Simsbury subcommittee applies for AARP grant to buy Mobi‑mats®, sets Aging‑in‑Place Expo for Sept. 18

The Simsbury Aging & Disability Commission’s Age‑Friendly Community Subcommittee on March 3 heard member reports about ongoing partner outreach, authorized planning for an aging‑in‑place expo and confirmed the town is applying for an AARP Community Challenge grant to buy Mobi‑mats®.

Chairperson Jan Beatty opened the meeting at 2:30 p.m. and recorded members present: Jan Beatty, Edward J. LaMontagne (clerk), Mike Jennings, Cheryl Cook, Valerie Finney and Libby Easton‑May. The group unanimously approved the Feb. 3 minutes following a motion from Cheryl Cook and a second from Libby Easton‑May.

Deputy Town Manager Tom Fitzgerald is completing an AARP Community Challenge Grant application with a March 4 deadline. If awarded, the subcommittee said the Flagship Grant would fund Mobi‑mats® — portable runway mats designed to allow wheelchairs, walkers and other assistive devices to traverse rough or grassy surfaces — for use at town recreation sites and potentially to improve summer accessibility at the Simsbury Performing Arts Center. The subcommittee discussed where mats might be deployed but did not record a formal site commitment.

Members reviewed plans for the Aging‑in‑Place Expo, scheduled for Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Simsbury Public Library; organizers said vendor invitation letters will be sent in the coming month. Library partner Lisa Miceli suggested including a nutrition and wellness specialist who runs the library’s “What’s Cooking” program; members also discussed caregiver support groups, additional blood‑pressure screening and distributing DMV vehicle‑identification envelope information used by drivers with disabilities.

Several members reported outreach to town departments and partner organizations. Edward J. LaMontagne said he will meet with the police chief on March 6 and has consulted with staff at the Simsbury Performing Arts Center about accessibility. Cheryl Cook described a meeting with Christine Winters at the Simsbury Housing Authority and noted Parks & Recreation has added adult programs; she also reported Public Works has installed new sidewalks and plans additional work when weather permits. The Town Assessor told the subcommittee that tax relief for accessibility work applies only to new square footage or new plumbing, not to routine in‑place accessibility upgrades. Mike Jennings said he is continuing to follow up on transportation resources.

The subcommittee also summarized an AARP webinar on transportation access, noting that while some communities rely on volunteer driver programs, Connecticut’s liability and insurance rules make that model more difficult locally. Members highlighted upcoming AARP webinars on March 10 and April 14 and reminded colleagues that past webinars are available on the AARP Livable Communities website.

The meeting adjourned at 3:30 p.m.; the subcommittee’s next meeting is scheduled for April 7, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. via Zoom.