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, January 26, 2022

9:00 AM

via Zoom

The Wednesday January 26, 2022 AAA Legislative/Advocacy Committee meeting is being held virtually.

The public can access the meeting 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://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_cwXG7vE4SMeZJeG5iIzPsQ

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 phone numbers:

1-833-548-0276

1-833-548-0282

1-888-788-0099

When prompted, enter the following Webinar ID: 867 0087 8125

If you want to submit a written comment for this meeting, or send handouts for committee members,

please send them to MATULLE.CINDY@COUNTYOFDANE.COM. In the subject line please state: Written

Comment for this meeting or Handouts for this meeting. Please include the name of the meeting and

date.

PROCESS TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT: 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).

Registrations to provide public comment will be accepted until 30 minutes prior to the beginning of the

meeting.

Staff and Guests Present: Cheryl Batterman, Jim Krueger, Cindy Matulle, Carrie

Springer, and Angela Velasquez.

A. Call To Order

Chair OLSON called the meeting to order at 9:02 am.

7 -

Present

Absent

TED BUNCK, JODIE CASTANEDA, FAISAL KAUD, ANNA LEZOTTE, JILL

MCHONE, ESTHER OLSON, and JIM SCHMIDLKOFER

2 - MAI ZONG VUE, and GAIL RUTKOWSKI

B. Consideration of Minutes

AAA Legislative/Advocacy Minutes from December 8, 2021

2021

MIN-520

Attachments: 2021_1208 AAA Legislative-Advocacy Comm Mtg Minutes

A motion was made by LEZOTTE, seconded by KAUD, that the minutes be

approved. The motion carried by the following vote:

7 -

Ayes:

BUNCK, CASTANEDA, KAUD, LEZOTTE, MCHONE, OLSON and

SCHMIDLKOFER

2 - VUE and RUTKOWSKI

Absent:

C. Action Items

1. Diversity Work Group

KAUD reviewed his summary data of contacts and work done so far by the work group.

Members have not heard back from contacts they reached out to for support in joining

any AAA Committee. CASTANEDA noted that there were no SE Asian contacts listed

and that was something needing to be addressed to represent that group in the

community.

No Action Taken.

2. Age Discrimination Discussion (https://www.frameworksinstitute.org/issues/aging/)

Long discussion among members about the depth of this subject and shouldn’t be solely

with the AAA Legislative/Advocacy Committee. The website is very educational and has

a great deal of information. A subgroup should be formed from the AAA Board and have

a member from each AAA Committee on this subgroup. This topic is a new venture and

not a small task to tackle with just a couple of people. Implementing such ideas is

outside of the purview of this committee.

A motion was made by KAUD, seconded by SCHMIDLKOFER, that the Age

Discrimination Topic be re-referred to the Area Agency on Aging Board, due

back on 2/7/2022. The motion carried by the following vote:

7 -

Ayes:

BUNCK, CASTANEDA, KAUD, LEZOTTE, MCHONE, OLSON and

SCHMIDLKOFER

2 - VUE and RUTKOWSKI

Absent:

3. Committee Description

Committee Description

2021

ACT-422

Attachments: Legislative Advocacy Committee Description

AAA Manager Cheryl Batterman reviewed the changes made to the Committee

Description. A note was added to the second paragraph stating what age group the

committee works with. Item number one was changed to:

Advocate for older adults, including those with disabilities, to enable them to

maintain full potential, enhance quality of life, and affirm the dignity and value

of older adults by supporting their choices for living in their own community.

A motion was made by SCHMIDLKOFER, seconded by KAUD, to approve the

updated Committee Description as presented. The motion carried by the

following vote:

7 -

Ayes:

BUNCK, CASTANEDA, KAUD, LEZOTTE, MCHONE, OLSON and

SCHMIDLKOFER

2 - VUE and RUTKOWSKI

Absent:

4. 2022 Committee Work Plan

2022 Committee Work Plan

2021

ACT-425

Attachments: 2022 Leg-Adv Comm Work Plan DRAFT

BATTERMAN summarized the 2022 Committee Work Plan as all of the goals were taken

directly from the 2022-2024 Dane County Aging Plan. All goals are specific to the AAA

Legislative/Advocacy Committee.

A motion was made by CASTANEDA, seconded by LEZOTTE, to approve the

2022 Committee Work Plan as presented. The motion carried by the

following vote:

7 -

Ayes:

BUNCK, CASTANEDA, KAUD, LEZOTTE, MCHONE, OLSON and

SCHMIDLKOFER

2 - VUE and RUTKOWSKI

Absent:

5. Advocacy Supporting Federal & State Programs

Members decided to see what WAAN does in their upcoming meeting and support or

adjust from there. So much going on that doing anything individually is not enough to it

our all. Need to work as a committee to have more impact.

D. Presentations

None. Dane County Human Services Planning Analyst Betsy Strahin will be presenting

at the March meeting for AAA Access and Board meetings about the results of the Case

Management surveys. OLSON stated Wisconsin Department of Human Services Lynn

Gall was collecting data from the Caregiver survey the state did. Hoping to have all the

results to share in March.

E. Reports to Committee

1. 2021 Committee Work Plan: QTR 4

2021 Committee Work Plan: QTR 4

2021

RPT-795

Attachments: 2021 Leg-Adv Comm Work Plan QTR 4

BATTERMAN summarized the 4th Qtr work plan achievements.

2. 2023 AAA Budget Priorities

BATTERMAN noted the Focal Point Directors are starting discussions of what they would

like to see for next year’s budget priorities. Case Management quarterly topics of concern

could be looked at for budget assistance. Deforest Senior Center Director Barb Cooper

is retiring February 28, 2022. The new Director Cindy Browning has already started and

training with Barb.

3. ADRC Governing Board

OLSON reported the board is looking at how to have virtual public hearings. Wanting to

have leading questions during the hearings to get the public engaged in conversation.

Interested in the results of the Caregiver survey results and what the ADRC can ask in

the hearings to improve services. In April 2022, Supervisor’s Melissa Ratcliff and Kate

McGinnity will be presenting on the Broadband status. Work has been slow but starting

to work with individual municipalities.

4. County/State/Federal Legislative Update

Dane County Lobbyist Carrie Springer reported two more meetings are scheduled for the

state to pass any remaining bills. One crime bill will probably be vetoed as the bill is

written to use ARPA money to hire more law enforcement officers but there is no money

to sustain the program. A few crime bills have this concern of not providing funding after

ARPA funds are used. Vaccination status of people using natural ways instead of being

vaccinated is being allowed to prove vaccination status. SB-338 Adults at Risk passed.

This bill has protections in place for older adults. Voting is the biggest topic and unsure

where this is going to go as neither side is agreeing with voting rights for older adults.

Voting bills are still making it more difficult for older adults to vote. Excess money in the

state funds is receiving mixed opinions on how it should be used. Governor would like to

provide some help to families by giving a stimulus check to them. Legislators are saying

no to use the extra money for tax breaks next budget. People need to get back to work

as we currently have the lowest unemployment rate so people are working. There is no

need for a stimulus check.

OLSON requested if we could get a report from Springer a couple of days before the AAA

Legislative/Advocacy Committee meeting so we know if there are any issues going on.

SPRINGER has a couple of meetings scheduled at the same time and may not always

be able to make the AAA meetings on time.

5. State's Aging Advisory Council

OLSON reported they would be meeting the second week of February. Most of the

meeting will be about creating the State Aging Plan after looking at all of the County

Aging Plans submitted.

6. Wisconsin Aging Advocacy Network

OLSON reported WAAN meeting January 27, 2022 to set agenda for next meeting.

Voting will be top subject and there is so much going on it’s hard to monitor everything.

AAA Aging Specialist Angela Velasquez explained that those who receive

Home-Delivered meals are sent a letter about how to absentee vote.

7. Chair & Staff Reports

BATTERMAN reported VELASQUEZ is working on a RFP for Diversity Inclusion Program

for SE Asian. This program will be the same as Black and Latinx that is currently in

place. The applicants needs to be non-biased, non-profit and can’t benefit from the

money.

BATTERMAN has been working in the office every day until she retires on 2/2/22.

Interviews for the AAA Manager have started and will go through 2/1/22. Eight applicants

are in the process and hopefully a candidate will be selected the first week of February.

BATTERMAN has been having people ask her how she will be enjoying retirement and at

this time, she will be a caregiver for family members.

F. Future Meeting Items and Dates

Next meeting: Wednesday, 23 February 2022, 9am via Zoom

G. Public Comment on Items not on the Agenda

None.

H. Such Other Business as Allowed by Law

None.

I. Adjournment

A motion was made by SCHMIDLKOFER, seconded by KAUD, that the meeting be

adjourned at 10:38 am. The motion carried by the following vote:

7 -

Ayes:

BUNCK, CASTANEDA, KAUD, LEZOTTE, MCHONE, OLSON and

SCHMIDLKOFER

2 - VUE and RUTKOWSKI

Absent:

Minutes respectfully submitted by AAA Clerk III Cindy Matulle.