Commission on Aging (COA) members discussed the funding plan for Human Services’ new transportation program after current grant funds are spent at their Monday, October 20 meeting.

Director of Human Services Natalie Griffith shared in her report that her department is still busier than usual after the launch of the Newtown Easy Transit pilot program. The service provides transportation for senior residents ages 60 and older, as well as people with disabilities, to get to different locations in town and beyond.

Griffith said they provided 112 rides and registered 46 riders between its launch on September 12 up until October 15. Of those rides, 39 were to Newtown Senior Center, 31 were trips to out-of-town medical appointments, and 11 were trips to recreational venues such as a train station or massage spa.

There were even several days where Human Services had to deploy both of Newtown Easy Transit’s buses to accommodate rides. Having two vehicles out at a time is important, she said, since Newtown’s vast geography can be a challenge when there are events happening at different parts of town.

Among the people who have already used the service was a man excited to finally return to the bowling alley, according to Griffith. She said he has not been able to drive since being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, “and so he hasn’t been able to get back to the bowling alley until now.”

Griffith added, “I think it’s really important to remember these buses are often used for recreation. It’s an invaluable part of mental and emotional health to get out there and do things you enjoy.”

To that end, Griffith said she wants the community to know Newtown Easy Transit is for anything they want to accomplish in town and surrounding areas.

Griffith reminded COA members that the $100,000 in ARPA funds they received from the State and State Representative Mitch Bolinsky expires on December 31, 2026. These funds are designated for transportation services, and have helped fund the Newtown Easy Transit program.

Six months of funding for transportation services will need to be included in the budget for January through June 2027, so Griffith said this will be part of her budget process this year.

“The tricky part is that we don’t have a lot of data yet because [the program is] so new, but hopefully by the time I get in front of the boards to defend some additions to the budget, we’ll have more data,” Griffith explained.

Griffith added that she will meet with Transportation Coordinator Jennifer Faircloth in the coming weeks to project what the operating cost will be for those six months.

“And there’s grant funding out there,” Griffith said. “Senior transportation is certainly an area that has some federal funding and through [Western Connecticut Area Agency]. So it’s not obviously guaranteed, but when that next grant cycle opens, I’ll apply for more funding.”

Senior Services Budget

With budget season rearing its head, Griffith also provided an overview of the budget process at the request of the COA.

“Just when you think budget season is over, it starts back up again,” Griffith mused at the meeting.

She continued by saying that they actually already began the budget process. Griffith said the Town’s department heads started training with Director of Finance Glenys Salas on the finance system, which is the electronic system where they enter their budget requests.

Salas also reviewed the budget timeline at the Town’s last department head meeting, and went deeper into that training the week prior.

Griffith then went over some of the key dates for the 2026-27 budget process timeline, at least ones that pertained to the COA.

Griffith said her budget request is due to the Finance Department by November 21. She will later meet with Salas and First Selectman Jeff Capeci to review her budget request sometime between December 1 and December 12.

The first selectman and the Finance Department will work to finalize the budget by December 15, with Capeci later presenting his budget to the Board of Selectmen on January 20.

If requested, department heads will present to the Board of Selectmen on January 26.

For her report, Griffith included last year’s approved budget for senior services, as well as data from previous years. The total approved budget for senior services in the 2025-26 budget was $332,912.

“I didn’t note it in my report, but I thought it was helpful to mention that it was a very tough budget year last year, so I was really glad how, despite that, there were no cuts to my budget on either side,” Griffith said.

She noted how there was no growth in the operating cost for Newtown Senior Center last year because “we really needed to remain as flat as we could be.” However, Griffith said the senior center was able to continue to grow and increase programming without increasing its budget last year.

This is because the senior center started charging for some of its larger events, and also implemented a fee structure for its health and wellness classes for out-of-town members.

“I’m hoping this year we have some movement and can make an additional increase, but we haven’t gotten there just yet,” Griffith said.

COA Chair Anne Rothstein asked how the COA or members of the senior center could advocate to the town on behalf of the budget Griffith requests.

Griffith said the first place for that would be to the Board of Selectmen, where people could submit written testimony requests or bring it up at public comment.

“The first step is that we have to get it through the Board of Selectmen, and then that process will continue,” Griffith said. “There may need to be advocacy to the Board of Finance and Legislative Council.”

Griffith said a proposed budget for 2026-27 will be presented at the next meeting.

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