Seniors filled in the senior center last Friday afternoon, February 21, to hear from First Selectman Jeff Capeci and ask questions regarding senior life in town.

Capeci started the lunchtime event by briefly updating the seniors on his budget, “Budgets are now with the Board of Finance, hopefully they will act by March 10th, and then send them to the Legislative Council.”

Capeci then opened the conversation up to the seniors. The seniors asked a few questions regarding the transfer station, tax breaks for seniors, and started a discussion about senior meals.

One participant wanted to know how much a roll of town-branded blue bags would be.

“I can’t remember the number, I think it’s 100, and so they’re basically a dollar a bag,” Capeci explained. “In theory, if you use two bags a week, it’s sort of a wash with the permit fees because the permits currently cost $100 or $90 for seniors, and the permit fees will be removed when this program goes into effect.”

“The cost per volume for the garbage that you’re throwing out is the same regardless of the size of the bag,” Capeci said. “So, what I would recommend doing is maybe still buying your 13-gallon bags and using them, and as they fill up, you know, the Glad bags, you just put them into a larger 30 or 55-gallon bag that you would dispose of at the transfer station.”

Another member of the audience then asked about a possible increase in taxes. Capeci explained that the taxes are going up. “I’m trying to keep spending down … but we have a revenue loss. We have a significant taxpayer in this town that is in bankruptcy and hasn’t paid their taxes.”

Capeci added later in the meeting that there was also a 20% increase in health insurance, which has made it a “very difficult budget year” and that it has been “a challenge for every department.” He encouraged the seniors to be involved and be informed in town meetings so their voices could be heard by more than just him.

Another participant, Rick Smith, asked about the emergencies the town has experienced, referencing the August 18 storm and the most recent ice storm over President’s Day weekend.

“What happens if there is an emergency,” Smith asked, “You have to make the call that there is an emergency and set up the warming centers?”

Capeci explained that he worked with a liaison from Eversource to obtain real-time data about when each neighborhood would have restored power, as well as Newtown Emergency Communications Director Maureen Will and Emergency Management Director Donna Culbert. He shared that he put out a few news releases that day to try and keep the public as informed as possible. Capeci said he saw Eversource trucks and crews working around town, and everyone’s power was restored by 7 or 8 pm on Tuesday, February 18.

A participant then asked about senior lunches. Natalie Griffith, the director of Human Resources, shared that due to the significant budget cuts on a federal level, which then trickled down to a state level, the free lunches at Newtown Senior Center were also cut.

Someone from the crowd suggested asking restaurants to possibly donate meals to the seniors from the leftovers at the end of the night. Griffith said it was something that would be discussed at the next Commission on Aging meeting. A story with full details about the meeting will be available Friday, March 7.

The lunchtime event closed with a brief discussion about Fairfield Hills redevelopment. Capeci explained that there will be affordable housing, or 8-30g components at Kent and Shelton Houses. Capeci told the crowd that there will be a town hall regarding housing on March 23, 1 pm, at Newtown Community Center, 8 Simpson Street.

At the next event, Java with Jeff on March 4, 9:30 am, Newtown Senior Center, 8 Simpson Street, Capeci will be bringing the tax assessor and tax collector so seniors can ask more questions about tax breaks and benefits for seniors.

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Reporter Sam Cross can be reached at sam@thebee.com.