2020-11-30-COD-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Commission on Disability Minutes from November 30, 2020 Members: Victoria Buckley (Chair), Shaun Grady, Leonard Morse-Fortier, Janet Perry, Francine Stieglitz, Michael Martignetti Town Liaisons: Kelly Axtell, Assistant Town Manager;Joe Pato, Select Board;Jim Kelly, Building Commissioner Commission Liaisons: Bonnie Levin, COA Guests: Melissa Battite, Director of Recreation and Community Programs; Christine Dean, Community Center Director; Kate DeAngelis, CTRS (Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist) NOTE:The meeting of the Commission on Disability was held on Monday,November 30,2020,at 4:00 PM, conducted by Remote Participation,via Zoom webinar,an online meeting platform. The meeting started with the reading of Governor Baker's orders. Minutes for September Minutes for September were revised and accepted, by vote of 6-0. Presentation by Melissa Battite, Director of Recreation and Community Programs, and Christine Dean, Community Center Director Melissa Battite, Christine Dean and Kate DeAngelis, CTRS (Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist) presented PowerPoint description of what has been happening in the Recreation Department as well as their future plans. This is the third year they have come to the Commission to provide updates. Melissa Battite, Director of Recreation and Community Programs, noted that last year the Commission on Disability was interested in the ADA capital improvements: reservoir bathhouse, the clubhouse at Pine Meadows, and parks and playgrounds being upgraded. The update on the accessibility project for the bathhouse is that additional funds will be needed so it will need to go out for bid again. The Pine Meadows project is being examined via a feasibility study funded for$100,000. Parks and playgrounds are being upgraded on an ongoing basis. The Adams Park walkways project is completed. During 2020, the department did community outreach, increased their staffing and volunteers, provided trainings and did assessments. The Community Needs Assessment completed in 2020 showed that there was a high need for inclusive and specialized programming which fits in with the mission of therapeutic recreation to provide opportunities for individuals of all abilities. They provided in-person and virtual inclusive and specialized programs and served 115 participants. The goals for 2021 include implementation of the Community Needs Assessment, increasing participation in Therapeutic Recreation programs, increasing adult program offerings, collaborating with surrounding towns and receiving grant funding for subsidized programs. Other capital improvements include: the accessible pathways at Diamond athletic fields, completed in December 2020; the Center track connectivity and bleacher project, completed July 2020; the Sutherland Playground and park improvements, pending in 2021. Christine Dean, Community Center Director, discussed projects at the Community Center. They received a Bright Ideas grant from Friends of the Council on Aging to make a sensory garden and stone dust path outside the Community Center. There are four raised garden beds for herbs, ornamental flowers and plants that promote pollination. Christine discussed the Community Center sidewalk improvement project which is a capital improvement. This is a plan to make a sidewalk loop around the outside of the mansion. They 1