the programs that are coming that I've noticed especially from the time I joined it last year, it's tremendous.
All right. Thank you.
Tremendous.
It grew more than 100%.
I enjoyed the various activities too. And I particularly like the fact that somebody who can't drive can come here to get a haircut, get a pedicure, and a neck massage, you're going to pay the same price that's charged here out at Evergreen Walk or some public storefront
and you don't have to travel. to be able to get those in in town for people who can't drive is really exceptionally good.
Thank you.
10 seconds.
I really appreciate you allowing me to speak extra and I I'm happy that all the points have been raised and absorbed and addressed. Thank you. Cat Boss,
you
I know. I'm thinking No, I seriously think this has been a very informative meeting.
I actually like what Tess and Healey have said. I I appreciate the senior speaking and the board of starkman taking their time to listen, but I I would like I would like to see this all happen. Again, I'm saying we need money to make this happen,
right? And it's a long slow.
Yes. And one one other quick thing.
Well, I see you in on the thing I want to just have us say is the fact that we we can do this. Seriously, we can do this. I know that we can make it happen. I know we can do it. Jeff
Diane.
Okay. I I agree with what everybody has said. Kathy says we need funding. U Yes we do. money is always whatever, but we also need the volunteers. I think it's the community needs to step up. I know all the boards of commissions in town are all volunteers. We do have a lot of volunteers in town, but there's a lot of people in town that don't volunteer and all we need is people to do one little piece. You know, you don't have to do a lot, just some little piece to volunteer. And I think that would be very helpful. And I'm looking forward to the day that you do have the the basement finished. And I think that would be a great place for the senior not the seniors, the the teenagers place for them to hang out. So I I think getting getting the basement done is I know it's on your list and that'll be a great day and I wish you had a piano here also.
I'd love the piano idea. I really appreciate hearing everybody's ideas. appreciate seeing the vision and where it wants to go and looking forward to working together with board of selectmen and our board see how we can help. And I also would like to somehow encourage more volunteerism because a lot of the stuff could be done if some people will step up and just give a couple hours here and there.
Oh, I have one more.
Wait, no.
Kim Kim who volunteers all kinds of time.
Yes. Yes, Kim.
I've enjoyed volunteering down here. We have a lot of fun. But I've also enjoyed watching Tess and Haley work together. There's a lot of new things they've incorporated down here and I just like to see that continue. That's right,
Elaine.
I'm good.
You're good.
You get 10 seconds. Go.
I I think when you're counting 10 hours for the transportation, I think when you talk to Linda, you're going to find out she really puts in way way more than 10 hours.
And that's and that's doing everything that needs to be done.
Can I have 10 more seconds?
No.
I thought of a really good idea. When the library needs things that are not in the budget, they have the Andover friends of the library group and those members, Diane's very familiar with it, help us get new video, computers, whatever we need. So that's a possible group that we might have emerge here in handover for the Andover friends of the senior community center.
Joe, I think the senior center has done tremendous for the first year.
I hope he gets supported through next year build on what you've done already.
Did you hear us all?
Very much.
Good. I say that.
I have to tell you, Eric, Eric, I am really impressed with the sound.
Gorgeous. It's really
I mean this is so much better than that building.
Oh yeah. It's better than it was when without
Thank you.
Eric, you get the last word. What do you want?
When your thoughts
and be nice to us,
I think the town spends $8.5 million a year on the under 19 segment. it can open up its wallet a little bit for the over 65 segment.
It's since they're the ones that are the taxpayers.
so I I think given out of a sense of fairness, the two most vulnerable communities in the town are youth and seniors. we obviously spend a disproportionately higher amount on youth, but ation is very expensive in the grand scheme of things. We can afford the additional programming funds for these seniors.
He is he is 100% correct. But listen listen this is this is a this is a global thing. This is a global thing.
Local taxes are disproportionately spent on younger citizens and federal taxes are disproportionately spent on on on senior citizens. police. It all needs to get done. We all need to work together to do what's right for the seniors and for this building. But that's that's the reality of what we deal with in our world. And I I really don't want a a huge argument to to go from that standpoint that we need to do a better job for seniors. That is absolutely it's been that way since I joined the board back when Julia was on. And you know, we've got to do a better
job. So, Eric, I appreciate that, but I also want everybody to know it's just the way the system is built.
Just the way the system is built and we need to understand that. And the seniors deserve more and the children deserve the best possible education we can give.
So, in closing, I would like
You're going to finish this.
No. Well, in my go
I would like to make a request to keep Haley on as a employed by the town as as we can agree on the title but at least 19 hours to 30 hours.
Okay,
by the next meeting that will be dealt with. Okay. I I'm I'm telling you right now, I can't sit there and and deal with it tonight and today, but I promise that by our next meeting, there will be a public vote on. Okay? You understand where I'm coming from, there will be a public vote on that at our next meeting on November 10th. And I'll deal with the board of finance as to where the money's coming.
You know what? Good luck. I'm retired. I'll find some fun.
Anybody else?
Okay. Did I miss anybody in public speaking? Is anybody want to say anything else?
All right. Good. I make a motion to adjurnn.
Okay.
Not second. You know,