Attending: Larry Mansier, Virginia Silliphant, Nils Stout, Joel May
Public Representatives: Helen Lee, Weed Tucker, Irwin Harbat, Erick Lehman
Excused: Severino DiCocco, Jean Harrington, Anne Bolick, Bob Riley

The Meeting was brought to order at 2:05 by Chairman Mansier. Notice was made of meeting the Open Public Meetings Act requirements.

The minutes of the meeting of August 20, 2008 were approved as read.

Chairman's Report:

• Two plans for renovation of the restroom at the Senior Center have been presented by the architectural firm of Clark Caton HIntz.
• One contemplates a fully compliant handicap toilet room, requiring the movement of a wall
• The other would provide a "usable" toilet room with some clearance issues.
• The former is the preferred approach.
• The proposals will be submitted to Pewnnington Borough for consideration.
• The current assumption is that Beezer will provide the construction material and labor pro bono.
• The provision of direction signs for Pennington streets providing directions to the Center and the repair or replacement of an Exit sign at the Center were discussed as was the possibility of getting a Pennington Day Grant to help defray the costs of these items.

• Current Building Updates
• Thanks to Anne Bolick, Nils Stout, and the Hopewell Valley Lions Club, the new sign is now available
• Pennington Borough has had the front door lock fixed
• Mercer County will provide new parking space striping, designating three handicapped spaces
• Pennington Borough is working on Fire Safety inspection
• Future Building Updates:
• The Hopewell Valley Senior Foundation and Senior Services are both researching potential funding
• Planning meetings, open to the public, are held on the second Tuesday of the month at 3:30 PM in the Township Building. These are open to the public. The next meeting is scheduled for October 14th.
• Representatives of the three municipalities and the YMCA are planning to meet to discuss details of the site
• Transportation:
• 136 rides were provided in August. This is a decrease from the number in July and may either represent a leveling off of demand or a summer-related dip in demand
• Vendor quotes for 2009 need to be secured and funding for 2009 applied for (it is hoped from Bristol Myers Squibb)
• Although 2009 expenses are expected to be higher than those for the current year because of higher fuel prices, there are sufficient residual funds from the current year to carry the program through the first part of 2009
• The Police Benevolent Association has provided $500 to subsidize rides for those who cannot afford the vouchers
• Up-Coming Events:
• Used Medical Equipment Collection - 9/20/08, 9AM to 1PM at Pennington Market
• Antiques Road Show - 9/22/08, 1-2PM at the Senior Center
• Bingo - 10/1/08, 10:30AM at the Senior Center
• Hopewell Harvest Fair - 10/4/08 in Hopewell Borough (Volunteers Needed for the Senior Services table)
• Memoir Class - 10/6/08, 1PM at the Senior Center (first of 8 session on Mondays)
• Hopewell Valley Seniors Connect (A Tour of the Library of Congress) - 10/7/08, 1:30PM at MCL
• Know Your Medicine - 10/8/08, 10:30AM at the Senior Center
• Flu Shot Clinic - 10/15/08, 1:30-3:30PM at the Hopewell Township Building

• Eric Lehman expressed concern that the greater population of seniors in the Valley were not being contacted (via the Senior Newsletter) and were uninformed about the Senior-oriented activities that are current taking place
• In the discussion that followed, several suggestions emerged
• Send postcards eliciting interest in receiving more information
• Develop a "Senior Corner" in the Recreation Department's quarterly newsletter
• Provide a reply postcard in the Recreation Department's quarterly newletter
• Get a list of senior residents in the Valley (from the Township?)
• Plan a mailing of an informational brochure when funds become available
• Distribute the informational brochure through libraries, churches, newspapers, etc.
• Bill Farmer and Joel May volunteered to help Abigail in the process
• Irwin Harbat noted that progress on the development of the new Senior Center has been both slow and not totally transparent to the general public. Larry Mansier and Bill Farmer recounted the (approximately) four-year history of the development, including their involvement in the YMCA's negotiations with Capital Health Systems and the current state of the physical, political and financial progress being made. Weed Tucker added information about Pennington Borough's concerns and interests.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:10 PM.

Respectfully Submitted:
J. Joel May for Bob Riley, Secretary

The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 15, 2008 at 2:00 PM at the HV Senior Center.