HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommission on Disability Minutes 11 05 2008_201402061145276125
Nantucket Commission on Disability
Minutes
November 5, 2008
Present: Mickey Rowland, Dick Moran, Linda Williams, Ellen Braginton-Smith,
and Brenda McDonough
Absent: David Gray and Jeanette Topham
Guests: Jon St. Laurent, David Bartch, and Nathan McMullen
The meeting opened with the members reviewing September’s minutes. Dick
moved to approve the minutes; Ellen seconded the motion and the remaining
Commission members present unanimously approved.
Topics:
• Election
The election of officers was postponed until our next meeting because two
Commission members were not present.
• 2nd Accessible Taxi
Jon St. Laurent requested that the Commission petition the Board of
Selectmen to create one more taxi license exclusively for a wheelchair
accessible vehicle. This would be in addition to the present accessible taxi
license and the accessible tour license. He updated the Commission members
on his accessible taxi business and sited the following reasons for another
accessible taxi:
1. 35% to 40% of his clients use the automated lift.
2. Jon also operates an accessible tour company with an additional,
wheelchair accessible vehicle. Between the two vehicles, he estimates
that the lifts were utilized 1800 to 2000 times in 2008.
3. On a typical Sunday, Jon’s accessible taxi is reserved from 7:45 A.M.
until 2:00 P.M. Therefore, he is unable to provide on-demand service
when his vehicle is reserved.
Mickey was concerned that he was not hearing any documentation for the
need for another taxi. If he is going to approach the Selectmen for another
license, then he wants some supporting evidence that this need exists.
Brenda noted that the second accessible taxi should operate 7-days-a week,
18-hours-a day, and she asked Jon if he was still going to operate the
accessible tour van if a second license is approved. Jon replied that he would
operate the tour van regardless who receives the second accessible taxi
license.
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Linda motioned to send a letter to the Selectmen in favor of creating one more
taxi license for a wheelchair accessible vehicle. Dick seconded this motion
and all the Commission members present unanimously approved the motion.
• Land Bank Park on Fair and Main Streets
David Bartsch presented the Land Bank’s plan for the Main and Fair Streets
Park. There are two entrances to this park: one on Main Street and one on Fair
Street. The Fair Street entrance will be completely wheelchair accessible and
the plan shows the Main Street entrance has four steps and therefore it is not
accessible. The Land Bank plans to apply for a variance with the AAB for the
Main Street entrance for the following reasons:
1. Half of the park is prevented from having any pavements in
accordance with a deeded easement from the previous owner of the
property, to ensure a vegetated buffer between the park and the
house.
2. There is a large, very old Horse Chestnut tree at a very strategic
place on the property.
3. The property drops approximately four feet from the rear of the
park northward to Main Street.
4. David Bartsch explored implementing a ramp into the park
originating at the Main Street entrance and found that it would
increase pavement by 36%, eliminate a great majority of plantings,
would require the removal of the Horse Chestnut tree, and the top
of the ramp would be virtually at the Fair Street park entrance.
Linda motioned to support this variance request and Dick seconded the
motion and the remaining, present Commission members voted unanimously
to support this motion with the following restrictions:
1. That signage is placed at the Main Street entrance indicating the
location of the accessible entrance on Fair Street.
2. There will be no parking on Fair Street from the park’s accessible
entrance to Main Street.
• Haberdashery
Nathan McMullan presented Haberdashery’s plans for an accessible, (5-feet
by 6-feet) expandable changing room. A permanent, accessible changing
room could not be installed because the egress width between changing room
and the proposed, fixed shelves on the exterior wall would be less than 30
inches. Mr. McMullan plans to apply to the AAB for a variance from the
required minimum of 5-feet by 6 feet permanent changing room. The
Commission and Mr. McMullan had the following comments:
1. Mickey was concerned that when the changing room is expanded, it
would restrict the egress in the back of the store to less than 30 inches
and this may be a building code violation. If the building inspector
does not have issues with this plan, then Mickey supports the variance
request.
2. The expandable walls will be manually operated.
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3. The sales clerk will expand the walls whenever needed.
4. The shelves are extremely necessary since storage space is very
limited.
Linda motioned to approve the variance request if the building inspector
approves the plan, which Dick seconded and the remaining, present
Commission members voted unanimously to approve this motion
• COD Ratifying Old Business
Linda motioned to ratify all business conducted via the telephone since our
September meeting, which Ellen seconded and all the remaining, present
Commission members voted unanimously in favor of this motion.
Linda motioned to adjourn the meeting, which Ellen seconded and all the
remaining, present members voted in favor of the motion.
Submitted by:
Brenda McDonough,
Facilitator
GO CELTICS!!!
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