Aging and Disability Commission - Minutes

TOWN OF SIMSBURY AGING AND DISABILITY COMMISSION

APRIL 18, 2017

SUBJECT TO APPROVAL

The regular meeting of the Aging and Disability Commission was held on April 18, 2017, in the Youth Room – Eno Memorial Hall – 754 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, CT.

PRESENT

Janet Beatty, Joy Himmelfarb, Mike Jennings, Marvin Koff, Ed LaMontagne, April Schmidt, Diana Yeisley, Arlene Zappile, Kathleen Marschall (Senior Center Coordinator), Susan Ray (Library), and Cheryl Cook (Board of Selectman Liaison)

EXCUSED

Victor Bible, Grace Comeau, Margaret Diachenko, Lorraine Doonan, Susan Krinsky, Mary Ellen Long, Mona Martinik, and Mark Orenstein

CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order by Edward J. LaMontagne, Chairman, at 7:10 p.m.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

The Pledge was recited.

ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES - REGULAR MEETING OF MARCH 21, 2017

Dr. Koff moved to accept the meeting minutes. Ms. Yeisley seconded and the minutes were approved.               

BOS LIAISON REPORT

Ms. Cook noted that the Board of Selectmen voted to move both the Senior Center renovations at Eno and the Henry James projects forward to referendum.  Despite all the planning and adjustments to the reserves, the town still has a $4.3 million deficit because of state cuts and is awaiting the state’s Appropriations Committee’s recommendations before moving forward with budget recommendations. The town public hearing re the budget on April 6 was well attended. She noted that Mr. LaMontagne spoke at the April 12th Board of Selectmen meeting against the erection of a non-accessible ticket booth at the Performing Arts Center. The town declined to accept the gift of the ticket booth and referred the issue to the Planning Commission. The proclamation declaring April as Autism Awareness Month was read into the record by Ms. Cook at the Board of Selectmen April meeting.

SENIOR CENTER REPORT

Ms. Marschall noted with thanks that the Simsbury Women’s Club gave the Senior Center $200 to offset the cost of monthly dinners. Thursday, April 20, is the Night of 1000 Stars, which will be held at the library at 7 p.m.  On May 11 at 1 p.m. a program co-sponsored with the library on veterans’ benefits will be held in the library’s Program Room. On May16 there will be a dinner and pops concert at the High School, and on May 24 there will be a dinner and art show at Henry James School. 

PROGRAM REPORTS

Souper Tuesday

The April event had 53 attendees.  Next event is May 9 with the Tariffville school students. Dr. Koff said he could volunteer that Tuesday. Mr. LaMontagne noted an ending balance of $1506.40 in the fund as of 4/18/17, which will bring us through the rest of this fiscal year.

Picnic in the Park

Ms. Yeisley requested August 26th as a date from St. Catherine’s and is waiting for confirmation; 11:30-1:30 is tentative time.  Mr. LaMontagne noted that the budget will be $1000.  Last year’s attendance was about 115, and Ms. Yeisley noted that she would make plans comparable to last year.

OLD BUSINESS

Senior/Community Center Update:  Mr. LaMontagne asked Ms. Cook if the Senior Center renovations will still be on June referendum, and Ms. Cook said that was the current plan.

Partnership with McLean: The April 18th workshop, The Conversation Project, held at Hop Meadow Country Club, was dedicated to helping people talk about end-of-life wishes. According to Ms. Schmidt, the workshop was attended by 39 people, although 51 had registered. Ms. Himmelfarb attended and noted that the two speakers were excellent. Mr. LaMontagne added that the speakers provided compelling stories about setting up end-of-life plans with family. A “Your Conversation” packet was provided to help those who wished to initiate a talk with family members.  Ms. Cook suggested adding a link to these materials on the Senior Center site.

Other: None.

NEW BUSINESS

PAC Accessibility: Mr. LaMontagne stated that the Commission will monitor the situation about the ticket booth that Ms. Cook reported on (above) to be sure it is accessible.

Handicapped Access at Simsbury Historical Society: Ms. Yeisley was contacted by the Simsbury Historical Society, which is undertaking updates to the property, and she met with them to discuss their updates in light of accessibility. Ms. Yeisley was also asked for suggestions for sources re grants. Ms. Ray noted that they must also consider their changes in light of Historic District Commission. Ms. Yeisley will keep the Aging and Disability Commission updated on the Historical Society’s progress.

Handicapped Parking Awareness Month Discussion:  At May 22nd Board of Selectmen meeting, it will be requested that June be designated as Handicapped Parking Awareness Month. Mr. Jennings agreed to go on SCTV to promote the awareness. Mr. LaMontagne asked if Simsbury High School students and/or Unified Sports Teams could be involved in helping promote Handicapped Awareness month.  Ms. Yeisley said she would contact the high school.  Ms. Himmelfarb asked if anything can be done about handicapped tags for expired persons still in use. Ms. Zappile noted that caution should be used in approaching people parked in handicapped spots who do not have a handicapped tag.

AARP Age Friendly Community Proposal: Mr. LaMontagne provided commissioners with a synopsis of AARP’s proposal for establishing Simsbury as an Age-Friendly Community. The program, an affiliate of the World Health Organization’s Age Friendly Communities Program, advances efforts to help people live easily and comfortably in their homes and communities as

they age.  Only three cities in Connecticut, Greenwich, Newtown, and Glastonbury, have begun the 4-5 year process. Discussion proposed for May meeting.

Fall Seminar: Mr. LaMontagne will talk with Mr. Bible and Ms. Doonan about an October seminar.

Other: Ms. Ray noted that on April 29 there will be a World War I ambulance at the Library.  In the fall, there will be events re genealogy and digitization of World War I letters at the library.

Ms. Yeisley noted that the Simsbury Special Education Parent Teacher Association (SEPTA) is working toward having the town being designated as disability-friendly.

Ms. Yeisley also noted that Simsbury High School seniors are writing a play about what it is like to be student with a disability at the high school, which will be the spring play 2018.

Dr. Koff asked if the Commission should write a letter to the Governor about cuts to disability funding state-wide. Ms. Cook noted that the Board of Selectmen wrote a letter to the Governor expressing their concerns about general budget cuts.  Dr. Koff will contact John Hampton and ask who a letter should be directed to and get back to the Commission.

Ms. Marschall asked that the Commission begin to think about the fall fashion show.

ADJOURNMENT

Dr. Koff made a motion to adjourn. Ms. Yeisley seconded, and the meeting was adjourned at 8:28 p.m.

NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, May 16, 2017, 7:00 p.m., Youth Room, ENO Memorial Hall

Submitted by

Jan Beatty

Clerk