Senior Advisory Committee - Regular Meeting

Call the order for the meeting.

Stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Yes.

Pledge of allegiance 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.

Let's go start with approval of the agenda.

I would like to make a change. So unfortunately, we won't have a presentation today. So I'd like to make that change in the agenda. If I can get approval for that, we will have a presentation at the next meeting.

Move approval.

I second it.

All in favor?

Aye. So

let's go to the next item, would be the approval for the minutes from 12/12/2524.

Move approval.

Second. All

in favor? Aye. Okay. So that'll take us to staff updates. And Kyle will provide the staff updates for you.

All right.

Good to see everyone as always. Just some updates for you. We recently had our Havana Knights senior party. It was an amazing success. A lot of our seniors said that one might have been our best one yet. So we just, you know, are gonna continue to try and top, you know, our every party that we do. But we had a total of 312 register. Wow. And then I wanna say we had around two seventy five that showed up for that day. So it was still a great turnout. It was awesome. And then for upcoming events we have, we have our senior health fair next Friday. We currently have 120 registered. And that number just has been growing over the last few weeks. And then at the end of the month, we have our Halloween party.

And we currently have 140 registered for that. And we've been doing it to where they register, like, the month before. So that way we get the best turnout.

What's the date on the Halloween party?

The thirty first on Halloween.

Oh, okay. Thank you.

Of course.

And the health care is this Friday?

Next Friday, the third, October third.

And where is it?

In the community center in the ballroom upstairs.

Have

you is there media coverage for this? Is it vendors who are here? Or are there checkups being conducted?

Yeah. So we'll actually we'll have vendors there who'll be doing checkups and those types. They'll also have a salt bath. So we'll have them there as well. But I think right now we're at a total of 29 vendors. So we will have our communications department there taking video and pictures as well.

Is there any price to get in there?

No, it's No, it's

It's free?

What is the time on it?

ten to one.

That's on a Friday, right?

Yep.

And the

oh, go ahead.

I'm sorry. I gonna ask about the Halloween. What day That is that?

Is October 31 at 11:30 a.

What day of week is that?

I believe that's a Friday.

Friday. Okay. And just curious, two questions, because I love these luncheons. Who catered the Havana Nights?

Don Ramon's.

I mean, does it get better

than that?

Have Havana Nights and Don Ramon's. I mean,

they loved it. Yeah.

Seriously. And who were the how the Halloween party? Are costumes required?

Not required, but very much encouraged.

Okay. And what is the situation? Just, again, curious, is it a Chick fil A event? MARY

Or is it spooky food? Like, you know

We were actually thinking about doing spaghetti and marinara sauce and then meatballs.

MARY Oh,

Okay.

MARY

Now is that will it be served in boxes? Like, do you need Yeah. Our help?

We would love to have a friend. I know. I'm sure. Dropped the ball

on that, I'm sorry.

No, it's okay.

I could they're so much fun. Yeah. But I don't can I come without a costume? Yes. Okay, thanks.

We'll allow it.

Yeah. Oh, okay. And at

what time would you need us to do that setup?

If you could be there by eleven, because usually what we do is we open the doors at eleven, and we pass out the food at that time. So Gotcha. Yeah.

And then just a few more updates. For the month of October, we have six planned lunch and learns as of right now. And we've been trying to get as many of those going as we can because the seniors seem to really enjoy those, you know, enjoying a lunch with a, you know, the lecture. And then we are, those are averaging anywhere from 50 to 80 depending on the topic. And then we also recently purchased a ping pong table that was requested You by the

can ahead, mate.

Absolutely. They are very excited that we have it. It's in the senior lounge, and it's definitely getting its use. But we are I'm going to be working with one of the seniors that requested it, setting up, like, some tournaments or, like, you know, mini little leagues to get, you know, just the seniors using it more often. And they seem to be very excited about it.

So that's in the little room?

We cleared some tables out and Okay. Made good

room for it.

So it's multipurpose. It is breakfast, ping pong, and lunch. Wow. We're doing it all in that room.

Are the lunch and learns on the master calendar that you give them?

Yes.

Is that room getting crowded? Or is it just a flow?

It's more of a flow. It stays, yeah, Okay. It's not packed in

we have other things going on in the other room. So it kind of balances everything Okay. Out.

When is the first luncheon learned for October? And what is the topic?

I may have to get back to you on that I

just wondered if maybe for all of us, could we get an email blast Absolutely. When there's a Lunch and Learn coming up, like, you know, October 4

We can definitely do that.

Or six

Yeah. Ten a. And that's what we've been doing for the seniors that register in general, is to get, know, make sure we get our maximum participation as we send a reminder email out that we've been doing that for our events as well. But yeah, can definitely do that for you guys.

Mean if we're just included on the email that Yeah, that blast

happily, yeah.

Thank you very much.

Perfect.

And then along with our senior lounge room, quick update on our congregate meal site. It's been going amazing. I would say averaging 10 to 20, depending on the day and also the meals, because they do get a monthly calendar of what the meals are. So depending on the if it's, you know, an appetizing sounding meal, it's a packed house. And then just also for like our bingo days, we seem to see higher numbers for breakfast and lunch, because a lot will come early, go to breakfast, go to bingo, and then go to lunch.

Wow.

Skip Publix that day. I mean, what a, I mean, that's a great plan. It's so entertaining, it's so healthy. I mean, social activity for everybody

is Oh, it's awesome to see. And, like, we've seen so many friendships, like, blossom out of that congregate meal site. It's really It's amazing so wonderful.

Yeah. Well, thanks for all you do to make that happen and make everybody so happy.

And then just the last few things. We also do a we have a registered nurse that has she does lunch and learns, but she also does monthly, she'll do a music bingo for some brain games. And then she also does name that tune once a month. And those seem to be gaining more traction. And she's probably averaging 15 to 20 for those.

And then also, lastly, Freebie we've been using, as it and it's been going amazing. I can I'll send you an email including those numbers, for updated numbers. But the seniors are truly loving it, and it's been a great success that cars are here all the time.

And we actually have one of our first sponsors for the vehicle, too. So we have compassionate care. And so they're one of our sponsors for the vehicle, too.

I saw that was my question. Saw a freebie went flying well, not flying. I stand corrected Went by me, and I saw it wrapped. And I thought, oh, this is terrific.

Yeah. So we are always looking for opportunities for sponsors for the freebie program. It's a great way, you know, to obviously market your business, but also develop relationship with the seniors, too. So it's really great. So we're always looking for that.

And we're still at two cars?

We're still at two cars. We're still looking at everything to make sure that everything, numbers wise and all of that, we should have a report back on the update of that at the next meeting, so a finalized plan for that.

But it is is it when you talk finances, is it more expensive or less expensive? I mean, this is just financially, not security, the sense of security for seniors taking or anyone taking it, versus Uber. Not that I've had great Uber drivers and everything, but some of these folks, they like the familiarity of a driver. So that aside, strictly financially, Uber versus freebie for the village, is it comparable? Do we Yeah. Know?

Well, I would say that it's probably pretty comparable. But for us, since we've had the same transportation program, one of our biggest things was that we didn't want there to be a lapse in coverage or a lapse in comfortability, because I think that is a big concern for our seniors, is that they know the drivers. They're well aware. If there's an issue, they call the village. So we have that partnership. If we were to go on an Uber, we wouldn't really have that relationship with the company itself. So I think that's probably the biggest part for us, for our seniors, to make sure that they feel safe and they want to utilize the program.

GREGORY I was asking because I was telling someone about the program. And it's a Wellington resident. And said, well, how much does it cost taxpayers? And I said, well, many communities have a way for seniors to get transportation. This is something that's a bit more personal. And what does it cost me a lot of money? And I said, it's not costing I said, I thought it was fairly comparable to Uber if the village was sponsoring Uber. But then the intangibles of sense of security the familiarity with the driver, the ability to call this village. I a freebie three hours ago. They never showed up.

That type

of thing. There's someone totally you can talk to right away, I think if the village is attaching the name, it's comforting to know that you stand behind it if there's an issue, someone has a number to call and a voice to talk to.

Right. Exactly. And I think that's the great thing about the program. We have a really great relationship with Freebee. Kyle and myself, so we oversee the operations, you know, in conjunction with Freebee. So if there are any issues or anything that arises, we certainly communicate and it's rectified. So I think that's the best thing about the program. And the seniors really like it. And that was our biggest thing. We wanted to keep it the same for them. That way it wasn't a lax in coverage or anything like that. So I think that was the most important thing for the village.

And we're assuming that it's being funded through the next fiscal year? Yes. At the same level?

Yeah.

Thank you.

We're very excited to continue.

Any more updates?

That will be all for now.

All good.

So we go to old business now.

Does anybody have any old business?

We were, I think, requested about maybe six months ago. And I know we've had some issues in hearing a presentation from one of the board members of the senior club.

Yeah. So just an update on that. So we have actually signed the agreement for the senior club. And just so everyone is aware, that agreement states and rectifies that once they are below the $50,000 threshold of the money that they currently have within their savings and their checking, that is when the village would then reimburse them for any of their potential expenditures. So right now we have not given them any money this fiscal year. So we did sign that, and it did go to counsel. So counsel did sign the agreement. So they're utilizing our space. So they have certain programs, but they do have to oblige oblige by that contract. So everything that is written out in that contract, they have to follow as far as spending money.

And right now we have not given them any money this past fiscal year. So are they continuing to collect membership fees? So they will still collect membership fees. So with that fee, again, that contributes to the $50,000 So until they get below that threshold, the village is not giving any money as far as the program itself goes.

Okay. So I still am not clear as to why they're collecting fees then, because all of the monies they've been working off of are village funds. So why are seniors living in the village having to pay for their activities?

So that is something that the senior club has talked about, potential changing. And correct me if I'm wrong, I know you've been in the board meeting, but I don't think, as of right now, they don't collect fees until January. So right now they're not collecting any fees from the seniors as far as that goes. So anything that they have collected was the January through June period. But other than that, the rest of the year, they don't collect anything as far as membership fees go. So it's a $30 one time fee for the year.

Right. But will people be renewing their membership in January and then them collecting fees again?

As far as that goes, since we do have the agreement with the club, it is at their discretion. And I do believe it is within their contract that they are able to do that.

So that means they're not going be collecting fees again in general?

$30 yeah. For the year.

Pardon my ignorance about it. No. But what is the senior club?

The senior club, over time, has kind of changed, in a sense. And this is just to give you a bird's eye view. So the senior club itself, it's $30 and you have to be a Wellington resident in order to be within the club. This club was established a very, very long time ago, and as we know, things have changed. With the senior club itself, so they'll have a monthly luncheon, and they do nine a year. They'll bring in entertainment, and then they will also go on trips. So they'll go to the casino, they'll go on bus trips. And so it's not a large group of seniors that are going on these trips anymore. It's probably between 30 and 40, I would say. But they'll do that.

They also have a volunteer luncheon that they do in the summer, and then they also have opportunities to partake in clubs. So we host clubs within our community center, and we give the space, but it's a win win because the seniors have a place to go. So we have beading, we have quilting, knitting, just to name a couple of the programs that they do. So they do monopolize, I would say, during the day, within the twelve to about 04:00 in the afternoon. So you can imagine our entire building is full of senior citizens at that point in time.

So that is the senior club. And this senior club was established and this is prior to Kyle and I's time. It has tremendously changed. When I came on almost eight years ago now, the senior club was really the forefront of the programming. And now the village is also doing lots of programming, as you hear. We're doing lunch and learns, we're doing events. So we're really trying to not cross over as much as possible, because we want the seniors to have lots of options. The great thing about our programs is that we do have a resident and non resident fee at our community center. So a senior wants to take a Zumba class, right? If you're a nonresident, you can take a class there.

You would pay an extra fee in order to be within that class. So that's how it kind of differs between the senior club and between the village of Wellington, if that makes sense. But every year, we have in the past funded the senior club. And so the changes this year is that we knew about the extra funds, and so because of that, we didn't fund any money for them until they get down to the $50,000 threshold.

Go ahead first.

You go Yes.

I had a question, because when we had the last meeting, we talked about that. I just found out about the senior club through here, and you said the funding won't be not anymore available for the senior club. Right. But now you say, you know, the city approved them for the funding again for the next year.

So the city will approve, but they will not give any money until they're below $50,000. Just for retrospect, they have about a $126,000 in their accounts. So it's going to be a very, very long time before we even are at that point.

And that begs the question, why are they continuing to collect membership fees?

Yeah.

I mean, that's a lot of money to fund. And I guess I was kind of under the impression, and pardon my ignorance, that we would hear from them, and then as a senior advisory, maybe make a recommendation to counsel how to move forward. But that all went on before we even had an opportunity to hear anything from the senior club and their board.

Right. And the reason being, Donna, just to explain it. So within that agreement, it also is a facility agreement. And so without us having that agreement, we would have had to cancel all the senior programs within the community center. And so obviously we don't want to do that. We don't want to take the programming aspect away from them. And so we came to an agreement, and this is the agreement that we came to, is that until you get below that $50,000 threshold, unfortunately, you know, we're not funding any of the programs. So they're really self sustaining at this point. The only thing the village is really doing at this point is offering the facility itself, so that way they're able to still continue with their programs. And to be honest, most of those seniors are going into all of our programs, too.

So it's really you know, they're going from quilting and they're going to bingo and they're going to the next thing. So we didn't want to disturb continuity of their services as well. Go ahead, Roxanne.

No, Jose, you've been carrying the conversation. I'll jump in after.

All right. So you said if you cancel the senior club, you will cancel all programs for the seniors. What is the or what is the tie between those two?

JOSE No. So that's not what I said. So what I said is that per the agreement that they have, they have programs that are within their program itself, so within their contractual agreement with the village. And so for the village, when we host anybody in any of our facilities, we have to have some type of agreement in place, because we have to have insurance, we have to have liability just in case something were to happen. So we have to have something in place in order for those functions to still continue.

So as you can imagine, the senior club has been a long standing group, but we're not funding them. We have not given them any money for the past year, and we're not giving them anything until they show us their bank account. So to your point, Donna, if they're collecting membership fees, they're going to continue to have a high balance.

Right. But what I'm trying to say is that they're working off of village funds. Why collect membership fees? Just provide the activities to residents. It just doesn't sit right that you're being given money to provide activities, and then you're charging people to be a part of it. I understand charging a nominal fee or whatever to go to this luncheon, but to be a member when you're already a member as a result of being a resident of Wellington.

I understand.

I completely And that is, like, it's rather than really moving them in a different direction, it's allowing them to continue as a club, which we're really trying to move in a different direction. Right. And I don't know agreement for them to use the facility needed any financial addendum to it. So

would you would your recommendation be that they know they don't collect fees anymore from the members? I'm asking because I would like to know your guys' opinion as far as that goes.

GREGORY Roxanne, go for it.

GREGORY Well, first of all, let me ask the question. I thought maybe we were going to get it flushed out. But you say they come to quilting, are those exclusive programs for that group? Or are they village programs in the afternoon that anyone can come?

Anyone can come. So they are open to everybody. So that's the difference. So it is within their agreement. But Kyle and I have worked on that relationship to where we have been able to open it to other seniors, too. Because, you know, we do have a lot of seniors that are wanting to partake in knitting and to grow those programs. They'd be like Canasta or anything like that. So I think that we have worked that out over the years, especially since it is in our facility, too.

Okay. So those programs offered by the senior club are actually village programs? Are there programs paid for by the senior club that anyone can go to? Right. They're free. So they don't have to pay to go to any It's nothing.

It's It's just just we're giving the facility space for the program. And

who Oh, so you come in. Do you have a knitting instructor or a quilting instructor?

MARY No.

You just come in and

do MARY Yeah. Just a social aspect. So, JO

well, for me, I mean, now and please tell me where I'm misunderstanding. As a club, they can do what they want and charge if they want, right? They're not a village of Wellington club. Is that correct?

Club? Yeah. So basically, from the start of it, that was their initiation, is that in order to be a member, they have to pay the $30 and they take membership from January to June. And it happens every year. So sometimes, like, if somebody doesn't want to be a part of them anymore, they wouldn't pay the $30 And so that's how they kind of regulate and keep track of how many actual people they have So in the club every

they can charge if they choose to, although we may all be on the same page of why do they charge. Since they're a club, if people choose to pay that money, you pay. But I'm wondering, to your point, when they need village funding at some point, when and if that ever happens, if perhaps that could be revisited.

Well, $140,000 they have now is a result of village funding. That's all village money. Right.

Yeah. Yeah. See, that's where

Yeah.

I have JULIE: right. My concern is, are there requirements to be a member?

JULIE: Yes. So your requirement is you have to be a Wellington resident. And you have to be over the age of I believe it's 65. I think it's 65, I'm pretty sure.

So their requirements are nothing other than being a senior and a village or Wellington resident anyway.

MS.

Correct.

What are the benefits of being in the Wellington Club?

MS. The benefits are that they go to the monthly luncheons. So they're paying the $30 So they are getting their lunch every single month nine times out of the year. So they are getting that. They have the entertainment aspect.

That's being funded by the Village of Wellington, the luncheons or the clubs?

Yes. So, for instance, if a senior pays into it and they're paying their $30 that constitutes for them, number one, to be a member. And number two, the benefit, the actuality of it, is it goes into the funding for the lunches as well. So it helps with that. It helps offsetting the costs. Because the lunches have increased. We do know food, unfortunately, has gotten higher. So it is helping offset that cost, too.

Okay. Lunches, though? Because we offer lunch and learn here.

What is the JULIE get a different lunch? JULIE They have karabas or 2Js or kind of like how we do at our events. So like a box lunch, as you will.

But they also, did you mention they offer some road trips, too? Yeah. So that's also

Yeah. But the seniors do have to pay An

additional fee.

Right. But it's not

But it's for club members.

ANNETTE Just club members, exactly.

So ANNETTE I guess my confusion or concern is that our Wellington's seniors is open to anyone. Okay? And their club is just for Wellington residents. So if they put on the knitting club,

and

we open it up to residents, our residents, Can outside residents go to the knitting club? Because it is a senior citizen I mean, it's a senior club activity.

MS. So the way that it's even advertised, just being very honest, is on their golden banner, which goes to all their members. And then Kyle also provides a calendar at the front desk that has all of our senior services, activities, and programs on that calendar. So it's not like, you know, we're going out to everybody and saying, Hey, you were having this knitting club. But it's really people who are already kind of a part of are going to this group. So it's not necessarily just senior club members. It could be people that maybe go to the congregate meal site that see that we have the program, and then they want to go to knitting. So that's how that kind of facilitates. And they can yeah. Because it's in our facility. So, you know, we want to make sure that, obviously, we're offering it. And throughout the day, it's full of seniors.

I got a question because I'm going back to your question I have right now because they're still collecting fees. I mean, their clubs, you know, entitled to do whatever they want, but they already got the funding from the city. And that's the point what I see from her. Why is she collecting, you know, fees when they already had all the funding before? So, they had the money. That is I see her point of view, you know. There's no need to collect the fees. They already had the money in place. Right. Much is it? 150?

It's $30 a year.

But their balance now, she said $142

I would have I mean, I don't know right of today, but the last time it was closer to like $130 would $100.30

from the city to the club. So, why are they still charging the fees to be a member? So, that was my question. Because I've been trying to just process it down in my head, you know. That's all.

And the objective is pardon me. The objective, since the need for the senior club has become a little obsolete, in that you have generated a Right. Huge senior programming. So we're trying to walk in the direction of co planning versus a competition. They have an interlocal agreement of meeting here.

That's wonderful. But eventually we really should be working toward you managing all of the senior activities to avoid duplication. Right. So, yes, it met a need a long time ago, so that's why I'm feeling like if we're really trying to get to that end goal, then by continuing to collect funds and amass this huge I mean, the Kiwanis, or the Key Club, or the Rotary doesn't have that kind of a treasury. Right.

I mean, and so to amass that kind of, continue to amass that kind of money, it's just counterproductive to really what we're trying to do.

Right. I totally understand what you're saying. And I know that that definitely has all been taken into consideration, too. You know, I think that the biggest point to all of this, it's really changed. It's tremendously changed within the village. I mean, yes, we had the STAR program, but now we've got the freebie program, right? And we never had a monthly event when I first started. It was like, Okay, we're going to do lunch and learn, and that's what we're doing. And I think that's just good for all of you to know, too, the growth and adding of programs that Kyle's doing is really different. It's just very different than how it used to be.

When I first started, it was like, Okay, here's the senior club. I would just show up, and they ran and operated. And then I had lunch and learns and those types of things. But now it's like eight years later, we are fast forward to our facility is packed full of seniors. And I think that's the key.

So that makes me curious. When the senior clubs started, where were the senior programs that the village of Wellington offered? At what phase? Phase not even born yet, toddler? I mean, you know, basically, we had to have a senior club.

MARY Right, exactly.

And now, is it safe to say, and anyone who might tune in you know, it obviously has a strong following. So it does good things. But at this point, there really isn't one needed village, a senior club. It's simply people and I say simply, meaning it's people who want to be a member. This is another lunch to go to. It's another couple of field trips or road trips a

year Right.

And that type of thing. And I had, now that I'm more familiar, I had a couple friends that used to be in it in the horse world. And they enjoyed those hard rock or theater. They enjoyed those trips together, because there was great camaraderie. But I mean, who's to say that the village may not I mean, maybe there's not a liability there is a liability problem that would not allow road trips or things like that with the village to go to theater or someplace. But that's down the road. Is it so this money's been given. It can't be taken back.

MS. Correct.

Okay. And as I assumed and presumed. Is it and I'm generating I'm still talking about it because the one thing, the one topic that we talk about the most every quarter is this program. So obviously, something's not sitting right. And I think we're all kind of there's a question mark that remains after every conversation about Yeah. It.

And just so I have no issue inviting Aileen. So she is their acting president. We could have her at the next meeting if we wanted to.

JULIE Great.

JULIE Yeah. We could certainly do that. The last time we were going to do that, there were some health issues going on with both the president and the vice president. And so now the previous president has stepped down. And so the old president, who was the vice president, is now the president again, if that made any sense. Sorry.

What are the expenditures of the senior club per year?

I don't know that information off the top of my head. I don't want to say the wrong number. But it's usually and I'm going to ballpark this, Okay? It's usually between, I would say, $59,000 and $75,000 GREGORY in a

DELL: In a In a they're down to if it's a $75,000 expenditure, they could be down to 70,000 and then within the next year, they'd be down to 50,000

I'm Right. Asking.

But also note, because this is very important, too, everything that they do has to follow the contract. So what that means is if it says nine luncheons, nine luncheons. If that says that, you know, they have to have a holiday dance, they have to have a holiday dance. So it's very specific in the language as to what they have to do following the expenditures as well. Meaning, they can't just go and say, Okay, you know what? We're going go spend $100,000 on this, because the village is we are going to look at that. We will review it. Our finance department reviews their expenditures. We haven't this past fiscal year because we haven't given them any money. So that's going to, you know, start changing, obviously.

We're going to start looking at those expenditures as far as when they, you know, when we decide that we're able to make a payment to them. But like I said, I don't think it's going to be any time soon.

So I have one question. So at the onset of the senior club, there was the city of Wellington allotted a certain amount of money to give them every year. MS. Correct. Okay. That Yes. So this buildup that they have is from as a result of what we have agreed HARRIS: to give them per year. MS. HARRIS: Correct. MS. In addition to that, they collect this $30 membership. MS. HARRIS: goes directly into the treasurer with Right.

And just to clarify, so I would say it's been almost five years ago, four or five years ago, we did change. So previous to that, we would just give them the $56,200 until that would go directly to them. And then we did make the change where then they had to submit their invoices, and we were monitoring and looking at their actual expenditures. So I just want to be very honest and open about that, too. So we have stepped up and we made that change.

And I think it's probably been for the best that we're able to do that and monitor it. So I receive it, I send it to our finance department, and they go through it. I would love to say that I am well versed in finance, but that is not my, you know, forte. So I do send it over to them, they review it against receipts, invoices, anything, you name it. And as you know, the village were very great fiscally responsible, so we are managing that and looking at that readily whenever we do receive it on a quarterly basis.

Jennifer, how many members are enrolled right now?

Three.

Senior club?

I would say anywhere between three hundred and four hundred, like active members that they have.

At their luncheons, their number is usually between two twenty and two fifty.

Are their luncheons held here or over the Yes.

They're held at our community center. So it's the third Wednesday of every month. It is September through May.

I guess we need to decide whether we have any purview to make a recommendation to counsel at some point in time when we get more information, is where do we see the future of the senior club? What is the end goal for senior programming for the village. And at that basic I mean, but right now, until Yeah. We hear from them and speak with them. Yeah.

But just from an organizational standpoint, it just appears that there's such duplicity happening, and that just leads to inefficiency, as far as I'm concerned.

Right. Well, and I think once Aileen comes in, I mean, she's probably going give you the same information I have given you. Right. But, you know, I definitely, you know, it is at your you know, you're able to make those recommendations. And obviously, being the committee, we do want to hear what those recommendations are and suggestions.

And I think once she's able to present and look at that, I do also have the contract. So that is also something when she comes, she can bring, present, show, all the above. So you're more than obviously welcome to see that as well. But I do think that with the change and Mr. Barnes would say this, but it used to be a part time person, you know, that was doing senior programs way back when.

And that's when the senior club was put into play. So that tells you, now you've got myself and my entire team. You know, we handle all the responsibilities of, you know, the amphitheater, the community center, the community services building. We have senior programs, we have youth programs, we have an event tonight. Hopefully the rain stops. But, you know, we're doing a lot, and I think that's the key. It has changed tremendously. And believe it or not, at our amphitheater, our concerts and food trucks, we have lots of seniors that come to that, too. So it's really an all day event for them, really, if you think about it. I mean, from breakfast to lunch to bingo to take a break, come back out to the amphitheater.

So we're really providing a lot of services, I think, and the concerts are free. So, you know, we have a lot going on. So I think that's definitely a change.

I was just trying to think about this. At least the concern, basically what I see from here is, you know, they get the funding from the city. But they can be members, can't keep the club. If they don't receive the funding from the city, I don't think so would be issued. They can't have the club. That's probably the point you're trying to make. They get the funding from the city, they duplicate the services. But if they don't get the funding from the city, they can be a club. That cannot stop them because that's the beauty of this country. But, like she said, you know, if they get the funding, that's duplicative service. That's I'm trying to understand this.

I understand. I totally understand what you're saying. And you are 100% correct. So that

is $50,000 is a very high threshold It is. To say that they I mean, most organizations are self supporting.

And

we know that our residents, because those are that's their membership, would not be missing out on anything, because you all can duplicate what they're doing, or just enhance your programs with that money. And it would be under one umbrella. And it also just would look cleaner.

It's almost like having a private club funded by the Yes. You know, by the public. So it's

But it would still be open only to the residents. It's not like the amphitheater. You have entertainment. Half the world comes out to your amphitheater. We can't get parking spaces.

But that's because it's open to everyone. The senior club, I believe, was established by resolution. Now, Howard, if you remember Howard from way back, he wouldn't have known all the details. The idea was to not make it political. You know, I'm a political vehicle before elections or something.

I lived in a town in New Jersey, Parsippany Tri Hills, mayor, the mayor of that town. I had seven funded, seven different senior clubs now agreed. It was a big place, the twenty second largest city in New Jersey, but it was looked upon as, oh, Frank is giving us another picnic here or there. Now, if you want to separate things, you've got to look at the original resolution, the intent of our club. The financing at the time I came on, what, seven years ago here, it was 55,000 back from the village to the club.

But other than that, the club did not have the opportunity at that point to have all these wonderful ancillary activities that obviously you're intimately aware of. But not to get legalese, because obviously I'm not a lawyer, it's almost like Lori Cohen should come here and explain the ins and outs illegally of the funding of the senior club. Now, let me ask you this. I hate to compare our Wellington with Royal Palm Beach. That citizen.

Oh, sorry, sorry, sorry, I'm so sorry.

Senior club is supposed to be a killer. Now, I don't know how they're funded, if it's all, I mean, obviously, we we are are in in conjunction with the freebies with Royal Palm Beach. Because they have the same ability or the organization behind it. But, again, as years ago, a former elected official way back in Jersey. You know, everything comes down, as you said, that money has got to be, oh my god.

Spam. I hit my phone.

JULIE Spam is calling all of us.

JULIE And it seems to be where is the interest coming from? I did not attend any of the budget meetings. But is the delineation or the separation talk coming from the council? Or is it something that we're really looking at? Because obviously, as we've mentioned here, it's a suggestion to appear before the council.

Because technically, we don't have that input to the council. It's just the way it is here. However, I'd be interested in seeing, and I don't have those records, the original resolution creating the year of the club. That's it.

Well, now, I've so and we're still talking about this, so obviously there's quite a bit of interest and feelings about it. If there's 400 members and they pay $30 each, that's $12,000 a year. An average lunch, when it's brought in, what kind of do you know what they're paying?

It's between $4,000 and $5,000

a month.

That's why I took, like, a $25 fee and got, like, dollars $56.50 Yeah. Some $5,000

Because you do pay a little bit more when it's a box lunch. Right.

Each lunch costs about, say, 45,000 to $5,000

So

that $12,000 annual would not carry beyond two Is it possible going forward at some point the advisory committee we work with you to meet or have counsel when they get down to that $50,000 threshold, can that itself be changed that they don't get funding To say, Okay, your expenditures per year are this and this, this much, but these are duplicate programs, and start phasing it out. And I, again, I think it'd be nice to be able to meet with, as you said, their leadership, just to get info. And they may be wondering if that time will be coming anyway, because it's certainly served a terrific purpose. To have 300 or 400 members is great, who are still willing to pay money, even though there's programs here. They're coming to programs in the village village sponsored programs as well, even though I'd like to say their programs are village sponsored as well.

And that's where the village is helping to fund an exclusionary club. And that's, I know, has been your whole point. I I know I understand. And you're sure. And you say your forte. We asked you both a lot of questions. And I was actually going to wait until our comments. And you'll say, well, I don't know it off the top of my head. Or it's not my forte. Your forte is what you do. And you do it better than anybody, the team. So if you don't know everybody's financial spreadsheet for every year, I think that you get a pass for that.

Thank you, Roxanne.

Don't know. I'm just saying, don't know. I mean, it's Okay. I'll get it to you. But thank you for all you do know and all the questions you can't answer, because I'm certainly being enlightened about this. And I think there is something. You know, sometimes things get going. They're they serve a great purpose. They continue to go. Everything's going great. And then questions are raised, and it's like, oh, you know what? As a village, we could probably take half of that. Maybe we still the village says, you know, we still want to keep that club going, but we're gonna give half the amount, or whatever that we've And because questions are raised, and there's certainly no suggestion of any impropriety going on, anything's wrong. Right. But just, you know, you grow and change, and sometimes the changes catch up.

And you've got to let those things catch up and make the change. So I think it's a great start. And maybe if we can get the leadership in to discuss and find out exactly what they spend a year, and everyone takes a hard look, that they've got some money now to keep those programs going. And then when it's time to more money is needed from the village, it's reevaluation MARY time. And that

may be when a shift MARY Yeah.

That will benefit everybody.

MARY Right.

MARY Yeah. And the contract we have in place, just so you know, it goes through September 2026. So it's Okay.

MARY another year.

All right. That's good for you guys to know as well.

If we could make sure it's on our calendar to have had the conversation with the their leadership. Sure. And have time to make a recommendation to the council. Because we are an advisory board, and yes, we do have the right to make You do. So we would then propose something, and if there's the approval of the group, we could make that recommendation.

And that's where maybe we should look toward. And I agree with everything Roxanne. They served a purpose, but we need to figure out what the next stage will be. And it may be that they need to function as a self functioning and stand alone club that, like any other organization does, they have to be able to And again, we would do nothing to hurt any of our residents because already you're providing so much. So it's not that.

It's just, again, it would appear more equitable across the board.

Yeah. What did you say the average amount of money given to the club has been annually?

So we only budget a certain amount. So we budget $56,200

That's right. That's what you

So we don't give them more than that. Whatever we budget is what we budget. So if they overspend, then

ask them.

Yes. But I think that's something to consider going forward when they get down below. That's money that could go overall to general programs for seniors in Wellington.

JULIE Yes.

That, you know, maybe there's one lunch a year is glammed up. I mean, you know, I'm

just Like a gala or

Right. Something that, you know, a few more thousand bucks is spent. Yeah. Or it might help maybe that money goes into the freebie account or something, you know, to provide more services. And so I just think that Okay. And the other thing oh, I almost forgot this. September is when their relationship or agreement on the funding. When do we have to make a recommendation and come up with a formal recommendation to counsel?

So I would recommend that we have the senior club come in at our next meeting. I think that that gives you guys an opportunity to speak to Ms. Eileen. And then based on that so I think our next meeting is in December. So then based on that, then you could always make a recommendation then, or you could wait until the March meeting and make a recommendation. So whatever you all you know, feel is equitable for the decision.

And you take that to counsel and submit it to counsel? Yeah. I go ahead.

So when would this counsel has a budget meeting, I'm sure.

Right. So we don't we do not approve the budget until September 2026. So our budget year is October through September. So if you make the recommendation prior to us putting the budget together, which that's why I think the recommendation, you know, whatever you guys decide, so that bases off of maybe by March we have a recommendation. So then that way we're ahead of the game as far as when the contract expires.

I just want to make a recommendation because I noticed we have only two, three meetings. And they are so quick to cancel the meetings. And if we commit to this, I recommend to everybody to be here on December because we have only two meetings. We used to meet every month before when Jennifer came. So I know it's hard. But we're going to proceed with this. We had to commit to be here in December. Because if we don't have the What is it?

Quorum.

Quorum. They will cancel the meeting. And I'm the last one to know, you know, because they don't let me know until ROBERTSON: if I don't call them. I don't get

We do send emails.

Yes. MARY We've shown up for a couple when we know when the next meeting is going to be, that you have enough time to let Jennifer or Kyle or anybody know. Is it possible that those meetings like, if four of us couldn't come in December, say, could that meeting be a week earlier or a week later?

Yeah. That's fine. As long as there's nothing else that's scheduled here and actually, while we're talking about this, let's look, because in December, Hey, we're calling there's a

going on.

Yeah. also, too, is it possible to call and have a special meeting? Could you call a special meeting?

If there's something important to be on the agenda. So that's the only way that we would have a special meeting. So it would have to be something that had to be talked about at that point in time.

So if we're not able to come together in December for scheduling purposes

or Oh,

something, we could just for this one topic, we could call a special meeting

to So

hash out this one topic.

It looks like December 11 would be the next meeting.

December 11?

Yeah. What day that's on Thursday?

It's a Thursday. So it's the second Thursday.

Second Thursday?

It's always the second Thursday. I think that's better than what I was thinking. What I think it's

Thursday is this? This is the second.

Well, actually we moved it because our original meeting was on September 11.

Second Thursday of the

month? It was because it was on September 11.

But I'm saying is Yeah. What Thursday is this?

This is the fourth Thursday.

And look. We're all here.

So maybe maybe we need

to change say of December is the twenty fifth.

Oh, okay. Yeah. We don't want to do

that.

I mean, if you guys want to, I but JULIE

don't think we'll have quorum.

No, no. But I'm just saying, everybody's hearing this through

DAVIS: Thursday. Don't know. And I'll be full disclosure here, which probably, since it's being recorded, my ninety four year old mother, her assisted living facility, has some gala in December. I like to go to it because she's my 94 year old mother. My husband could come in my place because not so much. I mean, it's kind of a hoot. But I like to be with her for it. She likes to have the kids around her, you know.

But you guys understand.

We can change for the following week.

Well, the eighteenth starts a lot of holidays and

vacations.

What about the week before?

The fourth? The first week? Would have

to JEAN I don't want it scheduled all around my schedule. I'm going to try to reach out to them and say, you guys have got to get this pinned down. It's very frequently around the tenth or eleventh or the following week. And they seem to think that they don't need to let anyone know until a few days ahead of And that does it messed us up. It has messed us up before. I'll try to find out. I just wanted to give a heads up. I would really like to be here. Maybe there could be a meeting, as you mentioned. Maybe the leadership of the club could not be here on that date either. And we might want to do a special Well, meeting.

And what we could look at, if you guys wanted to I know our meeting is scheduled to be in December. It's kind of hard when it's in December. Maybe we can look and see if we could maybe do it November or maybe earlier. I could always do that. And then that way, we don't have to worry about the holidays, because It it's always challenging.

Is.

There's even, well, I mean, you could have school events and things, pageants, and all those things that go on and, you know, that you want Yeah. To be getting ready for.

Can check availability, just to assure there's not another meeting or a council meeting or, you know, because We

would do our quarterly meeting basically in November instead of December, not just December. Which I

think would be better ROBERTSON: for everybody That might you a agree great idea. MARY We can do that. I'll double check. And if I get a couple of dates, I'll send it out to you guys. Then you can tell me

which one works better for you.

Thanks. Thank you.

MARY ROBERTSON: No problem.

I got a recommendation for the group right here. I know a couple of members right here at work. I know 03:30 is a great time to meet the senior advisory committee. But what about 04:30, this thing I want to late?

I can do whatever is good for anybody. Whatever the masses want, I am totally fine do could do later.

JULIET DUMOULIN: So 04:30? I want to propose 04:30? JULIET Same meetings, you know, same

JULIET So

meeting time would change to whenever we have a meeting at 04:30. So if the November meeting would be thirty, if we

have that. As long as it doesn't impede upon something else. So I have to check. Mean, I'll take your recommendation, but I have to check. I can't just say yes without checking the schedule as well.

Could we approve it, and then you that time is available, so therefore the meeting in November will be at 04:30 or December? Or you would say, you know, we know you've approved it, but there's no time to have a 04:30 meeting. And then we would have to go.

I want to make a motion?

Yeah. That's fine. Okay.

So move that our future meetings begin at 04:30 p. M.

I second it.

All in favor?

Aye. No,

I don't, I don't, nay.

Okay.

And I just, it just kind of conflicts with another. Okay.

Would 04:00 be easier for you, or is 03:30 the latest?

MS. Four would be better. MS. Could you do four? MS. Well, yeah. Four would be better.

I just could do four.

If it's like an hour meeting, I need to be finished by Okay.

Do we need somebody to DELL: amend the motion? So do you want me to? Yes. Okay. We have an amended motion to meet at 4PM for future senior advisory meetings.

I second that motion.

All in favor?

Aye. And

if that doesn't work, could we revisit it? Because it shouldn't be pressing you.

Well, yeah. Mean, I can try to we have a sorority meeting on Wednesday. And I have to be there to set up

So 04:00 is

good. I'm sorry. 04:00. So we can try it and see. If it doesn't work, then maybe we can amend it from that time. Thank you so much. I appreciate consideration.

No problem at all. All right. Do we want to move on to new business, or do we still have anything else as far as old business goes? And just as a follow-up, so we will bring the senior club in November to the meeting. And then you can ask questions. And I will assure that she has the contract with her, too.

And their finances and their expenditures. Thank you.

Will bring everything. Okay. So I think we can move on to new business. Does anybody have any new business?

Kind of concerned, you know, because I see the new development coming to the Wellington. I see new houses, which is great. It's more taxes. But I see the increase of traffic and also accidents, you know. And the last past three months, I witnessed almost every day one accident on Wellington, Southern, Forest Hill. Special intersection Forest Hill and Landings. Lines. Lines. Yeah. And there's a lot of accidents there. And I don't know. I know the population is growing. We need housing. You know, it's inevitable. But what the city is doing to mediate this traffic?

Because I know we had to give a place to live. But also, I don't see the roads growing. That's my you know, when I moved to Wellington fourteen years ago, you know, there was no traffic. That was easy. But now, it's accidents everywhere. I don't know if the city is planning to build new roads. That's my I I know. That's a big question there.

Yeah. I don't know that I'm able to answer that question. You know, if that's something you want to talk about, we're able to bring in maybe our engineering department as far as But roadways, I don't know that I have an answer to that.

No, understand. And that's not And that's nothing that To deal with. A Board can deal

with.

JACKIE Isn't that a zoning issue? JACKIE FAHERTY: Public safety. Yeah. JACKIE JACKIE FAHERTY:

Does everybody FAHERTY:

I agree that I don't know that it's really not in our wheelhouse. But I think if we wanted to approach it in the manner of or the direction of, you know, the roads are very crowded. We've got an aging population here. What can we do? Like, what can get out there? What's being done to make sure road markings are kept up and signals and signage is staying current for everybody. But there is a lot of traffic.

JULIE Yeah. And maybe we can do a program for seniors, you know, that driving, some type of, you know, driving just practices, know, or something like that for the seniors?

We actually have an AARP driving course.

AARP?

So we do host it at the Wellington Community Center once a month. I think it's the second Friday of every month. So we do have that program. And it teaches them and then also gives them a discount on their insurance, too.

You know, to your point about speakers, would a lunch and learn and this may not attract an audience. So feel free to say, no, it's not going to work. But would a deputy and an engineering person come and talk about driving in the village, and things that have changed, and let seniors tell them their concerns. Let people who attended talk about their concerns. And maybe it could be In the growing time. Yeah. And taken into consideration by an engineer. You know, I don't know that that's got the biggest mass audience appeal. But the fact that it's of concern to somebody on the committee, it might be worth, can it be used somewhere else rather than just have someone come speak to us.

Right. And we do have the Public Safety Committee, too. So that is something that they talk about. You know, they do talk about the growth concerns, those types of things. That might be a better suit for that committee. But I do understand, you know, your concerns as far as that goes as well.

Yeah. Thank you. It was something I mean, we miss all the time, you know. So thank you. Thank you, Roxanne, for clarifying that.

You're very welcome.

Okay. Do we have any other new business?

Any business?

No. No. Okay.

So I guess we can move to public

comment. Public comments. Okay.

And then we can move to board comments.

Did I see correctly that Wellington is one of the top areas for seniors to live? I saw that. Is the village shouting that from the rafters? And I know there's probably a big bonus for the team that plans all the events. But it was also in terms of medical care, accessibility to getting help, and programs available.

Just one of the reasons is the programs that you all do and promote and organize. And it's not easy. I mean, it's just not easy to do that every day, along with the other programs. And I hope the village is singing it from the rafters and shouting it and making it because Wellington's not a huge community overall. And this was isn't it one of the top places in the country to retire?

It's like 25 or twentieth or something. I was really proud. I was really proud of that as a resident to see what's happening. That it's not just life for I still feel like I'm 30, but it's not life for the 30 anymore. This village is stepping up and making life really good and doing what it can to make life great for its older population. And I think that's terrific. And a lot of that goes to the programs that are created that aren't just programs. Programs. And so then it's not easy. I know any of us who have ever worked, people think, oh, all you did was this. Well, you know, when you really get into it, if it's going to be good, or you're going to be good at it, it takes a lot of work. So thank you.

Thank Thank Roxanne. I appreciate that. Yeah, we're pretty proud of our programs and of our population of seniors that come to our building on a daily basis. It's very nice when the building is full and we have them there. It's very rewarding. And we really love it. So it's very nice.

GREGORY Yeah. It speaks to the fact that people who moved here when I moved here and the average age was in their 30s and 40s, and that was primarily the population here, that they stayed and actually became seniors. And they're still here and enjoying all activities of and benefits of living in Wellington, the stability that is here.

Yeah. And I think it shows how much the village cares about all of its residents. We were, you know, one time quote Welly World for all the up and coming families and everything. And we moved here in our 30s. And, you know, we're still here. We would never leave. Because, you know, we have so many programs here. And I love bragging about it to people. When they ask me things about what can I do, or that's not Oh, yes, it is? In Wellington, it is available. It is And here's what you do, and here's how you, you know. So it's really terrific. So thank you. You're welcome. Thank you and to the team, the whole team. Thank you.

Thank

you. Roxanne is right because I coached right here for about seven years. I was coaching soccer. And until the pandemic came, you know, and I stopped. But you're right. The facilities are here. They're here. You know, they're great. So, had a great opportunity to meet a lot of people and coaching a lot of kids right here. Not only my kids, you know, I was coaching, you know, three different ages, you know, because I had three different kids. So, I had three different games during the week. But, yeah, it was so close to me and the families who worked with me, they were great. I agree with Roxanne.

I have something that is pressing on my mind is that with our current or recent law changes with open carry guns and so forth, that may be something some of our seniors may have some concerns about that, not totally understanding what that means and, you know, how that law is going to be carried out. So it would probably be good if we could have some type of lunch and learn or some type of informational package for our seniors. Because I know I'm a little concerned. Think that's a great idea.

So I that's great And Kyle will certainly work on that.

Definitely.

Any more concerns? Any Just want

to thank you and your staff for doing a great job.

Thank you, Donna. We appreciate all of you. And we are excited to do the health fair next week, so we can't wait. It's always really nice to be able to provide those resources to them, especially in the place that they spend every CLARK: single day. So it makes it easy for them. And we're going have breakfast and lunch, and we're going to have fun. So it's going be really fun next Friday. Yeah.

So we're to

Closing comments?

Looks like.

Nope. See everybody in November. I

see a motion to adjourn.

All right.

Second. All in favor?

Aye.