Aging & Disability Commission - Minutes

AGING AND DISABILITY COMMISSION

Regular Meeting - September 19, 2023 – 7:00 P.M.

Eno Memorial Hall – Youth Room IN PERSON

AGING AND DISABILITY COMMISSION – REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

September 19, 2023

APPROVED

Robin Batchelder, Jan Beatty, Cheryl Cook, Libby Easton-May, Anne Erickson, Sandee Fleet, Mike Jennings, Kate Robbins, Jen Seiderer, Diana Yeisley, Kathleen Marschall (Senior Center Coordinator), Susan Ray (library liaison), and Amber Abbuhl (BOS liaison)

Terry Henault, Ed LaMontagne, Shannon Leary, Deb Glass, Margaret Haldeman,Susan Fitzgerald

CALL TO ORDER: Diana Yeisley, Chairperson, called the meeting to order at 7:03 pm.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was recited.

PUBLIC AUDIENCE/PUBLIC COMMENT: none received.

Ms. Yeisley noted there will be a new member of the commission as an alternate, Susan Fitzgerald.

ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES -Regular Meeting of June 20, 2023 and Special Meeting of July 24, 2023:

Ms. Cook moved to accept the Regular Meeting minutes of June 20, 2023 without correction and Ms. Erickson seconded. Ms. Cook moved to accept the Special Meeting minutes of July 24, 2023 without correction and Ms. Erickson seconded. Both motions passed and both sets of minutes were accepted unanimously without correction.

BOS LIAISON REPORT - Amber Abbuhl discussed the drafted ordinance to ban vaping, cannabis, and tobacco use on municipal property with a penalty of $100. The ordinance has been referred to Parks and Recreation Department for comment; a public meeting will be held on October 11 unless there are changes. BOS held one round of Town Manager interviews last week; additional interviews will be held with hope of making decision soon.

SENIOR CENTER REPORT – Kathy Marschall thanked the Police Department for hosting their annual picnic at the Simsbury skating rink, which had 170 seniors attending. She noted that For All Ages will host a program September 21 at 1:30 pm at the Senior Center for the first of their “Share Your Light, Simsbury” intergenerational luminary decorating series. Also at the Senior Center is “A Matter of Balance,” an award-winning program designed to help prevent falls; the 8-week course starts October 16 from 1-3 pm and is free to all.  On Monday, October 23, the Farmington Valley VNA will be giving flu shots from 1-4 at the free Wellness Fair in the Program Room at the library; call the VNA for flu shot appointments.

AGE FRIENDLY COMMUNITY

Updates from July, August, and September meetings: Ms. Beatty noted that a subcommittee has been formed with these commission members:  Jan Beatty, chair, Ed LaMontagne, clerk, Cheryl Cook, Mike Jennings, Diana Yeisley, and Libby Easton-May as non-voting member. Kate Robbins volunteered to join the subcommittee meetings 1st Thursday of the month at 2:30 in the Old Court Room. The stakeholder list has been expanded and members will reach out to them for their input this month. A “Senior Voices” group will be set up with Ms. Marschall’s help to augment the survey results obtained last September. A timeline was established, with the hope of setting up focus groups in early 2024 as the group works toward creating an action plan to submit to AARP.

July Picnic wrap-up and feedback - Ms. Yeisley read some comments from Ms. Haldeman. She noted that about 80-90 people attended. She’d like to get more funding for the picnic.

Fashion Show – Ms. Yeisley reported that Terry Henault and Deb Glass, new co-chairs, met with Ms. Marschall to discuss.  There are 77 people signed up for the lunch and show at 1 pm on October 19. Ms. Fleet, Ms. Robbins, and Ms. Abbuhl agreed to join as volunteers. Ms. Yeisly noted that additional funding is desired; Ms. Robbins suggested listing funders at the events.

Drum Circle event for differing abilities will be held on Monday, October 9, at the library.

Halloween Event will be held 4:30-6:30 pm on October 30 in the Program Room of the library.

Sensory Santa Event will be held December 2 at 2-4 pm at the library.

OLD BUSINESS

Affordable Housing Update - Cheryl Cook noted that the final grant report was filed with HFPG and the DEI Housing subcommittee is working on a presentation for the BOS. 

Disability Employment Resource List – Ms. Cook will work with Ms. Marschall to get the list on the website.

Aging and Disability Resource List – Ms. Seiderer noted that the 8-page list is still in draft form; she will work with Ms. Marschall to get it online.

Fall/Winter/Spring Seminar –  Ms. Yeisley asked commissioners to consider helming the seminars.  Ms. Ray will reach out to AARP to see if they have a program addressing loneliness. Ms. Abbuhl noted that this could be series of programs or initiative.  Ms. Easton-May will speak to Deb Bibbins about ways to intersect.  Ms. Ray noted that the library can livestream and Ms. Yeisley noted that SCM might be another outlet for program.

IDEA Program with SPS – Tabled since Ms. Leary was absent.

Nominations – Ms. Easton-May will send out emails to commissioners; voting for commission roles will take place in November.

NEW BUSINESS

Autism Program at SPL – Ms. Ray wanted to know if the commission thought it would be a good idea to host one. Commissioners supported the idea (but not the author of the letter referred by Ms. Ray) and the suggestion was made to have a program in April and coordinate with April as Autism Awareness month.

Improv Ability! – Sea Tea Improv offers an improv comedy performing arts experience for intellectually and developmentally disabled adults.  Commission agreed to explore bringing them to Simsbury.

Wellness Fair – As Ms. Marschall noted, it is free and will be held October 23 at the library.

Parenting Neurodiversity Support Group – online support group info provided by Ms. Yeisley.

Simsbury Support Group – parents of students with disabilities – Commissioners agreed it was not the commission’s role to officially sponsor such a group.

Bushnell has created a Sensory-Friendly Relaxed calendar, which Ms. Yeisley presented.

ADJOURNMENT

Ms. Beatty moved to adjourn the meeting and Ms. Batchelder seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 8:38 pm.

Next meeting: October 17, 2023 at 7:00 pm in person at Eno Memorial Hall, Youth Room.

Submitted by

Jan Beatty

Secretary