HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommission on Disability Minutes 08 09 2011_201402061156046165 1
Nantucket Commission on Disability
Minutes
Open Session
Tuesday August 9, 2011
Murray Room at the Founder’s Building
Present: Mickey Rowland, Jeanette Topham, Whitey Willauer, Ellen Braginton-Smith, Nancy
Rezendes, Georgia Snell, and Brenda McDonough
Guest: Pam Miriam
Called to Order: 4:00 p.m.
Agenda: Mr. Rowland stated, by unanimous consent we are adopting the agenda.
Minutes: July 15, Open Meeting: Ms. Topham motioned to approve the minutes, which Ms.
Braginton-Smith seconded, and all the remaining present Commission members, voted
in favor of this motion.
July 15, Executive Session: Ms. Braginton-Smith motioned to approve the minutes
for executive session, which Ms. Topham, seconded, and all the remaining present
Commission members voted in favor of this motion.
Topics: 4:04 p.m.
Pleasant Street Post Office:
Ms Braginton-Smith mentioned that the Commission should send a letter to the Post
Master General to reconsider closing the Pleasant Street branch post office. From the
Commission’s point-of-view, it is the only post office that has a parking lot with
accessible parking and an accessible entrance with automated doors. Ms. Braginton-Smith
motioned for Ms. McDonough to send a letter and copy it to our local postmaster, which
Mr. Willauer seconded and all the remaining commission members voted in favor of this
motion. Mr. Willauer suggested copying it to our Congressman, Rep. William Keating
also.
4:10: Ms. Snell arrived.
Election of Officers:
Ms. Topham motioned to nominate Mr. Rowland as Chairman, which Ms. Braginton-
Smith seconded and all the remaining Commission members except Mr. Rowland voted in
favor of this motion.
Mr. Rowland motioned to nominate Ms. Topham as Vice Chairwoman, which Ms. Snell
seconded and all the remaining Commission members except Ms. Topham voted in favor
of this motion.
Ms. Topham motioned to nominate Ms. Braginton-Smith as Secretary, which Ms.
Rezendes seconded, and all the remaining commission members except Ms. Braginton-
Smith voted in favor of this motion.
2
Faith Seafood Restaurant aka Rotary Restaurant:
The Commission received a copy of a variance request for Faith Seafood Restaurant. They
are seeking relief from building a new ramp on the south side of their building since there
is an existing ramp on the west side of the building. Mr. Rowland spoke to the
Commission regarding the background of the building and restaurant, and the new
restaurant’s plans of accommodating their disabled patrons. Mr. Rowland stated both the
pros and cons of building a new ramp and of the existing ramp. The following are the
comments and questions that Commission members had:
1. Mr. Rowland’s biggest concern is for patrons who are eating outside on the picnic
tables will have a long route to access the toilet facilities.
2. Ms. Snell mentioned that the new restaurant would have to have portable menus
for the picnic area, since the menu is only written on a board inside.
3. Ms. Topham inquired about the projected cost of this new ramp. Mr. Rowland said
that their estimate was around $40,000.
4. Ms. Braginton-Smith asked Mr. Rowland his opinion about keeping the old ramp
or building a new ramp. Mr. Rowland can sympathize with the cost of the new
ramp, but the code is clear that that should comply with the access code. Mr.
Rowland read a letter that was prepared in advance that stated his position. The
Commission agreed with his position that defers this application to the expertise of
the AAB.
5. Mr. Willauer thought that it might be appropriate to mention that if a new ramp is
installed that it would require the removal of a large shade tree.
6. Mr. Willauer motioned to send the letter that includes the tree removal to the
AAB, which Ms. Braginton-Smith seconded and all the remaining Commission
members voted in favor of this motion.
Other Business:
Ms. Rezendes asked if Ms. McDonough contacted the Dreamland Theater regarding
assistive listening devices and descriptive visual services. Ms. McDonough will contact
the Dreamland Foundation in the next week.
4:45: Mr. Willauer left the meeting. Ms. Meriam left before the Commission went into
executive session.
Ms. Topham mentioned that Ms. McDonough could note in our minutes that the
Commission members sent a thank you note to David Gray and Dick Moran.
Executive Session: 4:45 p.m.
Mr. Rowland stated that the Commission would not reconvene after the executive session. A vote
was taken to go into executive session to discuss parking permit applications and Mr. Rowland,
Ms. Topham, Ms. Braginton-Smith, Ms. Rezendes, and Ms. Snell voted to go into executive
session.
Submitted by:
Brenda McDonough
Facilitator