HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommission on Disability Minutes 07 12 2010_201402061152222870Nantucket Commission on Disability
Minutes
Monday, July 12, 2010
Craig Room and Murray Room at the Founder’s Building
Present: Mickey Rowland, Dick Moran, Nancy Rezendes, David Gray, and
Brenda McDonough
Absent: Ellen Braginton Smith, Jeanette Topham, Whitey Willauer
Guest Speaker: Tom Hopkins, Director, Massachusetts Architectural Access Board
Topics:
• Tom Hopkins’ Power Point Presentation:
Mr. Hopkins was the guest speaker and he put on a power point presentation
outlining the Massachusetts rules and regulations (521 CMR) regarding access
to public buildings and facilities. The following is a brief summary of his
presentation:
1. The AAB consists of nine members: the Secretary of Public Safety or her
designee; the Secretary of Elder Affairs or his designee; the Director of the
Office on Disability or his designee; and six members appointed by the
Governor in consultation with the Secretary of Public Safety from lists
submitted by the director of the Office on Disability. Six of the appointed
members are selected after consultation with advocacy groups in behalf of
persons with disabilities. The governor, secretary and director shall
exercise their best efforts to ensure at least two members are registered
architects. The members shall elect the chairperson annually.
2. The authority of the AAB is triggered by any construction, renovation,
remodeling, or alteration of a public building or facility, or a change in use
of building from private to public.
3. Mr. Hopkins talked about the differences between the American with
Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Architectural Access Board (AAB).
4. The AAB is in the process of revising the 521 CMR, and if anyone has
any suggestions for making the 521 CMR a better publication, you can
send recommendations to the AAB and they will review them. Many
suggestions actually come from the general public who use the 521 CMR.
5. Mr. Hopkins spoke about compliance with the 521 CMR when a building
goes from private use to public use.
6. Volunteer projects must comply with the 521 CMR.
7. No action can ever be taken to decrease access.
1
8. The variance process has changed in March 2010, where the party filing
for the variance is responsible for delivering their variance application and
all supporting documents to the building inspector, Commission on
Disability, and the independent living center. Once the AAB sends out
information regarding the applicant, then the building inspector,
Commission on Disability, and the independent living center will receive
that information from the AAB.
Mr. Moran motioned to adjourn the meeting, which Mr. Gray seconded, and
all the remaining Commission members voted unanimously in favor of this
motion.
• List of Documentation Used at Meeting
1. Power point presentation by Mr. Tom Hopkins, Director of the
Massachusetts Architectural Access Board
Submitted by:
Brenda McDonough,
Facilitator
2