HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-10-11Nantucket Commission on Disability
Minutes
Open Session
Tuesday October 11, 2011
Murray Room at the Founder's Building
Present: Mickey Rowland, Jeanette Topham, Whitey Willauer, Ellen Braginton- Smith, Nancy
Rezendes, Georgia Snell, Billie Olson, and Brenda McDonough
Called to Order: 4:02 p.m.
Agenda: Mr. Rowland stated, by unanimous consent we are adopting the agenda.
Minutes: September 13, Open Meeting: Ms. Topham motioned to approve the minutes, which
Ms. Braginton -Smith seconded, and all the remaining present Commissinh members,
voted in favor of this motion with the exception of Ms. Olson:
September 13, Executive Session: Ms. Topham motioned to approve tlE minutes for
executive session, which Ms. Snell, seconded, and all the remaining present
Commission members voted in favor of this motion with the exception oiMs. Olson.
Topics: 4:05 p.m.
• Welcoming: c
Mr. Rowland welcomed newly appointed Billie Olson to her first meeting.
Accessible Taxis and Tours:
Mr. Rowland updated the Commission members concerning Jon St. Laurent's Autopscot
Taxi service. Mr. Rowland informed the Commission that we have received copies of
complaints and concerns regarding Autopscot Taxi from Our Island Home. The
correspondence includes letters from Our Island Home, a caregiver for several patients on
Our Island Home, a family member of a patient of Our Island Home, First Congregational
Church, and Sherburne Commons. Mr. Rowland stated that our office has also received
complaints regarding not being able to get in touch with Autopscot Taxi service. We plan
to discuss this with the Selectman's office and see if someone else can get these accessible
licenses.
Mr. Rowland explained the process of how Mr. St. Laurent received these the two licenses
and that the accessible taxi must have a lift.
Ms. Olson asked if Mr. St. Laurent is aware of our dissatisfaction with his service? Ms.
McDonough stated that she spoke with Mr. St. Laurent in March 2010 and told him of her
concerns of not providing service and not taking phone calls.
Ms. Rezendes inquired about the NRTA providing service and Mr. Rowland explained the
hours that the NRTA provides service and that it is not on demand service. You must
make an advance reservation for service.
Mr. Willauer suggested that Ms. McDonough contact Erica Mooney at the Selectman's
office regarding how to handle this.
• Update:
The post office has an automatic door opener.
Ms. McDonough spoke with Patti Roggeveen about assistive listening devices, rear
window captioning, and descriptive video services for the Dreamland Theater. Ms.
Rezendes requested that Ms. McDonough contact Perkins School for the Blind regarding
the descriptive video services.
• Other Business
Mr. Willauer is concerned about public stairs that have no railings. He mentioned the
Founder's Building, Baptist Church have no railings, and the JC House has a huge
flowerpot blocking some access to the railing. Ms. McDonough will contact these
establishments and tell them of our concerns.
Ms. Topham discussed the lighting at Sankaty Golf Club from the parking area to the
clubhouse. She also mentioned about the accessible parking spaces were not located in the
best area of the parking lot for the best accessibility to the clubhouse. Ms. McDonough
will look at this.
Mr. Willauer mentioned that he fell outside the Baptist Church because of no lighting
outside.
Ms. Snell mentioned that there are guide dogs to help people with narcolepsy.
Executive Session: 4:40 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, Mr. Willauer, and Ms. Olson
voted to go into executive session.
Submitted by:
Brenda McDonough
Facilitator