Dane County  
Minutes - Final Unless Amended by  
Committee  
Area Agency on Aging - Legislative / Advocacy Committee  
Consider:  
Who benefits? Who is burdened?  
Who does not have a voice at the table?  
How can policymakers mitigate unintended consequences?  
Wednesday, August 28, 2024  
9:00 AM  
This is a Hybrid Meeting: Attend in person at 2865 N  
Sherman Ave, Conference Room 109; Attend virtually  
via Zoom.  
The Wednesday August 28, 2024 AAA Legislative/Advocacy Committee meeting will be a hybrid meeting.  
Members of the public can either attend in person or virtually via Zoom.  
The public can attend in person at the ADRC building, 2865 N Sherman Ave Room 109, Madison.  
The public can access the meeting virtually with the Zoom application or by telephone.  
To join the meeting in Zoom, click the following link (after you fill out the form, the meeting link and  
access information will be emailed to you):  
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_CfbZD0HaTmqoXgDeELg5HA  
This link will be active until the end of the meeting.  
To join the meeting by phone, dial-in using one of the following three toll-free phone numbers:  
1-833-548-0276  
1-833-548-0282  
1-888-788-0099  
When prompted, enter the following Webinar ID: 957 6548 2002  
PROCESS TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT:  
IN PERSON: Any members of the public wishing to register to speak on/support/oppose an agenda item  
can register in person at the meeting using paper registration forms. IT IS HIGHLY ENCOURAGED TO  
REGISTER VIA THE ZOOM LINK ABOVE EVEN IF YOU PLAN ON ATTENDING IN PERSON.  
In person registrations to provide public comment will be accepted throughout the meeting.  
VIRTUAL: Any members of the public wishing to register to speak on/support/oppose an agenda item  
MUST REGISTER USING THE LINK ABOVE (even if you plan to attend using your phone).  
Virtual registrations to provide public comment will be accepted until 30 minutes prior to the beginning  
of the meeting.  
In order to testify (provide public comment) virtually, you must be in attendance at the meeting via Zoom  
or phone, you will then either be unmuted or promoted to a panelist and provided time to speak to the  
body.  
If you want to submit a written comment for this meeting, or send handouts for board members, please  
send them to: Matulle.Cindy@danecounty.gov  
Staff and Guests Present: Cindy Matulle, Claire Purkis, and Carrie Springer.  
A. Call To Order  
Vice-Chair LEZOTTE called the meeting to order at 9:06 am.  
4 - TED BUNCK, JODIE CASTANEDA, ANNA LEZOTTE, and JIM SCHMIDLKOFER  
2 - JILL MCHONE, and NATALIE RAEMISCH  
Present  
Absent  
B. Consideration of Minutes  
Minutes from May 1, 2024  
2024  
MIN-097  
Attachments: 2024_0501_LegAdv Committee Minutes  
A motion was made by SCHMIDLKOFER, seconded by BUNCK, that the minutes  
be approved. The motion carried by a voice vote.  
C. Action Items  
1. Advocacy Supporting Federal & State Programs  
D. Discussion  
1. Revisiting Reports to Committee Items  
Discussion between members about what makes our committee more successful and  
what is our purpose? Need to be advocating more for older adult programs and funding.  
We are presented with information from a lot of places but what are the real needs of  
older adults? Tracking of issues, where do they stand? Paid employees should be  
aware of what is being done with older adult programming and sharing that information  
with this committee. Need more organized issues so things are not all over the place.  
E. Reports to Committee  
1. Wisconsin Senior Advocates  
BUNCK can assist with summarizing what this advocacy group is doing.  
2. ADRC Governing Board  
Include minutes from ADRC meetings to see what Aging topics are being addressed.  
No Aging Action items at last meeting. Shannon Gabriel, AAA Registered Dietician and Healthy Aging  
Coordinator, presented on the Nutrition Program.  
3. County/State/Federal Legislative Update  
4. State's Aging Advisory Council  
BUNCK can assist with summarizing what this advocacy group is doing.  
5. Wisconsin Aging Advocacy Network  
a. From USAging: Senate HELP Committee Advances OAA Reauthorization Bill  
July 31st - The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee passed, in a vote of 20  
to 1, S. 4776, the Older Americans Act (OAA) Reauthorization Act of 2024. The bill reflects seven months of  
advocacy by USAging, our members and others, as well as the active engagement of eight HELP  
Committee Senators and their staff members who served on a bipartisan OAA working group.  
USAging priorities that in full or in part incorporated in the reauthorization bill, include:  
•
AAA Independence: Freedom from state approval around business or health care contracts if no OAA  
funding is used (limited disclosure only) and updated, clarifying language about when OAA funding is  
leveraged.  
•
Title III D Flexibility: Funds can now be used for evidence-informed programs as well as  
evidence-based programs.  
Nutrition Flexibility: Grab-and-go meals option is codified in the law, with up to 25 percent of C1  
available if the state approves, and the ability to distribute these meals in any community setting.  
Social Isolation: Prioritize national training and technical assistance to the Aging Network on social  
•
•
engagement programming and innovations, such as the work of USAging’s engAGED resource center.  
Funding Recommendations: Increase authorization levels by nearly 20 percent over the five-year period.  
Advocacy focus has shifted to the House.  
Long discussion by members about Nutrition Flexibility. Committee members would like  
to see a grab-and-go meal program in Dane County for those who cannot get access to  
current meal sites. AAA staff are working on plans to increase congregate meal  
participation to get that cost down more. Southside of Madison is really limited in where  
they can go to get lunch. Romnes is locked so clients have been encouraged to go to  
another location.  
b. National Plan on Aging – Public Input by 9/15/24 ACL release -  
view.connect.hhs.gov/?  
qs=9caa8aff0c8b936d0655bd6b889fa45e1b4e535bcad2b873f8a738423e28fbe4b42d9ddd3c3f0b0db368360a8e  
711c257dcb69e735a7536d3079f211cefc5021feb3744be4986dac  
Survey Links: National Plan on Aging Community Engagement Collaborative | West Health  
6. Chair & Staff Reports  
An email was shared with the committee from the Homeless Services Consortium about  
the Beacon homeless shelter no longer serving breakfast as of September 2, 2024.  
"Hello All, beginning Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024, The Beacon will no longer serve breakfast  
or offer coffee service to our guests. This decision has been made following careful  
consideration and discussion between the leaders of Catholic Charities, Dane County,  
and the City of Madison in response to growing concerns about overcrowding and the  
safety of all guests, staff and volunteers. With this change in our services, The Beacon  
will provide lunch only. We believe this change will help us better manage our resources,  
staff and volunteer time, and reduce overcrowding during two different mealtimes. We  
understand that this change may be challenging for our guests, and we are committed to  
supporting them through this transition."  
Carly Sobye <CSobye@ccmadison.org>  
Director of Homeless Services  
Catholic Charities | 702 South High Point Road, Suite 201 | Madison, WI 53719  
P: (608) 826-8077 | F: (608) 826-8027  
ccmadison.org  
This information upset the committee members that Dane County would be involved in  
stopping to provide meals for under served homeless people. SCHMIDLKOFER asked  
for a motion and follow up from AAA Staff about who at Dane County agreed to stop  
providing breakfast at the Beacon. BUNCK seconded the motion and rest of committee  
members also agreed. Since this was not listed as an advance notice Action Item it  
cannot be documented as such but it will be noted of what committee members want  
investigated and reported back on.  
a. AAA Aging Plan  
AAA Aging Program Specialist Claire Purkis explained the work groups that the AAA  
interns and Claire have been working with on collecting information from older adults.  
b. Budget Timeline:  
Department Budget Release August 30, 2024  
Public Hearing September 11/12, 2024 at 6 pm  
Members were encouraged to attend the public hearing. Instructions given of waiting for  
the Friday of September 6 and then look up agenda to sign up for which area they wished  
to speak up on or advocate for.  
F. Report Out Items to AAA Board  
Nutrition Flexibility & Beacon no longer serving breakfast starting September 2, 2024.  
G. Future Meeting Items and Dates  
Next meeting: Wednesday September 25, 2024 at 9am via Hybrid  
Members would like to discuss at the September meeting: 1. See if Shannon is able to  
come and present on Nutrition for Dane County older adults. 2. Members want to make  
the committee more successful and have a purpose. 3. Want more topics  
recommended to the AAA Board along with more advocacy. 4. LTC-AAA case  
management is still doing work that cannot be billed as the MCO's are not providing the  
services that clients want.  
H. Public Comment on Items not on the Agenda  
None.  
I. Such Other Business as Allowed by Law  
None.  
J. Adjournment  
A motion was made by BUNCK, seconded by SCHMIDLKOFER, that the meeting  
be adjourned at 10:18 am. The motion carried unanimously.  
Minutes submitted respectfully by Cindy Matulle.