HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes February 4 2009 (3)
Nantucket Commission on Disability
Minutes
February 4, 2009
Present:
Mickey Rowland, Dick Moran, Linda Williams, Ellen Braginton-Smith,
Jeanette Topham, and Brenda McDonough
Absent:
David Gray
The meeting opened with the members reviewing November’s minutes. Dick
moved to approve the minutes; Linda seconded the motion and the remaining
Commission members present unanimously approved with the exception of
Jeanette, who was not at November’s meeting and did not vote on the motion.
Topics:
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Election
Dick motioned to keep the same officers as the previous year, which Jeanette
seconded, and all remaining Commission members unanimously approved.
Chairman: Mickey
Vice-Chairwoman: Linda
Secretary: Dick
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Parking Patrol
The Commission discussed the possibility of activating the Parking Patrol
once again. In the past, the Parking Patrol patrolled private parking lots such
as Stop&Shop, Cottage Hospital, Nantucket Commons, restaurants,
guesthouses, and inns. The public parking lot that we patrolled in the past was
the Nantucket Public School. If any member of the Parking Patrol witnessed
an illegally parked vehicle in an accessible space, they would complete an
affidavit with all the pertinent information concerning the violation and
submit it to the police department by the end of the day. The police
department would then issue a ticket to the violator. The down side of this
method was getting to the police department by end of the day. It is difficult to
do if you live outside of town. So if you choose not to ticket the violator
because you cannot get to the police station, then the violator gets no notice or
fine.
The Commission also discussed just leaving a notice on the vehicle that is
illegally parked informing the driver that they are illegally parked and please
do not park in accessible space in the future. The benefit of this is that you do
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not have to drop anything off at the police station and the violator is aware
that parking in the disabled parking space was illegal.
The Commission discussed the pros and cons of the tickets and the notices.
Mickey commented that maybe we could issue a warning and Linda suggested
that we meet with Chief Pitman and come up with a different protocol for
getting the tickets to the station. Maybe we can submit the ticket
electronically. Ellen liked the idea of leaving a notice instead of ticketing
since it is easier to do.
Brenda will get in touch with Chief Pittman and to discuss the possibility of
ticketing again.
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Other
Typically, if a parking area has at least 15 parking spaces, then one space must
be an accessible parking space. Some businesses will apply for a variance or
waiver to have fewer parking spaces than required. However, that may mean a
disabled parking space is eliminated, which would be there otherwise if the
waiver were not granted. Dick suggested that there should be some kind of
regulation to keep the disabled parking space in the event that a waiver is
granted.
Brenda updated the members on some of the COD correspondences. Parking
adjacent to the new, proposed park on Fair Street was discussed again and
Linda would like to have no parking from the park’s accessible entrance to
Main Street. Brenda thought that there was enough room for vehicles to park
on the street and have the sidewalk accessible for all pedestrians. There would
have to be signage indicating no parking on the sidewalk and maybe some
barriers on the sidewalk to prevent parking on the sidewalk. It was suggested
to speak with Chief Pittman regarding this and the importance of having that
sidewalk open at all times for everyone to use.
Linda wants Brenda to send a letter to Stop&Shop regarding the height of
their disabled parking signs.
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COD Ratifying Old Business
Linda motioned to ratify all business conducted via the telephone since our
November meeting, which was seconded and all the remaining, present
Commission members voted unanimously in favor of this motion.
Linda motioned to adjourn the meeting, which Ellen seconded and all the
remaining, present members voted in favor of the motion.
Submitted by:
Brenda McDonough,
Facilitator
GO CELTICS!!!
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