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Aging & Disability Commission - Minutes

Meeting date: 
Tuesday, September 21, 2021

AGING AND DISABILITY COMMISSION

Via Zoom to Facebook Live

Regular Meeting September 21, 2021 – 7:00 pm

AGING AND DISABILITY COMMISSION – REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

SEPTEMBER 21, 2021

PRESENT

Robin Batchelder, Jan Beatty, Cheryl Cook, Anne Erickson, Sandee Fleet, Deborah Glass, Terry Henault, Mike Jennings, Shannon Knall, Kate Robbins, Diana Yeisley, Susan Ray (Library), Kathleen Marschall (Senior Center Coordinator) and Wendy Mackstutis (Board of Selectmen Liaison)

EXCUSED

Vic Bible, Joanne Cohen, Erin Leavitt-Smith

CALL TO ORDER: Ms. Yeisley, Chairperson, called the meeting to order at 7:04 pm.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was recited.

PUBLIC AUDIENCE/PUBLIC COMMENTS

Presentation from Michelle Puzzo, President and co-founder of UR Community Cares, a two-year-old nonprofit based in Manchester. It is a secure online resource that connects volunteers with community members who are age 70 and older and 18+ with physical disabilities who need help at no charge to the individual. Help includes housework, yard work, companionship/ errands, transportation.  Working to network across the state to help communities and currently has about 100 community members.  Ram Kaza, a board member, noted he has volunteered in Glastonbury and found it very rewarding.    

ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES – Regular Meeting of June 15, 2021

Ms. Cook moved to accept the minutes and Ms. Fleet seconded to approve the minute meetings. Minutes were unanimously accepted with no changes.

BOARD OF SELECTMEN (BOS) LIAISON REPORT

Ms. Mackstutis noted that the final 350th event is being held on Saturday, September 25, at the Performing Arts Center that includes the showing of the movie Apollo 13. She also reminded everyone that the town has an indoor mask mandate.  She reported that the funding for Meadowood is complete and the closing on the property is Friday, September 24.  She noted that the town just hired Patricia Monroe as the new Town Clerk and she will be starting in early October.  She also noted that the Simsbury fly-in is being held September 25th-26th and the Spooktacular drive-through will be held October 17 from 10-5, ending at the Performing Arts Center.

SENIOR CENTER REPORT

Ms. Marschall also noted that the Senior Center does still have an indoor mask mandate; as a result, fitness classes are still virtual.  Meals are still in Grab n Go format, but the Center has resumed transportation trips locally.  She noted that a flu clinic is planned for October 19 in collaboration with the Farmington Valley VNA; make an appointment at 651-3539.  She noted that Cheese Day in September served 100 households with deliveries to 13 families; further, the Food Pantry will be moving to the Shepherd of the Hills Church with an opening planned for November.

PROGRAMS

  • Picnic in July: Ms. Yeisley noted that the picnic had 80 people at the skating rink at Simsbury Farms during the evening from 6-8. It was well-received. Several commissioners suggested doing the same next year.
  • Sensory Halloween: Ms. Yeisley proposed a trunk-or-treat event behind Eno Memorial Hall with about 8 volunteers to decorate their cars and appear in costume; event would be 4:30-7 on Monday, October 18 with a rain date of October 25.Ms. Knall moved to go forward with this event and Ms. Cook seconded. Motion passed unanimously and Ms. Ray said the library would offer assistance. Ms. Knall will reach out to St. Mary’s about help as well.
  • Fashion Show: Ms. Yeisley noted it should be on the agenda for fall 2022.
  • Souper Tuesday – Funding: Ms. Yeisley noted that funding is still needed in order to bring it back and asked commission members and listeners if they knew of any potential donors.A Souper Tuesday in the past typically cost about $260.

OLD BUSINESS

  • Age Friendly Community Update and Grant Possibility: Ms. Beatty reported that she had met with former commission chair Ed LaMontagne in August and received his file.She noted that AARP has extended the certificate for application and must begin to think about a survey of community members and involving community stakeholders. Ms. Beatty provided the web address for AgingWellinWaldoCounty.org, a group led by Wendy Kasten, who have posted their progress with survey and analysis. Commissioners Ms. Erickson, Ms. Robbins, Mr. Jennings, and Mr. Bible will help Ms. Beatty create a survey based on the information provided by this group and the applicant group in Greenwich.  Because the grant is due October 1, the commission decided to table it.
  • Healthy Aging Data Report was provided.
  • Affordable Housing Update: No report.
  • Policies and Procedures: Ms. Yeisley noted that the commission is an advisory committee.
  • Multi-Town Commission on Aging: Ms. Henault noted that E. Granby was there at the meeting she attended and no other town. She noted that she will attend the next meeting and see if the agenda is clearer.
  • Loan Locker Ribbon Cutting: Ms. Yeisley noted that many commissioners attended, who were all pleased to cheer Alan Needham and Jean Miles for their hard work in establishing and running it.

NEW BUSINESS

  • AARP Presentation on Smart Living – Fall 2021: Ms. Yeisley will talk with Mr. Bible this fall about proposing this topic for a future seminar.
  • Disability Employment Seminar: Ms. Cook suggested that we keep a list of resources either on the website or Face Book page and she said she would help.Ms. Robbins also volunteered. Ms. Cook suggested Main Street Partners might have ideas. Ms. Ray suggested Andrew Sherman, Business & Career Center Coordinator, at the library might have some ideas about resources.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, a request to adjourn the meeting was made by Ms. Cook and seconded by Ms. Robbins. The meeting was adjourned at 8:58 pm.

Next meeting:  October 19, 2021 at 7 pm via Zoom.

Submitted by,

Jan Beatty

Secretary