TOWN OF SIMSBURY
AGING AND DISABILITY COMMISSION
June 16, 2009
Meeting Minutes
Chairperson, Edward LaMontagne called the meeting to order in the Youth Room at Eno Hall, Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, CT 06070 at 7:03 p.m.
Present: Grace Comeau, Tom Doran, Kathy Fallon, Mona Herman, Mike Jennings, Marvin Koff, Mary Ellen Long, Ed LaMontagne, Mona Martinik, Charlotte Steptoe, Lynn Veith, Arlene Zappile, Rich Hogan (BOS Liaison), Kathleen Marschall (Senior Center Coordinator, liaison)
Excused: Carrie Kramer, Mark Orenstein, Ann Walters-Thompson
Public Audience: None
Guests:
Farmington Valley Supportive Housing Coalition. Members of the Farmington Valley Supportive Housing Coalition provided information on Supportive Housing needs and opportunities in the Farmington Valley.
Joe Loewy, Executive Director of the Simsbury Housing Authority and members of the Simsbury Housing Authority Board of Directors were also in attendance.
Sue Bednarcyk and Kirsten Griebel presented a report on the Glastonbury and Wallingford Senior Centers. Both are multiuse facilities and were built to the needs of the clientele. Wallingford is self sustaining mostly funded by the Town. Masonic Care has donated funding to Wallingford for their center. Glastonbury is a 20,000 square foot facility run by the town. A large room is rented out and used for town meetings. Sue and Kristen suggested the blending of pre-school and Senior Services. A potential area, identified for the center, is behind Fitzgerald’s.
Minutes, Previous Meeting: The meeting minutes from May 19, 2009 were reviewed and accepted with grammatical corrections.
PROGRAM COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Souper Tuesday - Grace Comeau
Ms. Comeau presented the Souper Tuesday dates for the months of September, October and November. Mr. LaMontagne shared the reconciliation on the Souper Tuesday funding.
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Town of Simsbury
Aging and Disability Commission
Meeting Minutes
June 16, 2009
Page Two
Picnic in the Park – Charlotte Steptoe
Ms. Steptoe updated the commission members on the status of the event, which is scheduled for August 8, 2009 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mr. Hogan will post the event on the list serve. The Housing Authority will donate condiments.
Citizen Service Award - Lynn Veith
Ms. Veith read a thank you note from Gretchen Nelson. Ms. Veith will begin planning nominations for the Senior Services Award in May of 2010.
SUB COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Accessibility - Ann Walters Thompson
Ms. Walter-Thompson was not present. Mr. LaMontagne met with Mary Glassman to share the list of businesses/locations with ADA issues. Ms. Glassman suggested that future reviews be divided between public and private buildings. Mr. LaMontagne sent a letter to the Registrar of Voters regarding accessibility issues at town polling stations.
Disability Needs Assessment - Mike Jennings
The survey is completed. Rick Bazzano will put the survey on the website and will utilize Survey Monkey so the survey can be completed on-line. Mr. LaMontagne and Ms. Kramer will be coordinating a public relations program, including SCTV. Mr. Lowey will distribute the survey at Owen Murphy/Virginia Connelly. Mr. Hogan will distribute the survey on the list serve. Ms. Marschall will include it in the Senior Center Communicator newsletter.
Housing - Ed LaMontagne
Mr. LaMontagne received a call from a town resident who was interested in building an apartment building in town with fourteen two-bedroom accessible units. This requires a zoning change. Mr. LaMontagne sent a letter to the Zoning Board of Appeals supporting the zoning change.
Mr. Lowey reported that in the Governor’s budget the resident services assistant program and the rental assistance program will be curtailed. The Housing Authority and Town Social Services Department met to coordinate services.
Public Relations-Carrie Kramer
Ms. Kramer was not present. Mr. LaMontagne and Ms. Kramer will be writing articles for the Chamber of Commerce newsletters.
Town of Simsbury
Aging and Disability Commission
Meeting Minutes
June 16, 2009
Page Three
Senior/Community Center Assessment - Mona Martinik
Ms. Martinik, Ms. Long and Ms. Marschall visited a Senior Center in Agawam. They are visiting Glastonbury this week. The Aquarian Building across the street from the senior Center was evaluated, but the second floor is not accessible.
Senior Tax Relief-Ed LaMontagne
Mr. LaMontagne contacted Dave Gardner, Town Assessor, to determine how many people took advantage of the Tax Relief Program. More people took advantage of the tax relief program his year.
SENIOR CENTER REPORT - Kathleen Marschall, Senior Center Coordinator
Ms. Marschall distributed copies of the most recent newsletter and provided updates concerning senior center programs.
OLD BUSINESS
End of Year Revenue/Expense Update
Mr. LaMontagne shared the current reconciliation report
Other Business
None reported
NEW BUSINESS
New Housing Opportunity
See Housing Report
July Meeting:
A special meeting will be held on July 21st at 7:00 p.m. in the Youth Room.
September meeting-Location Change:
Due to a meeting at the Library the Commissions September meeting will be held at Eno Hall.
Announcements
• Mr. LaMontagne stated that the Town Charette will begin on September 11, 2009.
• The town’s Social Services Department is now accepting applications for the Renters Rebate program.
Town of Simsbury
Aging and Disability Commission
Meeting Minutes
June 16, 2009
Page Four
Correspondence
Mr. LaMontagne sent letters to Civitan and the First Church of Christ thanking them for donating to the Souper Tuesday event. A letter was also sent to State representative Linda Schofield with regard to the state budget.
Other Business
Dr. Koff reported that two bills were passed: one that insurers must pay for services for Autistic children and a second bill that mandates insurers pay for prosthetics.
ADJOURNMENT:
Next meeting: July 21, 2009 at Eno Hall
Dr. Koff made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Ms. Fallon seconded.
The meeting was adjourned at 9: 04 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lynn Veith
Lynn R. Veith
Clerk
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