HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-11-01-COD-min Commission on Disability
Meeting Minutes —November 1, 2018
Members Present: Victoria Buckley (Chair), Sue Cusack, Shaun Grady, Michael Martignetti,
Julie Miller, Leonard Morse-Fortier, Janet Perry, Francine Stieglitz
Town Liaisons: Kelly Axtell, Assistant Town Manager; Joe Pato, Selectman; Bonnie Teitelman,
Council on Aging
Guest: Carissa Black, SEPAC/SEPTA; Jordan McCarron, Lexington Conservation Stewardship
Program Coordinator and Karen Mullins, Lexington Conservation Administrator
Co-Sponsorship for Film Series
Carissa Black from SEPAC/SEPTA asked is we would consider co-sponsoring a film series by
photojournalist Dan Habib. The first film, "Including Samuel, "will be on January 17. The film
will be followed by a discussion facilitated by Joe Petner. The next film "Intelligent Lives,"will
be shown on April 1 11h. These showings offer important opportunities to grow awareness and
build community around inclusion of children and adults with disabilities. The films will be
shown at Lexington Venue, the movie theater at 1794 Massachusetts Avenue. Lexington Venue
is donating their space for the showings and the Lexington SEPAC will be covering the other
costs. We unanimously voted in support of co-sponsoring these films.
Review of Transportation Meetings from Members
Lexington is conducting a Transit Study in collaboration with Burlington and Bedford to address
transportation needs. Lexington's current transportation model includes a voucher taxi service,
Lex Connect and Lexpress, a fixed bus route. One model that stood out is from Arlington, Texas,
where a new ridesharing service is being tested. The service is being subsidized by the city for a
one-year pilot project that began in December 2017. The service operates up to 10 vans with
room for six passengers apiece, and will run from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. six days a week. Riders use
the Via app to summon a mini-shuttle, shared with other riders, to a nearby corner. Riders pay a
$3 flat rate for each trip in the service area. More transportation meetings are scheduled. We
would also like to invite Susan Barrett, Lexington's Transportation Manager, to a future meeting
of the commission.
Review for the 2018 Annual Report
Victoria shared the top accomplishments for the last year. These included working with the
Human Rights Committee and other groups to address issues related to disproportional
suspension rates in the schools; active participation in the Center Streetscape discussion,
particularly related to sidewalk materials, lighting, and {inclusive seating}; other school,
business, and citizen projects.
Increasing the Accessibility of Lexington Pathways
Michael Martignetti raised the issue of increasing the accessibility of the pathways in Lexington.
One location he mentioned was in East Lexington behind Wilson Farms and a second is Willard
Woods.
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Cotton Farms —Conservation Project
Jordan McCarron and Karen Mullins explained that a few years ago, they received a land
management plan from the Audubon Society. Their current effort includes updating parking, the
overlook, and trail improvements built to accessibility standards. This work will include
identifying a location for increased parking with the addition of one handicapped van parking
space, enhancing the pathways with stone dust, increasing accessibility to the pond for
wheelchairs. A long-term goal would be to connect the pathways in this location to other trails in
Lexington. Their time frame is to have bid-ready documents by the end of the year and start
work in the spring. Some suggestions that we offered included Braille and print signage with
high contrast, high contrast trim to signal the edge on the platform, and one path into the orchard.
McCarron and Mullins also stated that they were making a capital request for a land management
plan through CPA to develop a more accessible loop around Willard Woods and improvements
of the parking areas for FY 20.
Review of Special Town Meeting issues
55-56 Watertown Street Development
We endorse the project and see it as addressing an important need in the community, and we
look forward to reviewing the plans.
Minutes submitted by: Sue Cusack
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