HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-12-18-COD-min Commission on Disability
December 17, 2024 Meeting Minutes
Members: Victoria Buckley (Chair), Sue Cusack, Shaun Grady,Janet Perry, Francine Steiglitz,
Nancy Wong
Town Liaisons: Hemali Shah, Chief Equity Officer; Joe Pato, Select Board;Jim Kelly, Building
Commissioner
Committee Liaisons: Pam Lyons, Center Committee
Guest: Leslie Wilcott-Henrie, Lexington Farmer's Market
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
• Janet will be the liaison to the Council on Aging and should be officially voted in during
their January meeting.
Discussion about EV and HP parking
• Jim sent out a notice about accessible EV parking for new construction from Department
of Asset Management, part of the State procurement. He would like to bring up that
accessible EV spots would be important for the large projects that we are seeing even
though the current building code does not require it.
• We appreciate Jim's proactive stance on this issue and that he will do his best to
advance language from other accessibility sources other than the Architectural Access
Board. We can look to the ADA Guidelines, parking and access aisles, and share with the
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developer. Code enforcement is a challenge as the AAB does not cover this information,
but other language could be used for this purpose.
Priorities and planning for next meetings; reviewing request for staff minute-taker
• Hemali has given her notice but offered that in work that she has done with the Council
on Aging, she has worked with the chair to prepare the agenda prior to the meeting. She
suggested that type of support as an option to assist Victoria.
• We would like to solve our problems with taking minutes with Town staff assistance.
Farmers' Market 2025-2026— Discussion with Leslie Wilcott-Henrie
• Leslie Wilcott-Henrie spoke to the limitations of the paved access road. At the current
location across from the Football Field and Baseball Diamond adjacent to Worthen
Road, DPW cannot continue the paving into the market area due to the concerns
presented by the Conservation Commission.
• Recreation Committee asked that the market push further away from the access road to
help avoid foul balls from the baseball.
• Parking is only available on Worthen and in the lot by the playground. The playground
spots are too far away to be truly accessible and the Worthen Road spaces are
challenging due to the grade of the access road. People are typically not aware of where
there are more accessible spots.
• Francine made observations that there are fewer people with disabilities in the new
location and that there are more bicyclists than in the former location, and cyclists are
presenting as a safety hazard.
• Leslie offered that it is unrealistic to have someone standing at Worthen to redirect
people to the HP parking near the Center Play Ground..
• Perhaps they could share the phone number of the Farmer's Market Manager to call
ahead when someone is coming who needs one of the accessible spaces.
• Leslie requested that concerns should be emailed to the Farmer's Market, since Leslie
and the Market Manager check the email daily. They do not have control over
everything, but would like to hear from everyone anyway and want to work through the
problems before they move back to Fletcher.
• When the Market moves back to Fletcher Park in the summer of 2026, Leslie is worried
about the clearance of the solar canopies, the parking, and the realities of setting up a
Farmer's Market on the site. The decision about the timing has been mutually agreed
upon with the town.
o Pam offered that town employees might be able to park at Depot Parking Lot on
Tuesdays, in order to not conflict with the market's hours
o The plans for the Solar Canopy have been approved and they are waiting to get a
bid that meets the specifications of the HDC.
o Janet mentioned the concern of people who are visually impaired navigating the
solar canopies.
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Reports from Liaisons
• Victoria is noticing that there are more bus shelters, similar to the make and model that
is in Depot Square. Pamela offered that they ask all developers to include a bus shelter
for all new projects.
• Nancy noticed that the seats in front of Stop & Shop are moldy. Pam will check with the
DPW to see if they can power wash the benches. The benches sit on private property
which may add an additional complication in the discussion.
New Business
Future Focus
• SEPAC is concerned about out of district placement.
• An invitation needs to be made to Mike Cronin to discuss Hastings School. The problem
has not been resolved.
• Can we be on a formal checklist so that new projects know that they have to come to
us? Currently Jim is trying to ensure that we are aware of the projects, but we are still
not on a formal list. Projects include:
o Concord Ave
o Piper Ave
o Mass Ave—January 21st
o Hartwell—47 units that are defined as affordable
• The group wishes Hemali well as her tenure with Lexington concludes.
Adjourned 7:00pm
Minutes respectfully submitted by Sue Cusack
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