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Aging & Disability Commission - Minutes

Meeting date: 
Tuesday, April 18, 2023

AGING AND DISABILITY COMMISSION

Regular Meeting April 18, 2023 – 7:00 pm

Eno Memorial Hall, Youth Room

AGING AND DISABILITY COMMISSION--REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

April 18, 2023

SUBJECT TO APPROVAL

PRESENT

Robin Batchelder, Jan Beatty, Libby Easton-May, Anne Erickson, Margaret Haldeman, Mike Jennings, Ed LaMontagne, Shannon Leary, Kate Robbins, Jen Seiderer, Susan Ray (library liaison), and Kathleen Marschall (Senior Center Coordinator)

EXCUSED

Amber Abbuhl (BOS liaison), Vic Bible, Cheryl Cook, Sandee Fleet, Deb Glass, Terry Henault, Diana Yeisley

CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order by Vice-Chair Shannon Leary at 7:02 pm.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was recited.

PUBLIC AUDIENCE/PUBLIC COMMENTS

ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES – Regular Meeting of March 21, 2023

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

BOARD OF SELECTMEN (BOS) LIAISON REPORT: Ms. Abbuhl was absent as she was attending the public hearing meeting to discuss the town budget.

SENIOR CENTER REPORT

Ms. Marschall noted that a program by the Alzheimer’s Association, “Managing Money: A Caregiver’s Guide to Finances,” will be held on April 24 in the Program Room of the library at 5:30 pm.  A light dinner will be served; call the Senior Center to register.  A Matter of Balance class will again be offered by the Farmington Valley Health District every Monday at 1:30 pm for 8 weeks, May 1-June 26; register through Senior Center. The Intonations will have their spring concert May 5 at 11 am at Eno accompanied by Hartt School of Music performers.  Finally, she noted that the annual Firehouse breakfast will be May 18 from 9:30-11 am at the main station on Hopmeadow Street. 

PROGRAMS

  • Fashion Show: Ms. Batchelder noted that the show will be on October 19; further details to come.
  • Souper Thursday: Ms. Leary noted that the commission had originally agreed to plan the first event for June, but to avoid conflicts, it has been rescheduled for May 11, 2023.  Mr. LaMontagne noted that the Rotary members might be available to help at 11:30, and several commissioners volunteered to help.
  • Spring Movie Event: Ms. Leary 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.
  • Picnic at the Farms:  Ms. Leary 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.) Mr. LaMontagne noted that the Rotary Club would be willing to contribute.

OLD BUSINESS

  • Age Friendly Community Update and Survey: Ms. Beatty provided a summary of the survey and provided written copies to commissioners in attendance. Ms. Leary will talk with Ms. Yeisley to ensure that the summary gets on BOS agenda for their May meeting. After presentation at BOS, the commission will create a subcommittee to move forward toward creating an action plan to submit to AARP.
  • Affordable Housing Update: In Ms. Cook’s absence, Ms. Leary noted that a Simsbury Community Forum on Housing will be held May 10 at 4:30-9 at Henry James Middle School with dinner included. The forum will be facilitated by Dr. Tiffany Manuel. Register at: https://forms.gle/np9kjswvvrauxdtu5 
  • Disability Employment Resource List: Nothing new.
  • Spring/Fall Presentation/Seminar: Ms. Leary has reached out to Katie Krasula to join the commission in speaking about IDEA; more information to come.
  • Disability and Age friendly (accessible) job applications: Nothing to report.

NEW BUSINESS

  • Information about ensuring accessible entries to business: Ms. Robbins asked that this be added to the agenda. Discussion ensued about a course of action. Commissioners LaMontagne, Beatty, Seiderer, and Jennings offered to speak at public audience at June 5 BOS meetings to mention accessibility.
  • Mr. LaMontagne congratulated Jack Knall and Robin Batchelder for excellent presentations at BOS meeting April 17.
  • Nominations in November: Ms. Easton-May agreed to head the nominating committee.

ADJOURNMENT

Mr. Robbins moved to adjourn the meeting and Ms. Robbins seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 8:20 pm.

Next meeting:  May 16, 2023 at 7 pm in person at Eno Memorial Hall, Youth Room.

Submitted by

Jan Beatty

Secretary