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!!