HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-05-23-EC-update.pdf ENABLEMENT COMMITTEE UPDATE
As of 5/23/94
Battlegreen Shell
At 46 Bedford St. 822-9796. Visit to determine accessibility
Burlington Mall
Pat Kane and Nancy Blaclanore (Community Compliance Coordinator, Mass. Office on Disability)
are seeking to convince Burlington Mall that they should make scooters available to customers with disabilities.
162 and 166 Bedford St. (MacKay Hardware &Trinity Pharmacy--Scott MacKay 508-692-3346)
Ramp needed at entrance. Mr. MacKay said he would put ramp on Reid Street side. Steve Baran will
send letter asking for progress report.
Comnrehensive Care Plan for mentally disabled
Marion Shepp is involved in Department of Mental Health planning for Metro West area (32 towns;
619,000 total population including Waltham and Framingham). Marion is on 15-member housing subcommittee.
Committee consists of consumers and non-profit agency representatives. Marion is seeking to obtain DMH
involvement in Lexington housing.
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. Christine Chase will work with Pat Kane and Nancy Blackmore to obtain
materials from Stanley Works in Farmington, Connecticut. Rotary Club might fund door; Minuteman Tech
students and Christine's husband might help with installation.
Need 3' x 8' aluminum strip + adhesive tape needed for Linda's threshold; also need to spread asphalt
to widen 3' x 5' area to 5' x 7' in front of Linda's door.
Prince Lumber Company may donate some of the materials.
Edison Way
Handicapped parking sign needs to be replaced by Public Works.
EOCD Workshop on Handicanned Access Requirements for Cities and Towns
To be held on June 1 in Westborough. Make reservations by May 24. Laura London and
Steve Baran have signed up to date.
Grab bar/toilet mom reps (30.5.4)
Carl Luterman disagrees with these regs. Cari will discuss with Mass. Office on Disability
Enablement Committee Update, 5/23/94 Page 2
Hearing Impairment
Rick Safford investigating hearing accessibility of Cary Hall through private contractor--has looked at
infrared (widely used in movie theaters), loop (users must be inside a designated "loop" area), FM (frequency
modulation radio) system(each user gets an FM receiver, can sit anywhere in the hall).
Rick's recommendation is for one transmitter in Cary Hall and a portable FM transmitter for room
other than Cary Hall, and five FM receivers.
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.
Next steps: review by Christine Chase, Renee Cochin, Weiant Wathen-Dunn, Human Services
Committee, Enablement Committee, Town Meeting Members' Association Chair, Town Manager, Byron
Blanchard.
Need to finalize by beginning of FY '95 when money is more likely to be available.
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. Steve Baran is following up with
Peter Kutrubes, Manager, Electical Systems, Mass. Highway Nancy Blackmore will work with Tom and
Linda.
( Peonle Making a Difference
One-day project a possibility involving recruiting and training of volunteers who will survey business
establishments. Training and survey all accomplished in one day Contact Laurie Tsuruda at 426-1343.
Police Station/Fire Station
$1.8 million dollar police/fire communications update + extensive renovations in police and fire
departments plans close to being finalized. Bob Harris will review plans.
School Department Administration Building
Bob Harris and Nancy Blackmore will develop strategy for getting ramp installed at School
Administration Building.
Versailles restaurant
Access to bathroom is poor. Christine Chase, Gary Strong and Cari Luterman will investigate.
Yanctse River
Has bathroom been upgraded with grab bars installed? Cari Luterman will investigate.