HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-09-20-COD-min
Commission on Disability
September 20, 2022 Meeting Minutes
Members: Victoria Buckley (Chair), Sue Cusack, Shaun Grady, Julie Miller, Leonard Morse-
Fortier, Janet Perry, Francine Stieglitz
Town Liaisons: Jim Kelly, Building Commissioner
Committee Liaisons: Bonnie Teitleman, Council on Aging; Pam Lyons, Center Committee
Guests: John Livsey, Town Engineer; Valerie Overton; Tom Shiple; Mona Roy; Sharon Coffey,
Zoning Clerk
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-meetinglaw-order-march-12-2020/download)
Please be advised that the House and Senate passed a bill that Governor Baker signed, which
will allow the continuation of remote public meetings until July 15, 2022.
This meeting met remotely from 5:45 PM to 7:09 PM.
Thank you:
Thank you to Sharon Coffey, Zoning Clerk, for helping with the zoom technology.
Review of Minutes
Minutes from June, July, and August, 2022 were unanimously approved.
Discussion with John Livsey, Town Engineer, about Streetscape
All the brick has been installed. They are now going through an extensive punch list for
adjustments, including replacing chipped bricks, re-laying several 1000 bricks, re-sanding
to restabilize the bricks.
They learned that some of the problems were related to snow removal – the blades
have been changed and other equipment will used to avoid this problem in the future.
The town has created a budget that will cover costs for thorough inspections twice a
year and repairs.
20 trees have been planted.
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Roadway patching is happening in anticipation of final paving at the end of September
or early October.
They are installing the remainder of barrels and benches, and plantings. This will be
substantially complete sometime in October.
They are in the process of making replacements for broken utility covers and grates.
The spot flagged by Victoria at the Post Office was adjusted to allow seating space for
wheelchair. All sitting areas should be able to accommodate space for wheelchairs.
The tree grates are made of cast iron that rusts and will age a darker patina over time.
Some of the reported problems occurred before the bricks were properly compacted.
These issues should be resolved.
John Livsey offered that there are no Gaps of 1/8 – ¼ inch other than what was on the
punch list.
Work around the light poles is being addressed this week.
We asked if there is enough room to get around the tree grates. John Livsey offered
that the range is 4.5’ and wider.
Utility covers are plastic and designed to be in this environment.
John Livsey is pricing out a smoothness (technically a roughness) test and will share it
with David Pinsonneault, Director of Public Works.
There is a plan to extend the new sidewalk material up Meriam Street to the first alley
and to do the two sides of Depot (not the square itself).
Edison Way will be the next extension of the Streetscape Project and will capture the
sidewalk around Depot Square with the addition of new curb cuts and granite curbing.
October Event: Partnering for Dyslexia & ADHD Awareness Month: Normal Isn't Real Film
Screening & Storywalk
The commission is partnering with Dyslexia parents. They are having an event on
October 20 from 6:30 – 9:00pm. The documentary film includes 2 young adults from
Massachusetts.
Parker Meadow Update and Event Planning
Len Morse-Fortier and Michael Martignetti toured Parker Meadow and plan to attend
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the opening on October 15.
Shaun Grady will check to see if anyone at the Douglass House is interested in attending.
Some issues include: the stone dust compacting, fixing the viewing corridors, possible
restriping the parking area.
Collaborative Reform Committee
This committee will continue, but Victoria would like it to be formalized. There was
some discussion about making this committee formally part of the Commission. Victoria
would prefer to see it be independent and simply report to us.
Looking at the different models for collaboration between social workers and law
enforcement, the Committee heard from an individual from Wakefield who works in
their Police Department. We share two social workers with 6 towns.
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Our Chief would like to see a dedicated social worker be embedded in the Department.
Tom Shiple, Town Meeting member, joined our meeting to discuss the work of the CRC
asking how the community can stay informed of the committee activities if it is not a
formal Town committee and, therefore, not subject to open meeting requirements
including reporting open meeting law. Victoria offered to put Mr. Shiple on the email
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list to receive a meeting invitation. She shared that they meet on the 2 Tuesday of the
month at 3:00pm.
If approved as a subcommittee of the Commission, these logistics will be formalized and
made available to the public. The Commission would like to have three representatives
on this committee. Valerie Overton is also interested in being on the committee.
Mona Roy, HRC member on this committee, wants it to be a standing subcommittee,
and develop a mechanism to capture minutes and hear from a diverse spectrum of
voices.
COVID Taskforce
No update, but there is frustration about how to get a more productive response from
the community. The pandemic is still on, and maybe we haven’t heard from the people
we thought we should hear from. The effects are ongoing, and it is important to
document the impact on people to assist in making systems more responsive.
Announcements and New Business
New Chief Equity Officer – Hemali Shah, formerly the Senior Services Director, has
been hired. Janet Perry was part of the interview process.
Hastings Elementary School – Janet Perry, Mike Cronin and Jim Kelly met at Hastings to
decide how to handle a tricky “dip” in the pavement near the front door where there is
a lot of traffic, and the buses drop off students. This drop off may need to be delineated
with striping or another solution is needed.
Hartwell Avenue business parking lot – Jim Kelly shared that the elevator in the parking
garage does not go all the way to the top floor, but the Architectural Access Board
approved this variance without a public hearing. They did not have to extend the upper
level of parking. Jim will reach out to AAB and ask why they did not provide a public
hearing for this issue.
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Next Meeting is on October 11 from 5:30 – 6:45 pm. Note: this date is not our typical
meeting date and time.
7:09 Meeting adjourned
Minutes submitted by Sue Cusack and Victoria Buckley
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