2023-10-17-COD-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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1 Commission on Disability October 17, 2023 Meeting Minutes Members: Victoria Buckley (Chair), Sue Cusack, Shaun Grady, Janet Perry, Francine Stieglitz Town Liaisons: Hemali Shah, Chief Equity Officer; Jim Kelly, Building Commissioner; Mark Sandeen, Select Board Committee Liaisons: Laureen Fiola (Council on Aging); Pam Lyons (Center Committee) Guests: Megan Morrison and Chris Brown (1729 Mass Avenue business); Ross Morrow, Assistant Town Engineer A meeting of the Commission on Disability was held on Tuesday, October 17, 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 Announcements • Collaborative Reform panel discussion is set for November 1. Panel will include Dr. David Rose on neurodiversity, a child psychiatrist, a representative from NAMI and Kate DeAngelis. Commission members are encouraged to come. • Hemali said that she is working on an internal equity audit. Review of Minutes • Minutes for September will be reviewed at the next meeting in November. Review of Plans for New Coffee Place at 1729 Megan Morrison and architect Chris Brown discussed their plans for the renovations at 1729 Massachusetts Avenue (formerly Starbucks). These plans went before HDC before being flagged by our Commission since there is an outdoor counter space that is not accessible. The Commission voiced their concern about full accessibility. All the interior spaces have been designed to be accessible. The architect will remove the outdoor public space that has stairs from the design. The Commission appreciated the design changes. We need to follow through on full inclusion when new projects are being proposed.