Aging and Disability Commission - Minutes

TOWN OF SIMSBURY

AGING AND DISABILITY COMMISSION

JANUARY 16, 2018

SUBJECT TO APPROVAL

The regular meeting of the Aging and Disability Commission was held on January 16, 2018, in the Youth Room – Eno Memorial Hall – 754 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, CT.

PRESENT

Jan Beatty, Victor Bible, Sandee Fleet, Mike Jennings, Susan Krinsky, Edward LaMontagne, Mary Ellen Long, Mark Orenstein, April Schmidt, Arlene Zappile, Kathleen Marschall (Senior Center Coordinator), Susan Ray (Library), and Cheryl Cook (Board of Selectman Liaison)

EXCUSED

Lorraine Doonan, Joy Himmelfarb, Marvin Koff, and Diana Yeisley

CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order by Edward J. LaMontagne, Chairman, at 7:02 p.m.

Mr. LaMontagne appointed Susan Krinsky and Arlene Zappile to be regular members for this meeting.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

The Pledge was recited.

PUBLIC AUDIENCE

There was no one in attendance for public audience.

GUESTS

Kristen Formanek, Director of Social Services, attended with her daughter, Ashley.

Joel Hershfield, Simsbury resident, came to observe the meeting.

Jean Miles, Weatogue resident, came to observe the meeting.

Kate Robbins, Unofficial new member of the commission

ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES - REGULAR MEETING OF November 14, 2017

The minutes were approved without corrections.

BOS LIAISON REPORT

Ms. Cook noted that the last Board of Selectmen meeting was largely devoted to discussion of solar panels and water issues. She reported that the town had received a $76,000 gift for construction of a basketball court at Simsbury Farms as well as many separate donations earmarked for Social Services.

SENIOR CENTER REPORT

Ms. Marschall noted that the Senior Center’s choral group Intonations sang at a Martin Luther King Day celebration in town for the third year.  She also noted that AARP tax assistance will be held again this year in collaboration with the Simsbury Public Library in Program Room 2. Appointments start February 1st and run through April 12th and can be made by calling the Senior Center.  On January 31st at 1:00, Eric Wellman will be coming to the Senior Center to meet all who are interested.  She also offered a reminder that Senior Center programs are cancelled if Simsbury schools are cancelled. 

Ms. Ray commented that upcoming events include Valentine’s Day card-making on February 8th at the Senior Center and livestreaming of a UConn Women’s basketball game with a tailgating party on February 18th at the library.  Ms. Formanek introduced herself and noted that she’s been working closely on Eno Memorial revisions along with Ms. Marschall.

PROGRAM REPORTS

Souper Tuesday: The next event will be held in March. To date, there is a balance of $578.40 in the account.  Mr. LaMontagne has asked the Rotary Club for a $500 donation and anticipates that the Lions Club will also provide a donation. The April event is when Tariffville students (about 40-50) come to have lunch with the seniors. Because of an early spring break, the date may be pushed back a week. The Social Workers Contingency Fund account balance is $286.58. 

Fashion Show: FAVRAH Thrift Shop will host a fashion show on May 8th (tentatively). Jean Miller is the contact at the Thrift Shop and Commissioner Yeisley will head up the event.

OLD BUSINESS

Spring Seminar: Mr. Bible noted that former Probate Judge Robert Killian will discuss the probate system and adoption issues at the library on April 24th, a date that will not conflict with SEPTO’s meeting. Mr. Bible plans to seek advice from commission members about possible topics of interest for the speaker to address. He also commented that it had been difficult to get local media to promote the fall seminar. Ms. Formanek noted that they are working on a Facebook page for Social Services and offered to provide an outlet for advertising the seminar.

Eno Memorial Hall Renovations: Mr. LaMontagne provided historical background for new commission members.  Mr. Jennings noted he wasn’t able to attend this month’s meeting of the Public Building Commission.  During the previous meeting, he noted that there had been discussion of the difficulties in making the kitchen ADA compliant.  The renovation architects listened to the concerns and were able to make adjustments to bring the kitchen revision plan into ADA compliance.  The architects met with the State Historic Preservation Office, which okayed adding an assisted listening system, panels to absorb excessive reverberations in the auditorium (the engineering report noted 3-second reverberations), renovations to lower level bathrooms, and replacing the suspended ceiling and tile floor. Mr. Orenstein commented on an assisted listening upgrade, saying it would be possible to use personal listening devices for under $1000. He also suggested that wi-fi should be considered because the hall is a public space, which was endorsed by a majority of the commissioners, and asked if it was part of the renovation budget. Ms. Cook thought it was not included but could be part of IT budget. Construction will commence this summer. Ms. Formanek noted that she and Ms. Marschall are working hard to coordinate with library to accommodate as many programs as possible while construction is underway.

Age-Friendly Community: Mr. LaMontagne talked to Nora Duncan, Director of AARP CT, and one of their staff people, Tia, will attend the Commission’s February meeting so that she can describe the process of earning the designation of AARP Age-Friendly Community in more detail.  Simsbury is one of two CT towns considering this process (Glastonbury is the other). First step is to ask the Board of Selectmen if they support having the Commission proceed with this project; Mr. LaMontagne will write the letter asking for that support. There is no cost for application. An application would go to the national AARP, and the project would then take 2-5 years. Simsbury was evaluated by AARP on 7 categories they consider in looking at liveability and given the number of 58, putting us in the middle third of communities across the country.

Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan: Mr. Roy had asked Mr. LaMontagne to attend meetings; the third meeting is Monday, January 22nd. He will represent the pedestrian point-of-view and be sure to bring up accessibility issues and making the center of town more walkable.

NEW BUSINESS

Gym Use: Gerry Toner, Director Simsbury Culture, Parks & Recreation, announced that, pursuant to a request from a resident and discussions with other agencies, Henry James Middle School gym will be reserved for adults with autism on Sundays from 12-1 beginning January 7th.

Pickle Ball Request: Mr. LaMontagne has had several requests from seniors to have pickleball be provided during the winter months. A suggestion was to have it held in the auditorium at Eno Memorial Hall, but it is not large enough. Mr. LaMontagne will follow up with Gerry Toner.

Commission Membership: Ms. Kate Robbins was announced as a new commission member pending her swearing in. There is still one more opening to bring the commission to full complement of 12 members and 4 alternates.

ADJOURNMENT

Ms. Long made a motion to adjourn. Ms. Zappile seconded, and the meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.

NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, February 20, 2018, 7:00 p.m., Youth Room, ENO Memorial Hall

Submitted by

Jan Beatty

Clerk