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Danbury commission hears calls from residents losing disability benefits, agrees minutes and adjourns
Summary
At its April 14 meeting the Danbury commission heard two service calls from residents — one who said New York benefits stopped after moving and another reporting provider unresponsiveness — discussed referrals to Connecticut DSS and CHRO, confirmed outreach for an April 25 5K and approved March 10 minutes before adjourning.
The Danbury Commission for Persons with Disabilities on April 14 reviewed two incoming resident calls about disability services and took routine administrative actions, including approving minutes from its March 10 meeting and adjourning.
Chair John Gentile summarized the commission’s phone log, saying one caller reported moving from New York to Danbury and then losing New York disability benefits. "They told her after the fact," Gentile said, describing the caller’s frustration. Gentile said he advised the resident to contact the Connecticut Department of Social Services and suggested filing a complaint with the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO). "If you have a complaint, those are the people you have to talk to," he said.
A second caller, identified by Gentile as Paul Charles, described difficulty getting responses from hotel staff where his son (who has a disability) lives in downtown Danbury. Gentile said he called back, reached voicemail and left messages; he told members the family was continuing to seek assistance.
Members also discussed local long‑term care billing practices. One member recounted a relative’s transfer from Bethel Health Nursing Home to Danbury Hospital for congestive heart failure and said the nursing home sought a $500 daily fee to reserve a room — an out‑of‑pocket charge the member said was not covered by Medicare or Medicaid.
The commission reviewed outreach plans for an April 25 community 5K at Hatteras Park, where it will staff an information table from about 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; the group discussed flyer edits and volunteer staffing.
Procedurally, Chair John Gentile moved to approve the March 10 minutes; the motion was seconded and members voted in favor. The commission then voted to adjourn.
The commission did not take additional formal policy actions during the meeting; members noted follow‑up with DSS, CHRO and event volunteers would continue.
