Woman, 98, Banished From Senior Center Files State Human Rights Case

SOUTHBURY, CT — Southbury First Selectman Jeff Manville believes it's likely that the state Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities will recommend that a "reasonable accommodation" be made for Joyce Goodman to return to the town's senior center after being banned for repeated code of conduct violations.

The 98-year-old woman claims she was ousted from the elderly residents' center in part because of age discrimination, and filed a complaint with the commission.

Manville refuted that.

"If I've learned anything in this job is that you always apply the rules consistently for everyone," he said. "The rules are the rules."

Patch obtained a copy of the complaint Goodman and her son, Todd Goodman, filed with the state human rights commission. The filing included the town's answers to her allegations.

"Unfortunately, people can say whatever they want," Manville said. "I cannot comment specifically on pending litigation but we answered each (claim Goodman made.) I stand by that."

In the 24-page filing Patch obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, Goodman alleges that her age was one factor in her being barred from the Senior Center. But she also claims that she was “pushed out” based on a “perceived disability I do not have.”

That disability being cognitive decline that influenced her disruptive behavior, the town's answer to her complaint reads.

"(Goodman) exhibited cognitive impairment on numerous documented occasions such that the safety of Ms. Goodman, the safety and well-being of other seniors and staff warranted the non-renewal of her membership and rider privileges," the town noted. A number of Goodman's complaints center around her losing the privilege to receive on-demand transportation, which the town noted often included trips to run errands or visit a beauty salon.

In a December 2021 letter to Manville, and as is delineated in the town's answer to the complaint, the town's former Senior Services Director Tamath K. Rossi shared a list of numerous incidents and episodes where she said Goodman violated the center’s code of conduct. Those included incidences where Goodman's behavior was disruptive and adversely impacted the center and its members, Rossi said.

It's noted by the town that the Senior Center manual reasons to be excluded from membership include cognitive impairment where, “Individuals with problems that cannot be managed by staff, health aid, or other members will be excluded from participation."

Goodman denies she has a cognitive impairment.

In September 2021, a letter was mailed to Goodman informing her that upon the expiration of her membership on Dec. 31, 2021, her membership and rider privileges with the Southbury Senior Center would not be renewed.

Rossi, who is a Certified Dementia Practitioner, shared instances of code of conduct violations and frequent disruptions to the Southbury Senior Center. Todd Goodman's calls and visits to the center in support of his mother drew concerns from the staff, according to the town's response to the complaint.

Todd Goodman is seeking compensatory damages on behalf of his mother, the Republican American reported. Attempts to reach him for comment were unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, a hearing on the matter was held this week. But CHRO human rights attorney Michelle Dumas Keuler told Patch that the hearing is not public and any details from it would only be available once a decision was made on the complaint.

This story will be updated once a decision is reached.