2016-05-05-COD-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Commission on Disability Minutes May 5, 2016 Members Present: Victoria Buckley, Chair; Nate Finch; Julie Miller; Len Morse - Fortier; Michael Martignetti; Janet Perry; Francine Stieglitz Town Liaisons: Fred Lonardo, Building Commissioner; Linda Vine, Deputy Town Manager; Joe Pato, Chair, Board of Selectman Guests: Jeri Zeder, Anne Eccles (HDC), Wendy Manz (Capital Expenditures Committee) Approval of Minutes The Commission voted to accept the March and April minutes. Response to Minuteman Letter Len had a response to his letter. He said that a citizen complained that they could not use the handrails in the Cary Hall elevator due to padding. Linda Vine will follow up. Discovery Day Members are away that weekend so plan is to give Linda Vine materials and handouts to place at Human Services booth or Council on Aging booth. Victoria will shorten Len's letter asking for more resident input for the handouts; Janet will arrange for 10 copies of shortened version to be made in Braille for Discovery Day. Addressing Needs of Citizens with Hearing and Visual Issues Discussion was opened as to how to better address needs of those with hearing issues. Town Meeting seems improved as hearing accommodations in Cary Hall have been fine tuned. The Community Center has three conference rooms — the dining hall, a large meeting room upstairs and a conference room. The Commission will test the dining hall at their June meeting which will be scheduled there. Discussion about issues for those with visual issues was started by a resident who pointed out that there were tactile pads in the Forest Street intersections that were placed diagonally to intersection. This leads people into traffic. Pads should be perpendicular to intersection to assist in wayfinding and safety. Victoria will talk to John Livsey about this issue. Another issue raised was that the trees in the Center have overhanging branches that interfere with lighting at night. Linda Vine will bring that concern forward. The Commission discussed issues in public buildings. Cary Hall needs striping on stairs so that people know where the edges are. Janet asked about Town Meeting — is there a way that those with visual issues could sit up front instead of with their precinct? Linda Vine will discuss this with the moderator. At public meetings, presentations should be available in reverse contrast (dark background with white or light print. The Commission should reach out to schools, Mass. Commission for the Blind, COA newsletter, Perkins — to gather more information about what individuals with hearing and /or visual issues need and to see if more people can be identified to ask for their input. Center Streetscape There will be a meeting of the Design Advisory Committee on May 12, where a speaker from the Pittsburgh study will present information. Commission members were encouraged to attend. Ad Hoc Committee has not met yet; the chair will be Howard Levin. The Commission has yet to see samples of bricks that have no vibration as well as the potential concrete options. The formation of the