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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-12-2013_Minutes MDACMilton Disability Awareness Committee Meeting Minutes June 12, 2013 Committee Members In Attendance: Ken Woods, Van Black, Tass Welch, and Dudley Arnold MDAC Liaison: Sudie Gordon Guests in Attendance: Melinda Ross and Robyn MacDonald Tass Welch called the meeting to order. Committee members reviewed the meeting minutes from the May 8, 2013 meeting. Ken Woods moved to approve the minutes, Van Black seconded the motion, and the minutes were approved by unanimous vote. Old Business: • Melinda Ross, Milton Senior Center Director, kicked things off for the meeting. • Ross brings many years of experience working with seniors. She feels it's very important for seniors to avoid isolation and be involved in many activities. • Ross is looking for members of the community who are interested to come out and give educational presentations. Presentations can be on things like how to use and ipad or historical presentations on this area. Authors and musicians are some of the other types of people who might come out and discuss their books or play musical instruments. • Ross said that a major goal for the Senior Center in Milton is to provide a happy environment and keep seniors mentally and physically active. • The Milton Senior Center is currently located at Community of Christ Church Fellowship Hall and is scheduled to open on July 15, 2013. • Ken Woods suggested the Milton Garden Club as a good resource for the Milton Senior Center. • The Milton Senior Center has a good layout and should be very accommodating for the seniors. Games such as bingo and trivia will be amongst the activities that will be enjoyed on a regular basis. • Ross stated that she is looking for people in the community who might be interested in donating supplies to the center. Paper towels, tissues and trash bags are some of the items that will be in high demand. • Ross discussed how seniors are always elated to win prizes and practical things like tissues and large print books make excellent awards for those who win games. • There was discussion about therapy dogs coming to visit the senior center at some point. Canine Assistants and Happy Tails were among the therapy dog facilities mentioned. • The Milton Senior Center will open to the 60+ active senior. Morning nutritional snacks will be available and a noon lunch will be served (provided by Open Hands). • The Milton Senior Center will be open from 8 :30 a.m .-4:00 p .rn. Monday-Friday. • Ross wasn't exactly sure how old the average participant at the senior center will be. She says the median age at senior living facilities is 75-82 and believes a large number of her participants will fall in that age range. • The Milton Senior Center cost is $12 per year and an assessment will be done on all people who join (Level of independence, medications, food allergies, etc..) • Ken suggested the Milton Business Alliance would be a great point of contact for Ross and the senior center. • Longtime city resident Norman Broadwell was also mentioned as a good connection as he has deep ties to Milton and embraces the history of the area. • Ross liked the idea as she discussed how most elderly people love history and enjoy learning about it. • Ross mentioned she is very interested in becoming active in the community and wants to stay in close contact with MDAC. • A press release on the opening of the Milton Senior Center was scheduled to be in the Milton Herald in June or July. • Robyn MacDonald, a City of Milton planner, was present to discuss a Merchant Education plan with MDAC. • MDAC discussed the packet created several years ago and possible ways to disperse the information to merchants in Milton . Passing these packets to the Milton Business Alliance was also mentioned. • Ken stated and all agreed that MDAC doesn't want to step on the toes of Milton's merchants. The packets simply offer reminders to merchants about things can be easily overlooked. • Tass gave examples such as making sure bathrooms are easily accessible and that tables in restaurants can be reached by those using wheelchairs or walkers. • Ken, Van and Dudley all mentioned how convenient parking and nice restaurant layouts are very influential when choosing restaurants and stores. • It was also mentioned that a brief educational video could be produced by MDAC for City Merchants and business owners. • Robyn MacDonald stated that building continues to be strong in Milton and many new businesses are opening all the time. • MDAC believes that less is more with these educational tips and we just want to be a friend to the community and offer good advice on how to make restaurants and shops more appealing. • Tass discussed contacting Jason on some web design ideas and reviSing some of our current MDAC information. • Van moved that we modify the website per Sudie's description and Ken seconded the motion. New Business: • Ken had attended two of the latest meetings regarding Bell Memorial Park renovation. Ken stated that the plan is for the park to remain a ball park. The four current baseball fields will be converted into parking lots. • The five new fields will be moved onto the newly acquired land which is to the west of the current fields . • Jim Cregge had previously mentioned that the new fields will feature special lights which won't blind surrounding neighborhoods at night. • Nice new bathrooms are planned for the park and all will meet ADA guidelines. • The north and east areas of the park will remain wooded. • Another meeting on Bell Memorial was planned for June 27, 2013. • Van was going to try and attend on behalf of MDAC. • Tass made a motion to appoint Dudley as secretary and Van seconded that motion. The vote was unanimous. • MDAC discussed the possibility of taking a summer sabbatical. After some discussion, Ken moved that we take the summer sabbatical and Van seconded that motion. , . Tass Welch moved to adjourn the meeting. Ken Woods seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous to adjourn. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 11, 2013. Minutes Submitted By: Dudley Arnold ~ I, ,I ~S5