Commission seeks mayoral meeting on volunteer recruitment, background checks and transportation access

Commissioners agreed to ask borough staff to request a special meeting with the mayor to develop a coordinated approach to volunteer recruitment and deployment for senior services. Commissioner Darlene Seppley told the commission that two volunteer priorities are homemaker services (laundry, basic home chores) and respite care for people with Alzheimer’s or related dementias; she warned volunteers and paid staff are in short supply and that these needs are difficult to meet.

Seppley described background-check constraints that can delay volunteer placement: the senior center pays for state fingerprint checks (reported cost $79) that can take two to three weeks for results, while private Sterling checks (quoted as roughly $30) return faster but are not accepted when state or federal grant funds are involved. Commissioners discussed the need for non‑grant funding to allow faster, flexible volunteer programs and agreed staff should seek a special meeting to plan next steps; Darlene was asked to invite the senior center volunteer coordinator to attend. Separately, commissioners raised safety concerns about bus stops uncleared of snow; an online participant, Matt Boyer, reminded the commission that bus stops on city roads are a city responsibility. The commission resolved to list transportation as an agenda topic at the April meeting and pursue meetings with city and borough staff.