PUBLIC ACCESS COMMITTEE OF EASTHAM
September 29, 2009
Present: Richard Adelman, Helen Derman, Peggy Kern, David Kern, Grady Scholl, Jeanette Marcucci
Town Officials: Aimee Eckman, Liaison to Selectmen
Aimee attended her first PACE meeting as our Liaison to the Board of Selectmen. The Committee explained our mission as an advisory committee to the Town on disability issues. We informed her of our current initiatives and concerns, i.e. compliance on HP-parking signage, Visitability, a rental beach wheelchair, networking with other Cape Disability Commissions, the 9/16/09 meeting with the Mass. Office on Disability (MOD), and our need to recruit up to 3 more members for PACE.
CORRESPONDENCE: Jeanette sent a thank you letter to Natural Resources and a Best Wishes note to Norah Scholl.
PACE /PLANNING BOARD EFFORT re: VISITABILITY BYLAW: Frank DeFelice, Building Inspector/ADA Coordinator did not attend this meeting so we don’t know the outcome of his discussion with Sarah Raposa, Planning Board.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE NEWSLETTER: Grady has agreed to look at the revised (2006) HP parking & signage regs to condense them to a clear concise paragraph for the Chamber of Commerce newsletter and for distribution to businesses in Town.
TOWN PROJECTS:
Lobster Shanty – One HP space markings & sign are in place, but no “van”. Richard will write a letter to the State on Community Monitor stationery re: owner’s continuing procrastination on becoming compliant. In the spring, PACE will monitor the owner’s response and insist that a CO is not issued until owner is compliant.
BEACHES/RECREATION: Mark Powers did not attend – no report on summer successes or issues.
This summer Richard spoke to the owner of Little Capistrano re: possibility of having a beach wheelchair available for rent. Grady will talk to her again to let her know the benefits of having such a wheelchair. She will get some statistics from Mark re: requests to borrow the chair for day(s), take it out of town, and/or use it for a week or weekend. PACE questioned the policy of returning the wheelchair at 4 PM, when the attendant leaves. Can provisions be made to return it later, i.e. 6 or 7 PM on summer days?
LOWER CAPE OUTREACH COUNCIL:. PACE will speak on Visitability at their December 11th meeting. Grady will be the speaker.
STATE/DISABILITY COMMITTEES MEETING, SEPTEMBER 16th:
Helen distributed unofficial notes that were taken at the meeting.
Aimee suggested that PACE contact State Rep.Sarah Peake re: pending legislation requiring additional ID (for disabled without a driver’s license) to purchase alcohol. Aimee plans to attend the Barnstable County Department of Human Services meeting on 10/23/09, “Americans with Disabilities Act 20 Years Later….It’s More Than Just Ramps”.
PACE BROCHURES: More brochures are needed to refill the holders around Town. Helen will ask Ed Atwood to print up another 300.
OTHER DISABILITIES COMMITTEES/COMMISSIONS: Maureen Steinmann, Chair of Brewster DC was added to our mailing list for Minutes and Agendas. Carla Burke of Harwich asked for and received our PACE brochure. We discussed HP parking in Orleans and our need to re-establish contact with the Orleans DC to discuss common concerns. They meet the 4th Friday of the month at 3 PM and have invited us to attend.
NEW PACE MEMBERS: Helen will contact Newcomers, Aimee will speak to Tricia Ford, Search Committee. David said we all should approach people personally. Jeanette will put another notice in the COA newsletter.
UPCOMING MEETINGS:
Cape Cod Health & Wellness Expo October 9-10 at The Resort and Conference Center in Hyannis
ADA 20 Years Later October 23 at Dennis Church of the Nazarene
Cape Cod Chapter of the Hearing Loss Assn. October 24 at Dennis Public Library
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