HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-01-07-COD-min
Commission on Disability
Meeting Minutes January 7, 2016
Members Present:
Victoria Buckley, Chair; Nate Finch; Julie Miller; Len Morse-Fortier; Sue Cusack
Town Liaisons:
Fred Lonardo, Building Commissioner; Joe Pato, Chair, Board of Selectmen; Harry Mackay,
Council on Aging
Guests:
Wendy Manz, Capital Expenditures Committee; Shaun Grady, resident
Agenda:
Approval of past minutes
December minutes are still pending.
Continued Discussion on Addressing Needs of Community
We discussed the need to develop more concrete strategies and supports for citizens with
hearing and visual issues, including:
Outreach through the Minuteman – Len volunteered to write an article;
o
Possibility of holding a forum to gather more community input on areas of need
o
Long discussion to cultivate multiple strategies to address the needs of the
o
community through more effective outreach strategies that would (1) help to build
awareness of the role of the CoD, (2) identify the supports and services that
currently exist, and (3) identify gaps in those supports and services that can be
remedied through CoD action steps
Update on Center Streetscape from meeting with Town Engineer John Livsey about
width of sidewalk
Victoria and Joe met with John Livsey about issue of sidewalk material selection. Our
recommendation was to extend the current plans of 5’ concrete to 8’ and additional
consideration for the integration of a smooth “path of travel” to proposed seating areas.
Preparation for upcoming public meeting on 1/12/16, 7 PM – Massachusetts
Avenue Center Streetscape Improvement Project
This meeting is to draw input from the public. The drawings have not been updated yet,
but we are hopeful that we can move past the issues of 5’ concrete pathway and no
smooth pathway to proposed seating areas and see new drawings that integrate our shared
vision for a wider smooth area of travel in the sidewalk areas as well as in the areas for
proposed seating.
Parking Issues
Fred spoke with David Kucharsky, Assistant Planning Director, about parking downtown
and elsewhere. He is suggesting that we attend the meeting (TBA) to plan for HP
parking.
The handicapped parking area for the redesigned gazebo pathway needs to reviewed to
ensure that no additional barriers have been created. Specifically, we need to take a closer
look at where the spaces are relative to the hills around the gazebo, the curb cuts, and the
crosswalks.
Meeting was adjourned at 7:00 PM.
Respectively Submitted: Sue Cusack