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Aging & Disability Commission - Minutes

Meeting date: 
Tuesday, May 17, 2022

 

AGING AND DISABILITY COMMISSION

Via Zoom to Facebook Live

Regular Meeting May 17, 2022 – 7:00 pm

AGING AND DISABILITY COMMISSION – REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

MAY 17, 2022

Approved

PRESENT

Robin Batchelder, Jan Beatty, Vic Bible,Joanne Cohen, Cheryl Cook, Anne Erickson, Deb Glass, Terry Henault, Mike Jennings, Kate Robbins, Amber Abbuhl (BOS liaison), and Susan Ray (library)

EXCUSED

Sandee Fleet, Kathleen Marschall (Senior Center Coordinator), Shannon Leary, and Erin Leavitt-Smith

CALL TO ORDER: Ms. Yeisley, Chairperson, called the meeting to order at 7:02 pm.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was recited.

PUBLIC AUDIENCE/PUBLIC COMMENTS

DEI Housing Subcommittee project on Housing in Simsbury presentation by Sara and Robin Batchelder and Cheryl Cook. Ms. Cook noted that the DEI Council’s first education event was held this week on May 12 and is available from SCTV. A one-year grant of $10,000 from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving to the DEI Council supports assessment of perceptions about housing in Simsbury. Ms. Cook and Ms. Sara Batchelder asked questions of the commissioners as part of a DEI survey they are undertaking to assess their understanding of accessible and affordable housing in Simsbury and the challenges and benefits offered.

ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES – Regular Meeting of April 19, 2022

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

BOARD OF SELECTMEN (BOS) LIAISON REPORT

Ms. Abbuhl attended the ribbon cutting of the Food Pantry at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church on May 16 and noted that donations such as paper products, cleaning products, anything shelf-stable can be dropped off in bin outside.  She noted that the BOS is discussing housing in relation to ARPA funds as well as DEI concerns.  The BOS passed a proclamation making May Bike Awareness month and Ms. Abbuhl will suggest June as Handicapped Parking Awareness month be put on BOS agenda. She also reported that Simsbury Meadows improvements were underway and that the town-wide clean-up day was very successful.

SENIOR CENTER REPORT

Ms. Marschall was absent; no report.

PROGRAMS

  • Fashion Show – Fall 2022: No report.
  • Souper Tuesday – Funding: No report.
  • Sensory Spring Fling: Ms. Yeisley noted that unfortunately no one signed up. Spring event historically is less well attended. Ms. Abbuhl suggested sending a survey to attendees of other events to ask their opinion of time of year and possible event, perhaps movie at library.
  • Picnic in July: Ms. Yeisley noted that it will be held Saturday, July 16, from 6-8 pm at the skating rink at Simsbury Farms as it was last year, catered by Fitzgerald’s. Sheet for volunteers from commission will be sent out soon.

OLD BUSINESS

  • Age Friendly Community Update: Ms. Beatty reported on the status of the survey as a first step in assessing community needs to be addressed in order to attain AARP Age-Friendly Community status. Commissioners all took a draft of the survey and reported suggested wording changes; all noted that it was easy and quick to complete.  Changes will be sent to the town’s intern for the final draft and the survey will be open to all this summer in both digital and hard copy format.  Ms. Ray said the library will have copies and Ms. Cook suggested a flyer reminding all of the survey. Ms. Beatty noted that a few Community Partners asked to be reminded in June of survey status. Ms. Beatty thanked Ms. Abbuhl and all the commissioners for their help.
  •  Affordable Housing Update: See above.
  • Disability Employment Resource List: Ms. Cook noted list is ongoing.
  • AARP Presentation: Mr. Bible noted that presentation went well; 17 registered for the event. He suggested that there may be no further presentations on the AARP list that we would want to pursue.

NEW BUSINESS

  • Fall Presentation/Seminar: Ms. Cook noted that the commission might want to partner with Community for Care, which puts on 4 events per year. Ms. Yeisley suggested any program ideas should go to Mr. Bible.
  • Handicap Parking Awareness Month:  Mr. Jennings thanked Ms. Abbuhl for bringing it to the attention of BOS. Ms. Robbins suggested that the flyer be sent to commissioners who can distribute via email.
  • Assisted Listening Devices: Mr. Orenstein asked to be on the agenda next month as an item that the commission will address about the need for widespread communication about these devices. Ms. Beatty made a motion to add Mr. Orenstein on the agenda; Mr. Bible seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, a request to adjourn the meeting was made by Ms. Cook and seconded by Ms. Erickson. The meeting was adjourned at 8:24 pm.

Next meeting:  June 21, 2022 at 7 pm via Zoom.

Submitted by,

Jan Beatty

Secretary