HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-11-16-COD-min RECEIVED
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Commission on Disability TOWN CLERK
November 16, 2021 Meeting Minutes LEXINGTON MA
Members: Victoria Buckley (Chair), Sue Cusack, Janet Perry, Francine Stieglitz,
Shaun Grady, Leonard Morse-Fortier
Town Liaisons: Martha Duffield, Chief Equity Officer; Jim Kelly, Building
Commissioner; Joe Pato, Select Board
Guests: Betty Gau, co-chair of Lex See Her; Jessie Steigerwold, co-chair of Lex
See Her; Lex See Her Committee Members: Martha Leticia; Leslie Masson;
Valerie Overton; Kamala Raj; Michelle Tran; Judy Zola; Artist Meredith
Bergmann and Michael Bergmann, Project Manager
Committee Liaisons: Stephanie Hsu, Human Rights Committee; Bonnie
Teitleman-Levin, COA
Note: A meeting of the Commission on Disability was held on Tuesday, November 16, 2021,
5:45 PM— 7:00 PM via zoom. Pursuant to Governor Baker's March 12,2020 Order Suspending Certain
Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §18,and the Governor's March 15,2020 and subsequent
Orders imposing strict limitation on the number of people that may gather in one place,this meeting of the
Lexington Commission on Disability will be conducted via remote participation to the greatest extent possible.
Specific information and the general guidelines for remote participation by members of the public and/or parties
with a right and/or requirement to attend this meeting can be found below.No in-person attendance of members
of the public will be permitted,but every effort will be made to ensure that the public can adequately access the
proceedings in real time,via technological means. (*As per Executive Order regarding remote participation:
https://www.mass.gov/doc/open-mectinglaw-order-march-12-2020/download)Please be advised that the
House and Senate enacted Senate Bill 2475 last night and Governor Baker signed the bill,
which will allow the continuation of remote public meetings until April 20, 2022.
The reading was followed by an oral roll call.
Agenda:
Minutes:
The group unanimously accepted the minutes for the months of May, July, August,
September and October.
Announcements:
• New Commission members pending Board of Select Person approval are John Rossi
and Nancy Wong
• Town Meeting approved the additional money for the Pine Meadows ($235K) as well
as the changed plans for the bathhouse to be prefab for the Lexington Reservoir.
These were approved under the Consent Agreement.
• The issue of discrete pavers has been a persistent problem that we have advocated for
others to show more sensitivity about but it is not being acknowledged except by
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LexSeeHer. There are many, many, gaps in the bricks that are being laid in the
Center Project. The final sand sweep has not happened yet, but it is a concern that we
have to monitor as we have already received a complaint.
• At Town Meeting there is Article 15, open space residential development: the
Planning Board moved that it be reconsidered with an eye to accessibility
requirements. The details related to inclusionary housing need to be sharpened to
ensure:
o that more than one unit is categorized as affordable—this clause could be
changed to 30%
o that the specific language ensures accessibility
o Comprehensive Planning Advisory Committee is another place for us to
sustain advocacy for these issues.
• George Burnell passed away recently. He was a great champion for our concerns.
Presentation from LexSeeHer https://ww Iexseeher.com/
Committee members shared a presentation and a video from the artist
[https://vimeo.com/639725341] that summarizes the conceptual design, storytelling, and
historic elements of the work. The Sculpture Rehearsal is scheduled for Monday November
22nd at noon where the artist will be working with a scale mock-up of the sculpture to get a
better sense of the positioning of the sculpture. Janet and Shaun will try to attend, as will
Victoria. Jessie will work with Victoria to help coordinate this rehearsal. The LexSeeHer
Committee will be presenting their project at the Center Committee next week and at the
HDC and Monuments and Memorials in early December. The Committee has been very
generous and gracious in support of our concerns about discrete pavers.
Update about Council on Aging
Bonnie shared an update from the COA activities during the pandemic. They launched a
business project to promote accessibility during the pandemic and publicized these services
in Colonial Times. They worked on a project related to launch a senior parking pass to
minimize the safety concerns about putting money in meters when it is difficult to reach the
meters; 1300 seniors applied to get their Parking Pass. The COA is working with four
different groups concerning affordable housing and home safety —they found a program at
Johns Hopkins might be adaptable. They are also working on transportation concerns:
specifically, to see if Waltham and Burlington will join in a consolidated approach; changing
the Lexpress window for free senior passes to be extended. The COA is also committed to
addressing issues related to social inclusion.
Other Town Meeting Concerns:
Jim mentioned that there are two projects to watch, namely the Westview Cemetery Building
is 50-60 years old, which is a public building and the Police Station. We are still waiting to
see a presentation about the Police Station to ensure it is fully compliant and accessible.
Martha shared that the DEI in Permitting (DEIP)passed last Tuesday, Article 13, was
updated to include accessibility language.
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Monroe Center has been asked not to go forward with their application but still plans to meet
with the CPC. They will need a feasibility, design study, and costs, which are the routine
procedures for a public project.
Meeting adjourned at 7:12 PM.
Minutes submitted by Susan Cusack and Victoria Buckley
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