HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-12-19-COD-min 1
Commission on Disability
December 19, 2023 Meeting Minutes
Members: Victoria Buckley (Chair), John Rossi, Janet Perry, Leonard Morse-Fortier, Sue Cusack, Francine
Stieglitz, Shaun Grady
Town Liaisons: Kelly Axtell, Deputy Town Manager
Committee Liaisons: Laureen Fiola (Council on Aging); Pam Lyons
Guests: Ross Morrow, Assistant Town Engineer
A meeting of the Commission on Disability was held on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, 5:45 PM – 7:25
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.
On July 16, 2022, Governor Baker signed into Law an Act Relative to Extending Certain State of
Emergency Accommodations, which, among other things, extends the expiration of the provisions
pertaining to the Open Meeting Law to March 31, 2023.
On March 29, 2023, Governor Healey signed a bill that continues remote and hybrid meeting provisions
that were enacted during the pandemic. The new law extends pandemic-related authorizations that
were set to expire on March 31 as follows:
• Allowing remote and hybrid meeting options for public bodies through March 31, 2025
Review of Minutes
• Minutes for November were reviewed and unanimously accepted with two corrections.
Presentation by Ross Morrow, Assistant Town Engineer about bus stop
• Ross proposed a bulb-out combined with the crosswalk as an alternative to 1666 and Conte’s.
The address is 1690 Massachusetts Avenue. This would help people who use wheelchairs, the
bikes have a share lane, there are no tree issues. The Center Committee and the Bike
Committee prefer this option.
• Motion was made to vote on newly proposed bulb-out versus 1666. The Commission on
Disability voted unanimously in favor of the bulb-out. The Commission also would like to see a
bus shelter there.
Discussion about complaint process, complaint forms, web page
• When a resident has a complaint, who do they go to? Most complaints go to Victoria Buckley by
phone or email (personal email as town one has issues). Other towns like Cambridge have a link
to the complaint form online. The Commission has a web page that needs some work. The
Commission will invite the Town webmaster and Kathy Santos to the next meeting.
2
Update from Collaborative Reform
• Collaborative Reform has been approached by a group called Residents Re-Imagining Public
Safety who want to set up a Citizens’ Advisory Board (CAB) to advise the LPD. Chief McLean is
not in favor and more discussion will have to be held to evaluate this.
Meeting Adjourned at 7:15 pm
Minutes submitted by Victoria Buckley