Aging & Disability Commission - Minutes

Meeting date: 
Tuesday, November 16, 2021

AGING AND DISABILITY COMMISSION

Via Zoom to Facebook Live

Regular Meeting November 16, 2021 – 7:00 pm

AGING AND DISABILITY COMMISSION – REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

NOVEMBER 16, 2021

Approved

PRESENT

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

EXCUSED

Shannon Knall, Wendy Mackstutis

CALL TO ORDER: Ms. Yeisley, Chairperson, called the meeting to order at 7:05 pm.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was recited.

PUBLIC AUDIENCE/PUBLIC COMMENTS

No public comments received.

ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES – Regular Meeting of October 19, 2021

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

BOARD OF SELECTMEN (BOS) LIAISON REPORT

Ms. Mackstutis was absent. Ms. Yeasley noted that Ms. Mackstutis shared with BOS how successful the Sensory Halloween event was.

SENIOR CENTER REPORT

Ms. Marschall reported no change from last month re mask mandate, fitness program, and Grab & Go meals. She again asked for applications for kitchen help so that meals can be held in Eno Memorial Hall.  She noted that St. Mary’s is hosting Thanksgiving November 17 for 100 seniors, and the Holiday party is December 9 with a concert and to-go meal catered by Kane’s.  A New Year’s Eve party is also planned.

PROGRAMS

  • Sensory Halloween: Ms. Yeisley noted a successful Trunk or Treat event; feedback from participants was enthusiastic.
  • Sensory Santa:  Ms. Yeisley noted the event will be in person at Eno Memorial Hall on December 16 at 4:30-6:30 pm.  SignUp Genius is being used for appointments and only 6 slots are left. Ms. Marschall noted that she has lots of items for gift bags, and Ms. Batchelder will put together about 50 bags for distribution.
  • Fashion Show – Fall 2022: Ms. Yeisley asked commissioners to consider volunteering to chair the event.
  • Souper Tuesday – Funding: Ms. Yeisley noted that former Commission Chair Ed LaMontagne will solicit funds from Rotary about a month prior to when the program is up and running, which is hoped to be in the spring.

OLD BUSINESS

  • Age Friendly Community Update: Ms. Beatty reported that the subcommittee met November 11 and recapped the AARP webinar she and Ms. Erickson attended November 9. There are currently 584 communities nation-wide already or aspiring to be designated as Age-Friendly Communities and Groton has become the 5th CT town to join. Next steps: discussion with yet-to-be named BOS liaison and designated Community Partners about planning, circulating, and analyzing a survey of community needs for aged 50+ constituents based on questionnaire developed by AARP community Waldo Co. Maine. Ms. Cook suggested that Ms. Beatty and Ms. Yeisley meet with Ms. Marschall and new BOS liaison to provide update. Mr. Jennings suggested that SCTV be used to get information out to community about the program effort.
  • Affordable Housing Update:  Ms. Cook summarized the public hearing November 15 at the Zoning Commission meeting; they have until January 2023 to opt out of the new state law relaxing regulations about ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units) and otherwise will automatically be opted in. The public hearing will be open for another 30 days. Ms. Cook also noted that the BOS just passed a new ordinance regarding rental units because of residents’ concerns about Airbnbs.  Ms. Yeisley noted that because the public hearing is still open that anyone with opinions on the subject should either attend Zoning meetings or address letters to the Zoning Commission. Ms. Erickson noted that the Zoning Commission is wide open to making changes in town zoning regulations.
  • Multi-Town Commission on Aging: Ms. Henault had no news to report.

NEW BUSINESS

  • AARP Presentation on Smart Living –Spring 2022: Mr. Bible noted that he will contact AARP in December. Ms. Cook added that AARP sent a letter to the Zoning Commission about ADUs and suggested the presentation might want to focus on that.
  • Disability Employment Resource List: Ms. Yeisley and Ms. Knall have begun their list and Ms. Cook will put the list together.
  • Meeting Schedule for 2022: Proposed third Tuesday of each month; not meeting in July, August, or December.  Mr. Bible moved to accept; Ms. Robbins seconded.  Meeting schedule was unanimously accepted.
  • January meeting: Unanimous vote to meet via Zoom. Mr. Jennings suggested that we revisit once town has lifted mask mandate.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, a request to adjourn the meeting was made by Ms. Batchelder and seconded by Mr. Bible. The meeting was adjourned at 8:06 pm.

Next meeting:  January 18, 2022 at 7 pm via Zoom.

Submitted by,

Jan Beatty

Secretary