HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-11-12-COD-AABsupport.letter `OVS MORN'
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Town of Lexington
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Commission on Disability
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APRIL 19'
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Victoria Buckley, Chair
Governor Charlie Baker
Massachusetts State House, #280
Boston, MA 02133
November 12, 2019
Dear Governor,
I am writing to you about a matter of utmost urgency. The AAB needs a new
Executive Director and, according to state statute, the AAB board should be the entity
that hires that individual. We are concerned that this has been changed to being the role
of DPL.
The Lexington Commission on Disability objects to the placement of the AAB
under the domain of the Division of Professional Licensure (DPL), an agency that has
no accessibility expertise. The AAB needs to retain its independence especially in
hiring, as supported by the law, and not just by being asked for approval with only two
out of five of the board being on the hiring committee. As stated in the law, the entire
hiring process must be rightfully controlled by the board, and the Executive Director
needs to report to the board.
The AAB can only represent individuals with disabilities if its independence is
kept intact. The board must be in control of hiring the Executive Director instead of the
DPL. Architectural access is crucial to the well-being of those with disabilities, allowing
them to be fully able to participate in their communities without barriers. The AAB plays
a vital role in protecting access rights.
The Lexington Commission on Disability believes that justice is best served if and
only if-
1. the board chooses the next Executive Director;
2. the hiring process is frozen until it is fully returned to the AAB's control;
3. the new Executive Director reports directly to the AAB, as the statute requires, and
that the job description is changed to rescind that the director reports to DPL.
Please restore justice to the AAB.
Sincerely yours,
Victoria Buckley, Chair, Lexington Commission on Disability
CC- Attorney General Maura Healey, 1 Ashburton Place, Boston, MA 02108; Senator
Michael J Barrett, 24 Beacon Street, Room 109-D, Boston, MA 02133; Representative
Michelle L Ciccolo, 24 Beacon Street, Room 473F, Boston, MA 02133
1625 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE•LEXINGTON,MASSACHUSETTS 02420