Aging and Disability Commission - Minutes

Meeting date: 
Tuesday, September 15, 2020

 

 

AGING AND DISABILITY COMMISSION

Via Zoom Live Feed

Regular Meeting – September 15, 2020 – 7:00 P.M.

 

AGING AND DISABILITY COMMISSION – REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

SEPTEMBER 15, 2020

SUBJECT TO APPROVAL

 

The regular meeting of the Aging and Disability Commission was held at 7:00 pm on September 15, 2020 via Zoom live feed.

 

PRESENT

Jan Beatty, Victor Bible, Anne Erickson, Shannon Knall,  Mike Jennings, Erin Leavitt-Smith, Mark Orenstein, Kate Robbins, Diana Yeisley,  Susan Ray (Library), Kathleen Marschall (Senior Center Coordinator), Wendy Mackstutis (Board of Selectmen Liaison), and Rachael Loveland (Social Services)

 

ABSENT

Susan Krinsky

 

EXCUSED

Cheryl Cook and Sandee Fleet,

 

CALL TO ORDER: Diana A Yeisley, Vice Chairperson, called the meeting to order at 7: 08 pm.

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was recited.

 

PUBLIC AUDIENCE/PUBLIC COMMENTS

None. While meetings cannot be held in person, Ms. Yeisley advised that members of the public may email statements to the Town Clerk’s Office at ebutler@simsbury-ct.gov by 4:30 pm the Monday before the meeting to have their comments read into the record during public audience.

           

ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES - Regular Meeting of February 18, 2020

Minutes were accepted with three typographic corrections noted by Ms. Knall.

 

NEW COMMISSIONER INTRODUCTION

Erin Leavitt-Smith was welcomed as a new commissioner. Ms. Yeisley noted the resignations of members Lorraine Doonan, Arlene Zappile, and Marvin Koff, which opens two seats and two alternates on the commission. Mr. Jennings suggested making the current alternates, Mr. Bible and Ms. Cook, commissioners. Mr. Orenstein noted his term ends this year and would be willing to step down early if there was an interested candidate. Ms. Yeisley said she would relay those comments to the Board of Selectmen, which will approve new appointments.

 

BOS LIAISON REPORT

Ms. Mackstutis reported that the Hidden Heroes resolution was passed in May, the town applied in June for a grant to replace the Dial-a-Ride van, and noted that applications for absentee ballots have all been mailed out.

 

SENIOR CENTER REPORT

Ms. Marschall noted that all Senior Center programs were cancelled as of March 13 and Eno Memorial Hall was closed shortly thereafter and is still closed to the public except by appointment.During the pandemic, she noted that wellness checks are being done weekly by phone and that most programs have become virtual through Zoom.Information about classes can be found online through The Senior Communicator.

Flu clinics will be held at Eno on Thursday, October 8, from 2-4 and on Tuesday, October 20, from 9:30-11:30 with Farmington Valley VNA; contact the VNA for an appointment.Only one person at a time is allowed into the building; everyone must wait in their car to be called for their appointment.Foot clinics are also available at Eno on October 6 and October 27 and appointments should be made through the Senior Center.

Ms. Marschall thanked the 30 volunteers who sewed 4400 masks; more than 3000 have been distributed to community members. She also thanked the community for providing food donations;drive-by food distributions have helped a monthly average of 140 families.

In staffing news, she noted that her assistant Dana Olson took Charlotte Barth’s position when she retired; Ms. Marschall is currently looking for a replacement. Wendy LaMontagne is serving temporarily as Ms. Marschall’s assistant.

Ms. Robbins asked if the Senior Center is still accepting donations for masks and learned that materials, elastic, and thread can be dropped off at the Senior Center.

Mr. Jennings asked who was being called in weekly wellness checks. Ms. Marschall noted that the Outreach Coordinator maintains the list and that if anyone knew of someone who should be on that list to let her know.

 

OLD BUSINESS

  • Age Friendly Community Update: No news.
  • Disability Friendly Community Update: No news.
  • Loan Locker Update: Ms. Yeisley reported that it continues to be open; Jean Miles, nominated by Alan Needham, was named one of Simsbury’s Hometown Heroes fin honor of her work with Loan Locker.
  • Baseball Field Accessibility: No news but Ms. Knall noted it would be discussed at the Little League October meeting.
  • A&D Programs in COVID shutdown: Ms. Yeisley noted that several events --Spring Fling, Picnic in the Park --didn’t happen because of the pandemic and she doesn’t foresee either Halloween or Holiday sensory friendly events being scheduled, especially since Eno Hall is not open. Ms. Knall asked if there was a way to reach out to those who came in the past – even if it’s just a post card. Ms. Marschall noted that an outdoor programming issue is accessibility to bathrooms. Mr. Jennings noted that high-risk populations might be unwilling to attend any event.Ms. Beatty queried whether there was enough time to plan a Halloween event. Ms. Yeisley will pursue options and consider virtual programs in spring.Mr. Bible noted that the spring seminar could focus on aging community working with AARP speaker and be available through Zoom.Ms. Ray noted that the library is picking up another Zoom account so that the library might be able to host.
  • Senior Community Center:Ms. Mackstutis noted that the Senior Center updates in the budget have not yet been discussed at Board of Selectmen meetings.
  • PAC Accessibility: Ms. Mackstutis noted that the issue was discussed in February and included in the budget to explore paving the parking area; a recent grant request asked for walkway paving as well.
  • Other: Mr. Orenstein noted that an assisted-listening system is going into the Friends Room at the library and smartphone assisted-listening capability is available in the Friends Room and Tariffville Room as well as Eno Hall.

 

NEW BUSINESS

  • Voting for new Chairperson and Vice Chairperson: Mr. Orenstein nominated Ms. Yeisley and Ms. Robbins seconded.All commissioners were in favor and Ms. Yeisley was welcomed as new chair. Ms. Robbins asked if Ms. Beatty was interested in position of Vice Chairperson and she declined. Ms. Yeisley nominated Ms. Knall and Mr. Orenstein seconded. Mr. Jennings asked for further information about Ms. Knall’s background, which was supplied by Ms. Yeisley. All commissioners were in favor and Ms. Knall was welcomed as new vice chair.
  • Voting Accessibility: Ms. Yeisley noted the importance of absentee ballots. Ms. Robbins asked if information about voting absentee could be posted on commission and town page.Ms. Yeisley noted that the Facebook page for the commission is not yet up but could be posted there once it is available.
  • Services to Seniors and Disabled during crisis/COVID: Ms. Leavitt-Smith noted that a FEMA grant had been received for crisis counseling to do outreach for anyone affected by COVID. Mr. Jennings asked if there was adequate access to computers for seniors.Ms. Ray noted that one computer is being allocated for public access at the library and one-hour appointments can be made.She noted that tech help is also being offered by appointment. The state unit on aging and disability (DADS), also has a program to get technology to seniors; the person to contact there is Patty Richardson.
  • Simsbury Sidewalk repair: Some repairs have taken place, but Ms. Yeisley asked that needed repairs be reported to the town.
  • Major Issues – 2020 Legislative Session:Ms. Knall noted a special session in the legislature passed a police accountability act with a series of public comments.She noted that a specific task force has been set up to gather public input about people with disabilities and interaction with police.She suggested contacting her if you’d like to submit testimony for the September 24th session.
  • Accessible Living – Ensign House and Herlihy Office: Ms. Knall noted there was no elevator in Ensign House.Ms. Leavitt-Smith noted that there was no way to retrofit with an elevator given the historic nature of building.Ms. Knall also noted that the Herlihy office isn’t accessible. Mr. Jennings noted that building has to be up to ADA code. Ms. Mackstutis noted that the Ensign House does have a first-floor apartment that says on its website that it is fully accessible. Ms. Knall will investigate.
  • SPIRIT Counsel Oct Presentation – Disability Awareness Oct 6th: Ms. Yeisley shared that a new council on diversity and inclusion in Simsbury has monthly discussion programs; the next one is on October 6that 6:30 pm through the library.
  • Other: Mr. Bible asked for an updated commission list.

 

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, a request to adjourn the meeting was made by Mr. Bible and seconded by Mr. Jennings. The meeting was adjourned at 8:37 pm.

 

Next meeting:  Tuesday, October 20, 2020, at 7 pm via Zoom.

 

Submitted by,

Jan Beatty

Jan Beatty

Secretary