HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-12-07-COD-min Commission of Disability
December 7, 2017
Members Attending: Victoria Buckley (chair), Sue Cusack, Shaun Grady, Julie Miller, Len
Morse-Fortier
Liaisons: Kelly Axtell, Assistant Town Manager; Joe Pato, Selectman; Bonnie Teitleman-
Levin, Council on Aging; Jeffrey Toronto, Human Rights Committee; Sandy Beebee,
Capital Expenditure Committee
Guests: Michael Cronin, New Facilities Director; Donna DiNisco, Architect
Update on hiring new building commissioner
We are in the interview process and are close to a decision.
Lexington Children's Place
Donna DiNisco (architect) and Michael Cronin (Director, Lexington Facilities
Department) discussed the plans for the new Lexington Children's Place which will
be located at 20 Pelham—the old Armenian Sister's Building. The center will support
100 — 180 students of which general half that number will be in the school in either
the morning and afternoon programs. These children are ages 2.9 —5.
Construction should begin sometime in the fall of 2018. The site has topography
issues that will present a challenge to accessibility. The plans are attempting to allow
for possible expansion t the community center as well as more parking.
It will be a18,250 sq foot building; all bathrooms are accessible and will allow for
changing tables. The classroom are all outfitted with audio that will work with
Hearing Aids or Personal FM Systems. There are 75 parking spaces of which 4 are
HP.
Sidewalk expansion along Pelham Road is being considered. It is not decided yet if
Pelham entrance will be a one or two-way road. There will also be access through the
Community Center and Scottish Rite properties.
Possible Warrant Article
We discussed the possibility of an article that would direct revenue from handicapped
parking tickets to be allocated to the Commission. This practice has been adopted in
other communities and tends to raise the amount of the fine. This increase in fines is
often followed by a decline in parking violations. Joe suggested that Selectmen may
be supportive of increasing the fines as a more direct approach to eliminate
inappropriate use of HP parking spaces.
Update on survey concerning disparate suspension rates for disabled and non-white students
Committee members have been working actively on preparing a survey for LPS
parents about their perception and experiences related to suspension practice in the
schools.
Additional new business and update on new projects
Open Meeting Law
Changes in the Open specifically related to the Commission on Disability meeting
laws for a quorum to occur with members coming in by phone. The chair has to be
present, and the member coming in by phone needs to notify the chair at least 24-
hours in advance. The same member can attend virtually for several meetings and still
maintain their membership on the commission. This change is effect upon a vote of
its members, which occurred last year when this change was initially posed in 940
CMR 29:00
Respectfully Submitted by Sue Cusack