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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-6-28Nantucket Commission on Disability Minutes Open Session Friday June 28, 2013 Murray Room at the Founder's Building Z o � W Present: Mickey Rowland, Penny Snow, Nancy Rezendes, Georgia Snell and Bre:@a r4MoiPugh �- N C) m Absent: Ellen Bmginton -Smith and Jeanette Topham � rn 0 Guests: Darcy Creech, Alex Rosenberg and Phil Hubbard z a n N Call to Order: 3:05 p.m. A S Agenda: Mr. Rowland stated, by unanimous consent we are adopting the agenda. Minutes: There were no minutes to approve. Topics: Other Business: Darcy Creech attended our meeting and spoke about her desire to purchase three wheelchair bicycles designed to accommodate a rider and a passenger who sits in a special chair in the front of the bicycle. Ms. Creech believes that disabled and elderly residents and visitors could greatly benefit from being driven around on these wheelchair bicycles on the bike paths here on Nantucket. She would love to form a volunteer group whose responsibilities would include driving these bicycles, organizing trips, and whatever else needs to be done to promote and sustain this program. All volunteers would be trained. The bicycles costs around $10,000 each and she plans to initially buy two wheelchair bicycles. Ms. Creech was looking for our Commission's support and hoped that our Commission would embrace this idea. The Commission members made the following comments: • Mr. Rowland wondered about liability and that Ms. Creech might have to hire a lawyer. Ms. Creech will look into hiring a lawyer and she also plans to have insurance. • Ms. Creech plans to raise the necessary funds through a fund raising web site called Indiegogo. • Mr. Rowland wondered where the wheelchair bikes would be stored. After some discussion, Ms. Creech thought that Don Allen Ford's dealership might have the room to store these bikes. The location would be perfect because it is right on the bike path. She planned to contact toe owners at Don Allen immediately to request some storage space. • The Commission members expressed their enthusiasm and support regarding this project. New Members: Mr. Rowland welcomed Alex Rosenberg and Phil Hubbard as our new Commission members who will be sworn in after July 1. Mr. Rowland asked each of them to tell the Commission about themselves. Mr. Hubbard resides at Sherburne Commons, and runs a residence committee there. He volunteers at the hospital and is one of the board members at Salt Marsh. Ms. Rosenberg works in the Social Services Department at the hospital, speaks fluent Spanish, and has a connection to the Spanish speaking community. Variance Applications: Mr. Rowland explained what a variance application was and why our Commission reviewed them. 9India Street: The following is a brief summary of the Commission's comments on the variance application: • Mr. Rowland read the application and explained that the estimated cost for the renovation was substantially lower that the actual cost of the renovation. Therefore, the tenants are required to supply access to the second level and the toilet room on the second floor has to be completely accessible. • The tenants are applying for the following variances from the 521 CMR: 1. A time variance (Section 17.5) to install a vertical wheelchair lift to be installed no later than January 31, 2014. 2. Public entrance is not accessible (Section 25.1) but the accessible ramped entrance is on the east side of the building. 3. The second floor toilet room is not accessible as required in Section 30.1. 4. There are two existing interior sets of stairs and the exterior front entrance steps that do not meet all the sections of Section 27.1. • Mr. Rowland stated his opinions of the variance. He was in favor of the time variance to install the lift; he would love to see access in the front entrance but realizes that it is impossible; the stairs are old and costly to replace, and given the fact that the tenants are going to install a lift, he is in favor of the section of the variance request,; he believed that he tenants did not prove impracticability concerning the second level toilet room. • The following is a summary of the discussion among the Commission members and Mr. Hubbard and Ms. Rosenberg. 1. Mr. Hubbard said that signage is needed at the front entrance indicating the location of the accessible entrance. He wondered why the steps did not comply with the code and questioned the handrails that were not compliant. 2. Mr. Rowland explained that the stairs are historic and are very costly to replace, and the exterior stairs are on the sidewalk and that that entrance would be impossible to ramp. There are historic handrails on one side of the interior stairs and compliant handrails on the other side. 3. Mr. Rowland had questions regarding the non - accessible toilet room on the second level. Ms. Rosenberg thought that if patrons who are disabled are dining on the second floor, then they should have access to the toilet room on the second level. 4. Mr. Hubbard was wondering why they did not have to install the vertical lift immediately. Mr. Rowland explained that the AAB are reasonable about allowing businesses to stay open for their livelihood and are willing to work with the businesses regarding time variances. Ms. Snell motioned to support all the variance requests with the exception of not providing an accessible toilet room on the second level, provided that they install signage at the front entrance indicating where the accessible entrance is, which Ms. Snow seconded and all the present Commission members voted in favor of this motion. 76 Main Street: • The Commission did not have a copy of the variance application for the project on 76 Main Street. The original building permit stated that they plan to spend less that $100,000 and so they were not required to provide an accessible entrance and bathroom. However, they actually spent in excess of $600,000 and most of the work was not permitted. This is what triggered front entrance access and an accessible bathroom. Since we did not have a physical copy of the variance request, Mr. Rowland called Tom Hopkins, Director of the AAB, and Mr. Hopkins explained the variance request for this project. They plan to install a lift in the rear of the building, an accessible bathroom on the first level of the main building, and in an effort to atone for bad behavior they plan to provide an accessible guest room in the back building. The owners are looking for a temporary CO before they provide these accessible features so that they can open some time this season. They are also looking for a time variance for installing these accessible features. • Ms. Rezendes motioned to support the temporary CO, which Ms. Snell seconded, and all the present Commission members voted to support this motion. • Ms. Snow motioned to support the time variance, which Ms. Snell seconded, and all the present Commission members voted to support this motion. 4:40 p.m. Alex Rosenberg left the meeting. Other Business: • Ms. Snow spoke about the Hearing Loss Association. Executive Session: 4:48 Ms. Rezendes 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. Snell, Ms. Snow, and Ms. Rezendes voted in favor of this motion. Submitted by: Brenda McDonough, Facilitator