Commission on Aging (COA) members discussed transportation updates and donated $1,000 to a Benefits Card program for Newtown seniors during the commission's October 19 meeting. The meeting marked the first time the COA has convened since breaking for the summer.

The COA originally planned to meet in September, but a lot of snafus came up for its members around that time, according to COA Chair Pat Bailey. She said the first rule of management is delegation and follow-up, and she forgot to follow up, which she apologized for.

Thus, Director of Human Services Natalie Griffith presented her reports for September and October. The biggest update, which Griffith said she was thrilled to share, is that they received an award letter for the Western Connecticut Area Agency on Aging (WCAAA) grant, which provides $10,000 in funding for Newtown Easy Transit for the upcoming year. The grant starts in October, and will support the local transportation program through next September.

Griffith said she was informed of another potential grant for Newtown Easy Transit. They are still waiting to hear on a Department of Transportation grant from its Section 5310 Program, which provides grants intended to improve mobility for seniors and individuals with disabilities.

"So we're hoping to get some good grant funding support for the program," Griffith said. "We are gearing up for the budget season, so we will be looking at pieces of Newtown Easy Transit and if that's going to be covered under the next fiscal year's budget."

She added the Transportation Planning Committee, established earlier this year under the Legislative Council, has been incredibly welcoming to her and Transportation Coordinator Jennifer Faircloth. Senior and disabled transportation is one of the things the committee is looking at, and they have had Griffith and Faircloth come to some of their meetings, Griffith reported.

Griffith reported they did start looking at a three-year plan and what that would entail in terms of the size of the program, the staffing, and the fleet, which they planned to share at the Transportation Planning Committee's October 27 meeting.

On that note, Griffith said Newtown Easy Transit scheduled a total of 501 rides in September — the highest number of rides since the program's launch in early September 2025. The program provides rides weekdays for Newtown residents ages 60 and up, along with disabled individuals over 18, to local and out-of-town locations.

"Every month, [the number of scheduled rides] goes up," Griffith said.

In September, 419 rides were completed, while 82 rides were canceled by the rider — making 501 total scheduled rides. Faircloth thought they would hit capacity around 300 rides, yet they have been able to handle 419 completed rides, according to Griffith.

"I like to point out the number of scheduled rides, not just the completed, because everything on the back end before that ride still goes into scheduling the ride. So that work is still there, even if we do have a rider cancel their ride," Griffith said. "It's a truer demonstration of need and demand to look at that 501."

Bailey noted that 82 canceled riders is almost 20% of that total, and asked if there is any kind of penalty for that. Griffith said that point is part of what the strategic plan and Transportation Planning Committee looks at. She noted it is the same cancellation rate as HARTransit, which provides transportation services for much of the surrounding area.

"It's just a high cancellation population," Griffith explained. "People wake up and they're not feeling well, there's bad weather; things like that go into those last-minute cancellations, but it does make scheduling difficult."

Griffith said Faircloth is really on top of trying to figure out how to avoid paying a driver when they have a cancellation, because it takes funds from the program for a driver not to be out on the road. Griffith noted it is definitely something they will continue to look at.

Senior Benefits Card

Bailey shared that some COA members have been working with Friends of Newtown Seniors (FONS) and Newtown Senior Center for a Benefits Card.

COA alternate member Beth Young, who had been working on the endeavor, said the Benefits Card would be used by Newtown seniors to receive discounts at specific local businesses. She relayed an e-mail from FONS Founder John Boccuzzi Sr, asking if the COA would be willing to help solicit participation by local merchants, promote participation by local seniors, and contribute financial aid anywhere between $500-$1,000.

"Something like this is how people get together, learn from each other, become friendly, and build our concept of community in our town," Young said.

All Newtown residents over the age of 65 would be eligible for the Benefits Card; they would not have to be a member of Newtown Senior Center. Young clarified vendors who agree to participate in the program would need to be alerted by a cardholder before any Benefit Card transactions are started.

"You can't just show up somewhere," Young explained. "Vendors have to decide they want to do this, and then people can come in and purchase their good at a discounted price."

She added the group already has several vendors who volunteered to take the Benefits Card. Young said the card ultimately creates possibility for both the card holder and vendor. In turn, Young said the endeavor opens the door to a more livable community and creates an environment that allows people to work together.

FONS would maintain a consistently updated list to keep track of who has the Benefits Card. Newtown seniors would be able to pick up the card at Newtown Senior Center. Griffith said the group has also discussed having an additional location where the cards would be available for pickup.

After additional discussion, COA members unanimously voted to give $1,000 to FONS for the Benefits Card program.

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Reporter Jenna Visca can be reached at jenna@thebee.com.