Minutes
Aging and Disability Commission - Minutes - Mar 3, 2026
Mar 3, 2026
A public record published by the Town of Simsbury (simsbury-ct.gov). mySimsbury indexes it and makes it readable; it is not the official copy. View the original file.
1 AGING AND DISABILITY COMMISSION Age Friendly Community Subcommittee Regular Meeting - Tuesday, March 3, 2026 – 2:30 P.M. Zoom Meeting Jan Beatty, Chairperson, called the meeting to order at 2:30 p.m. PRESENT: Jan Beatty, Ed LaMontagne, Mike Jennings, Cheryl Cook, Valerie Finney, Libby Easton-May PUBLIC AUDIENCE/PUBLIC COMMENT: No one from the public was in attendance and no comments were received. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES: February 3, 2026 – Ms. Cook moved to accept the minutes, Ms. Easton-May seconded. All voted in favor. OLD BUSINESS • Community Partners Response Form from AARP The form from AARP, revised by members of the Age-Friendly Community Subcommittee, has been used by subcommittee members when speaking with the age-friendly partners. • Drive-Thru Curbside Delivery Business/Window Clings/Resource Guide At this time there is no report concerning drive-thru curbside delivery or the development of window clings. Discussion was held regarding the A&D Commission Resource Guide. The guide is currently available to residents on-line. Discussion centered around whether or not copies of the guide should be printed in a shortened form. • Contacts/Agencies for Next Aging-In-Place Expo Lisa Miceli, our Age-Friendly partner at the Simsbury Library, mentioned that a potential addition could be a nutrition/wellness specialist who is currently doing a “What’s Cooking” program at the library. All agreed that those in first Expo should be invited again. NEW BUSINESS • Community Partners Interaction/Contacts The following subcommittee members reported on discussions with age-friendly partners. - Ed LaMontagne will be meeting with the Police Chief on March 6th. He did meet with Allie Young and Christine Lill from the Performing Arts Center. Accessibility issues at the PAC were discussed. He was scheduled to meet with Kathy Marshall and Kristen Formanek, but did not due to inclement weather. - Jan Beatty and Libby Easton-May met with Lisa Miceli from the Simsbury Library. They discussed various programs currently at the library related to age-friendly communities. Other suggestions were, a care-givers support group, additional blood pressure screening, and to have information concerning the DMV envelopes (blue & green), which are used in vehicles driven by persons with disabilities. Jan Beatty will be meeting with Shannon Leary from Simsbury Community Media. 2 - Cheryl Cook met with Christine Winters from the Simsbury Housing Authority and discussed the various new programs the Housing Authority has implemented. Ms. Cook also stated that the Parks and Recreation Department has initiated several new adult programs. The Public Works Department has installed new sidewalks throughout town and will be working on additional ones once the weather improves. The Town Assessor was questioned regarding potential tax breaks for a resident who makes accessible improvements in their home. The assessor stated that it would only be applicable for new additional square footage or new plumbing. - Libby Easton-May spoke with Deb Bibbins from For All Ages. Deb stated that a lot of programs are covered through the library and they are leveraging what we already have. She stated that social participation through intergenerational programs is important and should continue. - Mike Jennings mentioned that he is continuing to follow up with transportation resources. • Application for AARP Community Challenge Grant The AARP Community Challenge Grant is currently being completed by Deputy Town Manager Tom Fitzgerald. The deadline for application is March 4th. The Flagship Grant, if received, will be used to purchase “Mobi-mats®”, which are used to allow wheelchairs, walkers, and other assistive devices access over rough surfaces. The mats can be used at various recreation sites throughout town and potentially at the Simsbury Performing Arts Center during the summer season. • Aging in Place Expo Letters The date for the Aging in Place Expo has been set for Friday, September 18th from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Simsbury Public Library. Letters to venders asking them to participate in the Expo will be going out in the next month. • Summary of AARP Age-Friendly Webinar Getting There Together: How Communities are Improving Transportation. Held on February 10th. Participants on the zoom call discussed various methods of improving transportation access. Some communities utilize volunteer drivers; however, it is more difficult here in Connecticut due to liability and insurance issues. UPCOMING AARP AGE-FRIENDLY WEBINARS Note: Past webinars can be viewed on the AARP Livable Communities website • March 10, 2026 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Power of Spinoffs: How Age-Friendly Efforts Spark More Than Expected Discover the unexpected wins and ripple effects that emerge when communities embrace age-friendly initiatives. This webinar highlights inspiring spinoffs that go beyond original goals, showing how small steps can spark broader change. Register Here: https://events.aarp.org/ZaRr9r 3 • April 14, 2026 from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM (ET) Places with Purpose: Built for Belonging Discover how communities are designing spaces that foster belonging and connection across all ages. This webinar highlights practical examples of places built with purpose, where engagement and inclusion thrive. Register Here: https://events.aarp.org/qWkGzN ADJOURNMENT There being no other business the meeting adjourned at 3:30 p.m. Next Meeting: April 7, 2026 at 2:30 pm, via Zoom. Respectfully submitted: Edward J. LaMontagne Edward J. LaMontagne Clerk