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Aging & Disability Commission - Minutes

Meeting date: 
Tuesday, January 19, 2021

AGING AND DISABILITY COMMISSION

Via Google Meet to Facebook Live

Regular Meeting January 19, 2021 – 7:00 pm

AGING AND DISABILITY COMMISSION – REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

JANUARY 19, 2021

SUBJECT TO APPROVAL

A regular meeting of the Aging and Disability Commission was held at 7:00 pm on January 21, 2021 via Zoom live feed.

PRESENT

Jan Beatty, Victor Bible, Cheryl Cook, Anne Erickson, Sandee Fleet, Mike Jennings, Kate Robbins, Diana Yeisley, Susan Ray (Library), Kathleen Marschall (Senior Center Coordinator), and Wendy Mackstutis (Board of Selectmen Liaison)

EXCUSED

Shannon Knall, Erin Leavitt-Smith

ABSENT

Susan Krinsky

CALL TO ORDER: Ms. Yeisley, Chairperson, called the meeting to order at 7:14 pm.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was recited.

PUBLIC AUDIENCE/PUBLIC COMMENTS

None received.

ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES – Regular Meeting of November 19, 2020

Mr. Bible made a motion to accept the minutes and Anne Erickson seconded; minutes were unanimously accepted with no corrections.

BOARD OF SELECTMEN (BOS) LIAISON REPORT

Ms. Mackstutis reported that the Simsbury SPIRIT Council presented at their last BOS meeting, highlighting the work they are doing, which includes hosting a discussion at the Simsbury Library on February 4 about affordable housing.  She also said that the BOS is discussing capital projects as they work on the town budget.  She noted that Tenesha Grant has been appointed to the Police Commission. 

SENIOR CENTER REPORT

Ms. Marschall noted a meeting held today with the Farmington Valley Health District about ways to help seniors register for the COVID-19 vaccine.  She commented that some seniors have had success registering through the primary system, VAM, but others either don’t have online access or have been on phone systems that have kept them on hold for hours. (1-877-913-2224 is the number for making vaccine appointments.) Another meeting will be held tomorrow morning with health district to discuss ways to help people who can’t register online through VAM. The Senior Center is working to get the word out to everyone 75+ that vaccines are currently available and is looking at venues in Simsbury as vaccine delivery sites.

All Senior Center programs remain virtual with the exception of food programs; 135 families and 59 seniors received cheese distribution last week. Ms. Cook noted a need for gift cards of $25 for local grocery stores; they can be mailed to Social Services or dropped off in the locked box in front of Eno Memorial Hall.

OLD BUSINESS

  • Commission Members and Open Positions: Ms. Yeisley noted that Cheryl Cook and Victor Bible have moved from alternate to regular members, and Susan Krinksy has moved from regular to alternate member. Two regular and three alternate positions are open. Town political committees are seeking new commission members; interested parties should contact Ms. Yeisley.
  • Virtual Sensory Santa Event and Holiday Cards: Ms. Yeisley reported that holiday cards went out and the Virtual Sensory Santa event was well received.She thanked those on the commission who helped with deliveries.
  • Spring Seminar: Mr. Bible noted the date is April 14 ,6:30-8 pm, for the AARP presentation “Road to Livability” via the library’s Zoom account. Mr. Bible will contact Erica Michalowski of AARP to ensure everything is set for a Zoom presentation.Ms. Cook noted that the library can help ensure that information about the seminar is on town calendars.
  • Age Friendly Community Update: No update.
  • Disability Friendly Community Update: No update.
  • COVID survey and outreach: Ms. Robbins noted that the subcommittee (Mr. Jennings, Ms. Knall, and herself) met and came up with a draft of a postcard that would address first tier services in Simsbury; target audience would be those without internet access.It is awaiting Social Services review.
  • Ed LaMontagne recognition: Ms. Yeisley noted that there was a BOS meeting where there was a proclamation read recognizing Ed LaMontagne’s service to the town as chair of the Aging & Disability Commission.
  • Affordable Housing Update: February 4 at 6:30, the SPIRIT Council will host a discussion on housing in Simsbury at the library; sign-up is required on the library events calendar. Ms. Cook noted that “affordable housing” means different things to different people and this is an opportunity for voices to be heard. The event will be recorded.

NEW BUSINESS

  • Commission Nominations and Board update: Ms. Robbins nominated the current chair (Diana Yeisley), vice chair (Shannon Knall), and secretary (Jan Beatty).Ms. Cook moved that a vote be taken; Ms. Erickson seconded.Vote was taken and unanimous for current position holders to continue this year.
  • SPIRIT Counsel Feb 4th Presentation – Housing: In addition to noting this upcoming event, Ms. Yeisley noted that she represents the Aging & Disability Commission at SPIRIT Council meetings.
  • Other: Ms. Cook mentioned that staff at group homes were included in COVID-19 vaccine group 1A and residents of group homes were 1B. Ms. Yeisley noted that the vaccine advisory board of CT is underrepresenting those who are disabled and would like to draft a letter to the advisory board from the Aging & Disability Commission noting this. Ms. Cook agreed to help draft the letter.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, a request to adjourn the meeting was made by Mr. Bible and seconded by Ms. Fleet. The meeting was adjourned at 8:11 pm.

Next meeting:  February 16, 2021 at 7 pm via Google Meet.

Submitted by,

Jan Beatty

Secretary