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1 Commission on Disability November 21, 2023 Meeting Minutes Members: Victoria Buckley (Chair), John Rossi, Janet Perry, Leonard Morse-Fortier, Nancy Wong Town Liaisons: Kelly Axtell, Deputy Town Manager; Jim Kelly, Building Commissioner; Mark Sandeen, Select Board Committee Liaisons: Laureen Fiola (Council on Aging); Stephanie Hsu (HRC), Rod Cole (CEC) Guests: Jennifer Yaar, SEPAC; Jess Quattrocchi, SEPTA; Kathleen Lennihan and Deepika Sawhney, School Committee; John Livsey, Town Engineer; Ross Morrow, Assistant Town Engineer A meeting of the Commission on Disability was held on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, 5:45 PM – 7:25 PM via zoom. 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 • Lexington is housing 30 families of immigrants. People who want to donate should contact Jess Steigerwald. • Jim Kelly announced a new hire, David Anderson as Local Building Inspector, who knows the ADA building codes. Review of Minutes • Minutes for September and October were reviewed and unanimously accepted. Presentation by Representatives from SEPAC and SEPTA • Multiple complaints have been brought to Commission on Disability by families about special education services, especially missed IEP services, the uptick in outplacements for children, and lack of space for new students in the ILP program. • Issues were discussed with: Jennifer Yaar, SEPAC; Jess Quattrocchi, SEPTA; Kathleen Lennihan and Deepika Sawhney, School Committee. There seems to be concerns about both staffing and space. Parents moving into the district are faced with many placement meetings and sometimes wait multiple months for placement. There are long-term planning concerns due to space. The percentage of special education students in Lexington is 14.7%. Sometimes out of district placement is needed and is the best choice.