HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-01-10
Nantucket Commission on Disability
Minutes
Open Session
Monday, January 10,2011
15 Commercial Street
Absent:
Mickey Rowland, Jeanette Topham, Nancy Rezendes, Dick
Moran, Ellen Braginton-Smith, and Brenda McDonough
David Gray, Whitey Willauer
Present:
Minutes:
4:35 p.m.
Mr. Rowland stated, by unanimous consent we are adopting the
agenda.
4:35 p.m.
December 13, 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.
December 13, Executive Session: Ms. Topham motioned to
approve the minutes for executive session, which Ms. Braginton-
Smith, seconded, and all the remaining present Commission
members voted in favor of this motion.
Topics: 4:40 p.m.
. Update
Ms. McDonough discussed the status of the post office complaint. She called
the woman in charge of the complaint in Washington D.C. and unfortunately
did not get a return call. Ms. McDonough will continue to contact
Called to Order:
Agenda:
Ms. Topham informed the Commission that the Boy's and Girl's Club have
installed a drain in the accessible parking area, which should solve the
problem of water collecting in that area.
The Commission invited Mr. Steve Sayers, an attorney representing the SSA,
to attend our meeting in March or April to update the Commission on the
accessibility features that that we requested the SSA implement on its vessels
and at their terminals.
Ms. McDonough informed the Commission that Ms. Carla Burke from the
Harwich Disability Rights Commission is seeking to exchange minutes and
agendas among the Cape and Islands Disability Commissions. She feels this
would be a way to share ideas and information, as well as learn about issues of
accessibility common to all. The commission members thought that this could
be beneficial to our Commission, and they are excited to hear what other
commissions are doing on the Cape and the Vineyard.
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Ms. Rezendes commented that it would be great for the Commissions to meet
periodically to discuss common issues.
Ms. McDonough sent another email to Mr. Jamie Cooke at the Cottage
Hospital regarding painting the parking curbs a contrasting color so that the
sight-impaired community more easily recognizes them. This topic led to the
following discussion:
. Ms. Rezendes was wondering if our Commission could send a letter to the
public buildings here on Nantucket requesting that they somehow
delineate their steps and landings with a contrasting strip so that the sight-
impaired community more easily recognizes them.
. Ms. Topham thought that the restaurant association could be one of our .
contacts to distribute this request. It was mentioned that we could contact
Mr. E J Harvey and get his feedback on this.
. Mr. Rowland thought that the Chamber of Commerce might be a better
place to help spread this request because all public buildings will need to
receive this information, not just the restaurants.
. These stair markings would benefit the elderly community as well as the
sight-impaired community.
. It was suggested that we send a letter to the Chamber of Commerce and
see what they thought of this idea, and ask them if they would distribute
the letter for us.
Ms. McDonough spoke with the Assistant Town Manager regarding any
changes with our Commission because of some reorganization that the Town
is planning to implement. She was told that the only change to the
Commission is that it will be a piece of the Human Service group and Ms.
Pam Meriam will be the director of this Human Service group.
The Commission wants Ms. McDonough to follow-up with Mr. Tom Hopkins
regarding the contrasting colors of the Pacific National Bank's accessible
entrance signage.
Executive Session: 4:55 p.m.
Mr. Moran stated that the Commission would not reconvene after the
executive session. Mr. Rowland recused himself from executive session
because the permit holder was a client of his. A vote was taken to go into
executive session to discuss parking permit applications, and Mr. Moran, Ms.
Topham, Ms. Rezendes, and Ms. Braginton-Smith voted to go into executive
seSSIOn.
Submitted by:
Brenda McDonough
Facilitator
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