Milan Creates Senior Advisory Committee, Lease Proposal

Milan City approved the creation of a new senior advisory committee at its March 3 meeting, a group city leaders say will take a broader look at services and needs for older adults and could help oversee use of the city senior millage.

The committee will not include a representative from Milan Seniors for Healthy Living (MSHL), which operates the city’s senior center. However, city officials said the committee plans to consult with both MSHL and Aid In Milan as it looks at issues affecting seniors.

City Manager Jim Lancaster told The Sun Times News the committee is not intended to lead to a separate city-run senior center.

“Since we are still in active negotiations, this committee was formed as a standalone committee that will remain active with no regards to the results of the negotiations between the city and MSHL,” Lancaster said.

The lease

During closing comments at the meeting, Mayor Ed Kolar said the city is making progress on a lease agreement with MSHL.

“The attorneys do have the lease together,” Kolar said. “We are reviewing the revision and I think we’ll have that finalized ASAP. So, yes, we’re working on it.”

That brought an audible, “Yay!” from Milan resident Angela Thomas, who had expressed concern during public comment that the city had not yet provided a paper copy of the lease to the senior center.

Guy Conti, the MSHL attorney, said March 11 he was reviewing a lease proposal he received that morning and was told to expect a separate agreement regarding the use of the senior millage. Kolar said the city and MSHL’s attorney had agreed that it would be best to separate the lease and millage agreement.

Resident concerns

Thomas also questioned the intent of the advisory committee and voiced opposition to previous proposals that would have placed the senior center under city control or created a separate city-run program. 

While she said she believes the city currently has a good mayor, she said placing the senior center under city management could make it vulnerable to changes in future leadership. She also questioned whether MSHL had been asked to participate on the committee.

City response

Councilmember Marie Gress, the city’s liaison to the senior center, told The Sun Times News she has long supported creating a senior advisory committee to take a broader look at issues affecting older residents. Gress said the committee could examine topics such as sidewalk accessibility, activities for younger seniors and other community needs. 

“We did talk about having MSHL and Aid in Milan both on the senior advisory committee,” Gress said during the meeting. “But, if there comes time for particular votes they would be conflict of interest as potentially having funds from the city.”

She said the city plans to involve both nonprofits in discussions.

Councilmember Jesse Nie also noted the committee will operate as an open public body, allowing residents to attend meetings and review minutes.

Applications open

The day after the meeting, the city already had an application pop up on its website asking for five to six volunteers to join a nine-member committee, made up of: 

• two city council members
• one representative from Milan Area Schools
• one Milan business owner
• three to four community members
• Milan Community Engagement Director Jill Tewsley

Lancaster said applications for the current openings will be collected through at least March for the initial committee. The council plans to appoint the board members at one of the council meetings in April. Depending on the number of applicants interviews may be conducted. 

Committee members are appointed by the mayor and approved by city council under the city charter. Applications for city committees remain open year-round for future vacancies.