HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-04-07
Nantucket Commission on Disability
Min utes
April 7, 2004
Present: Mickey Rowland, Dick Moran, Cecil Richrod, Kim Horyn and Brenda
McDonough
Absent: Barbara Grey, Dave Dennis and Linda Williams
The meeting opened with the members reviewing March's minutes, which were
unanimously approved. d
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Topics:
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Accessible Taxi:
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The Commission members received a copy of the memo that Mickey seRf to
Libby concerning the accessible taxi. Mickey told the members that Lib~
would talk to Selectmen and hopefully get the accessible taxi on the Board of
Selectmen's agenda in the near future.
Public Awareness:
. The Commission discussed at length about a possible T.Y. interview with one
of the program hosts ofthe Nantucket television stations to raise accessibility
awareness on the Island. This would coincide with a press release in hopefully
both Nantucket newspapers. The Commission agreed that the tone of this
accessibility awareness would be positive. The following are the topics and
point of interests that the Commission discussed:
1. Discuss the transportation to and from the Island. Discuss the
difficulties that a disabled person encounters once they arrive on the
Island such as transportation, negotiating the streets and sidewalks,
and access to public buildings.
2. Visit new projects that are in compliance such as the Nantucket Tennis
Club.
3. Visit Main Street and discuss the access problems facing historical
structures and mention how some businesses worked with their
historical structure to create access.
4. Point out the accessible parking spaces around Town and in private
and public parking lots, and talk about the general public abusing these
spaces even for just a minute. Raise the awareness level that these
spaces are for our disabled residents and visitors only.
5. Show all accessible sites.
6. Have a disabled person in a wheelchair with us during the interviews
so that he/she can give their experience trying to negotiate Nantucket.
7. Advertise that the COD would like "One Business per Week" to
become accessible. We will focus on ADA compliance in
accommodating a disabled client, and compliance with the
Massachusetts Architectural Access Board's 521 CMR, which deals
with the architectural aspect of access in new and renovated buildings.
8. In our press release and television interview, mention businesses that
are in compliance and businesses that have become compliant with our
help. These businesses will receive a "Blue Ribbon" from our
Commission for their cooperation.
9. Use Kitty Murtagh's as an example that all new public construction
must meet all accessibility codes. New building plans should include
all the accessible features of the building.
Please keep this initiative in mind while you wander around our Island. I would
appreciate you informing me of any other topics that we could discuss on camera
and in the newspapers.
Tom Hopkins
. The COD could either host or co-host a meeting with the Builder's
Association where the builders, architects, engineers and any other group
involved in the building and design of public buildings would attend. Tom
would answer all questions regarding disability access. We could advertise
with the Builder's Association about this meeting and send letters to the
appropriate individuals and groups that would attend.
. We could also co-host a meeting with The Chamber and Tom. Maybe we
could have a wine and cheese meeting at AK Diamonds, White Elephant,
Harbor House or the Golf Club.
SSA
. Ifwe do not hear from Gina Barbosa, then we will get on the SSA's agenda to
implement a policy for disabled travelers.
Parking Patrol
. It was discussed that maybe the Parking Patrol should leave stickers on vehicles
that are illegally parked. The stickers would say that they are illegally parked and
that they could receive a $100 fine.
Brenda McDonough
Facilitator
GO SOX!