Health and Human Services Committee authorizes mayor to accept $15,316 grant for senior swim program

The Health and Human Services Committee of the New Haven Board of Alders on Thursday authorized the mayor to accept a $15,316 grant from the Agency on Aging of South Central Connecticut to expand Golden Summers, a swim lessons and water-aerobics program for residents 55 and older.

The resolution (LMD-2025-0463) was taken up at the committee meeting Sept. 25 at 6:30 p.m. in the Board of Alders Chamber at 165 Church St. Committee members voted by voice to move the item and then approved the resolution; no roll-call of individual votes was recorded in the meeting transcript.

Chantal Cade, the presenter, said the grant would pay for three additional sessions of the program, as well as transportation and basic swim equipment for participants who lack gear. "The program ... is for seniors ages 55 and older throughout New Haven," Cade said, describing two weekly offerings: water aerobics one day and swimming instruction focused on water safety on another day.

Cade told the committee that each class currently holds up to 14 participants and that instructors, after assessing ability, could increase class size to 18. She said the program already has a wait list of more than 29 applicants. "We are encouraging anyone that is interested to apply, sooner than later as our wait list is growing," Cade said.

Committee members asked about capacity and logistics. Cade said the program is held at a pool at 31 Jefferson Street (the presenter identified a partner at that location) and that limited pool space — not a shortage of lifeguards or instructors — is the primary constraint on expanding class size. She also said orientation for the program began the day of the meeting and that the department used general funds to start the program earlier while seeking the grant to expand it.

Alder Al Smith spoke in support of the item and described swimming's benefits for older adults, citing his father as an example: "Swimming has been so great for his arthritis and his tendonitis and also allows him to meet people," Smith said.

According to Cade, it costs a little over $3,000 to run a five-week session (this figure does not include transportation). The $15,316 grant is intended to fund three additional sessions and provide transportation and items such as swim caps, towels and small bags for participants who need them.

The committee closed the public comment portion before moving the item. The committee approved the resolution by voice vote; the transcript records only the committee chair calling for "aye" and announcing "the item passes." The resolution authorizes the mayor to accept the grant for fiscal year 2026 and does not, in the committee record, include further conditions or an implementation timeline.

Program staff in attendance included Tiffany Staggers, identified as a specialist at the East Shore Senior Center, and Nature Richardson, identified as a part-time recreation program assistant who will support evening and Saturday programming at community centers.

With the committee's approval, the next step is for the mayor's office to accept the grant as authorized by the resolution. The committee did not record a separate vote on any funding appropriation or transportation contract; such steps were not specified in the meeting transcript.