Aging and Disability Commission - Minutes

TOWN OF SIMSBURY

AGING AND DISABILITY COMMISSION – REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

NOVEMBER 15, 2016

SUBJECT TO APPROVAL

The regular meeting of the Aging and Disability Commission was held on November 15, 2016, in the Youth Room – ENO Memorial Hall – 754 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, CT.

PRESENT

Janet Beatty, Victor Bible, Joy Himmelfarb, Mike Jennings, Marvin Koff, Ed LaMontagne, Mona Martinik, Mark Orenstein, April Schmidt, Arlene Zappile, Kathleen Marschall (Senior Center Coordinator), and Susan Ray (Library)

EXCUSED

Grace Comeau, Lorraine Doonan, Margaret Diachenko, Mary Ellen Long, Susan Krinsky, Diana Yeisley, Cheryl Cook (Board of Selectman Liaison)

CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order by Edward J. LaMontagne, Chairman, at 7:05 p.m.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

The Pledge was recited.

Mr. LaMontagne introduced the newest member of the Commission, Joy Himmelfarb.

ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES - REGULAR MEETING OF OCTOBER 18, 2016

Ms. Schmidt moved to accept the minutes.  Ms. Zappile seconded. All voted in favor.

BOS LIAISON REPORT

Ms. Cook was absent.

SENIOR CENTER REPORT

Ms. Marschall noted that November 16 is the annual lunch at St. Mary’s School and she anticpates that about 160 people will attend.  Giving Thanks program will be held this Thursday, November 17th.  Thursday, December 8th is the annual Senior Center holiday party with the Intones. December 16th is the 75th anniversary of the song “White Christmas,” and the movie will be shown at the library. A new Senior Center assistant, Dana Olsen, began last week and is doing a great job.

PROGRAM REPORTS

Souper Tuesday: 

November 15th event: Ms. Martinik noted that all went well; 52 people attended the event with four people serving. Ms. Comeau will ask Mr. LaMontagne to call on Commission members to volunteer at Souper Tuesday going forward. The Junior Women’s Club generously provided pies.  March Souper Tuesday will be held through donations from the Lions Club.  Ms. Martinik asked that Commission members take the initiative to contact businesses for donations.  Mr. LaMontagne will send a form letter to Commissioners that can be used for solicitation purposes. Currently there is $346 in the account, so donations are needed for future Souper Tuesdays (next scheduled event is in March).

OLD BUSINESS

Senior/Community Center Update: 

Mr. LaMontagne noted the result of the BOS meeting held October 24, 2016, with the Public Building Committee, the Performing Arts Center, and the Aging and Disability Commission was that the PAC location for the Senior/Community Center is off the table and that Eno Memorial will be renovated with $5 million available for the upgrades. The Public Building Committee is charged to ensure that Eno Memorial Hall is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), to increase and improve space for programming, and to consider options to improve parking; they are asked to provide a cost estimate in time for the FY2017-2018 capital plan, using prior senior center plans. Ms. Martinik expressed concern that there won’t be enough space for seniors’ needs. Mr. Bible expressed disappointment in the decision as well. Mr. Jennings noted concern that ADA compliance may be only minimally acceptable.  Mr. LaMontagne noted that the Commission will have input once plans are drawn up. Ms. Martinik suggests it is time to form a Friends of the Simsbury Senior Center and apply for a 501 (c) 3 status, which would allow the group to fundraise.

Fall Presentations Update:

Mr. Bible noted that both presentations have been successful. Thirty people attended the second presentation on October 25th at 6:30 P.M. at the Simsbury Library on the “Making the Most of Your 12-Minute Doctor’s Appointment.” The third presentation, “The Impact of Medication Management on Chronic Diseases,” will be November 29th at 6:30 P.M at the Simsbury Library. Mr. Bible suggested that the fall presentation continue in 2017, but as a single session rather than a series for maximum visibility in the community. Mr. Bible commended Ms. Doonan for doing an outstanding job in organizing the presentations and finding excellent speakers. Ms. Schmidt noted that colleagues at McLean who attended gave very positive feedback about the series.

For the third presentation, RSVPs must be received by Kathleen Marschall by November 22.

November 8th Election

Mr. Jennings reported that new voting technology worked well at his voting place, but there were no signs indicating that alternative methods of voting were available to those unable to use standard voting booths.

Other: Mr. LaMontagne noted that the charter revision questions all passed as a result of the November 8th voting and that the town will move to a Town Manager form of government in December 2017.

NEW BUSINESS

Appointment of Nominating Committee

Ms. Long will be providing a report in January for the Nominating Committee.

DOH NOFA

Mr. LaMontagne noted that the State Department of Housing (DOH) is committed to expanding housing projects for individuals with intellectual disabilities or individuals with an autism spectrum disorder. The DOH issued a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) to this effect November 1, 2016.

2017 Goals

Mr. LaMontagne asked the Commissioners to consider ideas for what the Commission will accomplish next year.  One item he suggested is to work toward having Simsbury declared an age-friendly community; he asked for other ideas to be communicated at the January meeting.

Other

Mr. Jennings asked that the Commission pursue the issue to ask the Registrar of Voters to provide signage in polling places of the new voting technologies available for those with disabilities.

Ms. Zappile noted that the lighting is poor in her polling place (Lattimer School) and that better lighting in all polling places should be considered.

ADJOURNMENT

Dr. Koff moved to adjourn. Mr. Orenstein seconded. Meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.

NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, January 17, 2017, 7:00 p.m., Youth Room, ENO Memorial Hall

Submitted by Jan Beatty, Clerk