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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-03-09-EC-update.pdf ENABLEMENT COMMITTEE UPDATE As of 3/9/94 Committee members: Robert Harris, Chairman; Linda Clarke; Pat Kane; Tom McKinnon; Marion Shepp; Gary Strong 1. 162 and 166 Bedford St. (MacKay Hardware & Trinity Pharmacy--Scott MacKay 508-692-3346) Ramps needed at primary entrances; also two curb cuts. Meeting to be held with owner 2. 3 Countryside Village Side door used by a number of people in wheelchairs is hard to open; threshold needs repair Linda Clarke who has MS would like to know if doorway can be button-operated since she has trouble getting key in door and opening with one hand. Contact Stanley Tool Corporation in Connecticut. Need 3" x 8" aluminum strip + adhesive tape; also need to spread asphalt to widen 3' x 5' area to 5' x 7' in front of Linda's door. 3. Lowell St. and Woburn St. Complaint from Linda Nielsen (5A Countryside, 863-1459) through Tom McKinnon (863-5204) that traffic light in front of Ace Hardware is not safe for use by wheelchair users. See letter of 2/8/94 from Mass. Highway; intersection to be included on signal up- grade list. Follow up with Raj Kulen, Traffic Engineer, at 648-6100, x482 4 Hearing Impairment Rick Safford investigating hearing accessibility of Cary Hall through private contractor--has looked at infrared (only good for movie theaters), loop (users must be inside a designated "loop" area), frequency modulations system (each user gets a walkman-type of receiver, can sit anywhere in the hall). The recommendation is for two transmitters and a portable device for rooms other than Cary Hall. Renee Cochin said at meeting of the Enablement Committee on 9/22/93 that she had been losing her hearing over a period of years making it difficult for her to function in Town Meeting; she finds the hearing system to be inadequate. ADA provides people with the opportunity to have access to a basic institution in the community, namely, Town Meeting. All Lexington citizens should be able to participate; otherwise it is not a public meeting. Enablement Committee Update, 3/9/94 Page 2 Renee had written to Town Meeting Members' Association (TMMA) Chairman and to the Town Manager TMMA support is assured. The Selectmen needed to be made aware; hearing in their meeting room is also poor. A preliminary proposal was being shown to various experts. 5 Temporary Placard Bob Harris had asked the Chief of Police whether he had made temporary placards available. He said that he did this on a case by case basis in unusual circumstances. Committee is not in favor of this procedure. This is against the law See correspondence from Cambridge. 6. Emory Park/Depot Square See letter from Enablement Committee to Steve Hurley, Design Advisory Committee, dated 2/14/94 with recommendations. Meeting on design with Town Manager, Design Advisory Committee and others on 3/8/94 See drawings and narrative. Sentiment was against having a shelter, but this would not be in accord with State ( AAB regs. 7 Police Station $1.8 million dollar police/fire communications update + extensive renovations in police department planned if passed by Town Meeting. Handicap issues to be addressed.