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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-2-18Nantucket Commission on Disability Minutes Open Session Tuesday February 18, 2013 15 Commercial Street z s Z" 3 Present: Mickey Rowland, Georgia Snell, Penny Snow, Nancy Rezendes, P.IYen IVagiXn- Smith, Jeanette Topham, and Brenda McDonough N rn Absent: All Present o -o 0 Guests: £ 3 Z N n Call to Order: 4:00 p.m. o A Agenda: Mr. Rowland stated, by unanimous consent we are adopting fFiz agenda. Minutes:. November's Minutes: Ms. Snow motioned to approve the minutes, which Ms. Snell seconded, and all the remaining present Commission members voted in favor of this motion except Ms. Topham and Ms Rezendes because they were absent for November's meeting. December's Minutes: Ms. Snow motioned to approve the minutes, which Ms. Snell seconded, and all the remaining present Commission members voted in favor of this motion except Ms. Braginton -Smith because she was absent for December's meeting. Topics: Dreamland's Accessible Features, Technology, and Policies: Ms. McDonough told the Commission that Mr. Rowland and she visited the Dreamland Theater and had a meeting with Jonathan Anastos regarding the accessible features, technology, and policies. The following is a summary of their discussion: 1. Advertise that Closed Captioning is available for deaf and hearing- impaired patrons, Descriptive Narration for your sight- impaired patrons, and Assistive Listening Devices for your hearing- impaired patrons everyplace that you advertise yew movies: Newspaper, Web Site, Movie calendar on Web Site, and around the Theater. 2. All employees should know about these services for your hearing- impaired and sight - impaired patrons. The person who is responsible for distributing these devices will instruct the disabled patron on the proper use of the device. 3. Patrons who request the CaptiView device need assistance placing the device in the cup holder and instruction on how to angle the device for proper viewing. It is very important for the device to be secure in the cut) holder. 4. There should be a policy on how to help a disabled patron with the services that you provide. 5. Signage directing patrons to the proper employee for the service or device needed. 6. Everyone should know how to accommodate a patron who uses a wheelchair and their companion. 7. Please place signage on the companion seat telling the public that the seat is reserved for a companion of a person who uses a wheelchair if the situation should arise. 8. The closers on the upstairs men's and ladies' room need adjustment so that they are not so heavy to pull and push open. Ms. Snow asked if we talked about caption movies and Ms. McDonough replied that Mr. Anastos is looking into providing a caption movie maybe one afternoon per week. Ms. Rezendes reported that there was no delineation on the interior steps that would distinguish each step. It was noted that there is an elevator that accesses every level in the Dreamland. Also, she mentioned that she missed the last step to the rear entrance to the salt Marsh center. Ms. Rezendes stated that she would mention this to Pam Meriam and see if something could be done about this. Ms. Snell mentioned that she misses the steps at 2 Fairgrounds because she cannot see the differentiation among the steps and there is no handrail. Ms. Topham read an AAA newsletter that mentioned Nantucket several times. Parking Permit Abuse: 4:28 p.m. Mr. Rowland told the Commission that the police department contacted our office regarding someone parked in the accessible parking space outside the Rose and Crown, and they displayed a Nantucket disabled parking permit. The police were suspicious because the man was hauling tools back and forth from the van to the Rose and Crown. The policeman took down the man's vehicle registration and told Ms. McDonough who the vehicle belonged to. Ms. McDonough looked up the permit number and it belonged to a member of the man's family. She sent a letter to this man and revoked the permit. The man sent a letter back to Ms. McDonough and said that it was the only time that he has ever parked in an accessible space without his family member, and he said that his family member really needed this permit. The Commission discussed this at length and the outcome was that the Commission did not want to punish the permit holder for this man's abuse, so the Commission voted to reinstate this permit. The abuser did receive $100 fine and he planned to pay the fine. Ms. Snow motioned to send the abuser a letter, which Ms. Rezendes seconded, and all the present Commission members voted to support this motion. Ms. McDonough will send the abuser a letter and in it she will state that the permit is to be used only to accommodate the family member who is disabled. Also, that if we find out that this permit is abused again, it will be revoked for life. Athenaeum: Ms. McDonough told the Commission that she spoke with Amy at the Athenaeum in regards to having guest speakers in the great hall position themselves in the center of the room so that everyone has the opportunity to see and hear the guest speaker. Ms. McDonough also suggested to have the guest speaker use a microphone so that the hearing impaired guests are able to hear the guest speaker. z Amy said that she would make sure that all the guest speakers would use a microphone, and the Athenaeum is planning to purchase new assisted listening devices for their hearing- impaired patrons. Ms. Snow added that she has been requesting closed captioning films at the Athenaeum, and that the microphone is now working again at the Selectmen's meeting. Stop &Shop: 4:45 p.m. Ms. McDonough spoke with Dave Monast, Manager at the Stop &Shop, about reserving some shopping carts inside for their disabled patrons, and include signage saying that these carts are reserved. Mr. Monast said that he really does not have an inside area to store shopping carts and that he thought that other shoppers would abuse this policy. However he did say that disabled shoppers could go to the customer service desk and request a shopping cart. Ms. McDonough asked if the customer service representatives would be informed about this policy and Mr. Monast assured her that he would inform them. Other Business: 4:50 p.m. 28 Easy Street will have an accessible front entrance. Executive Session: 4:50 Ms. Topham motioned to go into executive session to discuss the parking permit applications, and not to return to the open meeting once the executive session is adjourned, which Ms. Snell seconded, and Mr. Rowland, Ms. Topham, Ms. Braginton - Smith, Ms. Snell, Ms. Rezendes, and Ms. Snow voted in favor of this motion. Submitted by: Brenda McDonough, Facilitator