The Salem Commission on Disabilities
February 19th, 2013
Commission Statement:
The Salem Commission on Disability is committed to making Salem a better place to work and live for people with disabilities. Also, as one of the finest tourist cities in the world, the Commission strives to make Salem a more accessible place to visit for people living with all kinds of disabilities.
Our mission is to raise awareness, educate, and provide informational resources about various disability issues. Two of the ways we do so are by providing educational information in the monthly meetings broadcasted on the local cable network, SATV, and providing a daily audible column to help maximize the pedestrian commuter’s safety.
The Commission supports a strong relationship with their city government, their constituents and the Salem business community, including the museums and other tourist attractions.
Introductions
The Commission came to order on February 19th, 2013 at 4:00 PM. Present: John Jodoin, David Tracht, Bill LeGault, Council Liaison, Jean Harrison, Paula Lancisi and Nancy Kenney of the John Bertram House, Mike Sosnowski, City Council, Lisa Cammarata, Jim Nowlan, Andrew J. LaPointe, and David Moisan
Old Business
Training for Curb Cuts
Lisa: Jeff Dougan’s has offered to set up a training session for those who install Salem’s curb cuts. April is a good month according to Jeff. We have a new Director of Public Services coming in and it is an interesting idea and we’ll set this up for Jeff.
Hearing Assist Committee
Debra: The hearing assist committee will have a committee meeting on February 26th, at 6:30 at 120 Washington. I’ll have information about the three levels of hearing assistance systems. The committee will be deciding on a system and a proposal to bring before the city.
Regional meeting with other Commissions
Debra: We are still interested in this. The Mass. Office on Disabilities doesn’t host these meetings anymore but they will support us. We are open to any ideas.
Andy: Myra (the director) may come to work with us.
Debra: We need to create a plan and work with them.
Andy: Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead—perhaps they’re interested. Perhaps set up a meeting space with the PEM. I suggest quarterly or biannually.
Peabody-Essex Museum Update
Jim Nowlan: I got a message from Bob Monk. They are meeting with their contractor, Hayden Lock, and they are planning on having all their gallery doors equipped with automatic mechanisms by early March.
Tedesco Country Club Update
Andy: John Kinner has met with Tom Hopkins back in late December/early January. They have been advised to file for a variance. It will be interesting to see how that works out—but the process is moving. Unfortunately, the weather is giving an excuse to hold back, but once it clears, no more excuses. This has been going on for 18 months now.
Salem City Hall
Jim Nowlan: The City Hall sought a variance for the entrance, the bathrooms, and the lectern on the 2nd floor because they are doing roof work that puts it over the 30% value threshold.
Debra: This is part of the same variance that pertains to the elevator work.
Jim: They granted most of the variance and continued one variance having to do with the doorway.
Debra: The lack of access to the lectern of the City Council is accepted as long as an alternative height-adjustable lectern is made available.
Jim: The City needs to provide more information on certain doorways before the other variances will be completed.
New Business
Reappointments
David T.: I wanted to mention that Andy, Jim and myself have expired terms. We will need to resubmit our appointments
Bertram House
Bill: I was approached by Paula Lancisi at the Bertram House regarding a parking spot in front of 1 Wall St. The Bertram House wants that spot available and designated as a HP parking spot. A new homeowner bought 1 Wall St. and returned the spot to regular parking. I wanted to bring it before the Commission to get perspective and advice.
Nancy: My mom has been at the Bertram House for 9-1/2 years. It struck me that the HP parking space and curb cut were at the foot of a steep staircase, while the HP ramp at the back had no signs. We went through the city’s process for getting that sign installed.
Five years ago, the sign was removed. I’m naïve, thinking that it was due to renovations. I talked to a number of people who told me to go after this issue.
Bill:
Nancy: I took my mother out recently. It was treacherous.
Paula: We have a quote; we can’t do this until the spring. The new person (owner) went through the process.
Mike Sosnowski: The bricks are treacherous, and it’s a long distance to walk.
The handicapped parking spot at 1 Wall St. was on the other side of the street from the Bertram House. 1 Wall St. was originally used for child/youth care type housing. According to council protocol, no proposal can go out to the Council without the recommendation of the Traffic Officer. The new owner of the house is not continuing the original purpose of the house—it is now a private residence.
The Traffic Officer—Lt. Precznewski—could not recommend continuing the HP parking spot as this space. I did not know of any of this until it came out after the fact. The Bertram House does have an area for unloading—the driveway, off the side of the building.
It is indeed a great distance to walk to the front of the building and the sidewalk is treacherous. I agree.
Towards that end, the Bertram House could and should have a HP accessible area? Yes. Can it be at the front of the street? According to the Lt., as long as the Bertram House does have that HP area in the driveway, he cannot take away the spot at 1 Wall St. And without a recommendation from him, the Council cannot act.
Mike Sosnowski: I will recommend increasing HP fines. My thought is that the open area on the side of the building should only be for parking the HP van, and it should be a loading zone. We can do that.
John Jodoin: You can structure the loading zone regulations to fit the particular vehicles being used for the site.
Mike Sosnowski: We will word this as a tow zone for any vehicles that are not handicapped vans or buses serving the Bertram House.
Other
Next meeting April 16th: No meeting in March.
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