Aging and Disability Commission Minutes

Meeting date: 
Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Town of Simsbury

Aging and Disability Commission

 

Tuesday13 November 2012 – 7:00 P.M.

Youth Room – Eno Memorial Hall

                          Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury

 

Special Meeting Minutes - Draft

 

Chairperson Edward LaMontagne called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. in the Youth Room of Eno Memorial Hall, Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury

 

Present: Edward LaMontagne, Victor Bible, Mike Jennings, Marvin Koff, Carrie Kramer, Mark Orenstein, Charlotte Steptoe, Ron Zappile, Arlene Zappile, Kathleen Marschall, (Senior Center Coordinator) , John Hampton (Board of Selectmen Liaison), Arpit Dave (Student Liaison)

 

Excused: Grace Comeau, Kathie Fallon, Mona Herman, Mary Ellen Long, Mona Martinik, Peggy Shanks, Lynn Veith

 

Chairman LaMontagne appointed Mr. Orenstein (alt.) as a regular member for this meeting.

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Was recited by those in attendance

 

PUBLIC AUDIENCE: There were no members from the public in attendance.

 

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING (13 October 2012): The minutes were approved with spelling and grammatical errors.

 

PROGRAM/SUB COMMITTEE REPORTS

  • Souper Tuesday - 11/13/12
  • Event Update:  Members of the Civitan Club volunteered to serve for the November event. Seventy-two individuals participated with only two no shows. This was the last Souper Tuesday event for the year. The next Souper Tuesday event will be held in March. In the interim fund raising letters will need to be sent to community organizations requesting funding for future Souper Tuesday events.

 

SENIOR CENTER REPORT

  • Kathleen Marschall, Senior Center Coordinator provided an update on senior center activities and programs.

 

STUDENT LIAISON REPORT

  • Arpit Dave, Student Liaison, did not have anything to report for this meeting.

 

OLD BUSINESS

  • Handicapped Parking
  • Mr. LaMontagne spoke with Howard Beach in Zoning Enforcement regarding the fact that there are no handicapped parking spaces at a business located at 730 Hopmeadow Street and that there is only a temporary ramp to enter the Hear Again business. Mr. Beach indicated that ADA compliance is part of the building code so the concern regarding handicapped parking spaces was forwarded to the town’s building official. Mr. Beach did say that the building’s owner has a temporary zoning permit for the ramp, but it has expired. Mr. Beach will follow up with the owner.

Aging and Disability Commission

Draft Special Meeting Minutes

13 November 2012

Page Two

 

 

  • Mr. Jennings reported that a car was parked illegally at Lattimer Lane School during Election Day. The car belonged to a campaign worker from State Senator Witkos’ campaign. Mr. Jennings stated that he sent Senator Witkos an email to inform him and received a prompt reply.
  • Mr. LaMontagne stated that employees from Hoffman Honda continue to park in a handicapped parking space in the rear of the service center. He has spoken to several employees on several occasions.
  • Mr. LaMontagne asked Mr. Arpit if the students at the high school can make copies of the handicapped parking poster, which was used during the month of June, but without the date. Mr. Arpit will follow up, but believes it can be done.

 

  • Voter Accessibility Issues
  • Ms Cramer and Mr. Jennings reported on voting accessibility issues during the recent election on November 6th. There is still a lack of signage; however volunteers were available to assist. Dr. Koff recommended that we contact the Registrar of Voters at least two weeks prior to the election. Ms. Cramer stated that Dalena Sherman from the Office of Protection and Advocacy would be willing to meet with town representatives to discuss voting accessibility issues. It was also mentioned that a show regarding this issue be taped for SCTV.

 

  • Proposed Meeting Dates – 2013
  • Mr. LaMontagne reviewed the proposed meeting dates for 2013. Mr. Orenstein made a motion to approve the meeting dates and Dr. Koff seconded.
  • Mr. LaMontagne also suggested that one of the spring meetings be held at Dorsett Crossing with the developer, for the proposed apartments for individuals with MS, invited.

 

  • Action Plan – 2013 
  • Mr. LaMontagne asked Commissioners to think about issues to be included in the 2013 Action Plan. It was agreed that we would include handicapped parking awareness, emergency preparations, voting accessibility and public building accessibility. In addition, it was recommended that we provide more opportunity for public participation.

 

  • Senior Safety Initiative:
  • Mr. LaMontagne discussed an article, which was in a May edition of the Hartford Courant. The article spoke of a Senior Safety Initiative, which was launched in Canton.  Ms. Marschall stated that the Town of Simsbury already does many of the aspects noted in the article.

 

 

NEW BUSINESS

  • Nominating Committee Appointment
  • Mr. LaMontagne stated he asked Ms. Fallon to serve as Chairman of the Nominating Committee and she has agreed to do so. Ms. Fallon and her committee will forward a list of officers for 2013 at the commission meeting in January where they will be voted on.

 

 

 

Aging and Disability Commission

Draft Meeting Minutes

13 November 2012

Page Three

 

  • North Central Regional Mental Health Board Update:
  • Mr. LaMontagne stated that the NCRMHB will be working on developing public transportation information for the Town of Simsbury. This will be included in A Transportation Primer for Providers, which will be completed this spring.

 

CORRESPONDENCE

  • There was no correspondence for review at this meeting.

 

 

ADJOURNMENT:

There being no further business a motion was made by Ms. Cramer to adjourn the meeting and seconded by Mr. Zappile. The meeting was adjourned at 8:20 pm.

 

NEXT MEETING:

The next meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday 8 January 2013 in the Youth Room at Eno Memorial Hall.

 

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

EJ LaMontagne

 

Edward J. LaMontagne

Chairman