HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-02-07
Nantucket Commission on Disability
Minutes
February 7, 2007
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Present:
Absent:
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Mickey Rowland, Dick Moran, Phil Gallagher, and Bre~TMcDoIjaugh
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Linda Williams and Liz Winship : , --
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The meetin!5 opened with the members reviewing November 's ~ates, wH!f,h
were unammously approved.' (;)
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Topics:
. The Commission members were briefed on the Town's new web site and our
Commission wants to have a link on their site. Everyone received several sheets of
information that could possibly be included in our link to the Town's web site. We
briefly reviewed the information and it was suggested that the following information
be included on our link to the Town's web site.
1. Parking Permits- You do not have to be a year-round resident to apply for a
permit
2. Temporary Permits- Include the necessary information about obtaining a
temporary permit
3. Autopscot Taxi- Include the hours of operation, the accessible taxi has the
same rates as a non-accessible taxi, and include Jon's 8t. Laurent's (the
accessible taxi owner) web site address
4. Our Island Ride- Hours of operation and a link to the NR T A's web site
5. The members were asked to give the web site some thought as to what
information each member would like included on our link to the Town's web
site and to have their suggestions ready for our next meeting.
. The Commission members also received a very rough draft of the Guide For
Visitors With Special Needs. The members were asked to review the guide and give
some thought as to what information each member would like to see included in this
guide and to have their suggestions ready for our next meeting. Phil did make one
suggestion for the guide: He suggested that we include all the necessary information
about obtaining a temporary parking permit.
. Phil stated that he believed any disabled passenger traveling by plane that the airport
is responsible for their ground transportation. Brenda will look into this.
. Barbara Grey died and it was suggested that we send her family a bereavement card.
. Mickey brought up the subject of the Dreamland Theater. The front entrance to the
Dreamland Theater as designed by BKA Architects is proposed to be at sidewalk
level thus eliminating the eight-inch concrete step. However, the architects are
receiving resistance from the HDC because the concrete step is considered historic
though it was constructed there sometime in the 1950's. Prior to this time, the
building had a completely different fayade. Mickey mentioned that Linda was a
proponent for keeping the step and does not know the rest of the HDC's members'
position on the concrete step. Mickey considers the step to be a huge barrier for
people in wheelchairs and considering that this is a multi-million dollar renovation,
the whole building should be completely accessible according to the AAB's
regulations. The AAB wrote a letter to BKA Architects and stated the following:
"The Board indicated it is unlikely that they would vote to grant a variance to Section
25.1 allowing the eight-inch step to remain in place given the scale of work to be
done and the project spending." Our Commission members then received a memo
that Mickey wrote to Dirk Roggeveen, Chairman of the HDC, stating that the COD is
very much in favor of the plan, which eliminates the eight-inch step and allows
sidewalk-level access to all who enter the front doors, and is adamantly opposed to
any plan that does not allow wheelchair access through the front door. Phil then
motioned to send the memo to Dirk, Dick second the motion, and so it was voted.
. Dick motioned to adjourn the meeting, Phil second the motion, and so we adjourned.
Brenda McDonough, Facilitator
Our Next Meeting will be on May 3, 2007