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2006-03-16 COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES Beverly City Hall 191 Cabot Street Beverly, MA 01915 MINUTES OF MEETING March 16, 2006 Members Present: Kevin Gallant, Candace Pike, Jack Vickery, and Karen Bloodgood Members Absent: Elise Bernstein, Bob Nelson Guest(s): Todd Bloodgood and Arthur Daignault ?? Art announced that the Mayor would ask for a moment of silence for Norm at the next City Council meeting on Monday, March 20th. ?? Election of Officers - A motion was made by Karen Bloodgood and seconded by Jack Vickery to elect Kevin Gallant and Candace Pike as Co-Chairpersons of the Commission on Disabilities. The motion passed 4-0. There was also a motion to elect Karen Bloodgood secretary of the Commission on Disabilities by Kevin Gallant and seconded by Jack Vickery. That motion passed 4-0. ?? The Commission will send something to be determined to Norm’s wife. Karen and Todd will get some information on options and notify the committee via e-mail. ?? A request has been made by Bruce Bruneau of the Mass. Office on Disability that a Community Access Monitor training be held in Beverly in May 2007. Forty to fifty people will attend the training. The money generated from meeting attendance will go to the Commission. The Commission voted 4-0 to host this training session. ?? MOD has requested that their regional meeting on Wednesday September 13, 2006 be held in Beverly. The exact number of people attending is unknown at this time but it will be small enough to fit in the program room of the library. The Commission voted 4-0 to host this meeting. ?? The terms of the members are as follows: Kevin – 2006; Candace – 2006; Elise – 2007; Karen – 2007; Jack – 2007 and Bob Nelson – unlimited. Kevin and Candace will be reminded to express their interest in continuing on the Commission to the Mayor in December. ?? Stop & Shop – Candace reports that there has been only one instance of not having had the wheelchair accessible lane open since her last report. She will continue to monitor the situation. ?? The vote to transfer $30,000 for curb cuts on Cabot Street was passed by city council. ?? The Commission now has a website by going to www.beverlyma.gov and clicking on Boards and Commissions. ?? Report from ADA Coordinator: th 1. On February 7, Candace and Art met with Bill Vitkosky, Project Manager for new construction at Endicott College. He wanted to keep us informed of the construction and renovation that are going to be taken place. Endicott College is applying for a variance and asked us to write a letter of support to the AAB, which we did after reviewing the plans. 2. On 2/8, Art and Candace visited all new stores in the North Beverly Plaza. All are in good shape, but they need to check out the fitting room in Work-n-Gear. Both were impressed with Appleseed’s. 3. On 2/21, Art met with Nancy Brusil regarding Memorial School. The School Committee is meeting there at night and the accessible doorbell is not monitored after hours. Ms. Brusil suggested that they might have to change the location of the meetings. There is a possibility that some classrooms could be leased to the North Shore Educational Consortium on Sohier Road. 4. Tina Cassidy introduced Art to Ann Marie Casey, the Executive Director of the Beverly Main Streets. She invited Art to a Design Committee meeting. Art has become a member of that committee. 5. Al Rocco informed him that the North Beverly plaza permit to change the walkway on the Blockbuster side was approved. They have not forgotten about the CVS side, but the walkway on the Blockbuster side will be completed first because it is out of compliance with the MA Architectural Access Board. 6. Art has definite dates and times for visiting the special education classes at Centerville (3/24 @ 9:30), Hannah (3/31 @ 9:30), and McKeown (4/6 @ 9:30). ?? Kevin would like to see the accessible trail from Balch Street to Bridge Street be made more accessible for people of all disabilities. Kevin also would also like to have the accessible trail be named in memory of Norm Ganley. Another location of interest was Norwood pond but parking is an issue. Depending on fund availability, the money for these renovations would come from the Commission handicap parking fine account. A possible group site visit to the accessible trail at Bradley Palmer Park was suggested. ?? Candace and Art are to attend the next Community Access Monitoring meeting on May thth 17 & 18 in Methuen. ?? th at Next meeting – Thursday, April 20 7:00 pm, 3rd floor of City Hall. NOTE: All minutes of the Beverly Commission on Disabilities’ meetings are available in alternative format upon request from the American With Disability (ADA) Coordinator at Beverly City Hall.