Over the past few months as I have spoken with many Seymour residents either through knocking on over a 1,000 doors or at events I have attended.
A common issue has emerged regarding the lack services and activities for seniors in town. This issue can be addressed by re-activating the Commission on Aging – which has been inactive for over a year.
In summary, the Seymour Town Charter states that the Commission on Aging has many responsibilities to serve our seniors. The commission should oversee the general management and supervision of all activities, oversee the purchase and maintenance of all Senior Center property and equipment, and develop and recommend a yearly budget proposal in conjunction with the Senior Citizens’ Director.
The Commission is also the policy-making authority of the Senior Center and establishes defined objectives to be executed by the Senior Citizens’ Director.
Unfortunately, the Commission on Aging is inactive and it is the job of the First Selectman to get it moving. There have been no meetings since May of 2014. Our seniors are not being served by this commission as it currently stands. The Commission is in need of more members and direction.
We have a responsibility to the seniors in our town. They are an integral part of our community that should be better served. The Aging Commission should be part of the conversation on how to better our seniors. In order for that to happen we need this commission to become active again and to make sure that it is properly serving the seniors in our town.
If elected First Selectman, I will work to get this commission active again and have it become more useful to our seniors.
The writer is a Democrat running for First Selectman in Seymour.
