Commission on Disability December 17, 2011 Minutes
COMMISSION ON DISABILITY December 17, 2011 Approved Minutes
A quorum being present, Chair Elaine Ostroff called the meeting to order at 9:00 am at the COA. Members present: Stanley Cornwall, Elaine Ostroff, Sybil Burba, Dick Squire, John Pelletier and Selena Howard. Member absent: Mike Ouimet. Guests: John Branco and Rose Rego.
- ADA Transition Plan, meeting with School Superintendent
Unable to meet so business transferred to next meeting. Supt. is reviewing options for addressing school building problems. Until decisions made about what school buildings will be used if WMS cannot be used, Supt. cannot plan on where ADA issues should be addressed. May be opportunity to combine ADA and other repairs and environmental issues when a building is being worked on.
Jeff Bull contacted and meeting set for next week with Beach Committee Chair Tim St. Michel, at 7 pm Town Hall. A letter of appreciation will be sent to Tim because of excellent presentation at Town Meeting for the Beach Enterprise Fund. Discussion that all three beaches should have accessibility; Cherry and Webb, East Beach and at Beach Ave. Beach committee wants access at each public beach..
Reaching nearly $7000, Dick and Elaine will write a “thank-you” letter to the newspapers.
Stanley reported that Cambridge Commission on Disability is very impressed with John Branco’s work on Westport Commission’s website. John Branco has added a legal disclaimer for resources. He will write to Kim Legendre for link to 21 FrienDS. John also wants to add adolescent disabilities to the site. Elaine asked John B. to write a press release to our 4 local newspapers.
- CART and other effective communications
Discussion continued about use of Computer Aided Real Time Transcription (CART) to improve listening and understanding what is being said at Selectmen’s meetings. Stanley stated that the library has used sound amplification equipment at some public meetings. Elaine also mentioned that some of the effective communications needed for Town department meetings might be funded with money from Charter that is given to town as part of their contract. Elaine reported that she gets many complaints about the sound at public meetings at Town Annex; she will try to get more information about options to improve communications.
Jack Baughan, Chair of the CIPC, is trying to respond to Capital Improvements by-law that calls for a 6-year plan. He has seen the reports from the ADA consultants listing each accessibility problem and noting in which year it might be addressed. The Commission will review these reports and identify priority capital improvements for the upcoming year. The goal is to include a request for ADA improvements that might be included in a $25,000 request from COD that might be presented within the overall ADA request at the annual town meeting.
Jeff Dougan may attend in February. To be confirmed.
- Dick suggested asking Albert Lees for retention of our sales slips so that the Commission gets monetary credit; this is done by several groups.
A quorum being present, Chair Elaine Ostroff called the meeting to order at 9:00 am at the COA. Members present: Stanley Cornwall, Elaine Ostroff, Sybil Burba, Dick Squire, John Pelletier and Selena Howard. Member absent: Mike Ouimet. Guests: John Branco and Rose Rego.
l. Minutes of Nov. 19 approved by Stanley, seconded by John Pelletier.
2. Updates:
- ADA Transition Plan, meeting with School Superintendent
Unable to meet so business transferred to next meeting. Supt. is reviewing options for addressing school building problems. Until decisions made about what school buildings will be used if WMS cannot be used, Supt. cannot plan on where ADA issues should be addressed. May be opportunity to combine ADA and other repairs and environmental issues when a building is being worked on.
- Beach Access proposed meeting date, priorities
Jeff Bull contacted and meeting set for next week with Beach Committee Chair Tim St. Michel, at 7 pm Town Hall. A letter of appreciation will be sent to Tim because of excellent presentation at Town Meeting for the Beach Enterprise Fund. Discussion that all three beaches should have accessibility; Cherry and Webb, East Beach and at Beach Ave. Beach committee wants access at each public beach..
Discussion of accessible golf carts that might be used at Cherry & Webb Beach. Stanley is checking on Easy-Go carts. Elaine noted opportunity to consider access in the new work for East Beach. Discussion of Beach Avenue access to the water, also there is gate that leads to the Nubble.
Stanley said that Mobi Mats are quite expensive for individual purchase; perhaps they can be obtained by the State at a better price.
- Fundraising report, letter
Reaching nearly $7000, Dick and Elaine will write a “thank-you” letter to the newspapers.
-Website updates
Stanley reported that Cambridge Commission on Disability is very impressed with John Branco’s work on Westport Commission’s website. John Branco has added a legal disclaimer for resources. He will write to Kim Legendre for link to 21 FrienDS. John also wants to add adolescent disabilities to the site. Elaine asked John B. to write a press release to our 4 local newspapers.
- CART and other effective communications
Discussion continued about use of Computer Aided Real Time Transcription (CART) to improve listening and understanding what is being said at Selectmen’s meetings. Stanley stated that the library has used sound amplification equipment at some public meetings. Elaine also mentioned that some of the effective communications needed for Town department meetings might be funded with money from Charter that is given to town as part of their contract. Elaine reported that she gets many complaints about the sound at public meetings at Town Annex; she will try to get more information about options to improve communications.
- Capital Improvement Program Committee process, priorities
Jack Baughan, Chair of the CIPC, is trying to respond to Capital Improvements by-law that calls for a 6-year plan. He has seen the reports from the ADA consultants listing each accessibility problem and noting in which year it might be addressed. The Commission will review these reports and identify priority capital improvements for the upcoming year. The goal is to include a request for ADA improvements that might be included in a $25,000 request from COD that might be presented within the overall ADA request at the annual town meeting.
3. Mass Office on Disability
Jeff Dougan may attend in February. To be confirmed.
4. Any other business
- Dick suggested asking Albert Lees for retention of our sales slips so that the Commission gets monetary credit; this is done by several groups.
-Regarding numbers of people in town with disabilities. Mary Ellen Gomes reported that there are 60 people at COA with recognized disabilities. Stanley suggested that requests for disability info may be disseminated with our tax bills. Elaine asked Rose to check on this. Stanley wants disability information to be available to the Fire Dept. Elaine suggesting that information about people with vision, mobility and other disabilities be collected by Town Hall. She will ask the fire chief about this issue of gathering disability information to assist in emergency situations.
- John P. reported that a United States Tennis Association grant of $910 has been received by the Westport group that sponsors wheelchair tennis.
January meeting date not the usual 3rd Saturday; either the 2nd or the 4th. Elaine will send notice to group.
Stanley moved to adjourn at 10:20 and Selena seconded.
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