Aging & Disability Commission - Minutes

Meeting date: 
Tuesday, March 15, 2022

AGING AND DISABILITY COMMISSION

Via Zoom to Facebook Live

Regular Meeting March 15, 2022 – 7:00 pm

AGING AND DISABILITY COMMISSION – REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

MARCH 15, 2022

SUBJECT TO APPROVAL

PRESENT

Robin Batchelder, Jan Beatty, Vic Bible,Deb Glass, Mike Jennings, Erin Leavitt-Smith, Kate Robbins, Diana Yeisley, Kathleen Marschall (Senior Center Coordinator), and Amber Abbuhl (BOS liaison)

EXCUSED

Cheryl Cook, Joanne Cohen, Anne EricksonSandee Fleet Terry Henault, Shannon Leary, Susan Ray (library)

CALL TO ORDER: Ms. Yeisley, Chairperson, called the meeting to order at 7:11 pm.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was recited.

PUBLIC AUDIENCE/PUBLIC COMMENTS

None received.

ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES – Regular Meeting of February 15, 2022

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

BOARD OF SELECTMEN (BOS) LIAISON REPORT

Ms. Abbuhl reported that BOS passed a $25,460,000+ operating budget yesterday, which will move to the Board of Finance (BOF) for approval. She noted the budget includes additional resources of service improvements without increasing the mill rate. If BOF approves, the budget will go to referendum. Mr. Jennings commented that the accessible moveable pathways for the PAC should still be considered as important to consider for ARPA funding. Ms. Abbuhl also noted that a town-wide clean-up will be held Saturday, April 23, related to Earth Day.

SENIOR CENTER REPORT

Ms. Marschall noted two new staff have been added in the kitchen, which meant in-door dining could begin in March. A St. Patrick’s Day party was held last week with a concert and boxed lunch to go.  The AARP tax appointments are full, but call the Senior Center to be put on a wait list. A grant was received from the CT Healthy Living Collective that allows seniors to take free classes in Tai Ji Quan for better balance; classes start March 15 and sign up is through the Senior Center.  On April 13, the Hungerford Nature Center will be bringing reptiles to the Senior Center from 2-3; call Senior Center to register. Finally, she noted that the Springfield Thunderbirds is having a sensory-friendly hockey game on Sunday, April 3, at 2:00 in Springfield.

PROGRAMS

  • Fashion Show – October 2022: Ms. Yeisley asked for a commissioner to chair, and Ms. Batchelder volunteered. Ms. Glass volunteered to help with decorations.
  • Souper Tuesday – Funding: Ms. Yeisley said it will become Souper Thursday (as lunch is already served every Tuesday at Senior Center) and a letter will be sent to possible supporters beginning next week.  Ms. Robbins helped create the list of potential supporters.
  • Sensory Spring Fling: Instead of the April 21st event as originally proposed, the Aging and Disability Commission discussed sponsoring a particular area as part of the town-wide clean-up event on Saturday, April 23, for a sensory-friendly clean-up. Ms. Beatty moved to change the sensory spring fling event to a sensory-friendly clean-up as part of the town-wide venture; Ms. Robbins seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
  • Picnic: Ms. Yeisley suggested she will pursue catering and location options; she will plan for the late afternoon date of Friday or Saturday, July 15-16 or 29-30.

OLD BUSINESS

  • Age Friendly Community Update: Ms. Beatty reported that Ms. Yeisley has sent the letter to community partners updating the progress in attaining Age-Friendly status for the town and ascertaining partner point people. The subcommittee is working on preparing a draft of the survey about age-friendly needs in town for town residents 50+ by May 1. Ms. Beatty will schedule a subcommittee meeting to discuss outreach to the community about the age-friendly process underway prior to deploying survey to community.
  •  Affordable Housing Update: Ms. Cook sent an email noting that the Simsbury Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council (formerly known as the Simsbury SPIRIT Council) will hold their first housing roundtable at the library on April 14. Registration is required and is available through the library.
  • Multi-Town Commission on Aging: No report-removing from future agendas.
  • Disability Employment Resource List: Ms. Cook has created a list that can be put on the commission’s website.
  • AARP Presentation: Mr. Bible contacted AARP and set the date of May 12, 6:30 to 7:30, for an AARP-sponsored virtual program on fraud.  Registration will be through the library.

NEW BUSINESS

  • Senior and Disability Legislation and programs from John Hampton: Ms. Yeisley noted that creating a workforce pipeline would be a tremendous boon to the community.  Any ideas or information should be sent on to John Hampton.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, a request to adjourn the meeting was made by Mr. Bible and seconded by Ms. Beatty. The meeting was adjourned at 8:41 pm.

Next meeting:  April 19, 2022 at 7 pm via Zoom. Ms. Leary will chair in Ms. Yeisley’s absence.

Submitted by,

Jan Beatty

Secretary