2018-05-03-COD-min - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

Commission on Disability Meeting Minutes —May 3, 2018 Members Present: Victoria Buckley (Chair), Sue Cusack, Shaun Grady, Julie Miller, Leonard Morse- Fortier, Janet Perry, Francine Stieglitz Town Liaisons: Kelly Axtell, Assistant Town Manager; Jim Kelly, Building Commissioner; Joe Pato, Selectman; Bonnie Teitleman, Council on Aging; Jeffrey Toronto, Human Rights Committee Guest: David Pinsonneault, Director of Public Works and Dawn McKenna, Chair of the Tourism Committee Minutes: The minutes of the last meeting were approved Center Streetscape: We had a brief discussion about the Center Streetscape public hearing scheduled for June 1 lth at 7:OOpm in Estabrook Hall and how to prepare for it. Representation by CoD members was encouraged. The 25% design will be presented. The architect is putting the Selectmen's approved elements into the plan. The goal is to advance the next phase of the design process to the fall town meeting/The goal is to request 100% design funding at the fall town meeting. The Selectmen have decided to support whatever materials are in place now, which means updating brick for brick, concrete for concrete. Follen Church Update: The initial proposal for the church renovation had some challenges at the front door, but church members working on the proposal were able to address several other access considerations that the Commission approved. A variance was needed to address a pathway around a structural problem with the church organ but church members were able to come up with an elegant alternative that our Chair reviewed and approved. 175 Bedford Street: Tom Puschak, D.M.D., came to discuss some access challenges that he is trying to address at his dentist office at 175 Bedford Street. He presented different challenges that he is trying to work through to encourage accessibility entry into the building at the entrance to his business condominium as well as access to other entryways in the building. He offered three different possible options. The commission made some suggestions that used landscaping solutions to minimize the number of ramp switchbacks that were in his proposals. Battle Green Master Plan: David Pinsonneault, Director of Public Works, and Dawn McKenna, Chair of the Tourism Committee, shared plans for enhanced accessibility to monuments on the Battle Green. These enhancements included large-cut granite pavers around the Obelisk. Discussion focused on the second of two options: to extend the pathway to the Mass Ave sidewalk so that everyone would be able to use the same entryway. The pathway would then fork just before the historic steps creating an accessible route to the right that would circle around to the obelisk. Curb cuts are part of the Master Plan Streetscape, but this piece of the project has not been addressed. There is a trolley stop in front of this monument where changes will anticipate a redesign of the landing space more suitable for wheelchairs.