PUBLIC ACCESS COMMITTEE OF EASTHAM
MAY 8, 2007
Present: Richard Adelman, Peggy Kern, David Kern, Helen Derman, Jeanette Marcucci, Grady Scholl
Frank DeFelice, ADA Coordinator/AAB Rep. Guest: Howard Sandler, Chairman of the Planning Board
BRIDGE AT WILEY PARK: Richard spoke in favor of the bridge at Town Meeting. Article #25 asking for $50,000 of Community Preservation Funds to build the bridge passed. Article #31 allowing the Selectman to use Some CPA funds without a Town Meeting vote also passed. Richard will now contact
Henry Lind, Natural Resources to submit a resolution to Selectmen requesting funds for accessible trail development at Wiley Park. Henry will prepare the resolution and PACE will support it.
ACCESSIBLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PLAYGROUND: Grady spoke in favor of Article #20, asking for $60,000 of Community Preservation Funds to complete the playground. Article #20 passed.
Frank reported on TOWN PROJECTS: There were some legalities that delayed the sale of Beach Break to the Cistaro brothers (Arturo’s). Frank will let Richard know when the sale is completed and then Richard will write a letter in support of a variance for a platform lift for wheelchair/HP access to the second level. The letter will go to Tom Hopkins of the AAB.
Brackett Road development: David asked about the Developer’s promise in 2005 to incorporate Visitability Standards for all the buildings in the development. Mike Ferreira researched the Zoning Board Minutes to find Dave K’s May 2005 presentation on Visitability and what was agreed to by the architect/developer/Zoning Board. He forwarded this information to Richard. Richard will share this info with David. Frank reported that 2 houses will have Visitability.
Richard invited Howard Sandler of the Planning Board to this meeting to discuss common objectives. Howard explained that the PB doesn’t make laws. They do site review and make recommendations to the Zoning Board of Appeals. The PB never saw the plans for Brackett Road because the ZBA governs 40B developments. The PB will have a say on the Holmes Road development. Frank, as Building Inspector, is the conduit to both Boards.
Howard agreed to the principles of Visitability that David presented to him. He noted that if PACE wants the Town to adopt Visitability for all new construction, it is the Planning Board that writes up the Article for the warrant. He will work with the Planning Board and PACE to submit an article for the 2008 Town Meeting. It may not pass the first time it is submitted, but can be revised and submitted at subsequent Town Meetings. Jeanette made a motion to start the process of creating a bylaw on Visitability along with the Planning Board; Grady seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. At Howard’s suggestion, Grady will meet with Mike Cole of the Planning Board/Cape Associates re: Visitability.
David (with the help of Norah and Grady Scholl) put together a packet of material on Visitability that PACE will use when we meet with developers/contractors to educate them and seek their agreement to incorporate Visitability in their projects. This packet was given to Howard, as well as other info that David had received from Bob Wooldridge of Mashpee, including Bob’s letter to the Cape Cod Times.
PACE thanked Howard for attending our meeting and for informing us as to how the PB/ZBA work.
Townhouses at the Eastham Inn. There is no community room or common room planned for the townhouse development. A condo association requires this community room. Frank will ask the contractors/developers of Brackett Landing and Eastham Inn townhouses to meet with PACE to acquaint them with Visitability.
VISITABILITY: Frank will give David’s information packet to contractors/developers when they submit their plans to him. They will be asked to meet with PACE. PACE will make a record of our comments. Copies of the forms/comments will be kept by PACE and Frank DeFelice. Frank sends them on to the PB.
REVISED ADA: David reported on an article about revised ADA requirements that have been waiting for Justice Department approval for two years. Tom Hopkins of the MAAB told David that the AAB has the authority to revise the building code without going to the Legislature. In view of this, David would like all Disability Committees/Commissions in the State write letters to the MAAB to lobby for the inclusion of Visitability in the State building code. He and Bob Wooldridge of Mashpee are forming an ad hoc committee to begin this task. They are seeking additional members from other Disability Committees/Commissions.
HEARING ASSIST at Meetings: Richard is looking into a small portable system that Bill Boyd of NW suggested. It costs about $300. Richard will contact Mike Ferreira, Assistant Town Administrator re: the purchase of this system for small public meetings
CART at TOWN MEETING: Eastham was on the list for a CART reporter for Town Meeting but found out on the Wednesday before that we wouldn’t have one. Jack Slavin arranged for a remote CART reporter that worked well despite a couple computer glitches. He plans to have a larger screen available next year so the letters can be projected at a larger size. He had many positive comments about the CART system especially since the acoustics in the gym distort the sound of the speakers who are using the microphones. Re: ACCESS at TOWN MEETING: Richard reported that the back entrance was supposed to be available but that door was locked.
OTHER DISABILITY COMMITTEES & MEETINGS: Richard will contact Carla Burke of Harwich regarding her expressed interest in helping organize a Lower Cape networking meeting. They will come up with some potential dates and we’ll contact the other Committees/Commissions to attend and to suggest topics for discussion. Richard has not been able to reach Jon Gilmore of Orleans lately.
On May 4th, David attended a CORD meeting with AHC (Aids Housing Corp.) - a MA organization with 40-members. David reported on Visitability. There was great interest. He will follow up with more info.
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS:
Jeanette Marcucci submitted more information on PACE to Chief Hedlund for the info sheet on Emergency Preparedness and town service organizations.
David reported that The Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Cape Cod and Upper Cape Medical Reserve Corps, and The Regional Emergency Planning Committee of the Cape & Islands are co-sponsoring a meeting on May 21st in South Dennis with a focus on Emergency Preparedness for the Hearing Impaired.
QUESTIONNAIRES: Peggy has called all the people who had questions or comments on their surveys.
1) Sidewalks and a crosswalk from CC5 Bank to Village Green will be put in as part of Brackett Landing.
2) HP spot at Eastham PO is too narrow. Richard spoke to Frank about it.
3) National Seashore is putting a side platform at the end of the ramp for wheelchair use.
4) Grady gave Mr. Guilford information on adding ramps to his house.
5) Hearing Assist/CART at Town Meeting was explained.
6) How to acquire a temporary HP plaque from the DMV.
7) Frank Salome wanted automatic door openers at COA. He raised money for them; they’ll be in end of April/early May.
8) National Seashore Head of Maintainence: Ben Pearson.
9) Bathrooms at the Sea Dog are NOT accessible.
HP PARKING: Mark Powers, Richard, and the DPW are meeting on May 10th to address the HP parking at RMV. Richard reiterated that all HP parking around town needs to be assessed for compliance. Especially needed: the parking at Idle Times Bike Shop/liquor store/Thai restaurant/ice cream shop.
PACE POWER POINT PRESENTATION: Our first one was for Neighborhood Watch on May 1st. Richard spoke and Don projected the pictures that Grady took of projects that PACE has impacted. Lively discussion with the NW block captains followed. They appreciated learning about PACE’s role in the community and talked about HP parking issues and Visitability, as well.
Thanks to Jack Slavin for setting up the equipment. Jeanette will write a letter to Norah Scholl, thanking her for doing the Power Point program and also for putting together the Visitability information packet.
David suggested that future presentations should include some text “slides” that outline PACE’s areas of activity (Direct Service, Accessibility, & Education). Peggy will contact the COA regarding a presentation to the COA Board of Directors.
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These Minutes were approved electronically on May 12, 2007.
NEXT MEETING – TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 2007 at 9:30 AM in the Large Meeting Room
Respectfully Submitted,
Helen Derman, Secretary
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