HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-05-21-COD-min Commission on Disability
May 21, 2024 Meeting Minutes
Members:Victoria Buckley(Chair), Leonard Morse-Fortier, Francine Stieglitz, Nancy Wong, Shaun Grady,
Janet Perry
Town Liaisons: Hemali Shah, Chief Equity Officer; Mark Sandeen, Select Board;Jim Kelly, Building
Commissioner
Committee Liaisons: Pam Lyons, Center Committee
Guests: Abby McCabe, Planning Director;Amber Carr, Conservation Coordinator
A meeting of the Commission on Disability was held on Tuesday, May 21,2024,5:45 PM—7:15 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
Announcements
• April minutes are not yet ready for review.
• Two issues have come up with complaints filed with AAB by BCIL. Victoria sent letters to AAB in
support of the complaints filed by BCIL's Michael Muehe. The first issue involves a variance
request to not have a fully compliant bathroom at Kindee Thai & Pho, 182 Bedford Street.
Victoria requested the AAB not grant their request.The second issue is a parking complaint for
Mass Eye and Ear at 110 Hartwell Ave. Victoria went to the site and found lack of curb cut
installations at each access aisle, lack of level access aisles, lack of clear markings of access
aisles with diagonal stripes, lack of high contrast painted lines to delineate handicapped spaces,
lack of sign for van accessible space. Victoria requested review by AAB.Jim Kelly will follow up
with AAB.
• The March 9 event, Crisis Management in Mental Health, is on YouTube.
Presentation by Abby McCabe, Planning Director
Abby McCabe discussed multi-family housing zoning for MBTA communities.These projects fall under
new zoning regulations.
• One site is 5-7 Piper Road for 59 condos with 8 designated as affordable. Universal design is
expected in all new construction.The Planning Board and Fair Housing review the plans.
• Another site is 89 Bedford Street for a 3-story building with 30 units. Neighbors are voicing some
displeasure with this.
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• The third site is 231 Bedford Street,where the proposal is for a 5-story building with parking
underneath and retail on the first floor.
• Len asked how to offer input as to designing more attractive housing as in "village" or"cluster"
housing in place of big buildings. He was encouraged to contact the Planning Board at their June
meeting.
Presentation by Amber Carr,Conservation Coordinator
Amber Carr discussed plans for the ADA garden project at Idylwilde Community Garden located at the
intersection of Lincoln and Middle Street. She said that there is an Eagle Scout who wants to build
accessible gardening plots:
• In boxes 2.5' high,with no more than 2.5' reach
• 5'wide pathways
• In C formation to allow approximately 215 square feet of planting.
After discussion with the Commission, a plan was suggested of using 2 boxes 5'wide and 20' long
parallel to each other with a 2.5'wide box connecting the two. Issues about parking and selecting who
can use the plots were discussed as well.
New Business
• Victoria mentioned that school data disparities must be addressed and proposed working with
HRC, School Committee and other groups to form a plan.
• Victoria discussed when the Commission will pose for Countdown Day, the counting down to the
250 celebration. December 3 was suggested since it is International Day for Persons with
Disabilities, designed to bring awareness and promote inclusion.
Meeting Adjourned at 7:15 pm
Minutes submitted by Victoria Buckley
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