Aging & Disability Commission - Minutes

AGING AND DISABILITY COMMISSION

Regular Meeting - October 17, 2023 – 7:00 P.M.

Eno Memorial Hall – Youth Room IN PERSON

AGING AND DISABILITY COMMISSION – REGULAR MEETING MINUTES-AMENDED as of 11/21/2023 and approved on 11/21/2023.

PRESENT: Jan Beatty, Cheryl Cook, Deb Glass, Margaret Haldeman, Ed LaMontagne, Shannon Leary, Sandee Fleet, Jen Seiderer, Diana Yeisley, and Susan Ray (library liaison)

EXCUSED: Robin Batchelder, Libby Easton-May, Anne Erickson, Susan Fitzgerald, Terry Henault, Mike Jennings, Kate Robbins, Kathleen Marschall (Senior Center Coordinator), and Amber Abbuhl (BOS liaison)

CALL TO ORDER: Diana Yeisley, Chairperson, called the meeting to order at 7:04 pm.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was recited.

PUBLIC AUDIENCE/PUBLIC COMMENT: none received.

ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES -Regular Meeting of September 19, 2023

Mr. LaMontagne moved to accept the minutes without correction and Ms. Fleet seconded.  Ms. Leary abstained. The motion passed and the minutes were accepted without correction.

BOS LIAISON REPORT – Ms. Yeisley noted that Ms. Abbuhl was ill and thanked her for her service as liaison.Ms. Yeisley noted that Marc Nelson has been hired as the new Town Manager. She also noted that the question of selling marijuana in town will be included in the voting on November 7.

SENIOR CENTER REPORT –Ms. Yeisley noted in Ms. Marschall’s absence that St. Mary’s School will host a luncheon November 15 from 12-1:30 pm.  CT Healthy Living provided funding for a free 24-week program, Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from Nov 28 – May 23 at the Senior Center. Ms. Yeisley noted that SCM is also offering videos on maintaining balance.  She also noted that a Notary Public is now on staff and appointments can be made by calling the Senior Center at 860-658-3283.

AGE FRIENDLY COMMUNITY

Ms. Beatty noted that about 20 community stakeholders had been contacted and most have already responded enthusiastically about supporting the designation and are willing to offer their thoughts.  Interviews will take place this month and next, along with a “Senior Voices” group to be set up with Ms. Marschall’s help. Ms. Yeisley will contact UConn Aging to discuss focus group facilitation.

Fashion Show –Deb Glass noted that all is planned for the approximately 80 attendees. Mr. LaMontagne noted that several Rotarians will help serve the lunch in addition to commissioners.

Drum Circle event for differing abilities occurred at the library October 16.

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 Saturday, December 2, at 2-4:30 pm at the library.

OLD BUSINESS

Affordable Housing Update - Cheryl Cook noted that the final grant report was filed with HFPG.  The group will present their findings at BOS meeting on November 13.  A number of CT towns have indicated interest in their report.

Wellness Fair- will be held Monday, October 23, at the library, 1-4 pm.  Age-Friendly Community questions devised by the subcommittee will be available at the fair.

Disability Employment Resource List – Ms. Cook will work with Ms. Seiderer and combine it with the Aging and Disability Resource list.

Aging and Disability Resource List – Ms. Seiderer will work with Ms. Cook and Ms. Marschall to get the combined list online.

Fall/Winter/Spring Seminar –   Ms. Yeisley noted that the seminar needs a coordinator to move it forward to consider the topics/partners discussed (addressing loneliness, AARP initiatives, Alzheimer’s Association, For All Ages, CT Age Well Collaborative). Hope to start with spring seminar.

IDEA Program– Ms. Leary noted that she has been talking with a professor at University of St. Joseph’s  and hopes to partner with her for a presentation.

Nominations – Ms. Yeisley noted that Ms. Easton-May had reached out to current officers of the commission. The nomination process will happen in November after town elections, and discussion will ensue then.

NEW BUSINESS

Autism Program at Simsbury Public Library – No report.

Improv Ability! at Simsbury Public Library – Ms. Ray will reach out to Sea Tea Improv re their availability.

Other:  Ms. Yeisley noted that The Bushnell  is now offering sensory-friendly events.

Ms. Yeisley noted that October is Disability Awareness Month.  In Recognition, Oak Hill is hosting the 11th Annual Disability Resource Fair on October 20 from 9 am-12 pm at Oak Hill’s NEAT Building in Hartford. Also, the Capital Area TDL Partnership  is offering a Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics expo and career fair on October 27at Dunkin Donuts Park in Hartford from 9 am-2 pm.

Mr. LaMontagne noted that he plans to speak with Ms. DiNunno at PAC in the spring to discuss having commission members use golf carts to transport older adults and those with disabilities from the parking lot to their seats at Simsbury Meadows.   T-shirts identifying commissioners may be funded by the Rotary Club.

Mr. LaMontagne noted that those running for Simsbury office, with the exception of Ms. Yeisley, have not addressed how they would address aging and disability issues.  Mr. LaMontagne will send an older Plan of Action to Ms. Yeisley to review and update.  Mr. LaMontagne will then send to party chairs.

ADJOURNMENT

Ms. Leary moved to adjourn the meeting and Ms. Cook seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 8:05 pm.

Next meeting: November 21, 2023 at 7:00 pm in person at Eno Memorial Hall, Youth Room.

Submitted by

Jan Beatty

Secretary