HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-11-30-COD-min Commission on Disability
Minutes from November 30, 2020
Members: Victoria Buckley (Chair), Shaun Grady, Leonard Morse-Fortier, Janet Perry, Francine
Stieglitz, Michael Martignetti
Town Liaisons: Kelly Axtell, Assistant Town Manager;Joe Pato, Select Board;Jim Kelly, Building
Commissioner
Commission Liaisons: Bonnie Levin, COA
Guests: Melissa Battite, Director of Recreation and Community Programs; Christine Dean,
Community Center Director; Kate DeAngelis, CTRS (Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist)
NOTE:The meeting of the Commission on Disability was held on Monday,November 30,2020,at 4:00 PM,
conducted by Remote Participation,via Zoom webinar,an online meeting platform.
The meeting started with the reading of Governor Baker's orders.
Minutes for September
Minutes for September were revised and accepted, by vote of 6-0.
Presentation by Melissa Battite, Director of Recreation and Community Programs, and
Christine Dean, Community Center Director
Melissa Battite, Christine Dean and Kate DeAngelis, CTRS (Certified Therapeutic
Recreation Specialist) presented PowerPoint description of what has been happening in the
Recreation Department as well as their future plans. This is the third year they have come to
the Commission to provide updates.
Melissa Battite, Director of Recreation and Community Programs, noted that last year
the Commission on Disability was interested in the ADA capital improvements: reservoir
bathhouse, the clubhouse at Pine Meadows, and parks and playgrounds being upgraded. The
update on the accessibility project for the bathhouse is that additional funds will be needed so
it will need to go out for bid again. The Pine Meadows project is being examined via a feasibility
study funded for$100,000. Parks and playgrounds are being upgraded on an ongoing basis. The
Adams Park walkways project is completed. During 2020, the department did community
outreach, increased their staffing and volunteers, provided trainings and did assessments. The
Community Needs Assessment completed in 2020 showed that there was a high need for
inclusive and specialized programming which fits in with the mission of therapeutic recreation
to provide opportunities for individuals of all abilities. They provided in-person and virtual
inclusive and specialized programs and served 115 participants. The goals for 2021 include
implementation of the Community Needs Assessment, increasing participation in Therapeutic
Recreation programs, increasing adult program offerings, collaborating with surrounding towns
and receiving grant funding for subsidized programs. Other capital improvements include: the
accessible pathways at Diamond athletic fields, completed in December 2020; the Center track
connectivity and bleacher project, completed July 2020; the Sutherland Playground and park
improvements, pending in 2021.
Christine Dean, Community Center Director, discussed projects at the Community
Center. They received a Bright Ideas grant from Friends of the Council on Aging to make a
sensory garden and stone dust path outside the Community Center. There are four raised
garden beds for herbs, ornamental flowers and plants that promote pollination. Christine
discussed the Community Center sidewalk improvement project which is a capital
improvement. This is a plan to make a sidewalk loop around the outside of the mansion. They
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would like to replace the sidewalk of bluestone currently on the left side with a concrete path
that will lead to a small patio and then connect with the stone dust path. The Commission is
pleased to see concrete as the material being used. Janet Perry brought up the idea of using
possible tactile warnings where the path intersects with other materials, to assist those with
depth perception or low vision issues.
The Commission thanked the presenters for their commitment to increasing inclusion.
Project with HRC- Update on Workgroup
This discussion was tabled as Georgia was not here.
Discussion about Affordable Housing
Victoria brought up the need for Commission to stay alert and active concerning
affordable housing. The pandemic was particularly prevalent in nursing homes and many of
those residents are people with disabilities living there solely because of a lack of affordable
housing. This shortage is being followed by disability groups across the country. Victoria would
like to organize speakers to come to a meeting.
Announcements
1. There is a meeting on December 2, 2020 regarding the MBTA and accessibility—zoom
information was shared.
2. There is an event on December 10, 2020 discussing the intersection of disability, trans,
and racial justice—zoom information was shared.
3. There have been concerns raised by disability advocates about the holiday lighting show
at Fernald State School. Waltham was given CPA money to build a museum and
memorials to those who lost their lives there but has never followed through. Many
tragedies and experiments were done in the institution and disability advocates feel
that celebrating the holidays there is not right. Links to news articles were shared.
New Business
1. Proposing that the Town consider accepting a resolution about disability rights was
discussed. This would need to be a citizen's article for Town Meeting. The deadline to
submit this is this Friday. The Commission members voted to proceed and write the
resolution 6-0.
2. Francine said that we need captions for zoom meetings. There are different software
packages, CART,JAWS. Francine and Joe Pato were asked to look into this more.
3. Jim Kelly was asked about new projects. He said that his office has been busy. The new
fire station is successfully up to full code. He said that there was a new project, Omar's
Comics, being proposed at 20 Waltham Street, with three proposed stages, including full
accessibility with an elevator. The Cotting School addition was started back in March
and includes classrooms and a gym.
4. Janet mentioned that Burlington has a new voting machine; she will seek more details to
see if it is the same as Lexington's.
5. Shaun has been working with DPW about entrances to Center businesses. The Crafty
Yankee is not accessible, but will be changing ownership which might present an
opportunity for change.
Respectfully Submitted: Victoria Buckley
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