HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-10-01-COD-min Commission on Disability
Meeting Minutes October 1, 2015
Members Present:
Victoria Buckley, Chair; Nate Finch; Julie Miller; Len Morse-Fortier; Francine Stieglitz;
Michael Martignetti
Town Liaisons:
Fred Lonardo, Building Commissioner; Joe Pato, Chair, Board of Selectman; Harry Mackay,
Council on Aging
Guests:
Shaun Grady, Lexington Resident; Shawn Newell, Assistant Director of Public Facilities; Wendy
Manz, Friends of the Center Streetscape
• Progress on ADA Master List: Shawn Newell, Assistant Director of Public Facilities,
filled in for Pat Goddard, who was unable to come. He stated that the ADA Master List
had 374 items on it in 2012. Of those, 129 items have been resolved through capital
expenditures. One of those was finished this summer, the Clarke elevator, and the
Commission is pleased that this was done prior to this school year. There has been
approximately $1.2 million spent—mostly Bowman, Bridge, Town Office Building, Cary
Hall, Clarke. There are still 132 operational items to be handled within Shawn's group or
sub-contractors —of these, 50 are resolved—some of these are items like lowering grab
bars. Many involve items in the school bathrooms. The Visitors' Center is scheduled in
FY '17 for second floor access and other items. There are still 106 items to be addressed,
or about $290,000-$292,000 needed. The Commission brought up that there should be
no need for retrofitting—why, for example, does Fiske have items to be fixed? Isn't
there a better way to make sure things are right from the planning stage?
• Follow-up on Depot Building acoustic issues from last month: Victoria will follow up
to see if anything was added to the depot rental agreements or renters' fact sheets as was
discussed.
• Update on Business Forum, "Shaping Lexington Center": Victoria attended meeting
put on by Chamber of Commerce yesterday where they discussed the bank moratorium.
She offered the desire for "universal design for accessibility"which was added to their
brainstorming sheets. The maps there of Lexington Center were dated 2014 and showed
narrow "concrete aggregate" sidewalks with bigger decorative brick trim. Joe says the
current maps are on-line and show concrete with brick edging but that he would like to
see the concrete area wider.
• Update on Cary Hall Sidewalk: The test sidewalk was tested by the Commission with
cane, rolling walker, manual wheelchair and electric wheelchair and the aggregate
concrete was deemed too rough. The Commission prefers concrete. The HDC did not
like the test sidewalk due to color. The decision was to try dyed concrete and for people
to look at sample sidewalks in Newton, Cambridge, and Boston. Victoria saw those sites
and said that color varies according to how old the concrete is. The Commission just
wants enough contrast to be there between the edging and the walking surface. Since the
grand opening of Cary Hall is happening soon and there is no consensus yet on materials,
the walks will be done in asphalt first, which will later be removed when the decided-
upon materials are available.
• Discussion about better addressing needs of citizens with hearing and visual issues:
This discussion will be postponed until we can have Janet's input.
• Continued discussion about Center Streetscape and Woburn Street -Massachusetts
Avenue intersection: A motion was presented for a letter to be sent to the Board of
Selectmen from the Commission stating that we endorse the signals being proposed for
Massachusetts Avenue intersections since we put safety as our priority. The vote with a
quorum was unanimous but the Commission knows that not all members were present
and so the letter will state that a majority of the Commission supports the signals. There
will be a public meeting on Wednesday, 10/14 at 7 PM in high school auditorium
primarily about the signals in East Lexington (Pleasant, Maple, and possibly Marrett)that
Commission members are encouraged to attend. Victoria will be away so Michael will
read the letter. Shaun Grady will contact Douglas House to see if anyone wants to speak
there.
• Additional new business and update on new projects:
1. The November meeting will be at the Community Center.
2. Michael will go see the Clarke School elevator.
3. Francine asked for a vote for the Commission to support the NAMI event on
November 10. The Central Middlesex Affiliate will be showing a documentary
film at the Lexington Venue, free of charge. "Pack Up Your Sorrows" tells the
story of singer/songwriter Meg Hutchinson who lives with bipolar disorder. The
Commission voted yes to be listed as a supporter of the event.
Respectively Submitted: Victoria Buckley