Village of Arlington Heights Senior Citizens’ Commission met Sept. 18.
Here are the minutes provided by the commission:
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson Viecelli called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. All stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
Present:
Sue Viecelli, Chairperson
Fred Feldman
Tim Carter
Sharon Adams
Fred Vogt
Roberta White
Also Present:
Tracey Colagrossi, Liaison
Not Present:
George Motto
Tem Williams
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Minutes from Monday, August 18, 2023
CHAIRPERSON VIECELLI PROPOSED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS PRESENTED AND CORRECTED. COMMISSIONER ADAMS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE, AND COMMISSIONER FELDMAN SECONDED. ALL APPROVED THE MINUTES FROM AUGUST 18, 2023.
III. REPORTS
Senior Impact Reports
A. Chairperson
No Chairperson's report today.
B. Senior Center Manager Report
Liaison Colagrossi reported on the Village Board's 2024-25 Strategic Priorities approved by the Board. The priorities are:
1) Work with the Chicago Bears Football Club, our residents and business, all other local, regional, and state-wide partners to develop a responsible, mutually beneficial, and one-of-kind redevelopment plan for the former Arlington Racetrack that benefits our community’s interests and is worthy of the property’s legacy.
2) Continue to maintain good fiscal stewardship of Village resources ensuring ethical and efficient financial decision making on behalf of taxpayers (tied with #3).
3) Pursue environmentally sustainable programs and business practices within the Village, including the encouragement and facilitation of alternative transportation options such as pedestrian and bicycle access (tied with #2).
4) Continue efforts to maintain high quality core municipal services (tied with #5).
5) Develop new and creative ways to enhance public safety for residents, businesses, and all who visit the Village of Arlington Heights (tied with #4).
6) Continue to embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts with an emphasis on creating a sense of belonging and engagement within the community and Village Government.
7) Maintain focus on the long-term design, construction, and maintenance of the Village’s infrastructure program.
8) Seek economic development initiatives to strengthen the local economy, reduce vacancies, and enhance key gateways (tied with #9).
9) Seek, maintain, and expand attainable housing within the community (tied with #8).
Liaison Colagrossi noted the 2024 initial critical projects for the Health and Human Services Department and Senior Services Division.
Liaison Colagrossi reported that the Matter of Balance Class, an evidenced-based fall prevention course that began in September, has been well attended. The eight-week course will be offered again in the spring.
The Village Nursing Services began their mom and Baby monthly classes at the Senior Center this month. The hospital dropped this course, and the village started it up with eight moms signed up.
Liaison Colagrossi remarked that the branding will be changed to Strategic planning for all of the center's agencies to participate in. She added she requested an expanded budget request from the finance department and added this goal, which she hopes the Board will approve in November.
C. Non-Profit
The Arlington Heights Senior Center, Inc. (Foundation) is hosting a second annual Pickleball Tournament on Saturday, September 9, at Dryden Courts. Sixty-four players are committed to the tournament, and seven sponsors will help defer the cost. Inc. is looking to host a possible Casino night in 2024.
D. Advisory Council
The Advisory Council is hosting its next event, the Oktoberfest Cook Out, on September 27, followed by the Thanksgiving and New Year's events in December.
They are currently accepting applications for council members as terms renew each year. New members need to file an application and undergo a background check to be considered for the council, which they are then voted in by a majority in January. Council members are expected to plan significant events and volunteer at those events as part of their duties.
E. Legislation
Commissioner Feldman reported that the General Assembly is in recess. He noted that the Governor's office reports on signed bills and mass signing announcements. None of the bills have an impact on older adults. Commissioner Feldman will watch on future developments.
The Veto Session will be in late October and mid-November (three days each). Commissioner Feldman noted that some different items can occur and will watch closely on bills and activities.
F. AGE-FRIENDLY COMMUNITY CERTIFICATION
Commissioner Motto is absent, so there is no overarching summary for the Commission on Age Friendly.
1. Transportation Sub Committee
The Commission for Citizens with Disabilities and the Senior Citizens Commission held a Transportation Round Table on August 30— Jim Ferneborg of Metra, Steven Andrews of Pace, Bianca Diaz of RTA, and Corey Dewy of Elk Grove Township Dial a Ride presented overviews of their services. Wheeling Township was invited but unable to attend. Commissioner Feldman reported that the providers were articulate and spoke well about their agency. He added that the impression was that they seemed to be pretty much set in what they were going to do and how they were going to operate. The Commission expressed an interest in eliminating silos and having more connectedness with each provider. He added that each agency knows its particular area of expertise but doesn't know if what they do can somehow assist another agency without too much difficulty. Commissioner Feldman added that State Senator Gillespie was at the round table, pledged her cooperation with whatever we came up with, and volunteered her office to advocate on our behalf. Additionally, Cook County Commissioner Maggie Trevor was in attendance and pledged to assist collaborations.
Additionally, Steven Andrews of Pace reported that an evaluation of Pace Services is launching in 2023 or early 2024, and they will let us know when those listening sessions will take place. Also, Brianna Diaz from RTA mentioned the collaboration between Ride-McHenry and Ride-Lake County. So Lake County and McHenry County have intergovernmental agreements that enable residents of all ages to go across township lines and to get accessible transportation even past additional hours. So, it would behoove this Commission to invite a representative from both Ride McHenry and Lake County to find out how they did it in those spaces and have a presentation from them.
Chairperson Viecelli requested to have an outcomes document of that summit. Liaison Colagrossi said she would get comments from the Commission for Citizens with Disabilities and then follow up with a document for the Senior Citizen's Commission to review.
Wheeling Township was unable to attend the session. Liaison Colagrossi is waiting for their response to the questions posed by the Commissions and will include them in the final summary.
2. Communication Sub Committee
The updated AARP Livable Community Survey flyer has been disseminated to all partner agencies, Inc. Board members, and other collaborators. A tablecloth and banner have been ordered for the Commission at various public functions in addition to promoting the survey at the Senior Center. An advertisement has been placed in the Journal and Topics publication noting the survey, which will be published in conjunction with the Senior Expo in Arlington Heights on October 12.
Commissioner Adams recommended adding the flyer to the Village television. She said that the station has old information and is curious if anyone looked at it. Liaison Colagrossi said she would look into it and ask if a flyer could be uploaded to the site.
3. Affordable Housing
Commissioner Vogt reported the Housing Commission was due to meet later in the week and will have more to say at the October meeting.
G. Kenneth Hood Award
Steven Schultz was presented with the Kenneth Hood Award on September 5. There were some technical issues with the broadcast of the meeting. Therefore, it was not televised. The reception was held in the Buechner Room.
IV. OLD BUSINESS
No old business
V. NEW BUSINESS
No new business
VI. OTHER BUSINESS
No announcements
VII. PUBLIC COMMENT
No members of the public were in attendance
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
CHAIRPERSON VIECELLI REQUESTED A MOTION TO ADJOURN. COMMISSIONER ADAMS MADE THE MOTION AND WAS SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER FELDMAN. ALL WERE IN FAVOR, AND THE MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:01 p.m.
https://arlingtonheights.novusagenda.com/agendapublic/DisplayAgendaPDF.ashx?MinutesMeetingID=1623
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