HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommission on Disability Minutes 05 07 2009_201402061147568009
Nantucket Commission on Disability
Minutes
May 7, 2009
Present: Mickey Rowland, Dick Moran, Ellen Braginton-Smith, Jeanette Topham,
David Gray, Linda Williams and Brenda McDonough
Absent:
Guests: Mike Burns, Transportation Planner
The meeting opened with the members reviewing March’s minutes. A motion was
made to approve the minutes, which was seconded, and the remaining
Commission members present unanimously approved this motion.
Topics:
• Bike Path Warning Panels
Mike Burns informed the Commission that the Town plans to install another
bike path connecting Hinsdale Road to Nobadeer Farm Road. However, the
State mandates that yellow warning panels be installed at every intersection
along the path for the benefit of the visually impaired population.
1. Jeanette wondered if the warning panels would make the path less
accessible to people using wheelchairs and walkers and she also wondered
what is the AAB’s position on warning panels.
2. Mike was not sure of the AAB’s position and stated if the Commission
feels that the panels are not necessary, then the Town would write to the
State for a waiver.
3. Mickey asked if other towns use these panels and Mike said that they did
install these panels.
4. Jeanette motioned to speak with Tom Hopkins about this matter, and the
Commission’s position will be whatever Tom’s position is. Ellen seconded
the motion and all the remaining Commission members present
unanimously approved this motion.
• Fair Street Parking
1. Mickey expressed the Commission views of no parking on the sidewalk
on Fair Street adjacent to the new park.
2. Mike informed the Commission that the Traffic Safety’s recommendation
to the BOS was to alter the sidewalk. This would be achieved by moving
three feet of the entire length of the sidewalk that is adjacent to the park,
into the park. Then there would be three more feet added to the width of
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the street in that area and vehicles could continue to park on the street and
not the sidewalk.
3. Dick believed that presently you could park your vehicle on the street and
other vehicles would have room to pass.
4. Linda said that here’s an accessible park that needed an accessible route,
which is the sidewalk. She noted that there is a problem moving a public
sidewalk onto private property. She mentioned that Tom Hopkins would
be happy to open that can of worms of the entire sidewalk parking on
Nantucket.
5. Mike noted that the street parking should have been documented in the
park design. He thought that the park design could be redone to include
three-foot-wide strip of sidewalk in the park but did not know if this
would affect the old tree that the Land Bank wanted to preserve. Traffic
Safety wants to preserve the parking spaces in town.
6. Jeanette recommended that we approach the BOS with our concerns of no
parking on the sidewalk and speak with David Bartsch about a possible
redesign of the park.
7. David thought that parking could be restricted to compact vehicles only.
8. Dick mentioned that over the past five years, the Town has given up forty
spaces for taxis and now the Town won’t give up three spaces to the
disabled community. Linda then mentioned that there is an entire block
reserved for taxis.
• Crosswalks, Rotaries
1. Mickey wanted to know what could be done to make motorists aware that
pedestrians have the right-of-way in a crosswalk. Mike said that a sign
could be placed in the middle of the crosswalk stating the pedestrian’s
right-of-way. He suggested that we compile a list of crosswalks that we
would like to see signage placed and he would consider our request.
2. Mickey wondered if there were plans to construct a rotary at the high
school intersection and how do pedestrians usually fare at a rotary
crossing. Mike said the BOS is the final body to approve the rotary and he
stated that statistics prove that pedestrians crossing at rotaries are safer
than a pedestrian crossing at four-way stop signs.
3. Linda suggested that the Traffic Safety Committee should have a COD
member on the committee and Mike said to make that suggestion to Libby
and the BOS. Linda then motioned to send Libby a letter (cc the BOS)
requesting that a COD member be appointed to the Traffic Safety
Committee, which David seconded and all the remaining Commission
members present unanimously voted in favor of this motion.
• Minutes
Linda mentioned that Brenda noted in the March minutes that Linda was
absent for the opening of the meeting, and that she did not approve the
minutes. Linda stated that this was not the proper way to handle her arriving
late. She told Brenda to make a note of her arrival time in the minutes. Then
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Linda motioned to approve the minutes with this amendment, which Jeanette
seconded and all the remaining members present unanimously approved this
motion.
• Other Concerns
1. It was suggested that Brenda recheck all curb cuts on Orange Street.
2. Dick mentioned that there are no curb cuts on North Avenue.
3. Mickey and Linda discussed the reasons why we did not file a formal
complaint with the AAB concerning the Mooney building. Jeanette
suggested writing a letter to Libby concerning wheelchair access and if
we get no response, then we file a complaint with the AAB. Brenda
said that she could get the letter to Libby the next day, May 8, and if
there were no response from Libby by May 15, then we would file a
complaint with the AAB.
4. Jeanette noted that someone who has a disabled parking permit parks
in a disabled parking spot on Federal Street all day and ties up that
space. Brenda will write a letter to this person explaining that he can
park in any parking space and to please leave the disabled parking
spaces open for the disabled community to come and go.
• COD Ratifying Old Business
Dick motioned to ratify all business conducted via the telephone since our
March meeting, which Linda seconded and all the remaining, present
Commission members voted unanimously in favor of this motion.
Dick motioned to adjourn the meeting, which was seconded and all the remaining,
present members voted in favor of the motion.
Submitted by:
Brenda McDonough,
Facilitator
GO RED SOX!!!
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