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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommission on Disability Minutes 01 30 2008_201402061145272375 Nantucket Commission on Disability Minutes January 30, 2008 Present: Mickey Rowland, Dick Moran, Linda Williams, Jeanette Topham, Ellen Braginton-Smith, and Brenda McDonough Absent: Liz Winship and David Gray The meeting opened with the members reviewing November’s minutes, which were unanimously approved. Topics: • Minutes Jeanette requested a copy of the Minutes prior to the meeting. I agreed to send every member a copy of the minutes prior to our meetings. • Children’s Beach The Commission discussed access to Children’s Beach. All were in favor of removing the gate to the beach. Mickey and I will meet with Jimmy Manchester to discuss this and other access concerns with the public parks and beaches. • Pool Parking Lot Linda mentioned that the accessible parking spaces at the Community Pool have not been reassigned to the area closest to the pool entrance. I will contact Jack McFarland and discuss this with him. • Election The election of officers was postponed until our next meeting because some Commission members were not present. • DPW Dick discussed the new sidewalk installed on Milk Street has a telephone pole in the middle of the sidewalk blocking access to the sidewalk. This prompted a discussion as to what party is responsible for proper access on sidewalks. The Commission agreed to address obstacles on sidewalks with the DPW. We will include any obstacles on sidewalks on our list that we submit to the DPW annually. It was suggested that we include maintenance of the crosswalks on our list. • Executive Session Mickey suggested that in the future whenever we discuss parking permit applications or when we discuss any information about anyone who has a parking permit that we should enter into Executive session to protect the sensitive information that we discuss about a permit holder. Linda protested that we couldn’t enter Executive Session because the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law does not permit us to enter into Executive Session for this reason. Linda stated that according to the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law that there are only three situations in which we could enter Executive Session. They are personnel matters, land transfer, and litigation. Linda suggested that I call the District Attorney’s office and ask what is public and private on our disabled parking permit application. Phil Gallagher, a member of the community who was attending our meeting, suggested that we look at the HIPAA laws and see if these laws govern this situation. At our November meeting, a discussion took place regarding one of our parking permit holders. The Commission members were questioning the permit holder’s need for a parking permit. I took his application to the January meeting so the members could assess the permit and understand the nature of his disability. I suggested that in the future, if any Commission member has a question about a present permit holder that we table this discussion until our next meeting. This will allow me to bring the permit application to the meeting and we can then discuss any questions regarding the permit holder while reviewing her or his application. • Airport Parking I told the Commission members about the relocation of the Sheriff’s van to another aisle so it is no longer located next to an accessible space. Now anyone occupying the disabled parking space can back out of the space without the Sheriff’s van blocking his or her view. Linda wants to know the airport’s policy handling disabled people who are traveling alone. Can a disabled person park overnight in the front parking lot? How does a disabled person who is traveling alone deal with her or his luggage? I will call Janine at the airport and discuss this with her. Brenda McDonough, Facilitator GO SOX!!