PUBLIC ACCESS COMMITTEE OF EASTHAM
NOVEMBER 13, 2007
Present: Richard Adelman, Peggy Kern, David Kern, Helen Derman, Grady Scholl, Don Olson, Jeanette Marcucci
Town Officials: Mike Ferreira, Assistant Town Administrator; Christine Mickle, Recreation & Beaches
Other: Kenneth Ainsworth, Chair of Long Range Planning Advisory Committee
BEACHES: Christine reported that the ramp at First Encounter has been put away for the winter, but Ray Bianchi, an engineer, has agreed to look at the problem of the drop-off at the end of the ramp when it is replaced in the spring. Mobimat was very successful this year and was easy to remove and store. Christine will make sure that Bob Wooldridge of Mashpee received the info on Mobimat, as requested. Christine gave PACE a poster of the beach wheelchair that a student made this summer.
LONG-RANGE PLANNING: Kenneth stopped in to tell PACE that his committee is looking for input for changes to the Town’s Comprehensive Plan. We will receive a letter from Richard Bryant, of the LRP Committee, and PACE will put the subject on the next meeting’s agenda. The draft needs to be ready end of April/early May to be on the Warrant for Town Meeting 2008.
MIKE’S SUGGESTIONS: Regarding PACE’s Agenda: 1) We were asked to put on the Agenda only the names of the Department heads/officials who have said they will attend the meeting to give a report.
2) Schedule the speakers for a specific time, preferably at the beginning of the meeting, so they know they can leave after reporting. 3) Remove Agenda items when they have been resolved. 4) Mike and Richard will communicate before the meeting about issues that Mike is following up on; Mike won’t be listed on the Agenda unless he needs to report in person.
PACE expressed to Mike the importance of Frank DeFelice’s attendance at our meetings in his roles as ADA Coordinator, Building Inspector, and liaison to Sheila V., Town Administrator. We need updates from Frank to resolve issues on Town projects so they can be removed from the Agenda.
AD HOC COMMITTEE ON VISITABILITY: Bob Wooldridge from Mashpee hosted the first meeting on October 18, 2007. David and Peggy Kern from Eastham, Jean Ann McLaughlin of the Governor’s Advisory Committee, and Mert Saper from Mashpee attended. A letter was sent to each Cape town’s Disability Commission/Committee asking for representatives from each town. Since the meeting, supportive E-mail responses have been received from Mashpee and Chatham and Ginny McCann of Harwich has joined the AHC . David will keep in contact with each town by phone/E-mail.
VISITABILITY/ EASTHAM BUILDERS/CONTRACTORS: David reported that the 2 units at Brackett Landing that incorporated Visitability features were the same units that were constructed for the 40B requirement (low income housing). They were sold to people who do not require Visitability. David has discussed Visitabilty in depth with Mr. McShane and he now fully supports it. He will come up with a list of added costs(which are minimal) so he can promote Visitability’s selling features. Grady has not heard further from Mike Cole re: the Builders Association response. Mark Agostino would like a brochure to give to clients, real estate agents.
TOWN PROJECTS: Richard reported that LaPiana Plaza issues have been RESOLVED. Richard has sent a letter thanking Ms. LaPiana for making all the shops accessible.
Friendly Fisherman and Lobster Shanty HP parking and sign issues: Mike will follow up with Chief Hedlund.
Sea Dog: Building pre-dates ADA (built prior to 1975). Each subsequent owner who did renovations didn’t pass the dollar threshold that could have triggered a letter from our Community Monitors to the AAB that this building still does not have an accessible bathroom. Each owner has promised the Building Inspector that he would put in the HP bathroom. PACE has no further recourse, so this Agenda item is RESOLVED with PACE disapproval.
Arturo’s should not have been issued a CO without a firm date for installation of elevator for 2nd floor access. A PACE member was told by an Arturo employee that HP patrons were carried to the 2nd floor nightclub this summer. Frank has still not gotten a date-of-completion. Community Monitors on PACE are preparing a letter to the AAB, to be sent contingent on a completion date from Cestaro brothers. Mike F. will communicate with Frank and report to Richard.
HP Accessible Playground: Article in the Cape Cod Times on October 26, 2007 made scant mention of Jennifer Bryant and the parents committee who worked so hard to get the playground in place and NO mention about the accessibility of the playground. Jeanette will write a letter to the Cape Cod Times.
Wiley Park Bridge/Trails: Bridge construction to begin this month. Delays were caused by low water level and ecological issues that affect the height of the bridge. Community Preservation Funds for trail development, that Natural Resources was going to apply for immediately after May 2007 Town Meeting, have not yet been applied for. PACE’s support of the Warrant Article (for the CPF’s) was given contingent on immediate application for these funds, to be used to develop trail(s) beyond the bridge. Mike will check with Henry Lind.
Eastham Inn condos: Mark Agostino would like a pamphlet on Visitability features/added costs to give to potential homeowners.
HEARING ASSIST at Small Meetings: Mike will check out the systems that are in use at the Eastham COA and the Harwich Community Center. Richard found an ideal system on the internet but there is no way to try it in one of our small venues to assess it’s suitability.
PACE MEMBERSHIP: Richard spoke to Jeanette Sandblum, chair of the Search Committee. Our two openings for Committee members will be on the Search Committee’s next agenda.
Don gave us several prototypes of a flyer to place around town to encourage people to volunteer to be on PACE .
These Minutes were approved electronically on November 18, 2007.
NEXT MEETING – TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2008 at 9:30 AM in the Large Meeting Room
Respectfully Submitted,
Helen Derman, Secretary
| 
