PUBLIC ACCESS COMMITTEE OF EASTHAM
SEPTEMBER 10, 2008
Present: Richard Adelman, Helen Derman, Jeanette Marcucci, Peggy Kern
Town Officials: Mark Powers, Beach & Recreation
PACE Committee extends Birthday Greetings to David Kern who turns 80 on September 18th.
TOWN PROJECTS:
1)Arturo’s: Mark Dempsey at MAAB has not received the request for a variance. Richard spoke to Alex Cestaro who said he had sent in the paperwork. Richard will follow up.
2) Lobster Shanty – Still no compliance. MAAB will send another letter. State fines $1000/day and the Town can cite them for $300/day until they are in compliance.
3) Wiley Park Bridge/Trail: Richard and Neil Andres from DPW met at First Encounter and Wiley Park on Wednesday, August 20 to consult on fixing the dips at the end of the mobimat and at the ends of the bridge at Wiley Park. The dip at First Encounter is fixed for now. Neil has ideas for keeping the ramp accessible. Richard reported that the trail and the on-ramp of the bridge at Wiley Park are better - now wheelchair accessible, but might be difficult for people with canes or walkers. The off-ramp and trails beyond still need significant work and probably won’t be finished till next spring.
VISITABILITY:
Richard gave information on Visitability to Sarah Raposa, Chair of the Planning Board. Richard has spoken to Jean Ann McLaughlin re: whom to contact at AIA (Architects Assn).
Jeanette will write an article on Visitability for the next COA newsletter.
Frank DeFelice, Building Inspector gave out info on Visitability to 4 people who came in for permits this month.
Peggy will check with David (Kern) re: next meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee.
PACE BROCHURES: Still in progress. Richard/Helen will get listing of new businesses from the Town Clerk’s office.
BEACHES & RECREATION: Richard read a letter from Karen Strauss who was not allowed to use an open HP space at First Encounter this summer because she was more than 3 cars back in the line waiting to get in to the beach. Mark explained that for safety reasons cars cannot be let in to use the HP spaces until they are the third car back. Others waiting in line get angry and will try to follow a car that is given priority even if there are no open spots. The beach attendants will be better oriented next year as to how to handle this question of HP space use.
The Town placed bike racks at the beaches this year. This should eliminate the use of HP spaces for bicycles.
Richard noted that the walkway to the beach at First Encounter is too close to the HP space hatchmarks. He had his car ramp down and a man walking by tripped on the ramp and nearly fell. Mark said the front row needs to be redesigned to remedy that situation.
Mark said that the beach wheelchairs were well-used this summer. There was a chair at Cooks Brook, in the bathhouse. The narrow doorway makes it difficult to get the chair in and out. Mark will see if a wider doorway can be made since the bathhouse is used mainly for storage now. HP Portapotties are in place for the summer. Mark suggested that PACE invite the local bike shop owners to a PACE meeting to discuss a business opportunity: beach wheelchair rental. From the questions/requests he receives from summer visitors who want to use a beach chair for a week or more, he thinks the bike shops could benefit from having a rental chair(s) available. He would be able to send business their way and the Chamber of Commerce/Information Center/Town Hall/Website could all
promote the rental chair. Grady Scholl was going to speak to one shop owner. PACE will ask her to follow up and also check with the other shop owner and invite them to a PACE meeting.
Mark thanked Peggy, Grady, and PACE (Jeanette) for their letters in support of mobimat. Neil (DPW) will put it into his budget as a line item, perhaps a certain amount each year since it is expensive, but sections can be added on from year to year. PACE will support this at the Selectmen’s meeting when presented.
NEW PACE MEMBERS: Alex Cestaro filled out the Volunteer Form to be on the PACE Committee. He’ll be asked to come to the next meeting.
UPCOMING MEETINGS/EVENTS:
CORD is hosting an Assistive Technology Fair at the Wellfleet COA on Tuesday, September 23rd, 1-3PM. CORD’s general meeting is September 13th, 11AM-1PM. Community Access Monitor Training is September 24th and 25th in Harwich.
ADA REVISIONS: Peggy read an E-mail from Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) asking disability advocates to comment on the proposed ADA revisions which, if approved, will reduce the protections currently in the ADA. Richard will do so.
These Minutes were approved electronically on September 18, 2008.
NEXT MEETING – WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2008 at 9:30 AM in the LARGE Meeting Room
Respectfully Submitted,
Helen Derman, Secretary
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