HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-11-19-COD-min Commission on Disability
November 19, 2024 Meeting Minutes
Members: Victoria Buckley (Chair), Sue Cusack, Shaun Grady, Lenard Morse-Fortier, Janet
Perry,John Rossi, Francine Steiglitz, Nancy Wong
Town Liaisons: Hemali Shah, Chief Equity Officer; Joe Pato, Select Board;Jim Kelly, Building
Commissioner
Committee Liaisons: Rod Cole, Capital Expenditures Committee; Stephanie Hsu, Human Rights
Committee
Guests: Rick DeAngelis, General Council for Boston Property and Lexington Resident, BXP
representatives [Chris Carr, Andrea Hester, Tom Carleton, Brooke Whiting Cash (Landscape
Architect)]; Miriam Gusevich for Lex250 monument "Path to Liberty" and Barry Cunha
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
Therefore, this Commission on Disability meeting will be held remotely via Zoom, an online
meeting platform. Public Participation via calling in or using your computer is encouraged.
Announcements
• CoD Photo for Lex250: Reminder about the CoD photo opportunity on Tuesday,
December 3rd at the Lex250 Countdown Calendar in front of Town Hall. December 3rd
also coincides with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
• Willard Woods: There was a meeting of the Conservation Commission where Victoria
talked about wanting the wetlands loop put back into the plans and the CoD vote for
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that. This was voted down, and Victoria clarified that DoD cannot ask for improved
accessibility on a path where one does not currently exist.
• Collaborative Reform Group:The CRP is hosting the next event on neurodiversity on
Thursday, December 5t", from 6:30—9:00 pm at the Community Center dining room.
The Turing Alliance, a group from LHS, will offer a presentation.
• Farmers' Market will re-open in mid-May and the time to discuss accessibility issues is
now.
• Award: Victoria and her husband received the "Biggest Heart Award" for her work in
Uganda. We congratulated her for her wonderful work and the difference she is making.
17 Hartwell Avenue Project:
• Chris Carr and Andrea Hester from Boston Properties offered a presentation on the 17
Hartwell Avenue project which is being proposed for 312 residential units. The project
will provide 10% 3-bedroom, 5% studio, 31% 2-bedrooms. There will be 16 HP units, 5%
accessible units, 15% inclusionary.
• The project includes 5 stories of wood frame construction, a 361-stall parking garage,
and a 2,100 square foot retail building. The property is being designed to meet all
required accessibility codes, including ADA, FHA, and CMR.
• The landscape architect, Brooke, highlighted the project's flat site, accessible outdoor
amenities, and the distribution of accessible parking spaces. The team also discussed the
distribution of accessible units across the building, with 6 Group 2 accessible units and 7
hard of hearing units.
• When asked more questions about accessibility, the team offered:
➢ there were in-wall blocking requirements for all units, not just Group 2;
➢ they can review and potentially increase the number of handicap parking spaces to
match the number of accessible units, and that they will consider adding EV charging
capabilities to some of the HP spaces (something currently not a code requirement, but
one that we can anticipate a need for).;
➢ they can review the distribution of accessible units across the different size units;
➢ they can obtain more details on accommodations for hard of hearing units, beyond
strobe lights;
➢ they can work with the school system on the bus stop location and size prior to building;
➢ Jim will be looking for the "code" language for striping on the stairs in the main areas of
the building to aid in depth perception for those with visual issues.
Lex250 Monument "Path to Liberty":
• Architect Miriam Gusevich presented plans for a monument on the Belfry Park Hill
parcel located at the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Clarke Street across from the
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Library and Lexington Battle Green. The presentation addressed design and accessibility
features of a proposed monument.
• Gusevich discussed the decision to remove white poles that would have indicated the
positions of fallen soldiers, opting for a more universal and timeless design. As a group,
we discussed the landscaping, including the placement of benches and the possibility of
adding a contrast stripe on stairs for visually impaired individuals. Here is a link to the
proposal and artist statement:h tp. .. / vye ce EF/�nrp-
cont_e_nt./...g..p.Vg2d.�L2024./ /M.g.fin Vdocu�rnent3.:..l................:.pp.df
• The CoD vote unanimously in support of this design and its consideration for greater
accessibility.
AAB Variances:
• Victoria thanked Michael Muehe, Access Analyst for the Boston Center for Independent
Living for his work in making CoD informed of variance requests.
• Bank of America asked for a variance to use downstairs area for storge only. This is
being considered with stipulation that no meetings would be held there and that it
would be used only for storage.
• The status of the variance requested by Kindee Thai & Pho at 182 Bedford Street is
unclear and Jim will check on this. They wanted to have bathroom facilities only
downstairs and CoD is opposed to that.
• Similarly, the status of the request from Mass Eye & Ear Medical Center on Hartwell
Avenue for a parking variance needs to be updated.
New Business
• Hastings School: Janet wants a strip painted in front of the school at the dip; Jim will
share our frustration with the facilities manager.
• Farmer's Market: Francine would like to meet with the Farmers Market team.
Meeting adjourned at 7:15 pm
Minutes respectfully submitted by Sue Cusack
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