HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-04-19-COD-min 1
Commission on Disability
April 19, 2022 Meeting Minutes
Members: Victoria Buckley (Chair), Sue Cusack, Shaun Grady, Julie Miller, Leonard
Morse-Fortier, Janet Perry, Francine Stieglitz, Nancy Wong, John Rossi
Town Liaisons: Martha Duffield, Chief Equity Officer; Jim Kelly, Building Commissioner;
Joe Pato, Select Board
Guests: Mark Connor, HDC; Kathleen Dalton, Stone Building Advocates; Melissa Tala
Committee Liaisons: Stephanie Hsu, Human Rights Committee; Pam Lyons, Center
Committee; Bonnie Teitleman-Levin, Council on Aging; Rod Cole, Capital Expenditure
Committee.
Note: A meeting of the Commission on Disability was held on Tuesday, April 19, 2022, 5:45
PM – 7:00 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. Specific information and
the general guidelines for remote participation by members of the public and/or parties with a
right and/or requirement to attend this meeting can be found below. No in-person attendance
of members of the public will be permitted, but every effort will be made to ensure that the
public can adequately access the proceedings in real time, via technological means. (*As per
Executive Order regarding remote participation: https://www.mass.gov/doc/open-
meetinglaw-order-march-12-2020/download) Please be advised that the House and Senate
enacted Senate Bill 2475 last night and Governor Baker signed the bill, which will allow the
continuation of remote public meetings until April 20, 2022.
The reading was followed by an oral roll call.
Review of Minutes:
Postponed.
Announcements:
LexSeeHer is getting some opposition about the placement of the statue in front of the
Visitors’ Center. The Commission will ask how they can help.
Presentation by Mark Connor on Fletcher Field and Hosmer House:
Mark is the HDC liaison for the Hosmer House. He made a presentation proposing
moving the Hosmer House forward, restoring the wrap-around verandah as a ramp to the first
floor and designing a mall formed by solar canopy behind the house for the Farmers’ Market.
The Commission said that all floors need access, and Mark suggested a lift in the back. John
asked about access getting to the site and into the house. The drawing presented is for a
conceptual idea. There are other plans to relocate the Hosmer House off site.
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Presentation by Kathleen Dalton from Stone Building Advocates:
Kathleen stated that the official committee about the fate of the Stone Building is the
Stone Building Committee whereas she is part of an advocate group. The building was built
by the Robbins family as a lyceum – the abolitionists were a key part of the program. The
vision is to have an elevator, full access and open space. It might focus on the history of
Lexington and be an archive for voices not commonly heard, recording different sides of
certain histories such as the fate of Met State and the Center Streetscape. Janet encouraged
her to remember people with vision disabilities in the renovations.
Update about Pandemic Effects Work Group:
The group is looking for more participants.
Meeting adjourned at 7:15 pm. Minutes submitted by: Victoria Buckley