He wave. >> All right. Good afternoon everyone. The it is Thursday, August 7th and this is the Commission on Disability regular meeting. We are in person at Old Town Hall and the meeting is being recorded and can be viewed at a later date on the
Town of Diamond YouTube channel. I will call the meeting to order at 4:04 p.m. If we could all rise for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. And then we'll just start off with me member introductions. I am Kevin Smith, member and clerk, acting chair tonight.
>> Cynthia Boland, present. >> Jonathan Gail, ADA coordinator, present. >> Christina Divera, present. Thank you. All right. So, the first order of business we have is uh new business was a letter to the board of selectmen. Um let me just pull that up
quick on my computer so I can see it. So, I'll just read it quick so it's on on the recording and in the record. So it says, "Dear members of the board of selectmen, on behalf of the Don Commission, Commission on Disability, I'm writing to formally request that the town allow the ADA coordinator to collaborate with Serpent, Southeastern
Regional Planning and Economic Development District, in the development of the town's housing production plan. At our regular scheduling scheduled meeting held on August 7th, 2025, the commission voted will vote to make this recommendation. We believe the inclusion
of the ADA coordinator in the process is essential to ensuring that accessibility inclusivity are integral components of any current and future housing initiatives in the town of Dyon. As advocates for residents with disabilities, we see this as a critical
opportunity to proactively incorporate the needs of all community members into Dayton's housing strategy. The ADA coordinator's knowledge and expertise in accessibility standards and compliance would be an invaluable asset to the planning team. We appre we appreciate your consideration of this request.
Sincerely, Nicole Melo, the Commission on Disability. I think that was well done. I don't have any >> covered everything covers it all. Nothing else to add from my perspective as the coordinator. >> Um, >> yeah, >> I'm just going to kind of double duty
and jot notes. Oh, yeah. If nobody has any comments or need wants to make any changes, um I will entertain a motion to accept the letter and to present it to the board of selectment. >> Um I'm going to make a motion to to
accept the letter. Um Cynthia Boland I >> Christina will second. So uh >> you can only twice. Yeah, we'll do >> Yeah, I'm sorry. >> I always mess up the lingo. You have two eyes on it. We'll do it that way. >> We'll do a roll call vote seeing that
Christina is online. So, Christina >> um Christina de Aliver I >> Cindy >> Cynthia Bowl and I >> Kevin Smith is an I. >> Okay. Thanks. >> Thank you all. >> I got to study this lingo before. >> You'll get used to it after a while. It
it's it's it's like it's tricky. All right. So that's it for new V. Is anybody anybody else have any new We have member reports, but anybody else have any other new business that they wanted to bring up? All right. So,
so we have our member reports. Um I'll just start I don't have anything personally to report. Well, beyond I will say that we did parks from a parks and rec perspective, we did just appoint with the board of selectment a new parks and rec commissioner. So now we're back
to a full three member board. So, I'm hope well I'm not hoping we are going to get kind of like the wheels back moving because it's been a little stagnant. Um, >> and my fault and you know just trying to >> there's lots of stuff.
>> Lots of stuff going on. So, now that we have somebody fresh, new eyes, we we'll probably we'll probably have some stuff um coming through the pipeline that we'll be, you know, kind of collaborating with um Cood on. But that's it for that's all I have for a member report.
>> I don't have anything to report. >> I do. Um well, our CPAC we're um looking to host a resource fair um with the Swansea CPAC as well for
next spring. Um trying to get together with them. Oh, sorry. trying to get together with them to start planning, but um we'll be looking for vendors to be at that resource fair.
>> Yeah, that might be a good opportunity for us to there too. Even though I mean it's Swansea and us, but it's we're we're a part of that. So, it would kind of be nice to get a table. >> That would be good. >> Yeah. If you can let us know, we can >> put a table. We have things out there we can put out.
>> Yes. >> If you want me to reach out and get a somebody, for example, who's deaf to talk about sign language or be at a table or somebody else who can show folks how guide dogs guide dogs operate and things like that. >> That'd be awesome.
>> Like as a demonstration corner. >> Yeah. >> Anything that could be a draw like that. Um perhaps we can like a wheelchair obstacle course around a few chairs or something. >> Oh wow. >> Um >> Awesome. >> We we have things we can do like that. So >> yeah, >> let us know way ahead of time so we can
we can all collectively plan for what it >> actually do have something to report. Um so Cooperative Production Incorporated which is a non I work there. It's a nonprofit organization. Um we're having an art show on August 21st and it's the
um the individuals that we support as well as um staff are submitting artwork and it's anything from um you know paintings or like jewelry or anything anybody considers to be creative art to them. So we're having an art show. It's
um 5 to 7:30 on Thursday, August 21st at 97 Engle Street. So it's, you know, people come and view the art and everything and just support people with disabil abilities and their staff and like their artwork. So >> can you, what I'm going to suggest you
do is if you haven't done already, unless anybody has done, is to put that in writing and send it to the selectman's office and ask them to include it as an announcement on the next selectman's agenda. >> Oh, okay. Will they have a meeting before then? Yeah, they should next week. >> Yep. And it has to be submitted at least
a couple of days ahead of time. Okay. So >> I can have Nikki help work on >> it. At least it's always important for anything like that, you know, to get it on their on their hit list for things to announce. >> Um the the program is 97 English in time, but it's um you know, everybody
like all the rescasing. >> Yeah, exactly what you just said. And make sure it gives the address also. And if there's information for a website where they can find it, put that in there, too. >> Okay. All right. I'll look. I think it's on a co-op website, so I'll just >> Yeah, maybe we can I can look I'm gonna make a note, too. So, I'll look at the
website and see if I can steal like if there's a flyer or something like that. >> Oh, all right. Yeah. >> Um and we share to the >> flyer, send it to me and I'll post it on our >> I have to. Cool. >> Sweet. Thank you.
>> Um okay, for me, I will say in terms of town, I wasn't physically here for the month. Um, so as I've gotten back now, I've got several phone calls from residents to return. Don't know what they want to know, but it's probably, "Can you do this or can you that, can
you show me this or tell me about that." >> Um, and I do have a a couple of emails from residents that want to talk about streets and signage, as >> is always the case. Anyway, yeah. >> So, I don't have that kind of stuff to report. I will next month. Um the
library is scheduled to open hopefully late September. Um few few bumps in the road with just waiting for things to happen. One of the things that we did discuss is not having it open yet until the doors are electrified um in and out
and that uh is running a little bit behind but we're hoping that that will be done. Um we've all agreed as a committee building committee that these things need to be in place before the library will open. Um and then also for technology we have approved the software
that's going to be going into the laptop computers that people would be able to use not only for speech and jaws which I use but also for uh low vision. It's a whole program called Fusion which will enable people who have low vision or seniors uh who need enlargement or other
folks who need different lighting on screens as well to use it. So, we've approved that purchase and I'll be sending the PO out tomorrow. So, we're getting there. >> Yeah. >> Um as far as making everything in our library fully accessible. So, >> that's all I have. >> Great. >> And the water bottles, again, you all
saw that it came in. Um I think what we've decided is I'll keep a couple of boxes at my home so when we're doing different things that we can't get to town hall and then we'll keep a couple of boxes of them somewhere in town hall in storage as well for other uses or other people who might need them for
other events if I'm not around. >> Nice. >> So um you and I talked about that the other day as well. I haven't spoken to them about where they can store them yet, but maybe we'll put them in the TA's office. Well, you know what I can always do too is they could go cuz it's dry and it's I can put them in the park if it's like they're kind of big and
they take up space. I can put them in the park shed too. Okay. >> Because you I mean you and I talk Yeah. >> regularly anyway next week or something too and then we can figure it out there. >> So, um that's all I have. There will be some other grants coming up with five
and $10,000 grants to do community projects that will be coming up in the next month to to two months from the state and from some couple philanthropy organizations. So, what I would ask the uh the commission to do is for all of you to think about if you had five or
$10,000 grants, what you might want to use it for within the community as as public access grants or public support or workshops, things like that, because I'd like to put in for some of these grants and augment them with whatever else we're doing. >> Um, remember the budget, there's no
budget. So in that respect, it would be really important for us to be able to get even if they're $5,000 grants and we only get one. >> Yeah, >> that's $5,000 we didn't have for projects. So you could all keep it in mind and we can open it up for discussion under business next. >> You know, if there's anything for like programming. >> Yes, there is.
>> Cuz like I think that would be nice to try to do some more like because even like at co-op like you guys do great things over there, but it' be like just to get >> folks out and like let's do something here. I was trying to think of ways we could incorporate like working together.
I always like workshops. I like any opportunity to like teach and educate people. So >> or get people involved in like a project or >> Yeah. And I think if if it's not just workshops, um, but if there are events or activities we can do that get residents of all ages with disability
out where even if you potentially had to rent a couple of vans or a couple of chair vans as well >> and take residents with disability and that can include group home residents >> to events outside of town, >> we can get those things potentially
funded as well. So, you know, if we wanted to take a group and take them, for example, up to a DCR special events thing in Boston area or, you know, along the Escaron or something to participate for a day and we had to arrange for volunteers or
>> even pay some of the staff from your program or something like that, we could do it and offer it to all town residents and the families. >> So, those are the kinds of things I think to think about too, not just workshops. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Right. So, next thing we have is to discuss the camp report.
Um, >> what's that? >> I again I have nothing. What I have a question though is um because we kind of talked about this at our previous meeting is have you heard anything yet, Jonathan, as far as policy because I know that was like a big thing that
>> from the town. >> Yeah. >> No. Um Ralph and I both put it on our agenda to have it our next conversation next hopefully next week. >> Um but we haven't talked about it yet. He was jammed up in June with, you know, all the town meeting stuff and other things like that. Um, and then I was
away for a month. So, I will have information to report on that next next month. Um, >> who he wants me to work with, whether it's Karen or whomever, to look at town policies and procedures. >> Okay. >> Karen's the lady with the printer, right? >> No, that's Carrie. >> That's Carrie Easter Day. >> Sorry.
>> Carrie Easter Day is planning um and zoning downstairs lower level. Karen is in the zoning board up on the the main floor. All right. So then next we have update on lower level town hall threshold request. I'm not sure I didn't we'll have to check in
with with Nicole at the next meeting. >> I know we had originally spoke about having it included on an agenda actually with the the not the last meeting but maybe yeah when I was there for parks and wreck but I don't think it made it on. So we'll have to follow up on that
and see see where we're at. All right. >> Um with that. Do you want me to follow up on that or not? I mean, I'm not for >> I was thinking I can just throw it in an email when I'm emailing her about um I also put everybody in the email anyway when I'm emailing her about um the art show. I could just put in an same email
if you want or >> Yeah. Well, I think it we won't really Yeah. I mean, she could give us a quick update because it's not something that we we vote on. So, she she might have some >> Yeah, I know she was doing like the follow-ups as she saw >> Yep. >> Jim. Jim. >> Yes.
But I think we were at the point where we were going to make the request to the selectman to address it because it comes from them. >> Yeah, that's um or at least any funding required. So, we'll have to just see. I might have missed it. So, >> I I have to actually speak to the selectman's office about something else
for another committee and put it on there so I can put it on the next agenda because I'll be there anyway. >> Yeah. Yeah. you I think it would be appropriate if it either would come from you know Nicole as the chair or you as the ADA coordinator because it is a >> access was there a motion made to make the request to the board of select I
thought there was okay >> yeah I think was it last time we did it before >> it was like I think it was >> I have to go now >> I know >> it might have been that >> I think we had done it on May because yes they had to do the fiscal thing yeah
that's what it was >> okay so I'll put it I'll add that to my list on Okay, next select meeting agenda step. >> See? >> All right. >> All right. So, next we have re review and approve minutes from uh June 7th and July 3rd, 2025. Did Christina, did you
you got those right? >> All right. >> Sorry. It takes me too long to unmute. So, >> it's okay. Stay unmuted because now we got we got to vote on them. Okay. Yeah. So I'll entertain a motion to approve the minutes from 67 and 73. Yep. Want to
want to want to learn a trick? >> Yeah. >> Just all you have to say is so moved. >> So So moved. >> And then do I have a second? >> Second. >> All right. So motion. >> Thanks, Kevin. >> Second. >> He's like, let me stop you before you mess it up.
>> No, I'm just trying to like uh we'll do a roll call vote. Christina. >> Christina De Alivera. I >> Cynthia Bowen. I >> Kevin Smith is an I. >> All right. So moved. >> I don't see any public here. So I will
entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> So moved. >> Look at that. >> Motion and a second. Roll call vote. >> Christina I. >> Cynthia Ban I. >> Kevin Smith is an I. >> Thank you. >> Thank you Christina. >> Thank you.
>> That's going to be your favorite thing now for the >> So moved. I learned something.