Aging Commission

ORDINANCE RE:  COMMISSION ON AGING
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE LEGAL VOTERS OF THE TOWN OF STONINGTON IN LAWFUL MEETING DULY ASSEMBLED THAT A COMMISSION ON AGING BE ESTABLISHED AS FOLLOWS:

Section I. Organization
There shall be a Commission on Aging in the Town of Stonington consisting of twelve (12) members which shall be called the Stonington Commission on Aging.  The First Selectman, the Agent for the Elderly, and the Director of Health of the Town of Stonington shall be members ex-officio.  Four (4) members shall be appointed by the Board of Selectmen, if possible, as follows:  One (1) member to be chosen from a private service organization; one (1) member to be chosen from the clergy; one (1) member to be a representative of the age group concerned; and one (1) member from the Public Health Nursing Agency Board of Directors.  The remaining eight (8) members shall be selected by the Board of Selectmen on an at-large basis.  The members so appointed shall be persons interested and committed to the consideration and solution of the problems of the aging.

Section II. Staffing and Terms of Appointment
The initial appointments to this Commission shall be as follows:  two (2) for three (3) years; two (2) for two (2) years; three (3) for one (1) year.  Thereafter the members of the Commission shall be appointed to hold office for a period of three (3) years from January 1st in the year of their appointment with one-third of the Commission being appointed annually on January 1st of each year.  Any vacancy occurring in the membership of the Commission shall be filled by an appointment of the Board of Selectmen for the unexpired portion of the vacated term.  Except for members who are selected at-large, such appointees should represent the same discipline, if possible, as that of the resigning members.  Members of the Commission shall serve without compensation and shall be reimbursed for their necessary expenses with the prior approval of the majority of the Commission.

Section III. Purpose
The purpose of the Commission shall be to review and analyze the needs and condition of Stonington's elderly and aging in relation to housing, nutrition, employment, health, recreation, social services, transportation, and other matters and problems within the jurisdictional concern of the Commission.  The Commission shall also plan, coordinate, develop and review programs to meet the needs and to improve the conditions of the elderly and aging within the Town of Stonington and shall provide coordination and linkage of such plans and programs among existing services.  The Commission shall act as an advocate for the elderly and aging and shall make recommendations from time to time to the Board of Selectmen and at the annual town meeting regarding services for elderly and aging persons.

Section IV. Duties
The Commission shall be the Town's agent for reviewing, planning and coordinating services and programs for the elderly and aging within the Town of Stonington.  It shall review and recommend applications, where appropriate, for federal, state, local and private funds for programs for the elderly and aging.  The Board of Finance and the Board of Selectmen shall be responsible for securing and disbursing such funds.  The Commission shall further assist in interpreting and developing policies and guidelines for such services and programs.  The Commission shall meet at least once every month for this purpose with special meetings to be called from time to time when necessary.  The Commission shall also be authorized to establish and promulgate by-laws to enable it to function in fulfilling its duties.

This ordinance shall become effective fifteen (15) days after publication in a newspaper having circulation in the Town of Stonington.

Adopted  August 21, 1989
Effective September 13, 1989
Amended Section 1 April 10, 1995 (effective May 8, 1995)