Aging and Disability Commission - Minutes
TOWN OF SIMSBURY
AGING AND DISABILITY COMMISSION
May 16, 2017
SUBJECT TO APPROVAL
The regular meeting of the Aging and Disability Commission was held on May 16, 2017, in the Youth Room – Eno Memorial Hall – 754 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, CT.
PRESENT
Janet Beatty, Victor Bible, Mike Jennings, Marvin Koff, Ed LaMontagne, Mary Ellen Long, Mark Orenstein, April Schmidt, Arlene Zappile, Susan Ray (Library), and Cheryl Cook (Board of Selectman Liaison)
EXCUSED
Grace Comeau, Margaret Diachenko, Lorraine Doonan, Joy Himmelfarb, Susan Krinsky, Kathleen Marschall (Senior Center Coordinator), Mona Martinik, and Diana Yeisley
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Edward J. LaMontagne, Chairman, at 7:05 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge was recited.
ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES - REGULAR MEETING OF APRIL 18, 2017
Ms. Schmidt moved to accept the meeting minutes. Mr. Bible seconded and the minutes were approved.
BOS LIAISON REPORT
Ms. Cook arrived after attending a Board of Finance meeting. She noted that the Board of Finance has sent the budget back for more cuts and will exclude both the Senior Center renovations and the renovations to Henry James school. Because of the cuts in funding from the state, the Board of Finance has asked the Board of Education and Board of Selectman for $500,000 more in cuts from the town budget, which must be completed by May 26 in order to go to referendum on June 13.
SENIOR CENTER REPORT
Ms. Marschall was absent, so there was no Senior Center report.
PROGRAM REPORTS
Souper Tuesday
Mr. LaMontagne thanked Dr. Koff and Ms. Schmidt for serving at today’s event. There were fewer seniors (only 39) than students at this event. Ending balance for the Donation Account (formerly Souper Tuesday Account) is $1,306.40 as of 5/15/17.
Picnic in the Park
The requested date (last Saturday in August) has not yet been confirmed by St. Catherine’s.
OLD BUSINESS
Senior/Community Center Update
Mr. Orenstein noted he attended the Board of Finance meeting and that it is likely that the Eno renovations will be pushed off for two years because of the state budget cuts.
Ms. Ray noted that on June 19 from 4-7p.m there will be a Community Summer Kickoff Party for the summer reading program at the library. She also noted that the originally scheduled May 6 display of the vintage WWI ambulance had to be postponed until September.
Handicapped Parking Awareness Month
Mr. LaMontagne noted that the issue will go before the Board of Selectman on May 22 so that June can be designated as Handicapped Awareness Month. Mr. Jennings will participate in a filmed segment with Simsbury Police that will be shown on SCTV to highlight the month.
AARP Age Friendly Community Proposal
Mr. LaMontagne will invite Ms. Nora Duncan from Connecticut AARP to attend the June meeting of the Commission to provide information about what would be involved in the 2-5 year process of becoming an AARP Age Friendly Community.
Other
Mr. LaMontagne noted that both Ms. Comeau and Ms. Martinik have informed him that they wish to resign from the Commission.
NEW BUSINESS
Fall Seminar
Ms. Schmidt suggested that the seminar could focus on Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and will put together an outline for a potential program that might include a follow-up program on estate planning for children with special needs. Dr. Koff said he would contact prospective speakers for a possible date in October or November.
ADJOURNMENT
Mr. Orenstein made a motion to adjourn. Dr. Koff seconded, and the meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m.
NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, June 20, 2017, 7:00 p.m., Youth Room, ENO Memorial Hall
Submitted by
Jan Beatty
Clerk