PUBLIC
ACCESS COMMITTEE OF EASTHAM
May 25, 2011
Present: Lori Hovenstine, Meeting Chair; Asa Decker; Helen Derman; Peggy Kern; Jeanette Marcucci
Town Officials: Mark Powers, Beaches & Recreation; Frank DeFelice, ADA Coordinator/Building Inspector
Minutes of the April 20, 2011 meeting were approved.
APRIL PRESENTATIONS:
Letters were sent to Ronnie Gullette of MASS211, Mary Lee Mantz of Nauset Neighbors, and Al Alfano of the Library Building Plans Committee to thank them for their presentations on their respective programs that address the needs of the disabled community as well as the community at large.
INTERIM CORRESPONDENCE: A new, revised booklet on the Open Meeting Laws was given to PACE. We will circulate it to members for review.
TOWN PROJECTS: Mac’s Seafood – The ramp is in place, however it has a turn that wasn’t in the original drawing that Frank showed us last month. Lori noted that this part of the ramp is steeper than ADA requirements making wheelchair access difficult. The owner has contacted Frank and said he would make any adjustments needed to meet the requirements. Lori suggested that the HP space be moved adjacent to the ramp.
Lobster Shanty: Not open yet. Frank will check that the HP space/signage is still in place before issuing a CO.
General Store, Brackett Road Village Green: Lori has been asking Brian Eastman, owner re: a ramp for HP access to the store. He recently said that the cement company doesn’t want to come until the fall. He has been working on a plan to install a ramp. (Has he Frank seen this plan?)
Cooks Brook bathhouse: A cement modular structure is now in place. There are 4 outdoor showers attached to the building’s sides. Insurance covered the entire cost ($67,000) since the previous building was unusable after a fire last year.
In answer to the question re: number of second-floor apartments in a building that would trigger the inclusion of an elevator in the plans : (From June 11, 2008 Minutes) “FUTURE TOWN PROJECTS: Sheila reported that any housing-above-shops will not be accessible. The shops will be separate buildings with no more than 2 units above. The planned elderly housing buildings, with frontage on Route 6, Holms, & Brackett Roads, will be larger; elevators are planned. “
BEACHES AND RECREATION: Mark: Split rail fencing was put in to “dress up” the beach and to protect the edge of the pavement. HP signs and spaces will be put up/repainted within the next couple of weeks at all Town beaches. The beach wheelchairs will be kept at First Encounter and Campground beaches again this year. The bathhouse at Cooks Brook will open July 1st. Beach Attendant Orientation will be Wednesday, July 13th at Cooks Brook. Mark will bring the beach wheelchair. PACE will contact the newspapers re: an article on the new assessible bathhouse perhaps when the orientation is held. (Jeanette?) At the next meeting, Asa will review the PACE beach assignments for monitoring in the summer.
The Town’s agreement with the National Seashore re: the Eastham parking spaces at Nauset Light beach has been extended for 5 years. David/Peggy Kern will check on the concerns that David voiced to the National Seashore last season to see if there are still issues to address and if so, as PACE’s liaison, he will follow up with Karst Hoogeboom, Maintenance Supervisor for the National Seashore.
Mobimat at Cole Road is showing signs of wear after 6 years. Mobimat is expensive and there are different grades available. The trial one at Cole Road was the lowest grade. Mark plans to put in next year’s capital budget Mobimat for two Town beaches. He’ll request the medium grade mat so it will last about a decade. He suggested a letter from PACE in September to the Town Administrator and Beaches and Recreation in support of these Mobimat purchases.
RE: QUESTION ON NEXT TOWN CENSUS: Peggy spoke with Lillian Lamperti, Town Clerk re: a question on the next census form asking the number of disabled in each household. Lillian spoke to the Secretary of State and was told that it is “not allowed”. Peggy also spoke to Jeff Dougan (MOD) who had said his town of Scituate did have such a question on their census form. Jeff is working on legislation that would allow all towns to include such a question. He will get back to Peggy. A separate piece of paper with the question on it, to be included with the census form, is also not possible since the town sends the forms out to be printed/addressed/sent to residents so we wouldn’t have the opportunity to include our question that way either.
PACE BROCHURE: Last updated April 2009. Helen met with Frank to note the businesses that had changed owners/locations since then. Mary Beth, Town Clerk’s office, gave Helen a list of new and discontinued businesses. Lori will check on their accessibility and will report her findings to Helen. Helen will submit a draft to Maddie, Building Inspector’s office for printing. It has worked well to print 200 copies initially and then have additional copies printed as needed to refill the holders around town.
COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN’S OPEN HOUSE: June 4, 2011 at Town Hall from 10AM to Noon. Helen made up a packet of materials related to our Committee work including a flyer that gives a brief history of the Committee and some of our initiatives over the years. Asa will be there at 10AM. Peggy and Jeanette will join him at 10:30.
LETTER TO AIMEE ECKMAN, PACE’S SELECTMAN LIAISON: Lori will send a letter to Aimee expressing our dismay to find out that our entire April meeting was aired on cable television when no one had told us that the meeting would be videoed. If one of our guests had requested that, we should have been informed.
The other issue Lori will raise is that PACE members requesting copies of PACE-related business have been told that they have to pay $0.25 a page. PACE has no budget, all members are volunteer and shouldn’t have to pay for copies related to PACE/Town business. It was also noted that we can no longer use PACE stationery. Letters from PACE are now printed on Town stationery.
PACE’s role re: “Model Employer Initiative” – Tabled until next meeting.
PACE ROTATING CHAIRMANSHIP: Lori Hovenstine will Chair the June meeting.
Duties of the next Chair: 1) Check the PACE mailbox at Town Hall periodically, 2) Make phone calls that need to be made, 3) Plan the meeting Agenda with Secretary (Helen) two-three weeks before the meeting.
NEXT MEETING: Wednesday, June 22, 2011 in Large Meeting Room, Town Hall, at 1:30 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Helen Derman, Secretary
P.A.C.E.
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