Senior Advisory Board. January 6, 2025 The Bedford Senior Advisory Board met in regular session on the 6th of January, 2025, with the following members present: Patty Blum, Vice Chairperson Lucy Snearley, Secretary Carl Miller Idal Powell Becky Ferrell Christina Schlueter Constituting a quorum. Also attending were: Mark Long, Parks & Recreation Director Janell Denton, Senior Supervisor Rob Gagliardi, Council Liaison Hunter Hardeman, Recreation manager Caryn Riggs, Assistant City Manager Steve Otto and Bruce Emery were there to present information on the Bedford foundation benefitting the senior center. However, this was not an agenda item and will be added toi the next meeting. Absent Gina Day, Chairperson CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMENTS None APPROVAL OF MINUTES Patty Blum, Vice Chairperson, called the meeting to order at 4:04 PM. 1. Carl Miller moved to accept the minutes as written for the September 9, 2024 regular meeting. Christina Schlueter seconded and ther motion passed unanimously. NEW BUSINESS 2. Discussion and possible action on establishing goals fori the Senior Advisory Board in 2025. Mark Long led the discussion and complimented the Board for its productivityi in 2024. Listed are some of thei ideas to be considered: 1) Invite some of the nonprofit groups to the meetings to discuss how to work together to benefit Bedford: seniors, 2) Encourage seniors toj join both the Senior Center andi the YMCA in order to improve health, 3) Further outreach in a number of ways, including a sectioni int the Bedford Connection, frequent posting on social media platforms, seniors reading to elementary students, who in turn will tell their parents. This could result in those parents wanting to volunteer services and spread the word. 4) Rob Gagliardi said he is certain many opportunities will arise naturally for the board to act on. 3. Discussion and possible action on the expansion of the Senior Resource list. At present, all the listings are nonprofit organizations that offer services to Bedford seniors and are free. Discussion was held about the possible inclusion of for profit businesses that offer services. The general feeling was that this would appear tol be nothing other than advertising and there would ber noi fair way to limit this list. It could also be al liability issue for the city. Lucy Snearley moved to limit the list to nonprofits serving Bedford in addition to Bedford businesses offering discounts to: seniors. Ida Powell seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Members are still encouragedi to solicit restaurants and other businesses to offer discounts and be added to the list. OLD BUSINESS 4. Bedford Senior. Activity Center update Mark Long thanked Bruce Emery and Steve Otto for building the shelves ini the library. He also reported that temporary lights in the west parking lot have been installed until the city gets quotes for permanent lights. The lights on the east side have been fixed. Al bike rack willl be added for residents who would liket to bikei toi the center. There are still at few small details that the contractors have not yet finished: so the grand opening will be delayed until everything is ready. Some residents have been asking for a phone app to use when signing in tot the center. Instead of an app, Janell Denton said that members can take a picture of the barcode on their membership card and it will scan from the phone. She also said there are now more than 1250 members and almost 500 of those have been added since December 18th. Alli in attendance agreed that the new centeri is beautiful and the design fully utilizes every: single space. Rob Gagliardi said what we all feel, that the new center is the most beautiful city owned building and is the crown) jewel of all senior centers in the area. 5. The next scheduled meeting of the Senior Advisory Board will be February3,2025. ADJOURMENT There being no further business, Christina Schlueter moved to adjourn the meeting and Becky Ferrell seconded. The motion passed unanimously and the meeting was adjourned at! 5.24 PM. Gina Day, Chairperson