PUBLIC ACCESS COMMITTEE OF EASTHAM
JANUARY 30, 2007
Present: Richard Adelman, Peggy Kern, David Kern, Helen Derman, Don Olson, Jeanette Marcucci
Town Officials: Frank DeFelice, ADA Coordinator/AAB Rep; Mark Powers, Recreation & Beaches Dept
Friend of PACE: Tom Cosgrove; Guests: Jon Gilmore, Orleans Disability Commission; Bill Boyd and Russ Moore from Neighborhood Watch
BRIDGE AT WILEY PARK: Approval of funding not finalized yet. PACE questioned whether the Open Space Committee submitted future plans for making the trails accessible up to and after the bridge when they submitted the final bridge design. Richard will contact Glen Collins re: PACE concerns.
BEACHES: Richard asked Mark about the berm and drop-off from the ramp at First Encounter beach. The ramp was dug down last season, but it still has a gap. Mark will look at other towns’ ramps to see how they handle this problem and will consult with the DPW again. Mark also is looking at the Mobimat,
such as Brewster uses, for Cole Road beach next summer. Mark has been put in charge of signage at the beaches – whether we have too many, too few, where to post them, etc.
HEARING ASSISTANCE AT MEETINGS: David again asked for hearing assist for our and other small meetings. Bill Boyd mentioned a system he used to use that was in a small portable case and it wasn’t very costly. Richard will address this with Sheila (Town Administrator) again. Meanwhile, PACE will change their meeting to the large meeting room on the second Tuesday of the month (Neighborhood Watch uses it on 1st Tuesdays). The large room has a microphone system and a couple wireless receivers that can be used. Richard will ask Jack Slavin to set up the system for our meetings.
OTHER DISABILITY COMMITTEES: Chatham, Harwich, and Orleans received the December Minutes and today’s agenda. Jon Gilmore’s Commission meets monthly on the 4th Friday. He has been in touch with MOD regarding State training of Community Monitors. Jon relayed information that there will be a training session in April in Duxbury. Jon will forward information on that session and we will send it to other Lower Cape Disability Committees.
A networking meeting of Lower Cape Committees was discussed. CORD is not planning to coordinate another meeting, currently. Dave suggested we meet regionally. Richard and Jon will come up with a date and a place to meet and then Harwich, Brewster, Wellfleet, Truro, Provincetown, and Chatham will be invited to attend.
DISABILITY-RELATED NEWS: Richard reported that the disability posters that children created last year for a contest have been made into a calendar.
TOWN PROJECTS: Ownership of Beach Break is changing hands and new owners are aware of the issues that are required to bring the building up to current standards, including a sprinkler system and HP access. They are considering a platform lift for wheelchair/HP access but will need a variance for it. Dave asked Frank to also check the bathrooms for accessibility. Previous owners had not made the bathrooms accessible.
Progress on Brackett Road development: Construction has begun. David had attended a Planning Board meeting about 1-? years ago and the Developer and Planning Board had agreed to Visitability standards for all the buildings in the development. David asked if those standards were actually incorporated into the plans. Frank will ask Glen Dumont (who is in charge) to come to PACE’s next meeting.
PACE was not invited to the inspection of the Elementary School renovations nor have we had any input on the Historical Society’s plans to renovate/expand the Schoolhouse Museum. David asked if the bathroom is accessible. Frank will check on this. Richard has been in touch with Wendy Frazier from the parents’ group that is raising funds for the new playground at the Elementary School. He sent her the information on accessible playgrounds and she has indicated the playground will be accessible. Richard will keep in touch with her regarding the plans and progress on construction.
The Housing Authority invited Town Officials to a walk-through of the house that was moved to a town-owned lot near the COA. The house had been made accessible for the new occupant. PACE was not invited.
Russ noted that the COA is making some changes to permit better accessibility to the building and to improve HP parking. Russ suggested that PACE talk to Sandy Szedlak/Kathy Gill about speaking to the COA Board re: our work and our availability to advise on accessibility.
The Library is having plans drawn up for expansion. PACE has not been contacted.
PACE seems to be out of the loop on Town projects that should be requesting our input. Dave volunteered to be a liaison to Frank so that we get more timely information on ongoing and future Town projects. PACE also discussed making a presentation to the Selectman/Planning Board/ Open Space Committee, etc. to raise awareness of other Town Committees of our work and to promote communication in the early stages of Town projects that would benefit from our expertise. Dave suggested that the presentation include slides of projects around Town that we have impacted. In addition, PACE will meet monthly while there are a lot of projects to track.
PACE SURVEYS: Peggy reports that about 90 surveys have been returned. She will compile the results for the next PACE meeting. An article in the Cape Codder and The Voice on the results would elicit interest. Grady sent a report about the second flu clinic at the COA. At the first clinic, everyone showed up before 9AM regardless of their appointment times. This led to long lines, wait times, and confusion. The COA was not expecting a repeat at the second clinic because most people had received their flu shots by then. PACE did not have a representative at the second clinic.
H-P PARKING SIGNS: HP sign at RMV is in a bucket, gets knocked over. We need a permanent sign and space. Mark is looking into a place at the top of the hill as a possible HP space.
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS:
Chief Hedlund will send an info sheet on Emergency Preparedness in a spring Town mailing. PACE will include a paragraph describing our role in gathering info on residents’ needs for assist in general, and in emergencies, and how we coordinate with the other groups listed on the Chief’s flyer. Jeanette will write up this paragraph and submit it to Chief Hedlund.
PACE BROCHURE: Dave suggested that we ask Sheila to publish the brochure with the updates that Grady has currently provided because the current one is outdated. Richard would like PACE to do a town-wide review of all the places listed in the brochure to make sure that accessibility is still in place. PACE members may need reminding of their areas of responsibility around Town. Once the review is completed, our next brochure will be more accurate.
ANNUAL REPORT TO THE TOWN: Richard will get input from PACE members and will submit our report Town Hall for inclusion in the Town’s Annual Report for Town Meeting in May.
NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH: Bill Boyd and Russ Moore informed PACE of Neighborhood Watch’s structure and how they function. Bill and Russ are at the PD from 9-12 on Mondays, and they hold monthly meetings with their 85-90 block captains. They invited PACE members to come to the monthly meetings to network with them on common concerns and to hear their speakers. NW asked PACE to do a presentation in May or June. Bill and Richard will communicate to set this up. Bill will send Helen an
E-mail re: the speakers for NW and Helen will E-mail our Minutes to Bill to facilitate networking.
MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS: Tom spoke about this new and growing group of nurses, paramedicals, and interested citizens who will be trained to respond to regional emergencies/disasters. Cheryl Bushnell will be speaking about this Corps on February 15th at 6:30PM at Town Hall. Richard suggested that Jack Slavin be informed so the meeting can be posted on the Town website.
These Minutes were approved electronically on February 6, 2007.
NEXT MEETING – TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2007 at 9:30 AM in the Large Meeting Room.
Respectfully Submitted,
Helen Derman, Secretary
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