PUBLIC ACCESS COMMITTEE OF EASTHAM
JULY 17, 2007
Present: Richard Adelman, Peggy Kern, David Kern, Helen Derman, Jeanette Marcucci, Grady Scholl, Don Olson
Frank DeFelice, ADA Coordinator/AAB Rep, Mark Powers, Recreation & Beaches, Mike Ferreira, Assistant Town Administrator
Guests: Jean Ann McLaughlin, Governor’s Advisory Council on Disability Policy (lives in Harwich) and Flex Bus Working Committee
JEAN ANN: Will be on Ad Hoc Committee for changing Architectural Access Board Regulations 521CMR to include Visitability Standards (hereinafter called VS). Jean Ann noted that the ADA is a minimum requirement. ADA states that any (town) law that is more stringent than the ADA is applicable. Harwich has not worked on VS yet; some Habitat homes (she thought in Marstons Mills) have incorporated VS. Jean Ann suggested getting State Reps involved; David wants to establish ad hoc committee first, then get State officials on board. Jean Ann agreed to talk to Linda Willard of Orleans’, and Chatham’s Disability Committees to recruit representatives for the ad hoc committee for VS. When David has three more towns represented he will call a meeting. Helen sent
E-mails to Harwich, Chatham, and Orleans Committees. Only Harwich responded. Richard has made phone calls without success so far.
Jean Ann gave out copies of the 2007-2008 Cape Cod Disability Access Directory. Some were put in Town Hall lobby, some will be at Windmill Weekend booth. The Directory features the winners of the Cape Cod Youth Poster Project. Richard thanked Jean Ann for all the work that she does on behalf of the disabled community.
MIKE - EASTHAM’S BYLAW DRAFT ON VISITABILITY: Mike handed out copies of the Draft that has been approved by Sheila and Frank. He emphasized that the VS is voluntary. PACE members will review the Draft, E-mail comments to Richard who will then give the suggested edits to Frank. Mike has asked that the VS Bylaw to be on the Selectmen’s August 6th agenda. PACE thanked Mike, Sheila, and Frank for their thorough work on the Draft. David noted that no one, across the country, has agreed on what the VS is; he wants our Town Bylaw to specify the minimums. Mike has attached a one-page information sheet on Visitability to the Bylaw Draft. Howard Sandler, Planning Board Chair will review the Draft with the Planning Board.
TOWN PROJECTS: Arturo’s is putting in an elevator for access to the upper level. Their ground entrance will be zero-tolerance. Brackett Landing Sidewalk/Crosswalk: Peg reported that the Planning Board is meeting this afternoon at 2:30 and will be discussing the crosswalk between CC5 Bank and Village Green. Chief Hedlund asked PACE members to attend and give our input as to why the crosswalk, and possibly additional sidewalks, are needed. Sidewalks/crosswalks are put in by the highway department. The Planning Board is also involved; contact is Mark Stahl. Frank said there will be an office building fronting Brackett Road at the entrance to Brackett Landing. A third traffic lane is also proposed from the traffic light to Brackett
Landing.
David again requested a meeting with Mr. McShane, the developer of Brackett Landing. Frank will see if a meeting can be arranged when Mr. McShane is in Eastham. If not, Grady, Richard, and David are willing to meet with Mr. McShane at his office in Mashpee.
Schoolhouse: The two ramps into the building are nearly done. When the bathroom is finished, Richard will visit to check accessibility.
Sea Dog: Nothing has been done to make the bathroom accessible. Frank will look into it and Richard will write a letter to owner.
Richard reported the latest statistics for Eastham: Total population: 5302. Over 85-493, over 75-1636, 60-75 - 1350. Two-thirds of Eastham residents are over 60.
HP Accessible Playground: The parents group is ready to go with installation. They are waiting for the school renovations to be completed (now 7 months behind schedule).
Wiley Park Bridge/Trails: Out for bid; construction to begin in September. Richard will contact Henry Lind to clarify the status of the application for CPA funds that Selectmen can use at their discretion to continue the path beyond the bridge. PACE’s public support for the bridge was contingent on this application for CPA funds.
BEACHES: Orientation of Attendants: Don, Richard, and Grady and Norah Scholl participated. A demonstration was given on use of beach wheelchair. Attendants will be told that they do not participate in transfers of people to/from the beach chairs. If asked to assist, they may steady the chair from behind.
Mobimat for Cole Road is in place. HP spaces and the ramps at First Encounter remain the same as last year because the ramps are in place. Mark is looking into anchoring some sort of rubberized material at the ends of the ramps to transition to the sand and eliminate the gaps between ramps and sand. At Wiley Park, the ramp was dug down to minimize the drop-off at end of ramp. There is an extra HP toilet at Bea’s River this year. HP-space sign is in place at Boat Meadow.
Signage: New Town rule – signage to be kept to a minimum. Signs for Beach Chairs that were put up at First Encounter & Cooks Brook were torn down by next day. Don has updated the signs for beach chairs. Mark will put the signs on a sandwich boards that the attendants will put out/take down each day, including Nauset Light Beach. Suggestion from Harwich’s Disability Committee Minutes: put sign about beach wheelchair up where beach stickers are sold. Don will do this. Ramp/Beach Chairs at Coast Guard: Jeanette will send a thank you letter to Ben Pearson at National Seashore for the new ramp at Coast Guard with the side platforms and the two beach chairs. Richard has used the ramp and the chair and found both to be very
HP-friendly.
Don will consult Grady re: certificates and letters to the Beach Attendants in recognition for their service to the disabled community. Mark made us aware that volunteer jobs are recognized by colleges and rewarded with scholarships whereas students that work one or two jobs don’t have community service on their resumes and so pay their own way through school. Colleges are re-thinking this now, but our certificates would give credit to the attendants that they can state on their resumes. Mark and Don will pick a date in mid-August for presenting the certificates.
Mark said there have been a few HP space violations this year already. Tickets are $150.
BROCHURES: Richard will talk to Sheila re: revisions and getting new ones printed for Windmill Weekend.
HEARING ASSIST at Meetings: Sheila asked Mike to look at portable systems in use at a couple places before the town purchases one. PACE suggested the COA’s system, the Police Dept., & Harwich Community Center.
CART at FALL TOWN MEETING: Mike reported that a larger screen and better placement of it are in the works. Whether the auditorium or the gym will be used is yet to be determined.
OTHER DISABILITY COMMITTEES & MEETINGS: Carla Burke of Harwich has resigned as Vice Chair if HDRC, but may still be the contact for Minutes. If she decides to stay on the Committee, she will contact with Richard re: the fall networking meeting.
HP PARKING: Richard sent letters to the owners of Lobster Shanty and to Nauset Ice Cream/Bike Shop/Thai Restaurant plaza (Ms. LaPiana) re: need for permanent HP spaces/signs and adequate accessibility to shops in the plaza. Chief Hedlund & Frank DeFelice were copied on these letters.
Richard has a phone number to call re: the HP space at the Eastham Post Office, which is too narrow.
Parking at the Mercantile Plaza is not correct. Each building is separately owned so getting compliance is a challenge.
WINDMILL WEEKEND: Grady has submitted the form for space on the Green for Saturday, September 8 and Sunday, September 9. She requested the same space that we had last year. Proposed hours are 12-4 on Saturday, 2-4 on Sunday. Grady sets up the schedule for booth coverage. Friends of PACE should be contacted to help. Peggy will give Grady phone numbers of the people who said on the surveys that they would help. We will request the canopy from Windmill Weekend Committee and will turn it in to the Committee on Sunday so it won’t get stolen again.
These Minutes were approved electronically on July 24, 2007.
NEXT MEETING – TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2007 at 9:30 AM in the Large Meeting Room
Respectfully Submitted,
Helen Derman, Secretary
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