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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-01-18-COD-min 1 Commission on Disability January 18, 2022 Meeting Minutes Members: Victoria Buckley (Chair), Sue Cusack, Shaun Grady, Julie Miller, Leonard Morse-Fortier, Janet Perry, John Rossi, Francine Stieglitz, Nancy Wong Town Liaisons: Martha Duffield, Jim Kelly, Building Commissioner; Joe Pato, Select Board Guests: Pamela Lyons, Center Committee Committee Liaisons: Stephanie Hsu, Human Rights Committee; Bonnie Teitleman-Levin, Council on Aging; Rod Cole, Capital Expenditures Committee Note: A meeting of the Commission on Disability was held on Tuesday, January 18, 2022, 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-meetinglaw-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. Minutes: Approval of December minutes is deferred to February. Traffic Calming Design Question John Rossi asked if the commission had any experience with traffic mitigation strategies. While no members had an expertise in this area, many commented on their experiences with different configurations that they had experienced locally and in other communities. Discussion about committee liaisons • Center Committee Liaison to CoD: Update on Bus Shelter in Depot Square Pam Lyons shared that she would like to be the Center Committee liaison to the Commission. She also shared that the HDC has tentatively approved a bus shelter at Depot Square. She plans to go back to the HDC in early February. There is a proposal to advance a glass design which Pam will try to share with us prior to meeting with the HDC in early February. Jim Kelly shared a useful resource describing best practices for bus shelters, including UDL considerations. https://www.uvlsrpc.org/files/4215/4775/9655/SCT_ADA_Bus_Stop_Guidelines.pdf 2 Update about Pandemic Effects Work Group – Stephanie Hsu Stephanie Hsu, HRC liaison, shared that the composition of the working group included Martha Duffield, and CoD members Victoria, Francine, Janet, Shaun and HRC members Mona. She reported that Kate DeAngelis, from the Recreation Committee, has provided support and guidance on the development of the survey. Stephanie also consulted with the people from the town’s Human Services Department. Currently, outreach plans will include focus groups and office hours for private session. The LexDEI inbox has been arranged to accommodate anonymous comments from community members. [https://www.lexingtonma.gov/human-rights-committee/news/lexdei-inbox-send-us-your- thoughts-perspectives-and-concerns-anything] Finally, Stephanie finished her discussion by sharing the timeline which will begin with focus groups in late February and early April, and a final report submitted in June. This report will include stories as well as a collection of links to town resources to support community members. Bonnie also shared the challenges that she has observed during the pandemic related to increasing difficulties mental health, physical isolation, missing life events, the challenges in behavioral health issues are pervasive. Announcements and New Business • The Commission welcomes Nancy Wong and John Rossi to complete the Commission membership which has been approved for 9 members instead of 8. • Elaine Dratch will be our new liaison from the Transportation Advisory Committee. Update on Willards Woods Victoria explained that there is growing push back about parking in the proposed enhancement at Willard Woods. We had proposed parking at an entrance on a residential street. Amber Carr, from Conservation, will keep us in the loop about the timing of next steps. Update on Munroe Center The Munroe team has gone ahead and tried to get their own grant to cover the architect’s feasibility study. If successful, this would accelerate the timeline by about a year. Len will reach out to Christina Burwell to help support their process. Jim Kelly also shared that they met with the town to review their vision for future planning. This meeting included the Planning and Recreation departments. As a public/private partnership, they have a good vision, but the town needs to begin the process of anticipating the cost of addressing the accessibility issues and renovations. Additional new business and updates on new projects • A new business, a bike shop, will be coming into the old Panera site in Lexington Center. Jim Kelly is meeting with them to ensure compliance with necessary code and accessibility concerns. He is suggesting that they also make an improvement to the signage for handicapped parking in the lot. • The Town has asked for mitigation behind 99 Hayden in the form of parking access to the trails in that space. Jim Kelly will be asking for handicapped parking. • Relative to increasing the visibility of the Commission, Bonnie suggested reaching out to Sean Dugan, the communication director for the Town, and the Colonial Times. Stephanie suggested “highlighting a committee a week” through the citizen’s education program. Meeting adjourned at 6:46pm. Minutes submitted by: Susan Cusack