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Aging & Disability Commission - Minutes

Meeting date: 
Tuesday, November 21, 2023

AGING AND DISABILITY COMMISSION

Regular Meeting – November 21, 2023 – 7:00 P.M.

Eno Memorial Hall – Youth Room IN PERSON

AGING AND DISABILITY COMMISSION – REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

November 21, 2023

APPROVED 1/23/2024

Jan Beatty, Deb Glass, Margaret Haldeman, Terry Henault, Mike Jennings, Ed LaMontagne, Shannon Leary, Kate Robbins, Diana Yeisley, and Susan Ray (library liaison)

Robin Batchelder, Cheryl Cook, Libby Easton-May, Anne Erickson, Sandee Fleet, Susan Fitzgerald, Jen Seiderer, Kathleen Marschall (Senior Center Coordinator), and Amber Abbuhl (BOS liaison)

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

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was recited.

PUBLIC AUDIENCE/PUBLIC COMMENT:

Mark Grabowski, 22 W. Oak Drive, West Granby, volunteer in Simsbury Senior Center kitchen and a disabled veteran, noticed that handicapped spaces are lacking outside Jersey Mike’s at the Drake Hill mall parking lot. Ms. Yeisley noted that the commission will investigate if the management there is in compliance with the regulation requiring a specified number of handicapped spaces.

Jean Miles, Weatogue resident, attended as a guest wanting to learn more about the Employment Resource List being compiled.  Ms. Yeisley invited her input to the list and asked her how the Loan Locker was doing. Ms. Miles, a driving force behind the Simsbury Loan Locker program, explained how it came into being about 3 years ago. The program has gotten tremendous response from residents and support from the town. She also thanked the commission for its role in supporting the program.

Ms. Yeisley read an email from Catherine Taft appreciating the recent Fashion Show and thanking the commission for making it happen.

ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES -Regular Meeting of October 17, 2023

Mr. LaMontagne moved to accept the minutes with the correction that he had not yet spoken to Ms. DiNunno at PAC about the commissioners escorting older patrons and those with disabilities to their seats at Simsbury Meadows.  Ms. Glass seconded. Ms. Robbins abstained.  The motion passed and the minutes were accepted with one correction.

BOS LIAISON REPORT – Via a note to Ms. Yeisley, Ms. Abbuhl noted that she will miss working with the commission and that she is feeling much better. Ms. Yeisley noted that the new BOS will be sworn in December 4 and that the new liaison to the commission will be announced in January.

SENIOR CENTER REPORT -  In her written report to Ms. Yeisley, Ms. Marschall thanked St. Mary’s School for hosting their annual Thanksgiving lunch, attended by 150 older adults last week. She also noted that a Notary Public is now on the staff of the Social Services department; call 860-658-3283 to make an appointment. The next Veteran’s Coffee Hour will be December 4 from 10-11 am at the Senior Center.  Finally, she noted the annual Holiday Concert featuring the Center’s choral group Intonations with students from the Hartt School will be held December 7 at 11 am at McLean in the Garmany Performing Arts Center; call the Senior Center at 860-658-3273 to sign up for the free concert.

AGE FRIENDLY COMMUNITY

  • Ms. Beatty noted that stakeholder interviews are underway and will continue through December. Several have indicated a willingness to help with focus groups along with our two supportive professors at UConn Center for Aging. Ms. Beatty also reported on the AARP webinar she attended on conducting walk audits.

PROGRAMS

  • Fashion Show – Ms. Yeisley thanked Ms. Glass and Ms. Henault for their help in managing the event; all enjoyed the event.
  • Halloween Event - was held on October 30 at the library; Ms. Yeisley thanked the volunteers and noted there were new attendees.
  • Sensory Santa Event - will be held Saturday, December 2, at 2-4:30 pm at the library; Ms. Yeisley noted only 3 time slots with Santa were left.
  • Spring Movie Event – Ms. Yeisley noted a sensory-friendly movie event, potentially with Luca, will be held March 24 at 2:00 at the library.

OLD BUSINESS

  • Affordable Housing Update – Mr. LaMontagne noted that the housing subcommittee’s work over the past 18 months was presented to the BOS on November 13.  The program will be presented again in January at the BOS meeting to update the new BOS and Town Manager.
  • Wellness Fair-  The fair attracted about 100 attendees Monday, October 23, at the library; several commissioners attended and were able to get Age-Friendly Community survey responses from about 10 attendees.
  • Disability Employment Resource List – No update.
  • Aging and Disability Resource List – No update.
  • Spring Seminar –   Mr. LaMongtagne noted that For All Ages will be offering a 3-part series on loneliness and suggested that the commission might want to choose another topic. He has reserved the Program Room at the library on April 9 from 1:30-3:30 pm and 6:30-8:30 pm to highlight a new town program: Steps to Safety – Fall Prevention Program. Ms. Robbins volunteered to help.
  • IDEA Program– Ms. Leary joined via phone and said she had no update.
  • ADA compliant playground - Ms. Yeisley noted a ribbon cutting on December 6 at 1:30 for the newly renovated playground at Simsbury Farms that is ADA compliant.
  • Nominations – Mr. LaMontagne moved that we table the nominations until Ms. Easton-May sends out a memo seeking nominations, which will be voted on in January. Ms. Robbins seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

NEW BUSINESS

  • Approval of 2024 Meeting Calendar –Mr. LaMontagne moved to adopt the schedule as proposed.  Mr. Jennings seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
  • Brochure Updates – Ms. Yeisley asked for updates. Photos will be changed and wording checked.
  • Action Plan for 2023-2024 was distributed, which Ms. Yeisley will distribute to the Town Clerk.
  • Autism Program at Simsbury Public Library – No report.
  • Improv Ability! at Simsbury Public Library – Ms. Ray will reach out to Sea Tea Improv re their availability in April.

ADJOURNMENT

Ms. Robbins moved to adjourn the meeting and Mr. LaMontagne seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 pm.

Next meeting: January 16, 2024 at 7:00 pm in person at Eno Memorial Hall, Youth Room.

Submitted by

Jan Beatty

Secretary