MINUTES – NOVEMBER 8, 2012
MASHPEE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT COMMITTEE
MASHPEE TOWN HALL, CONFERENCE 2
Present: Robert Wooldridge, Beverly Wooldridge, Charles Maintanis, Kathleen Moore, Patricia Parolski, Michele Brady, Carol Sherman.
Catherine Laurent was also present:
Absent: Marilyn Farren and Mert Sapers.
Called to Order: The meeting was called to order at 2:05 p.m. by Chairman Robert Wooldridge.
Chairman Wooldridge announced since Catherine Laurent was present, he would begin the meeting with items further down the agenda.
Status of Boat Ramp Upgrades. Catherine reported there will be some immediate repairs to the boat ramps. It won’t be building anything new but repairing what is existing. Through CIP funds, there will be improvements made to the landing at Great River which will include the reconstruction of the parking lot, reconstruction of boat ramp and replacement of the dock that is there. We will be supporting the project but it will be subject to funding. Bob asked about the article on boat ramp projects in the Enterprise. Catherine said if we get funding for the new facility, it would be at Great River which would be accessible. Bob commented if we could get one ramp accessible it would be great. He also said he spoke to Tom O’Hara and asked him about the CPA funds and asked him if it
would fall under outdoor recreation. Bob stated that Tom indicated that there is money and he thought that using it for a boat ramp would be appropriate. Catherine said if it is a viable source of funding, we should take advantage of it. CPA projects need to be approved at town meeting and they just closed the May town meeting. We can work on this and if it is something we can use the money for we could apply for the October town meeting. Catherine said they just changed the legislation to allow use of the funds for certain recreational improvements unless the property was purchased with CPA or Land Bank money.
Catherine stated that one of the applications they did submit for this round of CPA money is for improvements to the playground at Heritage Park. Part of that would be in the front of the park so we will be making improvements and replacing structures at the front of the park.
Bob said in the October town meeting warrant, there was an article to allocate the funds for four of the five categories but none allocated for outdoor recreation. Catherine explained CPC has three categories: Historical Preservation, Affordable Housing, and Open Space. Recreation comes under Open Space.
Bob reported that he received some info from Harwich that there is an ADA checklist for readily achievable barrier removal for recreation areas, etc. He will check on this and get the info to the members.
Bob asked if Catherine would be working from the plans that Steve Hone, Harbormaster, had and Catherine said Steve did drop off the plans but DPW would be working with an engineer on the project and didn’t think they could commit to a particular manufacturer. Some of the things they proposed in that design are what the Conservation Committee would be looking for. Bob thought that was a good starting point. He said Steve was trying to go down the road of getting State funding which he understands we would lead to Mashpee losing control over the use of the land. Catherine noted that if State money is used we would have to open it up to all in Massachusetts. Kathleen noted the Selectmen were not open to State takeover.
Seven Year Action Plan. Bob referred to the Seven Year Action Plan that Tom Fudala drew up from an accessibility report that he had to submit in 2010. Charlie said this was May 13, 2010. Tom Fudala was at our meeting and said it was the Planning Department effort. There was a whole series of different actions that he identified that needs to be addressed. Catherine said this is the accessibility report that the town was required to file with the State. It talked about improvements for recreation facilities in general. It is a few years old and some of the items identified have already been accomplished. Catherine said she will scan it and get it to each member.
Catherine noted what would be helpful is if the members could prioritize the improvements. She said when she emails the action plan, she will note what has already been accomplished. Bob said if we all get a copy and take a look at it then we can talk about prioritizing at that time.
Areas of Refuge. Catherine noted the areas of refuge at the schools and understands the subject will be discussed at an upcoming meeting Michele said the meeting is set for 2:00 on Thursday December 13. Michele felt it would be easier to meet at the schools.
Charlie said the building department code drives this along with the cooperation from the fire department so we can identify the rooms. These areas were not required when the schools were built but ADA regulations require upgrades that are readily achievable. Michele said she has the areas but there seems to be a lack of communication. Fire and Police need to know as well as all of the staff where the areas of refuge are located.
Charlie felt what motivated this review was that there was a disabled student on the second floor of a school and this was brought to the Building Department’s attention and they were trying to get an area of refuge/rescue that is on the same floor as close as possible to a set of stairs. Michele said she was told the refuge area for the high school and the middle school is the upstairs A wing balcony near the middle school entrance. Charlie said they would have to take a look at it because it needs to meet code requirements. Michele also noted the B wing near the elevator which she thought was a hallway might work. Charlie said a hallway would not qualify. Catherine stated that the DPW would need to know if there would need to be building improvements. Charlie said if it is not readily achievable it is
not a requirement but an open hallway wouldn’t qualify. He will go back to the code and review how the requirement is spelled out, i.e., two way communication, separate room, and as close to the exit as possible. Michele said they will keep the meeting on the 13th at the school so everyone can see the actual rooms. Richard Morgan, acting Building Commissioner, is part time only and is not available on a Thursday unless he wants Charlie to do it. The area at the Quashnet School was going to be the cafeteria near the stage. Patricia said they need to have a communication capability. There is a back door right near the stage at Quashnet. Michele noted they do have a student in a wheelchair there. There is a door in proximity but didn’t know about communication. Michele said she would check. Patricia noted that formerly the Quashnet site was the music room which of course is right by a door and had
a communication capability and is extremely close to the exit. Michele stated when she talks to the KC Coombs Principal tomorrow, November 9th, she would keep these things in mind. Patricia said she thinks they had a room near the elevator upstairs and they were going to use the teacher’s lounge on the first floor of Coombs which was juxtaposed to the exit. She thought those were the former plans. The teachers’ lounge is next to the nurse’s station. Catherine said the issue there is the path from the classrooms. Charlie said it is only for the second floor when you must use the stairs or elevator that a room of refuge is needed. Michele said the elevator upstairs is near the library but you have to go around and in and there is no other room near the elevator. Charlie noted it doesn’t have to be near the elevator, it has to be near a set of stairs. Michele said the stairs are near the elevator
and they go directly outside. Charlie said he would review the code. Bob said someone must identify who needs these areas of refuge. Michele said she knows who needs it. Catherine said when the school has fire drills the students should be going to those areas. Michele said she thinks the kids who would need these areas are on the ground floor but they may from time to time go upstairs especially if they are in the library but all the core classes are downstairs. Michele reiterated the meeting on December 13th and will get back to the committee in January.
Charlie asked if the handicap parking signs were put in at the KC Coombs School parking lot and asked about the handicap parking at the concession. Michele said yes the signs are there and last Friday (November 2nd) the parking lot was paved and now they just have to line it and have the police enforce it.
Bob noted at the Quashnet School on election day, the button for outer door was not working. Catherine said sometimes it is a matter of checking the batteries. She will make a note of it. No one has reported it. The members thanked Catherine for coming to the meeting.
Approval of Minutes: The members reviewed the minutes of September 13, 2012. Michele suggested a change in the minutes. She said she wanted to clarify under the area of refuge at the school she was told that the fire department was aware. She didn’t talk to the fire department. She just wanted to clarify that. Bob said we will just end the sentence with the area of refuge and leave off the fire department.
Patricia moved to approve the minutes of the September meeting with the change as noted. Seconded by Beverly Wooldridge. Vote unanimous.
Bob said he will try to make the correction and if not he will let Marilyn know. Kathleen said she would take care of it.
Bob said the accessible mailbox at Town Hall has been moved as you exit the parking lot which will get some use.
Proposals for CPC Funding. Bob felt we should wait until we can prioritize.
Buses. Bob said the wheelchair accessible tour bus situation is increasingly frustrating. Very few tour buses in Mass are accessible. He was discussing this with other disability committees on the Cape. There is a study checking accessibility of taxis and the study is also including buses. It is a combined study with the Mass Office on Disability and Disability Policy Consortium. Bob said we are talking primarily about tour buses for day trips. Most vans have the accessibility but most of them are on fixed routes. Bob said if you want to go on a senior center tour you can’t do it. The study should be finished at the first of the year and a recommendation for legislation is going to be prepared. Mass Office on Disabilities said within a five year period all of these tour
bus companies are going to have to have at least one bus. The way it is now if you sign up for a trip whoever is providing the trip has to provide a wheelchair accessible bus. Bev noted it will cost more than a regular bus. Bob said everyone needs to pay a higher price. Patricia said the extra charge could possibly be discriminatory. Bob the lawyers at the Dept. of Transportation may be looking at it as a cost of doing business. Patricia noted those trips are usually seniors and to cater to them would be a smart business practice. Michele said either that or the government subsidizes.
Bob noted we will keep plugging on this but will be ending up with a void with Jim Long retiring. He has been very helpful with getting this moving.
Kathleen noted that the Human Services Committee was going to meet today but they canceled and maybe we could meet with them at our next meeting.
Bob spoke about coming up with a brochure of accessibility situations at the commercial properties. Carol suggested when Mary Lou does the guidebook she could indicate accessibility by placing a star next to business name instead of making up a separate brochure. Carol said she could talk to Mary Lou about it. There would be no expense to us and it would help the businesses. Charlie asked who would identify the businesses. Carol felt this would have to come through the Building Department. Charlie said they could make the rounds. He said as an ADA member he could go around with someone and make recommendations.
Carol said she will be in touch with Mary Lou and maybe she could ask the businesses if they are accessible and then we could double check. Charlie said we would have to get permission from the businesses if we could do that.
Charlie reported he went over to Madaket business area and some people working there were parking in the handicap spaces. He said he can’t ticket, it would have to be ticketed by the police.
New Business
Charlie said we should try to correct some of the parking at some of the commercial developments.
Carol asked if the handicapped parking issue at Summerwood had been corrected regarding moving of a space. Bob wasn’t sure how this was resolved. He would check.
Kathleen reminded Bob that the Annual Report was due January 7. She suggested the report be reviewed at the next meeting.
Bob thanked Kathleen for her work at town meeting.
Bob announced that the next ADA meeting will be on January 10, 2013 at 2:00 p.m.
Bob asked Judy to notify Town Clerk so we get automatic meeting announcement. Once every other month, second Thursday at 2:00 otherwise we run the risk of the meetings not being posted properly.
Bob forgot to mention that the Dept. of Transportation is going around the State to various places to engage in public conversations about the transportation needs. The previous conversation we had is all feeding into this.
Kathleen moved to adjourn, seconded by Patricia. Vote unanimous. Meeting adjourned 3:05 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Judy Daigneault
Recording Secretary
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