Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommission on Disability Minutes 11 05 2009_201402061147571915Nantucket Commission on Disability Minutes November 5, 2009 Present: Mickey Rowland, Dick Moran, Ellen Braginton-Smith, Jeanette Topham, Whitey Willauer, Nancy Rezendes, and Brenda McDonough Absent: David Gray Guests: Steven Sayers, General Council, SSA Elaine Mooney, Nantucket Terminal Manager, SSA Flint Ranney Topics: • Steamship Authority Update Steven Sayers updated the Commission on the SSA’s meeting with the AAB. The SSA was granted their variance request, and they must accomplish all the necessary work concerning the new accessible features by the end of 2011. In addition to rebuilding new accessible ramps and raising the transfer bridge platforms, the SSA understands that their employees must understand what is expected of them concerning their disabled passengers. The employees must know the procedures involved in assisting disabled passengers while boarding and exiting the boats, when and how disabled passengers should use the transfer bridge, and the proper use of the elevators. The Commission required certain conditions and requests from the SSA when the Commission voted to support the variance request. The following is a list of the conditions and the SSA’s response to these conditions: • Paint a passenger pathway to the transfer bridge and from the transfer bridge to the elevator on the north slip SSA will paint a pathway to the transfer bridge and on the transfer bridge. The pathway from the transfer bridge to the elevator cannot be done, because the placement of the vehicles on the freight deck will determine the safest route to the elevator. The captain and the employees will be alerted whenever passengers need assistance. • Improve the appearance and signage in the elevator This can easily be done. Jeanette requested to label the floor buttons on the elevator. • Try to eliminate the bumps and ridges on the transfer bridge and boat if possible The foot of the transfer bridge will be modified to make the transfer plate more accessible. Also, they may paint some areas on the transfer bridge to increase visibility to any transitions from the transfer bridge to the boat. • Install signage instructing passengers to inform Steamship Authority personnel of any special needs while boarding 1 The SSA has signage indicating assistance in boarding for disabled passengers. However, they plan to move that signage to the check in booth where it will be more visible. • Include the Steamship Authority’s disabled policies and stand-by policy for disabled travelers on their web site and in printed materials The SSA will incorporate their disabled policies on their web sites and in their printed materials. We will receive a draft before their policy actually appears on their web site. • Delineate the stairs with some brightly colored paint, or something similar, to help the sight impaired negotiate the stairs safely SSA has already begun striping the stairs and pathways. Nancy noted that all entryway jams should be painted a contrasting color also. Requests that we would appreciate the SSA to consider: • Provide a golf cart to transport the walking disabled up the transfer bridge to the elevator on the north slip, and to the top of the transfer bridge on the south slip Golf carts are difficult to incorporate at the Nantucket terminal because of safety concerns. However, they do have wheelchairs. Employees will be aware that a wheelchair must be available at all times, and all employees must be aware of the policy in helping disabled passengers with the wheelchair. • Install automatic door openers on the terminal doors Automatic door openers will be installed on all the terminal doors. • Provide discounted fares for disabled passengers on the Iyanough fast ferry, similar to the senior’s discounted fare SSA will provide discounted fares for disabled passengers. The application is on their web site under “Useful Information, Downloadable forms.” Legally blind passengers and their companion travel for free. Whitey was concerned about abuse of the discounted tickets, but the SSA believes that most passengers will not abuse their privilege to the discounted fares. • Somehow identify a disabled passenger on the manifest, so that the Steamship’s personnel will be aware that a disabled passenger is traveling, and that they may need some special assistance The SSA will implement this. For those passengers who are not profiled with the SSA as disabled, they can request to be identified as disabled on the manifest. Whitey questioned if the embarkation fee can be waived, and Steve Sayer replied that there is no embarking fee when you buy a book of ten tickets. Ellen left the meeting at 5:20. • The SSA is committed to improve accessibility throughout the whole SSA system. They plan to schedule regular meetings to discuss accessibility 2 concerns, and once a year they will conduct a meeting on Nantucket to listen to any access concerns that we, or the community, may have. If we have any questions or suggestions, we should contact Elaine Mooney first. Jeanette suggested that the SSA provide more Purelle hand sanitizer on all the boats and in the terminals. The members reviewed September’s minutes. Jeanette motioned to approve the minutes, which Nancy seconded, and the remaining Commission members present unanimously approved this motion. The Commission members had the following comments: • Dick was wondering about the parking patrol tickets. Brenda will draft a possible policy regarding these tickets and the Commission members can discuss a policy at February’s meeting. • The town manager now appoints members to our Commission and not the Board of Selectmen. Our by-laws have to reflect this change. Dick motioned to amend our by-laws to reflect this change, which Jeanette seconded, and all the remaining Commission members voted unanimously in favor of this motion. Jeanette, Whitey, and Nancy requested copies of these by-laws. • Dick motioned to approve a three-year permit, which Jeanette seconded, and all the remaining Commission members voted unanimously in favor of this motion. • Dick motioned to ratify all the permits that we issued since our last meeting, which Whitey seconded, and all the remaining Commission members voted unanimously in favor of this motion. • Jeanette mentioned that ACDC is moving to the Knights of Columbus building, and St. Mary’s is having a second collection to help defray the cost of a new shed. • Nancy thought that the hospital should bring a low-vision specialist to the island periodically for the residents who have low vision. People with low vision do not drive and it is difficult to travel off-island to visit a specialist. Mickey suggested that she contact the hospital regarding this, and if she needed the Commission’s support in any way we would be happy to support this. • Nancy spoke about some of the services that Perkins Institute for the Blind offer. • Jeanette motioned to adjourn the meeting, which Nancy seconded, and all the remaining Commission members voted unanimously in favor of this motion. Submitted by: Brenda McDonough, Facilitator GO CELTICS!! 3