PUBLIC ACCESS COMMITTEE OF EASTHAM
September 28, 2011
Present: Lori Hovenstine, Meeting Chair; Asa Decker; Helen Derman; Peggy Kern; David Kern, Jeanette Marcucci
Town Officials: Mark Powers, Beaches & Recreation; Frank DeFelice, Building Inspector/ADA Coordinator; Aimee Eckman , Selectman Liaison
Guest: Marilyn Miller from the Cape Codder
Minutes of the June 22, 2011 meeting were approved.
INTERIM CORRESPONDENCE:
Received
Fair Housing Act Design Manual –Kept in the Building Inspector’s office
Harwich and Brewster DC Minutes
2010-2011 Cape Cod Disability Booklet from Jean Ann McLaughlin for updating
E-mails from Jeff Dougan, MOD re: S.1718 on Mass. ID Card & Meeting Dates through Nov. 7 on “Transportation Access for All”
E-mail from Eileen Morgan – she filled out the Volunteer Form to join the P.A.C.E. Committee
To Be Sent –
Jeanette presented drafts of two letters: 1) To Tom Conrad, Principal of Nauset Regional High School re: accessibility issues raised by CORD on behalf of current and incoming students, and 2) To Sheila Vanderhof, Administrator and Board of Selectmen in support of adding Mobimats to the capital budget. PACE made additions to both letters; Jeanette will send out the letters on Town stationery. Copies of letters are attached below.
Informatin Storage –
Helen requested that a PACE member volunteer to be a librarian for the disability literature that we receive and want to keep on file. Currently each member has some documents, but we’d like a central location for everything. Aimee will ask Sheila if PACE might have a file cabinet at Town Hall.
TOWN PROJECTS: Building Inspector/ADA Coordinator’s report: Mac’s Seafood –HP space should be moved adjacent to the ramp. General Store, Brackett Road Village Green: No plan for a ramp. Not required (grandfathered) unless major renovations are done to the building. Cooks Brook bathhouse: Opened officially on July 13th with press coverage by the Cape Codder. Accessibility of Chapel in the Pines: Peggy reports that there is an accessible ramp and door on the right side of the building. She will check again for a HP sign on the side of the building to let the public know where the accessible entrance is; it is not visible from the front of the building. Willy’s Gym –
The Kerns found that the elevator buttons work, but once someone is in it, it doesn’t operate. They talked to Barbara Niggel and inspected the elevator twice. On last visit, the operational problem was fixed, but the ground-level access door opened while the elevator was elevated causing concern that someone could get underneath it while it was operating. PACE questioned Frank re: the State’s responsibility in inspecting/certifying elevators. Frank will follow up at Willy’s. Tedeschi’s: HP spot now bordered by Jersey barriers including one at the end of the spot. However, the public telephone is behind the barrier of the HP spot. Frank reported that Tedeschi’s is about to repave the whole lot and change the pumps so he and Lori will meet with the manager to make suggestions re: the HP spot placement and markings. Lobster Shanty: Lori saw no HP sign or space. They had
been in compliance last year. Frank will follow up. Other changes in Town: Cumberland Farms owns the land behind the Gulf gas station up to the Cape Cod 5 Bank. They are planning to take down the building at the Brackett Road corner and build a 3000’ store. A towing company is going in next to Fleming’s Donuts; the land is owned by the owner of Box Lunch. A car-detailing & selling business will be at the corner of Brackett & Holms. They are allowed to display only one vehicle outside, but would like to display 4-5. Both Cumberland Farms owner and car -business owner are going before the Zoning and Planning Boards on November 17th. The owners of T-Time driving range want to do something different with that property. Frank notified them they are in District E that can be residential and/or business. Subway opened (in Willy’s Gym) last week.
BEACHES AND RECREATION: Mark: Beach Attendant Orientation at Cooks Brook went well. Asa, Lori , Jeanette, and Helen participated. Mark’s Wish List for Mobimats: replace Cole Road mat; up to 600’ of mat at Bee’s River. This part of First Encounter is pristine with a long walk over sand to get to the tidal river beach area. Mobimat would make it accessible for everyone. Summer Beach report: Lots of compliments on changes/new bathhouse at Cooks Brook. The usage of Cooks Brook doubled this year. This is the first summer that no tickets were issued for parking in HP spots. Minor problems with using HP spots to drop off beachgoers. David complimented Neil Andres and the DPW on fixing the HP sign/markings at South Sunken
Meadow; sand in that space still a problem. It was noted that No Smoking is allowed on Town beaches, only in the parking lots.
PACE BROCHURE: Helen, with Frank and Lori’s help, completed the PACE Brochure update including the determination that 85% of Eastham buildings are now accessible. Frank’s office printed up 200 copies in regular and large-print formats. Lori distributed new brochures to PACE members so they can refill their respective holders around town and discard the old brochures. Asa will use the new brochure to update the info in the Cape Cod Disability Directory and will forward any changes to Jean Ann McLaughlin. David suggested that PACE do a survey of the 15% of businesses that are not yet accessible to encourage them to help Eastham become “the first town in Massachusetts that is 100% accessible.” Peggy will get the list of the 15% non-accessible businesses
from the Town Clerk’s office. David also noted that some of the Real Estate businesses are not accessible and suggested we meet with the Chamber of Commerce and/or attend their November meeting to make it known that accessibility of all businesses in Eastham is an ongoing goal of PACE and the Town. A PACE member(s) will be designated at our October 19th meeting to attend the November Chamber meeting.
SEARCH COMMITTEE PROCEDURE: The Search Committee will contact Helen to set up a meeting with potential member, Eileen Morgan and PACE Chair (Lori), Bob Smith, PACE’s liaison to the Search Committee, and Aimee Eckman, the Selectmen’s liaison to PACE.
FALMOUTH ROAD RACE TREATMENT OF WHEELCHAIR ENTRANTS BY PETER PAN BUS DRIVERS: Asa raised a question about this article in the Cape Cod Times:
Helen will send this link to Jeff Dougan at MOD to ask if MOD is aware and can influence the bus company to better-train drivers in treatment of disabled travelers.
PACE ROTATING CHAIRMANSHIP: Lori Hovenstine will Chair the October 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, October 19, 2011 in Timothy Smith Meeting Room, upstairs at Town Hall, at 1:30 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Helen Derman, Clerk
P.A.C.E.
These Minutes were approved on October 19, 2011 .
ADDENDUM:
To: Tom Conrad, Principal, Nauset Regional High School
From: Public Access Committee of Eastham (P.A.C.E.)
It has come to our attention through a call from CORD that there are accessibility issues at the high school, for both present and incoming students. These issues are the teaching kitchen where Life Skills are taught and the area behind the stage. This committee's goal is to make all public buildings in Eastham fully accessible for the disabled. We would welcome you or your representative to be present at one of our meetings at Town Hall or members of P.A.C.E. could meet with you at the school. If you are considering developing a long-term plan for ensuring accessibility at Nauset Regional High School, P.A.C.E. offes its assistance in participating in this process. Our next meeting is scheduled for October 19 at 1:30 P.M.
To: Eastham Administrator and Selectmen
From: Public Access Committtee of Eastham, P.A.C.E.
The members of P.A.C.E. unanimously support the use of Mobi-mats at the Eastham public beaches. These mats have helped the disabled in wheelchairs as well as those using walkers or canes by providing access to the beaches. More Mobi-mats are needed and these items should be included in the town's capital budget for as long as they are needed. The mat at Cole Road Beach needs replacement. Bee's River is a priority for new Mobi-mats as it is an ideal area for their use. The town has long supported meeting the needs of the disabled and should continue to do so by approving the purchase of more mats.
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