PUBLIC ACCESS COMMITTEE OF EASTHAM
JUNE 9, 2009
Present: Richard Adelman, Helen Derman, Peggy Kern, David Kern, Grady Scholl, Jeanette Marcucci
Town Officials: Frank DeFelice, Building Inspector, ADA Coordinator; Sarah Raposa, Town Planner;
Mark Powers, Recreation/Beaches; Jan Moore, Chamber of Commerce
PACE /PLANNING BOARD EFFORT re: VISITABILITY BYLAW: Sarah attended to determine/define the Planning Board’s role in enacting a Visitability Bylaw. David stated that Myra Berloff, MOD has said that such a Bylaw has to be passed on a town-by-town basis. Sarah will contact Myra for clarification and will talk to Richard again. Sarah was given a copy of Eastham’s Visitability Resolution that was passed by the Selectmen in 2005. Sarah/Planning Board would like to see other towns’ Bylaws to study the language before trying to craft one for Eastham.
Grady and Richard plan to attend the Planning Board Work Session on June 23, 2009 at 4:00PM.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: Jan Moore is the new head of the Chamber. Jan will look in the archives of the C of C Newsletter to see if the two PACE articles that were submitted last fall were published. If she doesn’t find them, PACE will resubmit them to info@easthamchamber.com. One was a brief explanation of Visitability; the other concerned adding “VAN” signs to existing HP parking-space signs and having the appropriate pavement markings. Photographs of correct signage/markings were included.
Regarding HP parking space sign regulations, Jean Ann McLaughlin, Governor’s Advisory Council E-mailed clarification of May’s Minutes which should have read: 1-25 is for HP parking places. Of them you must have 1 in 8 HP spaces Van accessible with a minimum of 1 space. (One in every eight accessible spaces, but not less than one, shall be van accessible, See 521 CMR 23.4.7.) Jan asked where the signs can be purchased. Frank will find out where the Town gets them. Richard said that Aubuchon Hardware carries
them. Grady asked that the availability of the beach wheelchairs be put in the newsletter. David asked if our PACE brochure could be published in the yearly “Eastham” booklets that visitors pick up all over the Lower Cape. Jan took the brochure with her and will add the handicapped (wheelchair) logo to the businesses that are mentioned in both the brochure and in “Eastham” booklet. The C of C office is at Willy’s Gym. C of C staff visited all the hotels/motels in Town. They looked at accommodations/cleanliness etc. Jan will get the results of this survey to PACE.
Jan was questioned re: PACE’s membership status in the Chamber. Her answer: PACE is considered a business entity so we are members of the Chamber. Richard has been receiving the newsletter and meeting announcements electronically. Jan said any PACE member who wishes to receive E-mailings should provide their address. Helen will forward a list of PACE members and their contact info; only Richard will receive the E-mailings and he will forward appropriate ones to other PACE members. Jan said that 30,000 people come into the Information Center, not counting the visitors that stop at the outdoor kiosk. Info Center is currently open daily 10-5. In July and August they are open 7 days a week from 9-6.
TOWN PROJECTS:
Frank’s report on businesses: 1) Mac’s Seafood front ramp is not in yet. 2) Lobster Shanty - HP space(s)/markings/signs haven’t been inspected yet. Frank will not issue a CO until that work is completed. 3) Frank talked to Jim Russo, new owner of Messina (former Sea Dog Restaurant), re: making the bathrooms accessible. 4) Brackett Landing – David again asked about the accessibility of the 2 units. Frank said that he would get the information on those two units from Glen Dumont and will get the info tp PACE. 5) Arnold’s HP spaces, including one that adjoins the driving area, are still “a work in progress” despite a visits from Frank and Richard to explain the proper signs/markings. Frank follow up again.
BEACHES/RECREATION: Mark will hold the orientation for Beach Attendants on July 9th at 3:30 PM 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 have a half-time 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. Mark and Christine from Rec Dept. write tickets for HP-space violations at the Town beaches only. Town Clerk gets a copy of each ticket. She writes a letter if the fine isn’t paid after 30 days and the $150 fine is doubled. If there is no response, goes to court.
The beach wheelchairs will be kept at Campground (instead of Cooks Brook) and First Encounter this year. It is used on a first come/first served basis. Calls to the Rec. Dept. for questions; wheelchairs are not delivered to homes or beaches.
Richard spoke to Don Watson at Idle Times Bike Shop re: possibility of having a beach wheelchair available for rent. Don was receptive to the idea. Richard will speak to the owners of Little Capistrano also and will suggest a meeting in October to discuss the possibility of the shops’ purchasing/sharing a rental beach wheelchair.
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. Helen will contact Juan for an update.
PACE BROCHURES: 500 copies have been printed and were distributed around Town as follows:
Kerns – Willy’s Gym, 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. Jeanette noted corrections that need to be made already. 1) Sea Dog Restaurant needs to be replaced by Messina and new phone number. 2) Church of the Visitation is closed/should be removed. 3) Under Saltwater Beaches “Cooks Brook Beach*” should now say “Campground Beach*” for wheelchair availability. Mady, Building Department will be asked to make these changes for when we need another batch of brochures printed up.
WINDMILL WEEKEND:~~ PACE will not participate this year.
These Minutes were approved electronically on July 7, 2009.
NEXT MEETING – TUESDAY, August 4, 2009 at 9:30 AM in the LARGE Meeting Room.
Respectfully Submitted,
Helen Derman, Secretary
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