Burlington Aging Council — Burlington, VT
Date: 2023-12-19
Time: 15:00

Remote Meeting of the Burlington Aging Council

 Tuesday December 19th 2023 3:00pm – 4:30pm
 ZOOM MEETING MINUTES

Attending:
 12-19-23
 Member Status Name Attendance

 1 member representing an organization supporting New Americans in Vermont Symphorien Sikyala x
 Frederick Neu /
 1 member representing a healthcare provider xx
 Janet Nunziata
 1 member representing a long-term care organization in Burlington VACANT
 1 member representing an affordable housing organization in Burlington Molly Dugan
 1 member representing an organization working to fight food insecurity in Vermont Jane Catton x
 1 member representing an organization providing advocacy and support for older
 adults in Vermont Kelly Stoddard Poor
 1 member representing a senior center in Burlington Andrea Viets x
 1 member representing an organization providing mental health services in Vermont Alison Miley x
 1 member representing an organization providing transportation services in Vermont Christopher Damiani
 1 member representing the City’s Community and Economic Development Office Brian Pine* x
 3-5 older adults living in Burlington Barbara Shaw-Dorso x
 3-5 older adults living in Burlington Glenn McRae* x
 3-5 older adults living in Burlington Martha Molpus
 3-5 older adults living in Burlington Charles J Messing x
 3-5 older adults living in Burlington Lorna Kay
 1 member representing an organization advocating for racial equity, inclusion, and
 belonging in Burlington
 VACANT
 *co-chairs
Support provided by Marcella Gange, CEDO.

1. Motion to approve agenda 11 19 23 APPROVED

2. Motion to approve minutes 11 21 23 – no Minutes available

3. Public Comment - NONE

4. Update/Review of work on Burlington Action Plan on Aging Well – Drafts available here:
 https://www.burlingtonvt.gov/CityCouncil/Boards-Commissions-Committees/burlington-aging-council
 DRAFT Social Connection and Engagement
 DRAFT Family Caregiver Support
 DRAFT Financial Security
 DRAFT Optimal Health and Wellness
 DRAFT Housing, Transportation and Community Design

 • (Charlie) – Include information on the job training and connection programs offered by A4TD in
 the Financial Security section, and possibly the Social Inclusion section.
 • (Barbarba) – End of Life Planning, Estate Planning should have a place in Financial Security and
 possibly other sections.
 • (Janet) In a final review the plan should surface a number of crossover areas. These might be a
 good way to prioritize actions.
 • (Lorna via Brian) Need to address the failure of the long term care sector, nursing and long term
 rehab (see State Auditor’s report on failure of the state inspection and licensing role). How do
 we include key issues that might be beyond the power of the City to address? They should be
 highlighted in the plan to provide for City action to advocate. We should look to the State plan to
 see how to connect to this issue in the state efforts that are and will be undertaken.
 • (Jane) The roadmap approach in the AgeStrong Vermont plan
 (https://www.healthvermont.gov/sites/default/files/document/hpd-bh-age-strong-roadmap-
 draft-nov-2023.pdf) is a good possible template for our plan to follow, and has a number of
 points that we should make sure to draw parallels to and connect to, making the most of
 coordinated action.
 • All members will review the most recent version of Working Group Documents and send their
 comments, corrections, additions to Glenn (glennmcrae56@gmail.com) by January 12th. He will
 compile all of these and submit back out to the council by January 16. The Council will meet on
 January 23rd instead of January 16.
 o DRAFT Social Connection and Engagement
 o DRAFT Family Caregiver Support
 o DRAFT Financial Security
 o DRAFT Optimal Health and Wellness
 o DRAFT Housing, Transportation and Community Design

5. Ongoing Discussion: Completion of draft, timing for presentation to Administration/CDNR/City Council

 A. Timing: Generally agreed that BAC should work toward having a plan to submit in early April to
 engage the new leadership in the mayor’s office and City Council. We want to have a quality
 project, not a rushed one.
 B. Engagement: In addition to having a draft plan, BAC will need a process to take that draft in front
 of other key stakeholders for review and critique before submission to the City. Need to identify
 those stakeholders and opportunities for engagement.
 C. Making the Case: It was pointed out that to make the case for City Action we need a good plan,
 well presented, prioritized, and providing pathways to implementation and attracting needed
 funding. IN ADDITION we also need community advocates to make the case illustrating the need
 and the opportunity in an Age-Friendly City from their personal experience and perspective. We
 will need some organizing effort to surface these stories and willing advocates for the roll-out.
 D. Libby, our intern who left us in early December, was able to move the 5 areas of focus forward,
 but there is still work to do. Our internal review process will address some of this in the next
 month. To move from here to where we want to be in April we will need additional assistance.
 CEDO still has some funds available to pay for this. The assignment includes:
 a. Moving our body of work, previous overviews and documents, as well as the five issue
 areas, into a comprehensive plan. We can look to the Age Strong Roadmap format for
 some guidance. (https://www.healthvermont.gov/sites/default/files/document/hpd-bh-
 age-strong-roadmap-draft-nov-2023.pdf). We should also be connecting to and
 referencing it as much as it makes sense in our final product.
 b. The document should also:
 i. have a well presented 2-page brief that captures the essence of the plan and
 presents the high-level priorities, including key city positions needed to carry
 this work forward and high priority investments.
 ii. note the work that has already spun off of BAC efforts (HomeShare Pilot, Family
 Caregiver proclamation, Memory Café, and reference the ongoing work of all
 partners providing critical services and opportunities in the City.
 iii. have an Annual Calendar noting special opportunities, e.g. Family Caregiver
 Month, and a long term timeline for key benchmarks.
 c. The plan document should also address the role (and membership) of BAC in the future.

 E. Brian will be collecting ideas for who BAC might engage for this work. CEDO will be able to
 decide and hopefully engage the required assistance. Members are asked to think about anyone
 who might have enough subject matter expertise/familiarity whether inside their organization or
 connected to the broader community who might be able to carry out this task in the timeframe
 discussed above.

6. Any other business and motion to adjourn - 4:00pm



NEXT MEETING – NEW DATE: January 23, 2024.