HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-05-05-COD-minCommission 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
ad hoc committee can hopefully help with this. Members of the Ad Hoc Committee are: Peggy Enders
(Bicycle Advisory Committee); Pam Shadley (Center Committee); Victoria Buckley (Commission on
Disability); Timothy Lee (Design Advisory Committee); Anne Eccles (Historic Districts Commission);
Wendall Kalsow (Historical Commission); Nancy Corcoran - Ronchetti (Planning Board); John Frey (Tree
Committee). The following are liaisons: Beth Masterman (Appropriation Committee); Wendy Manz
(Capital Expenditures Committee); Ada Wong (Chamber of Commerce); David Wells (Historical
Society); Meg Himmel (Field and Garden Club); Eric Michelson (Retailers Association).
New Business
There are no new projects to discuss according to Building Commissioner, Fred Lonardo.
Submitted by: Victoria Buckley