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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-10-01-COD-min.pdf f Town of Lexington Commission on Disability Minutes of Meeting 1 October 2003 Commission Members and Meeting Attendees Jennifer Aliber Victoria Buckley Chuck Cole Susan Cusack Heather Hartshorn Sweeney (Town of Lexington) Bill Kennedy (Selectman) Richard Landau Michael Martignetti(absent) Leonard Morse-Fortier Michael Novack (Town of Lexington) Daniel Perez (absent) The meeting convened shortly after 4.00 PM. 1 Status: The Committee on Disabilities is now the Commission on Disabilities. As we discussed this, we learned that Dan Murphy has submitted a letter offering to step aside to make the ten members of the Committee fit appropriately into the nine slots for a Commission. We accepted this and as Dan Perez was the last person to join, he will be informed that he may now consider himself a full-fledged member We will each receive (or have already) a letter from the Town Manager informing us of our status as members of the Commission. 2. In discussing the challenge of 9 official members, Sue noted that we should be trying to increase our numbers and attendance at our meetings to better populate other meetings within Town where our voices should be heard and to get work done. Chuck expressed his opinion that projects are more important than members. 3 Victoria updated us on the LexFest. She staffed a table with handouts. As LexFest was held at the Museum of Our National Heritage, she had a chance to speak again with the Museum's John Ott. He reiterated his hope that we will help him make the Museum and especially its grounds more accessible. Apparently, one major hurdle is the need for a passage (or more than one) through the stone fence. John expressed his hope that we would go to a meeting of Historic District Commission(HDC)to speak on behalf of the Museum. Discussion digressed into a conversation about the HDC, its membership, and Selectman appointments to the HDC. We all agreed that sensitivity to issues of disability access should be a pre-requisite for membership on the HDC Victoria noted that the Development Review Team does not include a member of the HDC We agreed that we shoed:Write a letter_lothe Selectmen, encouraging elevated awareness of accessib1hty issues\amp)a members of tCo � w Commission on Disability p 2 committees and commissions, especially the HDC The Town has a Handbook on Commission members. Sue Cusack will look into the Code of Conduct. Victoria also reported on the Liberty Ride—where folks pay to get a tour of the Town. In its first year, it was not accessible. Now it is. We need to find groups willing and motivated to help John Ott get approval for altering the Museum grounds. 4 Michael Novack handed out Senior Center Surveys, aimed at accessing the needs and impressions of those groups that currently use the Senior Center for meetings. The purpose of the survey is to help guide the planning of a new Senior Center so that it may address the many space needs of its users. 5 The Copa Café tables have expanded beyond the limits implied by the setback along the sidewalk, and now encroach on the pedestrian path. Len Morse-Fortier agreed to first try to see the original petition and its approval to better understand where the Café has permission to locate the tables. Next, he will attempt to confirm whether the current table locations comply with what was permitted. Finally, he will speak with the owner to make the owner better understand how the tables may be causing problems for some folks. Richard has cards that he hands out when he encounters a bicyclist on the sidewalk. These cards read: Hello Friend. Did you know that? Town Bylaw prohibits bike riding on the sidewalk? Those of us who are disabled or elderly feel endangered? That when you ride toward me I have less than a second to become aware of you? Please consider the rights of others. Please walk your bikes when downtown. Thanks. 6 Before adjourning, we agreed to the following actions: a. Chuck will ask John Ott how we can help him in his attempts to make the Museum more accessible. b. Richard will draft a letter to the Board of Selectmen asking them to be more conscious of disability sensitivity in making appointments and directing commissions. c. Richard will draft a letter that the Selectmen can send to the Commissions instructing them on the importance of disability awareness. d. Len will follow up on the Copa Café (see 5 above). 7 There will be a meeting on 9 October to discuss the future plans for the site of the Metropolitan Hospital. The South Lexington Civic Association will be attending and anyone interested can contact Art Katz(artkatz@.rcn,coml The next meeting of this Commission is on 5 November 2003 Meeting adjourned at 5 45 PM.