PUBLIC ACCESS COMMITTEE OF EASTHAM
MAY 12, 2009
Present: Richard Adelman, Helen Derman, Peggy Kern, David Kern, Grady Scholl
Town Officials: Frank DeFelice, Building Inspector, ADA Coordinator; Neil Andres, DPW;
Mark Powers, Recreation/Beaches
TOWN PROJECTS:
A letter was sent to retired Police Chief Hedlund, thanking him for his support of P.A.C.E. activities in the community.
Neil reported that DPW is repainting all the Town parking lots, including the HP spaces. He will also add the “VAN” signs to the current HP signs. Brackett Road construction: Tim Hannon manages the property for the owner. (timothy.b.hannon@ustrust.com). Owner has agreed to allow the Town to combine parking lots and alter the traffic flow so that the exit will be at the Sam’s Deli end. There
will be a HP van space in front of the Bait & Tackle Shop. A sidewalk will be put in on the post office side. A crossing light will be added so pedestrians can cross Brackett Road at the Route 6 light. In the future, a sidewalk is planned for the CC5 bank side. Thumpertown Beach stairs have been replaced and there is now an accessible platform at the top.
Frank’s report on businesses: 1) Woody’s Eastham Lobster Pool is opening in ~3 weeks. Frank will check their bathrooms for accessibility. 2) Mac’s Seafood is already open; there is an 8” step in front. Owner is putting in a ramp and a railing to make it accessible. 3) Lobster Shanty - Cannot open until HP space(s)/markings/signs are installed properly per letter from the State. Frank will not issue a CO until that work is completed. 4) Frank will send a letter to Jim Russo, new owner of the former Sea Dog Restaurant, requesting that the bathrooms be made accessible. 5) Frank reported no new building permits. New Building Code requirements for 2x6 construction and costlier windows, etc. have had an effect on the number of permits. Less
costly options: Remodeling done under the old Code and modular homes that are built to the new Code standard. 5) Brackett Landing – David asked about the accessibility of the 2 units. Frank said that they were not mandated to be fully accessible. David suggested that PACE could write a letter requesting an inspection by P.A.C.E. 6) Richard reported that the trails after the Wiley Park bridge were finished in March. 7) Arnold’s repainted their parking lot, have 3 HP spaces including one that adjoins the driving area. That could be dangerous for someone exiting the HP vehicle. Frank will speak to them. Richard spoke to Tom Hopkins, MAAB re: the required number of HP spaces. One Van HP space is required for every 1-to-25 spaces in each parking lot.
BEACHES/RECREATION: Mark will hold the orientation for Beach Attendants on July 9th at 8 AM at First Encounter. Richard and Grady will present PACE materials and discuss/demo the use of the beach wheelchair. They will also assign the Town beaches to PACE members to monitor throughout the summer. Due to budget cuts, Cooks Brook will not have an attendant during the week. Envelopes for paying for a day-pass will be available on an honor system. Rec. Dept. will collect envelopes periodically each day. The beach wheelchair will be kept at Campground (instead of Cooks Brook) this year. The parking arrangement for Eastham residents at Nauset Light will be the same as last year. Also due to budget constraints, no new Mobimats will be purchased this year. PACE will speak to Neil re: adding Mobimats to the Capital Budget. Mobimats are in place at First Encounter. Frank and Neil will check the ramps at First Encounter and Wiley Park to mitigate the drop-offs at the ends due to
shifting sand.
Richard will contact the bike shops and the Chamber of Commerce to float the idea of the bike shops having a beach wheelchair available for rent. PACE will suggest a meeting in September to discuss the possibility. Mark reports that he gets many requests to take the beach wheelchairs overnight/for the week/to other towns. He has to say no and thinks that it could be a good business opportunity for the bike shops to have a rental beach wheelchair. The Chamber could promote it in their publications.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: Richard spoke to Jan Moore, the new head. Previously, PACE had sent an article on Visitability and an article about the “VAN” signs (plus pictures) to the former head of the C of C for their newsletter. Richard will check with Jan to see if we need to resend these articles so they can be published. He would also like the Chamber to include the PACE brochure in their yearly “Eastham” booklet that visitors pick up around Town
LOWER CAPE OUTREACH COUNCIL:. Have requested that PACE speak on Visitability at their September meeting. Richard will get the date and time of the meeting. Grady agreed to be the speaker.
OTHER DISABILITY COMMITTEES:
Juan Donlin, Dennis DC is organizing a regional meeting of disability committees on September 16th in conjunction with MOD.
Jamie Balliett, Orleans DC spoke to Richard about a regional meeting. Richard informed him of the September date.
Re: the Governor’s Office Memorandum of Understanding (in which a blanket variance to reduce the ADA compliance requirements for accessibility) was rescinded before a letter-writing campaign got underway.
PACE BROCHURES: 500 copies have been printed and will be distributed around Town. Large-Print availability was left off the brochure inadvertently. Mady, Building Department will be asked to keep a few large print versions on file and will add “large-print available on request” when we need another batch of brochures printed up.
Grady & Peggy will get Lucite holders. The brochures will be distributed as follows:
Kerns – North Eastham Post Office, COA, Natural Resources (where beach/transfer station stickers sold), Salt Pond Visitors Center
Grady – Eastham Post Office, Town Hall, Information Center, Library
Richard – Sam’s Deli, Superette
Helen – Sheraton, Captain’s Quarters
LONG-RANGE PLANNING: Richard spoke with Sarah Raposa, Long-Range Planning Advisory Board re: meeting with PACE to explain Visitability and to discuss a possible Visitability Bylaw to be approved by the Selectmen and then incorporated in the next version of the Town’s Long Range Plan. Richard will invite her to a PACE meeting. He will contact Myra Berloff of MOD for documentation of the Town’s right to pass a Visitability Bylaw.
WINDMILL WEEKEND:~ Helen noted that she will be off-Cape the weekend of September 11-13.~ The forms for space on the Green have already gone out.~ At the next PACE meeting our level of participation will be determined.~
These Minutes were approved electronically on May 15, 2009.
NEXT MEETING – TUESDAY, June 9, 2009 at 9:30 AM in the LARGE Meeting Room.
Respectfully Submitted,
Helen Derman, Secretary
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