2023-08-15-COD-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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1 Commission on Disability August 15, 2023 Meeting Minutes Members: Victoria Buckley (Chair), Shaun Grady, Leonard Morse-Fortier, Janet Perry, John Rossi, Francine Stieglitz, Nancy Wong Town Liaisons: Hemali Shah, Chief Equity Officer; Mark Sandeen, Select Board; Jim Kelly, Building Commissioner Committee Liaisons: Rod Cole, CEC; Laureen Fiola, CoA Guests: Jeri Zeder concerning voting; Valerie Overton, LexPride A meeting of the Commission on Disability was held on Tuesday August 15, 2023, 5:45 PM – 7:15 PM via zoom (expected adjournment is 7:15 PM). Pursuant to Governor Baker’s March 12, 2020 Order Suspending Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §18, and the Governor’s March 15, 2020 and subsequent Orders imposing strict limitation on the number of people that may gather in one place, this meeting of the Lexington Commission on Disability will be conducted via remote participation to the greatest extent possible. On July 16, 2022, Governor Baker signed into Law an Act Relative to Extending Certain State of Emergency Accommodations, which, among other things, extends the expiration of the provisions pertaining to the Open Meeting Law to March 31, 2023. On March 29, 2023, Governor Healey signed a bill that continues remote and hybrid meeting provisions that were enacted during the pandemic. The new law extends pandemic-related authorizations that were set to expire on March 31 as follows: • Allowing remote and hybrid meeting options for public bodies through March 31, 2025 Announcement • Sheila Page is out sick • Welcome new liaison from Council on Aging, Laureen Fiola Brief Updates • Farmer’s Market is still problematic since there was no one (due to low staffing) to help out and the gravel surface is hard to traverse. • Hastings School sidewalk will be painted with strips to delineate grade changes. Voting Jeri Zeder talked with the group about voting issues. The Vision for Lexington group is wondering why voter turnout is so low. Jeri asked if there were special concerns that we have regarding voting. The need for adequate HP parking at each site was mentioned. Janet reminded us that there is now the opportunity for mail-in voting, and that precinct 9’s site is far away. Jeri will send the link about the machine for voting accessibility. Serious Talks Valerie Overton discussed how the elementary curriculum called Serious Talks is being questioned and statements for and against have been circulated. The curriculum emphasizes in an age-appropriate way inclusion and equity, in all aspects such as race, ethnicity, abilities, gender identity, language, culture,