Print
Share page with AddThis

Aging & Disability Commission - Minutes

Meeting date: 
Tuesday, October 19, 2021

AGING AND DISABILITY COMMISSION

Via Zoom to Facebook Live

Regular Meeting October 19, 2021 – 7:00 pm

AGING AND DISABILITY COMMISSION – REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

OCTOBER 19, 2021

SUBJECT TO APPROVAL

PRESENT

Robin Batchelder, Jan Beatty, Vic Bible, Joanne Cohen, Cheryl Cook, Anne Erickson, Sandee Fleet, Deborah Glass, Mike Jennings, Shannon Knall, Erin Leavitt-Smith, Kate Robbins, Kathleen Marschall (Senior Center Coordinator) and Susan Ray (library)

Diana Yeisley joined at 7:30

EXCUSED

Terry Henault,Wendy Mackstutis

CALL TO ORDER: Ms. Knall, Vice-Chairperson, called the meeting to order at 7:08 pm.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was recited.

PUBLIC AUDIENCE/PUBLIC COMMENTS

No public comments received.

ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES – Regular Meeting of September 19, 2021

Mr. Bible moved to accept the minutes and Ms. Cook seconded to approve the meeting minutes. Minutes were unanimously accepted with no changes.

BOARD OF SELECTMEN (BOS) LIAISON REPORT

Ms. Mackstutis was absent but provided a brief report read by Ms. Knall.  She noted that the town is trending well re COVID; the town is currently “Yellow” on the state’s Municipal COVID Alert System with a positivity rate of 2%.  If the trend continues, the indoor mask mandate will be dropped.

SENIOR CENTER REPORT

Ms. Marschall reported that the Senior Center is open and fitness programs remain virtual because of the mask mandate and the fact that the auditorium is still the venue for the food distribution program. She hopes that will change within a month. Meals are still on a Grab & Go basis due to the lack of staff in the kitchen; she noted that applications for staff help are available on the center’s website.  She also noted that the flu clinic today at the center was very busy; more flu clinics are coming up and appointments can be made through the Farmington Valley VNA or through the Senior Center: 860-651-3539 or website.  Local bus trips continue; some shopping trips are coming up in November and December.  Monday, October 25, the Senior Center will celebrate Halloween from 4:30-6:30. Further, she noted that St. Mary’s will host an in-person Thanksgiving dinner on Nov 17th at noon (limited to 100).   Ms. Ray noted that on November 6 the library is hosting a vision screening clinic from 10-1; appointments can be made through the Senior Center. Ms. Cook noted that the 350th committee will show their half-hour commemorative video at the Senior Center on December 2.

PROGRAMS

  • Sensory Halloween: Ms. Knall noted it is set for October 25th from 4:30-7.Set-up will be at 4; owners of 15 cars have volunteered to participate in the Trunk or Treat and 37 attendees are registered.
  • Sensory Santa:Ms. Knall noted that dates are being considered and whether to meet in-person. Ms. Marschall noted that the previous Santa is only available virtually.
  • Fashion Show – Fall 2022: No report.
  • Souper Tuesday – Funding: No report.

OLD BUSINESS

  • Age Friendly Community Update: Ms. Beatty recapped that a subcommittee has been established to determine next steps toward becoming an AARP Age-Friendly Community, including confirming community partners and considering how to craft and deploy a survey of community needs. Ms. Fleet volunteered to join the subcommittee.Ms. Beatty will set up a meeting of the subcommittee.
  • Affordable Housing Update: Ms. Cook noted that the SPIRIT Council is working on their grant application to the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving along with the First Church of Christ Simsbury as their 501c3 partner.They will know by the end of the year if they have the grant. Ms. Yeisley noted that rental assistance program has ended and she suggested that individuals contact their representatives to point out the dire need for the program. Ms. Cohen suggested a form letter could be put on the commission’s Facebook page, which Ms. Yeisley agreed to do.
  • Multi-Town Commission on Aging: Ms. Henault was absent; no report.
  • SCTV closed captioning: Ms. Yeisley noted that SCTV said their equipment can’t provide closed captions but that the captions for town meetings can be enabled via YouTube.

NEW BUSINESS

  • AARP Presentation on Smart Living – Fall 2021/Spring 2022: Mr. Bible will contact AARP to see if they are interested in providing materials and/or lecturer for Spring seminar.
  • Disability Employment Resource Fair 10/22/21: Ms. Yeisley sent out information to commissioners on the virtual program, which she will attend in hopes of adding to the resource list.
  • Disability Employment Resource List: Ms. Cook and Ms. Knall will join Ms. Yeisley in working on creating a list.
  • November meeting – The Commission voted to meet via Zoom in November and will revisit policy at next meeting.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, a request to adjourn the meeting was made by Ms. Knall and seconded by Ms. Fleet. The meeting was adjourned at 7:59 pm.

Next meeting:  November 16, 2021 at 7 pm via Zoom.

Submitted by,

Jan Beatty

Secretary