Salem Commission on Disabilities
Tuesday July 20th, 2010
4:00PM
SATV Derby Street
Introductions
Present: Jack Harris, David Martel, Mike Tayl,or, Charlie Reardon, David Moisan, Andy LaPointe, Mike Sosnowski, and Jean Harrison. Debra Lobsitz and David Tracht did not make the meeting.
Meeting convened at 4 PM. We will not meet in August per our tradition and the city’s “off month”.
Old Business
4th of July
Jack: Ellen Talkowski deserves kudos—we got the things we wanted during the party. We got a seating area for the disabled by Derby St. People used it. We wanted Capt. Gilligan to have one of their officers assist wheelchair users. At the end of the event it’s a cattle stampede and no one can move.
We got a disabled portapotty.
David Martel: That needs to be done for Haunted Happenings as well—there’s real value in it with 100,000 people showing up.
Jack: We requested an access aisle—in the shape of a plus sign in the middle of the park. I didn’t see it.
David Martel: Could the groundkeeper from Bertram Field paint it a few days before?
Jack: Ellen was exploring that possibility but I don’t know what they did.
Dave Moisan: They staked it and chalked it. There were paper signs.
Jack: Ellen deserves a great amount of credit for doing this for us on short notice. I was in the disabled seating area and I thought it was very helpful.
Dave Moisan [responding to a question]: The disabled seating area was near Derby St. itself, near the walkway to Derby Wharf.
Jack: Next year we’ll get more notice and people will be more aware of these amenities.
Charlie: I talked to people who loved the area—it was so convenient!
Mike: It’s great for people in wheelchairs who can come, but do the hospitals take people out to events like this?
Mike Taylor: They have a community enrichment program for things like that. 4th of July is a low priority since everyone who’s able to would prefer to go home.
Andy LaPointe: I have to meet with Ellen on another matter? May I convey our appreciation?
Jean Levesque Update
Andy LaPointe: I talked with Jean’s daughters. He’s at Grosvenor Park [off Loring Ave at Vinnin Sq.] getting extensive therapy. Doing good. He’s hoping to leave next week. Visiting hours are from 8:30 AM to 8 PM. He asks if you’re going to come, call first, because he is often getting therapy during the day.
Salem Ferry
Jack: Land was bought from Blaney St. as some people know. The first cruise ship arrived, according to the News. The component to fix the accessible pier has been delayed. It’s in Beverly this week, but the company fabricating the part has given Tom St. Pierre the runaround.
This is a matter that the Commission should take a closer look at. We may want to look at where the planning department is, and make sure that accessibility is built in.
We also need to look at accessibility from Blaney St. down Derby St towards downtown. Sidewalks are narrow there and there will be a high volume of tourists. Look at renovations of the sidewalks in the area.
Audible Signals at Market Basket
David Moisan: The audible signal outside Pep Boys across from Market Basket has been repaired. When I first noticed it, I noted the audible signal had been repaired but the audio was not adjusted. This week, I noted the audio on the signal has been adjusted and is working normally. MassHighway didn’t give me any acknowledgement; I visit the area once a week.
I got an excellent point from David Martel about the lack of an audible signal at Salem Hospital. It’s a real problem early in the morning as the sun blinds people headed to the hospital from across Highland Ave.
My understanding is that the state only has jurisdiction over Rt. 107 as a highway, from the high school to the Lynn line and that’s why the crossings from the high school east to Boston St. have not been redone.
Jack: What happened, there were project parameters from the high school to the Lynn line only so other areas were not included. We can suggest to MassHighway, otherwise go to the City.
David Moisan: Never a good time, but if the Boston St. area comes up for discussion, the hospital could be brought up at the same time. It is a highly-trafficed area with many pedestrians on both sides of the street at all hours.
Jack: My understanding was, when renovations were done at Salem Hospital, they had discussed updating the signals at that area. We could put together a meeting and find out where people are.
Charlie: The old Salem Hospital entrance and the new entrance near Fairweather Apts., are too close together for lights.
Mike Sosnowki: Partners has a vision for the complex. The hospital’s plan is to remove the old entrance completely. The new entrance is to be closer to Fairweather. They’re still in the design phase—the light is not for pedestrians as much as for traffic.
Mike S.: As I recall, about where Dr. Curtin’s office [at or near Wilson Rd.] is where the state takes jurisdiction of the road, to the Lynn line.
Andy: You get my email about the traffic signals? The city engineer is supposed to be handing over control of the signals. We got a letter from the Commissioner of MassHighway, requesting contact.
Jack: Mike, have you any recommendations for that part of Highland Ave. and Partners?
Mike: Their design is in flux—they had one, but changed it. They had a design but were very uncertain if it would fit in their footprint and expected that it might change.
Jack: A separate matter with Partners is that they will be tearing down the old children’s hospital and building a 10 story tower there.
Election of Co-Chairs
Jack: I nominated David Tracht and Debra Lobsitz. I got a nomination for Charlie Reardon, and myself, but I’ve turned down my nomination. I’ve been here 20 years. It’s time. I’ve been here a long time.
David Moisan: I have printed ballots.
Charlie: I’ll be here anyway but I agree it is time to let the new blood in so I’m declining the nomination.
Andy: Accessible ballots?
Andy: You get my letter on Capt. Jodoin’s nomination? He has sent a letter asking to be nominated to the Commission.
Jack: Yes. And did you see the article about his dubious start? One of the only officers to nab someone for horse-napping?
Mike S.: We can take your vote privately if you like.
Andy: No, that’s fine. I’m an open book
[ballots were taken]
Andy: I wanted it done above-board so there’d be no questions.
Mike S: I have seven ballots out of nine members. Seven votes for Debra. Seven votes for David. Congratulations.
Results: Debra Lobsitz and David Tracht have been nominated. They will be our new Co-chairs in September
New Business
Harborwalk completion
Jack: Anyone go to the opening ceremonies?
David Moisan: I was there.
David Martel: It was excellent. A great design. The money was very well spent.
Charlie: It’s just the first phase?
David Martel: Yes. It has a playground with the same material as the playground for disabled children at the Common.
Charlie: Are there life rings? 911 callboxes?
David Martel: No
Charlie: When I was in Canada, I was on a harborfront walk with those things.
David Martel: Like that woman from Gulu-Gulu who drowned.
Jack: It has been suggested by the Commission in the past but we should bring it up again.
David Martel: The lighting is very good.
David Moisan: I was there for SATV. We were just down the street so I volunteered. What struck me: The fencing there on the Harborwalk is the same as other places like the Salem-Beverly Bridge or Leslie’s Retreat. I don’t know any place in Eastern Mass. that has lifejackets on coastal fences.
If you go to the back of the parking lot, past the overhead door shop, there is no fencing in back—just the stone and the South River.
Mike S.: It’s a private area. Discussions have been going on.
Jack: My understanding is that as waterfront property is developed, Ch. 91 becomes effective but not until it is redeveloped.
Mike S.: Same situation in tack here, at the former gas station that is used as a carnival every year.
Jack: In connecting up the Harborwalk with the Rocketts’ property at Pickering Wharf. The Rocketts’ wanted to expand the hotel, and needed permit, and got permits. They haven’t done work yet. I had thought there was a timeframe to insure access to the waterfront even though their plans haven’t yet gone forward.
Mike: There was a problem with a walkway where one part was 8 feet wide and the other part was 6 feet wide, and some other parts were less than 6 ft. That’s Bob McCarthy’s area.
Jack: I’m very interested. We’ve been pushing for access at Pickering Wharf. It becomes even more important to insure access to the disabled community.
Mike S.: It is in the best interests of the Rocketts’ to make this work.
Jack: People are going to walk down Derby St. and run into obstacles.
David Martel: Panhandlers. I got a complaint from a tourist about being stopped outside City Hall.
Mike S.: In the warmer weather, they’re around. When the cops come, they scatter. We do the best we can but can’t be everywhere. The police have these three-wheeled scooters.
Jack: They aren’t Segways—those are the two wheel balanced scooters. They have three-wheelers and bikes too. We’ll keep an eye on that.
Archived Meeting Media
David Moisan: Tape archives. All the meetings have been archived to tape for some time now. These no longer go to SATV—what SATV gets is a digital file. All the meeting videos are now on DVDs.
I’ve made two copies of every meeting. I got four boxes of CD-sized holders to complete two sets of media (two boxes each.) The boxes have been at my house; at one point, all our media was in a paper bag!
This has been uncharted territory for me. I need to store the boxes with the City. I still have to go to Jack’s house to find the Fidelco video.
David Martel: They were in a paper bag?
David Moisan: Yes.
Jack: Let’s contact Lisa Camaratta.
David Moisan: I have to contact the city, specifically Joanne Rust [City DP head], on SATV business. I know this is going to come up more than once. Our video has become file-based, as has some of the city’s meeting audio. I’ve done this experiment for 10 years and it works so it’s now time to bring this further.
Charlie: You have boxes?
David Moisan: These are not regular boxes. These are boxes sized to fit CD’s. I have four boxes, but I only fill a third of each box so that is more than enough storage.
David Martel: Access?
David Moisan: Old fashioned—someone asks me for a copy. Jean Levesque is the only one who has ever asked for a copy of a meeting.
Jack: I know where they are—they’re safe. I know they’re safe.
David Moisan: I’m reluctant to go into SATV business in detail, but we are starting to write a strategic plan. We are in the last years of our contract with Comcast where the money gets tight and we have to figure out how to best use it.
There are only two of us who’ve seen the plan so I really can’t elaborate. I can say many of the things we have discussed at this meeting were prominent. The plan has capital spending, things to buy, and also, recommendations to do things differently.
Jack: My perspective is—I’m not worried at all about the direction you are going; if you need help please ask.
David Moisan: In a few months we’ll be able to explain more. When we meet in the fall I should be able to say more. We met [at SATV] with some IT vendor of storage hardware and are still figuring out what to do, whether we can actually afford it, or whether it is even within our scope. The mood around here hasn’t been a lot of fun or encouragement to do big things, but rather small things.
I think, though, the city will be very happy with what we come up with and it will solve a lot of issues we have around access to government meetings.
Salem Wharf
Charlie: There are supposed to be three cruise ships coming in this summer, this weekend at Blaney St.?
Jack: Yes. Paper reported three.
Charlie: One here, one in August and one in September.
That’s $5000 per ship
Jack: I’m not happy about the situation at Blaney St., as mentioned previously, but we will work on it.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Letter of Support
Jean Harrison: I’ve had this consideration for a while. Last October, there was an article in a magazine about XMRV, a retro-virus that is confirmed to cause prostate cancer and is suspected of causing chronic fatigue syndrome.
At the end of June, the CDC and the FDA and the NIH have written papers. They were released at once and have conflicting conclusions. The rumor is that there was a confirmation that the XMRV retrovirus is linked to chronic fatigue, but that the FDA is withholding publication.
I want the Commission to draft a protest letter to the FDA.
Jean: It is a nasty virus; I have had CFS for 15 years.
Jack: Keep us update between now and September?
Mike S.: Is this time critical?
Jean: We are trying to mount a protest but it is difficult since all of us have CFS and have the same troubles getting out to protest so we don’t know how well that will go.
Jack: It has my support, but it will depend on Dave and Debra.
Mike S.: They are suppressing information?
Jean: Yes.
Jack: I read volumes of information on medical issues of my two daughters.
Mike S.: We are a small organization but perhaps we can speak out.
Jean: The illness has been known for several hundred years, but in sporadic outbreaks. The CDC has decided that CFS “is all in our minds” and has diluted the study group with people that do not have CFS. CFS has specific symptoms—people are tired before exercise and people have “brain fog” which is not fatigue. We want to use the Canadian definition of the disease—there was an outbreak in Canada.
Mike S.: Are you a research scientist?
Jean: [laughs] No, I’m a restoration artist. I’ve had a great life, but still.
Mike S.: Should we do this?
Jack: Yes, if we get enough response. When the ADA was first passed, a lot of people thought that we would get further along than we have. We have not been able to get groups to build and work together, to get the attention of a Hank Phillipy Ryan [Ch. 7] or Susan Wornick [Ch. 5].
David Moisan: Two steps back. I have nothing like CFS. But I do have ADD. That’s a disease many don’t believe in. Kids who have it, are told that they are “active” or they “need a good whack”. I have been diagnosed with adult ADHD for 15 years.
I have seen first hand how people divide the disability community when I created a website for people with invisible disabilities 15 years ago. People with certain disabilities are “better” or “worse” than other people with disabilities. It’s a caste system. If we do get Wornick to cover us and the story appears on web video, I recommend NOT reading the comments!
People will tell us that it’s in our heads, we’re whining, there are people worse off than us, etc. There will be people trying to sell us herbs and junk medicine. There are people who will tell me to my face not to take a “psychoactive drug” even though that is between me and my doctor only!
I moderated a mailing list for the invisible disabled for 10 years. The stories I heard were heartbreaking! I burned out on the job because it was too much to bear.
Jack: Many people are frustrated with how slow things are. But don’t pay attention to the negatives. Keep working at it.
The ILCNSCA is doing a picnic at Winter Island Friday. Jason wants the Council to make a proclaimation but the Council is short on time this month.
Mike S.: We can do it when we meet again in September. Get me the biographical information and I will do it.
Jack: There will be a statewide celebration in Boston on Monday [7/26].
Bertram House Pedestrian Signal Request
Mike S.: The Bertram house wants to have a pedestrian signal outside its building. My predecessor Regina Flynn looked into this. The area at the Common [Rt. 1A] is managed by the state much as Highland Ave. is.
There is a corner there, at Winter and Washington Sq., that comes up right away that is hard to see.
Mike S.: The other problem: Where there is a crosswalk, there is no entrance to the Common. That has to be negotiated with the neighborhood association and others.
Jack: What about Park and Rec.?
Mike S.: They need to lead it, but it will go to the neighborhood association, the Historic Commission but ultimately it goes to the state.
Mike S.: Salem has become a role model for how it treats its handicapped citizens. There is more to do, there is always more to do, but you should be proud.
Jack: Where do we start on the crosswalk?
Mike S.: At the time I asked, the state said no, flat no. But people in the state do change. One misconception I want to clear up: The City Engineer is in charge of getting and installing a traffic signal—that is Dave Knowlton’s job. The City Electrician—John Giardi—is there to maintain it.
Jack: While we’re on the subject what about the Derby/Hawthorne four way signal?
Mike S.: Still ongoing so far as I know. The wiring is already there.
Jack: Hoping it would be done by Haunted Happenings.
Mike S.: Can’t be started now in the middle of tourist season.
Jack: But still, if they can start it some spring…
The meeting adjourned at 5:20. Next meeting is September 21, 2010
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