HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-03-07-COD-minCommission on Disability
Minutes of March 7, 2013 Meeting
In Attendance: Victoria Buckley (Chair), Linda Vine, Francine Stieglitz,Janet Perry, Julie
Miller, Len Morse - Fortier, Lucy Morse - Fortier, Sue Cusack
Guests: Stew Kennedy, Conservation Commission, Meg, Landers and Ohmart,
conservation stewards, Lucy Morse - Fortier, Harry MacKay
Minutes
• February 2013 minutes were approved.
Meeting Location
• Given the accessibility issues related to accessing Carey Hall, we will be holding
all of our meetings at Town Hall.
Transportation Planning Forum
• Scheduling a public meeting on Safety on March 26 at 9
• Len raised the issue of the Bedford and Eldred Street intersection, which is also
opposite a bus stop. There is no crosswalk or light at this location to help
residence of the neighborhood safely get to the bus stop which on a non-
residential part of the street.
We can email suggestions if we have any ideas, Francine can take them in for
us.
Parker Meadow Conservation Area
• Presentation by Stew Kennedy, Meg Landers, and Keith Ohmart to discuss the
possibility of making the Parker Meadow Conservation Area accessible
• Approached the Conservation Commission about the idea of using CPC funds to
develop a plan to make the conservation area fully accessible and then return to
the town to secure the rest of the funding needed to implement the plan.
• Request that the Commission participate in this effort as co- applicants of the
effort.
• Funding deadline is in early November 2013 for the release of funds in July 2014;
the next reasonable opportunity to go back once the plans are approved would
be November 2015 for release in July 2016.
• The commission was supportive of the project and welcomed the opportunity to
participate in the planning process.
• The Conservation Commission will be meeting on March 11 at 1:30; we will
attempt to send a representative.
Update on the Clarke Elevator Study
• Linda Vine shared that the study will happen over the next three months and
after that point we will look to the commission for their input.
• According to Pat Goddard, the Commission will get involved after the
architectural study is completed and the discussion on options begins. This
discussion will be an open community -based discussion, probably at a School
Committee meeting. We can review with the commission for their input before
reviewing at School Committee. The timing is uncertain; the review at School
Committee may not happen until FY 2015 capital planning begins.
Future Meetings:
• Larry Hale, System -wide Accessibility Coordinator for the MBTA would like to
come and do a presentation about their 3 -hour training about Seniors and
Customers with disabilities and another about Customers with Visual
Impairments.
• Announcement of April 4 meeting — Jeffrey Dougan from Massachusetts Office
on Disability will come to talk about handicapped parking fines
Concerns about pending Changes at the RIDE
• The RIDE is moving away from a paper system of accepting people to "in-
person" reviewing to determine if you need the services of the ride. They appear
to be assuming responsibility for making medical determinations.
• Len and Sue will be following up on their connections to learn more, and we will
also ask Larry Hale to bring someone with him to discuss this are with us.
Town Meeting
• Janet Perry will review the Town Warrant and let us know if we need to be
present to address any issues.
Additional new business and update on new projects
• None
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