Village of Arlington Heights Senior Citizens’ Commission Met Dec. 21.
Here is the minutes provided by the commission:
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson Feldman called the meeting to order at 7:04 PM. All stood
for the Pledge of Allegiance.
II. ROLL CALL
Present Also Present Absent
Fred Feldman,
Chairman
Nancy Frenk
Susan Viecelli
George Motto, M.D.
Tim Carter
Tem Williams
Sharon Adams
Tracey Colagrossi,
Commission Liaison
Keith Moens
Madelyn McCarren
Melissa Cayer
Dottie Hardy
George Weber
Maureen Seleski
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. Minutes from November 16, 2020
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS MOTIONED SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER CARTER, MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE NOVEMBER 16, 2020 MEETING.
ALL CONCURRED AND THE MOTION CARRIED. Chairperson Feldman summarized that the minutes were approved.
IV. REPORTS
A. Senior Impacts Reports
a. Chairperson
Chairperson Feldman had nothing to report.
b. Senior Center Manager
Tenant Agencies:
The Senior Center, Arlington Heights Park District, Arlington
Heights Memorial Library continue to follow the Tier Three mitigations from IDPH through January 9, 2021. Meaning all in person programs are postponed until then. The Arlington Athletic Club is still open by appointment through the Park District, as that aligns with the Tier 3 mitigations for health clubs.
The Arlington Heights Nurses Club lending closet continues to monitor their voicemail as they remain closed since November 16.
The Senior Center has referred to other areas for lending closet items. The Nurses Club will reopen when Tier 4 resumes. They are seeking the help of students/interns to assist with the inventory and data entry of the program.
Programs:
The January/February Newsletter was sent to homes on Friday, December 18. There was an issue with mailing the December 2020 issue, as there was not enough postage added. A second mailing was sent out. The database was also updated and converted from Access to Excel, Manager Colagrossi ensured that all members of the Commission were included in the mailing. The Commissioners confirmed that they did receive a copy in their mail. Snow Removal Referral Program: Over 26 students committed to the program. A mailing went to over 165 residents interested in using the service.
Tax Aide Program: will be conducted this year. Appointments will be received beginning January 4. Appointments are Wednesday/Thursday, February 3 through April 15. Tax Payers will come in to get their documents scanned. A virtual trained tax preparer will then complete the forms and then the tax payer will need to come in a second time to review and sign.
Event/Status Update:
The Senior Center Request for Proposal will be interviewing three firms on January 6, before a final recommendation is submitted to the board. There were 13 firms that submitted RFPS for consideration.
National Accreditation:
Barbara Fentress of Virginia and Jenna Hauss of California are in process of reviewing the Arlington Heights Senior Center Document Notebook. The Peer Reviewers have a few follow up questions regarding the response to programming in a pandemic. Manager Colagrossi is working on responses. The next steps will be to coordinate a virtual visit with them, along with our accreditation team, volunteers and staff.
c. Not for Profit Corporation
The INC Board met on December 10, 2020, and awarded the Senior Center with three funding requests: Aging Mastery Program License, Movies for 2021, and Great Decisions Conversations. The Aging Mastery Program is an evidenced base program from the National Council on Aging: The Aging Mastery Program (AMP) is a fun and engaging education and behavior change incentive program for aging well.
The AMP core curriculum covers 10 topics. The classroom experience is a mix of didactic and interactive learning with an emphasis on peer-to-peer interaction. When they graduate from AMP, participants have set goals for positive actions in many aspects of their lives such as exercise, nutrition, finances, advance care planning, community engagement, and healthy relationships.
Download the program overview.
There are also nine elective AMP classes that can be offered as a follow-on to the 10-class core program for AMP graduates. These classes address topics such as patient/physician communication, memory, home safety, malnutrition, and bucket lists.
The Board will be looking into creating a planned giving program.
Also, Longtime Advisory council member and INC Board Member Richard Chierico submitted his resignation on Monday, December
14. Staff will be meeting with Richard on Tuesday.
d. Senior Center Advisory Council
The next meeting is scheduled for March 2021. There is nothing to report at this time.
e. Legislation
Chairperson Feldman reported the veto session that was scheduled for late November-early December has been cancelled. Nothing to report at this time.
f. Age Friendly Community Certification
See Attached Age-Friendly Update. Senior Center Manager
Colagrossi presented an overview of the updated document followed by a summary from Commissioner, Dr. George Motto.
The Commissioners made a some edits to the document.
Commissioner Carter stressed that the a Central Source of Information should be implemented with a fair and equitable lens for all. Commissioner Motto stressed that the Age-Friendly certification process is continuous evaluation of services. The certification is in effect every five years.
COMMISSIONER VIECELLI MOTIONED ANDSECONDED BY COMMISSIONER CARTER, MOVED TO APPROVE THE AGE FRIENDLY UPDATE DOCUMENT. ALL CONCURRED AND THE MOTION CARRIED. Chairperson Feldman summarized the motion was approved.
CHAIRPERSON FELDMAN REQUESTED A MOTION TO ATTACH THE AGE-FRIENDLY UPDATE TO THE DECEMBER 21,202 MINUTES. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS MOTIONED AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER VIECELLI, ALL CONCURRED AND THE MOTION CARRIED. Chairperson Feldman summarized the motion was approved.
CHAIRPERSON FELDMAN REQUESTED A MOTION TO DIRECT THE SENIOR CENTER MANAGER TO TRANSMIT A COPY OF THE AGE FRIENDLY UPDATE TO THE DIRECTOR OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS MOTIONED AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ADAMS.
ALL CONCURRED AND THE MOTION CARRIED. Chairperson Feldman summarized the motion was approved.
g. Kenneth Hood Senior Service Award
Chairperson Feldman reiterated that the Kenneth Hood Senior Service Award is postponed until 2021.
V. OLD BUSINESS
VI. NEW BUSINESS
VII. OTHER BUSINESS
A. Announcements/Correspondence
A. There was no additional correspondence or announcements.
B. Citizens to Be Heard
Madelyn McCarren identified herself as from the League of Women Voters representing Des Plaines and Mount Prospect areas. Ms. McCarren stated she was concerned about the walkability of sidewalks in the winter after the streets are plowed. She stated that the streets are a higher priority and that it is an equity issue, as those who walk to stores and work need to have walkways passable. She added she spoke to a number of residents that use the sidewalks frequently and added that they had resigned themselves to this is the way it is. Ms. McCarren stated she had voiced this concern at the DEI Kaleidoscope session. Chairperson Feldman stated her comments would be in the public record. The Commissioners suggested that Ms. McCarren also contact Public Works. Commissioner Adams noted that this has been suggested previously and that the Board advised that it should be a Neighbor Helping Neighbor effort to clear pathways. The Commissioners stated that other municipalities have clear sidewalks as an ordinance and perhaps that is what is needed. Ms. McCarren thanked the Commission for their guidance and to be heard. Keith Moens asked the Commissioners to consider the Affordable Housing Ordinance to be reviewed to include Senior Living Communities receiving TIF funds to have affordable housing units included. Mr. Moens stated that the Affordable Housing Ordinance that was approved earlier this year had senior living communities included, but was removed before final approval of the Board. Mr. Moens said that there are two senior living communities that are approved for building in the area, one from Trammel Crowell will be before the Board on January 4, 2021. Mr. Moens requested that the members of the Senior Citizens’ Commission be present at the board meeting to voice their concern for affordable housing.
The Commissioners said that they would look into the Affordable Housing Ordinance and about the new communities, as well as attend the January 4, 2021 Board meeting to learn more about the project
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
AT 8:42 PM, COMMISSIONER WEBER MADE A MOTION TO ADJORN, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER VIECELLI. ALL WERE IN FAVOR. MEETING CONCLUDED.
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