HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-09-06-COD-min Commission on Disability
Meeting Minutes - September 6, 2018
Members Present: Victoria Buckley (Chair), Sue Cusack, Shaun Grady, Leonard Morse-
Fortier, Francine Stieglitz
Town Liaisons: Kelly Axtell, Acting Town Manager; Bonnie Teitelman, Council on Aging;
Sandy Beebee, Capital Expenditures Committee; Jeffrey Toronto, Human Rights Committee
Guests: David Pinsonneault, Director of Public Works: Ross Morrow, Assistant Town
Engineer; Casey Lan, Diversity Advisory Task Force; Stuart Rothman, owner of 49 Waltham
Street; Jai Singh Khalsa, Owner, Khalsa Design Inc.; and Anthony Papantonis of Nauset
Construction,
Announcements
• The Fourth Annual Massachusetts Office on Disability Summit is on Friday, October 5th
from 8.00am — 12:30pm at Partners Healthcare, Assembly Row Campus, 399
Revolution Road, Somerville. This event is free. Register for the event at:
h.11 e//www.mass oov/mod/summit 8 - Acting Town Manager Kelly Axtell and Jim Kelly,
Building Commissioner are planning to attend.
• Artis Senior Living variance was granted.
Discussion with David Pinsonneault, Director of Public Works, and Ross Morrow, Assistant
Town Engineer about our concerns about the curb cuts proposed for the Center Streetscape.
On October 15th there will be a report from DPW to the Selectmen in regard to the 25% Design
Report
• Mr. Pinsonneault presented a granite panel that is being proposed as a "detectable
warning panel" rumble strip at ramped curb cuts. They would like to install a test area
for us to give them feedback. A sample the was shared at the meeting, and it has been
manufactured with a thermal finish, which is designed to inhibit slipping.
• Needham, near Mass General, and Yawkey Way have used this material.
• The granite strip is supposed to provide a signal for the curb cut.
a. We cautioned that gray as a color choice is not recommended by the ADA when
used with brick. This caution applies to both the granite rumble pad and the
visual stripe that signals a curb cut.
• A tree grate proposal was shared. This grate system would be used on the south side of
Mass Ave. and anywhere the sidewalk is narrowed sufficiently to allow for more useable
or walkable space. We observed that the grates were designed with a .5" gap. We
recommended that the gap be less and that the color support contrast with the sidewalk
material.
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Casey Lan, Diversity Advisory Task Force to discuss Commission concerns
• This committee was formed in response to the increasing diversity of our community
and the need to increase sensitivity and awareness in our community. The committee
does not have any decision-making authority and is exempt from open-meeting laws,
but they will be working closely with the new Superintendent and the new Town
Manager on these issues.
Stuart Rothman, owner of 49 Waltham Street, with Jai Singh Khalsa from Khalsa Design
Inc. and Anthony Papantonis of Nauset Construction
• They shared drawings to show how they would make the second floor accessible with a
vertical platform lift. There is no space inside the building for an elevator, so they
proposed an exterior weatherproofed lift.
• As lifts are currently approved to go half stories but are technically capable of going a
full story, a letter of support is needed from the Town Building Inspector and the
Commission to move forward.
• We voted to provide a letter of support contingent on our confirmation with Jim Kelly,
Building Inspector, that he is also in agreement with this proposal.
Special Note — Our next Meeting is scheduled for October 11, 2018 (not October 4).
Same time; same place.
Minutes submitted by: Susan Cusack
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