Aging & Disability Commission - Minutes

Meeting date: 
Tuesday, January 23, 2024

AGING AND DISABILITY COMMISSION

Special Meeting – January 23, 2024 – 7:00 P.M.

VIRTUAL MEETING ONLY

AGING AND DISABILITY COMMISSION – SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES

January 23, 2024

SUBJECT TO APPROVAL

PRESENT: Jan Beatty, Claire Corbett, Anne Erickson, Deb Glass, Margaret Haldeman, Terry Henault, Mike Jennings, Ed LaMontagne, Shannon Leary, Kate Robbins, Jen Seiderer, Diana Yeisley, and Kathleen Marschall (Senior Center Coordinator)

EXCUSED: Robin Batchelder, Cheryl Cook, Libby Easton-May and Sandee Fleet

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

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was recited.

PUBLIC AUDIENCE/PUBLIC COMMENT:

Ms. Yeisley read a memo from Tom Roy, Director of Simsbury Public Works, looking for the commission’s responses for addressing the fact that the elevator at Town Hall will be out of service April 8-mid-June as planned repairs are made. Mr. Roy was concerned about accessibility for public meetings and suggested several options: offer hybrid meetings; make all meetings virtual only; use the Main meeting room and rely on the chair lift in the stairwell; try to find alternate locations (very difficult, due to space considerations).  

Ms. Yeisley will send out a memo to commissioners asking for their recommendations by end of January so that she can present them to Mr. Roy by February 1.

Nancy Ralston, joined at 7:40 pm and left approximately 7:50 pm.

COMMISSION UPDATES AND CHANGES: A welcome was extended to new Commissioner Claire Corbett.

Anne Erickson noted that she had been in the hospital but is home now and grateful that meeting was virtual.

ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES: Regular Meeting of November 21, 2023

Mr. LaMontagne moved to accept the minutes without correction; Ms. Erickson seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

BOS LIAISON REPORT: Ms. Yeisley noted that she will be the official liaison for this commission to the Board of Selectmen. She followed up with Steve Walker, property manager, at Drake Hill Mall re handicapped accessible parking spots and learned that they are meeting the legally required number. He said, however, he will look at getting another space in front of Jersey Mike’s once there is no more snow and salt. She also noted that the BOS is working on the annual budget. Further, she noted that the DEI subcommittee will be sunset, but the town is looking to establish a Housing Advisory subcommittee to move things forward in the town’s POCD (Plan of Conservation and Development). Finally, she noted that Sue Ray has retired from the library and she hopes another liaison to this commission will be named.

SENIOR CENTER REPORT:  Ms. Marshall welcomed two new staff members:  Ann Marie Grella, Coordinator of Elderly Outreach, and Coordinator Anya Smith joined the café.  She noted a program from For All Ages, Tea at 3, information session will be held at 1:30 on January 30 at the Senior Center. She also noted that AARP Tax assistance starts February 15 every Tuesday and Thursday at the library; call the Senior Center to make an appointment.  Bill Muhl, Veterans Service Officer, Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs will be available the second and fourth Wednesdays of January and February from 10-2:30 at the library to help veterans with any paperwork.

AGE FRIENDLY COMMUNITY

Ms. Beatty noted that all but one of the community stakeholders had completed their short questionnaires. Once this information is compiled, a one-page introduction to the Age-Friendly Community project will be sent to Ms. Yeisley for distribution to BOS. She also reported that she’d spoken with Ellis Dillon from the UConn Center for Aging to discuss processes for establishing and running focus groups.  Ms. Dillon agreed to facilitate focus groups, noting she would be away one week in April; accordingly, the subcommittee plans to hold 3 focus groups in the latter part of April. She summarized AARP webinars attended: the AARP Community Challenge grant is now open and closes March 6.  The February webinar, “Effectively Communicating Your Age-Friendly Initiatives and Activities” will be Tuesday, February 13 at 3: https://events.aarp.org/yyBydm?locale=en

PROGRAMS

  • Sensory Santa Event - Held Saturday, December 2, at 2-4:30 pm at the library with 54 participants.
  • Spring Movie Event – Ms. Yeisley noted a sensory-friendly movie event, potentially with Luca, will be held Sunday, March 24 at 2:00 at the library.  
  • Picnic at the Farms – Ms. Haldeman notes it will be held 6-8 pm on July 20 at Simsbury Farms Ice Rink.  She also crafted a letter asking for support in the local community.  Mr. LaMontagne notes that Rotary may also help out.  
  • Souper Thursdays –Costs have risen to per/person cost now $6; each event would cost about $400. Mr. LaMontagne will approach Rotary about funding one event. Ms. Henault suggested two dates; the commission agreed to one May 9 and one for Fashion Show in October. There will be further talk with Fitzgerald’s and also the BOS re contributions.
  • Fashion Show is set for October 10.

OLD BUSINESS

  • Nominations: Ms. Easton-May is absent due to illness.

                        Chair – Ms. Yeisley will not seek reelection. Ms. Beatty made a motion to nominate Mr. LaMontagne and Ms. Henault seconded. No other nominations were voiced. The commission moved to elect Mr. LaMontagne as Chair with one abstention (Mr. LaMontagne).

                        Vice Chair – Ms. Leary will not seek reelection.  Mr. LaMontagne made a motion to nominate Ms. Beatty and Ms. Erickson seconded. No other nominations were voiced. The commission moved to elect Ms. Beatty as Vice Chair with one abstention (Ms. Beatty).

                        Secretary – Ms. Beatty will not seek reelection. Ms. Yeisley nominated Ms. Haldeman and Ms. Robbins seconded.  No other nominations were voiced. The commission moved to elect Ms. Haldeman as Secretary with one abstention (Ms. Haldeman).

  • Affordable Housing Update – Ms. Leary suggested that those interested should read either Zoning or Planning Commission minutes and be sure to respond.  Mr. LaMontagne, a member of the Housing subcommittee, noted that they just finished their summation on their progress over the 18 months, which is being distributed to the community and is available on the DEI website.
  • Disability Employment Resource List – No update.
  • Aging and Disability Resource List – Ms. Seiderer has a first draft and will work with Ms. Marschall to get it on the website.
  • Spring Seminar –   Mr. LaMontagne noted he has reserved the Program Room at the library on April 9 from 1:30-3:30 pm and 6:30-8:30 pm to highlight a new town program: Steps to Safety – Fall Prevention Program and a topic related to persons with disabilities, possibly the Nora Project. He noted that Deb Bibbins of For All Ages is conducting a Simsbury Social Connections Project in March, April, and May culminating in a seminar in the fall. He recommended that the commission coordinate with For All Ages in the fall.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 pm.

Next meeting: February 20, 2024 at 7:00 pm in person at Eno Memorial Hall, Youth Room.

Submitted by

Jan Beatty

Secretary