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Aging & Disability Commission - Minutes

Meeting date: 
Tuesday, March 21, 2023

AGING AND DISABILITY COMMISSION

Via Zoom and recorded

Regular Meeting March 21, 2023 – 7:00 pm

AGING AND DISABILITY COMMISSION--REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

March 21, 2023

APPROVED

PRESENT

Robin Batchelder, Jan Beatty, Vic Bible, Cheryl Cook, Libby Easton-May, Anne Erickson, Sandee Fleet, Deb Glass, Margaret Haldeman, Terry Henault, Mike Jennings, Shannon Leary, Kate Robbins, Jen Seiderer, Diana Yeisley, Susan Ray (library liaison), and Kathleen Marschall (Senior Center Coordinator)

EXCUSED

Amber Abbuhl (BOS liaison)

CALL TO ORDER: The meeting began at 7:08 pm.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was recited.

PUBLIC AUDIENCE/PUBLIC COMMENTS

Ms. Yeisley noted for the record that she received correspondence on a personnel issue that cannot be discussed publicly.

Ms. Yeisley introduced new commissioners Ms. Margaret Haldeman and Ms. Libby Easton-May as full commissioners.

ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES – Regular Meeting of February 21, 2023

Ms. Leary moved to accept the minutes without correction; Ms. Erickson seconded and the motion passed with the abstention of Ms. Robbins.

BOARD OF SELECTMEN (BOS) LIAISON REPORT: Ms. Abbuhl was absent as she was attending the Board of Finance meeting to discuss the town budget. Ms. Yeisley noted that the Town Manager, Maria Capriola, has resigned as well as the Deputy Town Manager.

SENIOR CENTER REPORT

Ms. Marschall noted that a free intergenerational magic show will be held on April 13 at 6:30 pm in Eno Auditorium. She also noted that the next Memory Café will be at the Program Room of the library on April 19 at 1 and hosted by Arden Courts of Avon.  Finally, she wanted to say that the Loan Locker has been getting great reviews from town residents.

PROGRAMS

  • Fashion Show: Ms. Batchelder noted that the show will be on October 19 with further details to come.
  • Souper Thursday: Ms. Yeisley said that the $1000 received from Granby/Simsbury Rotary Club will cover roughly two lunches, since one of those will be the well-attended Fashion Show day.  Commission agreed to plan the second for June 1, 2023. 
  • Spring Movie Event: Ms. Yeisley noted that it is scheduled for April 23, Sunday, at 2:00 in the Program Room at the library, and the movie is Rise of Gru. Ms. Leary volunteered to do a flyer for the event.
  • Picnic at the Farms:  Ms. Yeisley noted the picnic will be held July 15 at 6:00 pm at the Simsbury Farms skating rink with Fitzgerald’s as caterer. (Note new name for event.)

OLD BUSINESS

  • Age Friendly Community Update and Survey: Ms. Beatty noted that she is working on preparing an Executive Summary of the town-wide survey results on behalf of the commission to submit to the BOS with Ms. Yeisley.  Given that the Town Manager position is currently vacant, it was decided to put the focus groups and action plan required for AARP Age-Friendly status on hold.
  • Affordable Housing Update: Vessel Holdings Project: Ms. Cook noted that there have been two public hearings to date.  She hopes that a community forum can be held in May that would focus on the different kinds of housing that could be available in town; the plan would be to facilitate the forum with a professional facilitator not connected to Simsbury.  She also noted that previous programs on housing are being aired on SCM; about 5 15-30 minute programs shown.
  • Disability Employment Resource List: Ms. Cook had nothing new to add, and suggested that the list be added to the website.  She also asked commissioners to test the phone numbers.
  • Spring Presentation/Seminar: Mr. Bible noted that Jen and Shannon were preparing information about a program for either May or June that will discuss rights and responsibilities of parents with children with disabilities and how to find applicable information.

NEW BUSINESS

  • Food Pantry update: Ms. Seiderer had nothing new to report.
  • Disability and Age-Friendly (Accessible) Job Applications for businesses in town including TOS jobs: Ms. Robbins suggested talking to LLBean’s to see how they help, or perhaps talking with Mr. LaMontagne about Rotary Club’s experiences.
  • Ms. Robbins volunteered to work on a flyer that could be provided to area employers to remind them of how to become more accommodating to those with disabilities.
  • Ms. Yeisley noted that another new commissioner will join next month.
  • Ms. Yeisley relayed that she received information from state representative Melissa Osborne about people in Simsbury with disabilities, which she will share with the commission.
  • Ms. Yeisley noted that nominations for officers of commission will be considered in the fall.
  • Ms. Yeisley asked about meeting in person vs. via Zoom; Ms. Beatty made a motion that the commission meet in person every month beginning in April; Mr. Bible seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

ADJOURNMENT

Mr. Bible moved to adjourn the meeting and Ms. Robbins seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 pm.

Next meeting:  April 18, 2023 at 7 pm in person at Eno (room to be determined)

Submitted by

Jan Beatty

Secretary