2016-01-07-COD-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Commission on Disability Meeting Minutes January 7, 2016 Members Present: Victoria Buckley, Chair; Nate Finch; Julie Miller; Len Morse-Fortier; Sue Cusack Town Liaisons: Fred Lonardo, Building Commissioner; Joe Pato, Chair, Board of Selectmen; Harry Mackay, Council on Aging Guests: Wendy Manz, Capital Expenditures Committee; Shaun Grady, resident Agenda: Approval of past minutes December minutes are still pending. Continued Discussion on Addressing Needs of Community We discussed the need to develop more concrete strategies and supports for citizens with hearing and visual issues, including: Outreach through the Minuteman – Len volunteered to write an article; o Possibility of holding a forum to gather more community input on areas of need o Long discussion to cultivate multiple strategies to address the needs of the o community through more effective outreach strategies that would (1) help to build awareness of the role of the CoD, (2) identify the supports and services that currently exist, and (3) identify gaps in those supports and services that can be remedied through CoD action steps Update on Center Streetscape from meeting with Town Engineer John Livsey about width of sidewalk Victoria and Joe met with John Livsey about issue of sidewalk material selection. Our recommendation was to extend the current plans of 5’ concrete to 8’ and additional consideration for the integration of a smooth “path of travel” to proposed seating areas. Preparation for upcoming public meeting on 1/12/16, 7 PM – Massachusetts Avenue Center Streetscape Improvement Project This meeting is to draw input from the public. The drawings have not been updated yet, but we are hopeful that we can move past the issues of 5’ concrete pathway and no smooth pathway to proposed seating areas and see new drawings that integrate our shared vision for a wider smooth area of travel in the sidewalk areas as well as in the areas for proposed seating. Parking Issues Fred spoke with David Kucharsky, Assistant Planning Director, about parking downtown and elsewhere. He is suggesting that we attend the meeting (TBA) to plan for HP parking.