HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-06-07-COD-min Commission on Disability
Meeting Minutes — June 7, 2018
Members Present:Victoria Buckley(Chair), Sue Cusack, Shaun Grady,Julie Miller,Leonard Morse-Fortier,Janet
Perry,Francine Stieglitz
Town Liaisons: Kelly Axtell,Assistant Town Manager; Jim Kelly,Building Commissioner;Joe Pato, Selectman;
Bonnie Teitleman,Council on Aging
Guest: Janice PedroMinutes
We have a new process for writing,reviewing,and sharing minutes. One member write the minutes,another will
edit then share with the chair who will disseminate to the committee for review in anticipation of our next meeting
where they will be discussed. May minutes will be discussed at our July meeting.
LexPride Day
LexPride Day will be celebrated on Sunday June 10`n from 3:30-5:30 in front of the Lexington Visitor Center.
July Meeting Date Changed
We are changing our July date from July 5th to July 12th.
Center Streetscape
There is a public hearing on June I I'at Carey Hall in Baton Hall at 7:OOpm.The 25%Design will be presented.
The Town Engineer and architect are putting forward the Selectmen's approved elements for the plan based on the
AdHoc Committee's Majority Report.The Selectmen's recommendation reflects their decision to support whatever
materials are in place now,which means updating brick for brick,concrete for concrete.
The project will span from Merriam Street to the Police Station Driveway,maintaining mid-century design
elements.The goal is to advance the next phase of the design process to the fall Town Meeting and request 100%
design funding.
We sought clarification about a committee that was formed after the AdHoc Committee's work was submitted to the
Selectmen.Joe Pato offered that following the recommendations of the board,the town manager asked a few
resident who had been sitting on the ad hoc committee to be available as consultants to the engineering department.
At this public hearing,it was decided that we will push for comparative costs,the impact of brick on individuals
with neurological impact,and persistent on our concern about brick as an unreliably smooth surface over time.We
also notice that the curb cut in brick areas of the Center would be redesigned to be all brick.This change along with
concerns about the rumble pad will also be raised at the public meeting.
Disparate Suspension Rates in LPS
The Commission on Human Rights together with the Commission on Disability made a presentation to the School
Committee about the data received through the partial distribution of the survey. The data confirmed that students
and their families are burdened by a system that is inconsistent,unclear,and biased. School Committee members
were concerned by the report and committed to address these issues,but no tangible action steps or plans were
suggested or discussed. Anti-bias,culturally—responsive practices that are being developed at the Bowman School
were pointed to as possible models for the district to explore.The HRC, CoD,and parent community remain
concerned as little has happened to suggest a pro-active stance on these problems will be developed.
175 Bedford Street
Janice Pedro,a representative for Tom Puschak,shared a new plan that reflected our suggestion for leveraging
landscaping to accommodate ramping and new sidewalk to make 4—5 entry ways accessible. At this meeting we
made suggestions about handicapped parking,with the additional suggestions for landscaping elements that may
help address parking concerns.
Minutes respectfully submitted,
Susan Cusack