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
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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
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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!!
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