It being 105 calling the meeting of the disability motion to order. Any person may make a video or audio recording of an open session of a meeting or may
transmit the meeting through any medium subject to reasonable requirements of the chair as to the number of placement and orientation equipment used. not to interfere with the conduct of the meeting. Any person intending to
make such a recording shall notify the chair. All documents and exhibits used for references of this meeting must be submitted in it to the recording secretary as they become part of the meeting minutes. [snorts]
Um, is anybody recording today besides us? Okay. Um, [snorts] we review and approve the October 8th minutes. >> I'll make them as
second. All in favor? Okay. Um, we're going to take business out of order so that Jason can get back to work. >> Um, you do know, um, I had sent everybody, um, emails and things I had
got and I don't know if you got time to review that stuff. >> Yes. >> Okay. Um, so we got a well actually I got and I forwarded it to them an email from Mr. Polo.
And um I had gone out to the uh to the park myself and my understanding at this point was that there's still railings that need to go up and >> just the finish that still under construction, >> right? So it's just basically the
finished work supposed to be done. Um, so I went out and I took some pictures myself >> and you know, while I want to say kudos to everybody for like trying to do
as much as they could, it's still it might meet requirements, but it's still not right. And I had to talk with the mayor about this. Um I know that there's really I mean the funding is pretty it's it's
done. Um as far as I know unless you have some other but um and this is the other reason why we really want to be part of any of these projects that are going on. So the
Can you [snorts] show towards um the pictures I took, you have your accessible entrance from the parking lot to the third level. Okay. Now, if somebody is um you know
has mobility issues and they want to go to the second or the first level, they have to physically leave there, go down the hill and all the way around to the accessible entrance over the Grand Street side. >> Yeah. So, the boundaries of the park
itself >> all have accessible entrances now would be the ramp to the level. I know the the West Street parking lot has its issues. Uh >> but you can't you can't go from the third level to the second level or the
second level to the third. >> But there are all accessible entrances. >> Right. Right. >> I know. >> But you know what I'm saying? What this that has been about is that the recommendation from the engineering team has been for the option that we've
chosen to go with with the level uh with the ramp that goes from the first level to the second level. So that those two are universally accessible between the existing sidewalk um but that the third level is accessible through an accessible entrance on through the West
Park, right? um you know if and I it continues to be an issue of that's presented that we would want to make additions to the west street parking lot rather than the park because the bounds of the park are the bounds of
the park if the project is looking to go outside the bounds of the park that creates a new project. Um, so you know, it was presented as an option to build some sort of railing uh to assist with going from the third level to the the
street. Um, it goes above the 90% uh grading that makes it compliant. Um, so again, I'll say, you know, it it wasn't considered part of the outside the bounds of the project site itself. >> Um, so the work that we're doing in
relation to the park and making that >> currently available access and I think we all understand that and we understand you know the constraints of budgets and things of that nature. >> Um it's unfortunate that the project
itself ended up the way that it did because it wasn't supposed to. >> Um but I think we have really learned a lot from this project and we need to move forward from here >> and
after I walked around myself and took these pictures, the fact that if I was in a wheelchair or whatever and I'm in this third level and I have a kid who wants to be on the first level, to have to like
go all the way around to another accessible entrance is just kind of >> and even though things can be compliant, it doesn't mean that it's inclusive. >> Yeah. And those are the things those are the barriers that we're looking as a
commission to try to rectify here. Um and again the um the stone dust that's in there that is not optimal for anybody with mobility devices. >> So that was actually addressed in the response given to uh the building
commissioner back in October 24 um to uh from Pine Bond. Uh they do say that you know crushed stone dust is an acceptable surface and you know if it's compacted and maintained properly. Um you know if it is the
opinion of the building commissioner to have it be further stabilized. There are agents that we can mix into the stone dust in order to further um you know stabilize the surface. But as it stands right now, it's dependent on the
building commissioner's perspective of whether uh the stone dust meets 521 CMR because that does include as well accessible um surfaces, entrances. Um but based off the response we got from the team that you know it's commonly
used in trails, it's commonly used in unpaved >> it is with someone like myself who has neuropathy. an uneven ground at times or something that's soft >> does not it's it's it's not really
feasible for me so I wouldn't probably frequent there um you know cuz I it's not as stable of the ground >> so I say again it's going to be down to the opinion of the building commissioner of whether it's 531C >> no and I don't want you to I don't want
you to think you have to defend that because no at the end of the day like I But we need to be part of these projects. >> Yeah, that's why I've continued to attend >> and I appreciate that. >> And have this continued collaboration because honestly like this project,
>> it largely predates myself. It entirely predates. I know it does. I know. I think the whole town and city understands that, you know, this predates, you know, my tenure at the start of the year and that, you know, my goal has from the beginning, >> yeah, >> um, you know, communicating with the
disability commission and then rectifying the issues presented by the building commissioner, which >> yeah, >> was not presented as the the first level and and up to third level was an issue that the second level being inaccessible
in its entire was the ADA uh was the issue with with it being 521 CMR approved, >> you know. So, >> we've been scrambling together funds for >> I know
>> 6 months. Yep. >> You know, trying to get enough just to get what we have completed completed. And I like this is also being recorded. So, I just have to kind of give this this back information um for anyone from
the public watching um as well because I wanted to make sure that there's a kind of explanation here uh for this. So, you know, we've been able to get those funds together which total I think just around $60,000 or just under that 59 uh change
um to finish off this change order which total right around like 55,000. um you know anything beyond this and the other option which did have ramps going from both the first to the second and the second to the third was outside of
what was feasible and was outside what was feasible for the foreseeable future. So, you know, it's unfortunate that this is the the solution >> and that this is the solution that meets 5.1 Semar because it's not inclusive
>> uh for people's um the West Street parking lot is not accessible. It's not graded to be accessible. And we can say, you know, the entrance off of West Street is, you know, graded to be accessible, but then, you know, the area
just beyond that, the actual parking lot itself isn't. Um, you know, so the bounds of the parking lot, you know, at the end of the day, I have to say, you know, the park itself is compliant with 521 CMR, you know, pending the commissioners >> and and we know that. But I I do want to
have these conversations, you know, as we move forward with future projects, you know, as we move forward with the pavilion construction for the uh the Greenwood Memorial Pavilion, as we move forward with, you know, any other parks that we move forward with, with the nature trail that's going up towards uh
Route 140, with the passenger bridge that's going up, you know, over 140 as well. I want these to be conversations that we can all have so that you know we're not just meeting 5.1 CMR compliance that that you know we're taking into account that you know what
are all the different situations that can come up that people with um you know limited mobility might encounter um you know with engaging with these that you know might be present as barriers that
might not be considered for 521 CMR in its entirety but you those barriers will exist regardless. >> And that's why, you know, it's important for us to be part of these projects because we have the learned experience. >> Yeah. >> And just because something's compliant,
which it is, um, doesn't mean that it's going to be totally inclusive and accessible to everybody. I spoke to Danielle um and I basically was like, you know, I am really excited for the fact that
nobody left this go by and that it's been rectified, but it's still not. And and then I said, but I, you know, I want to take it as a win. At the same time, it's defeating. I have been advocating for things like
this for 30 years. We And it shouldn't be that way. It shouldn't be you know, and and I think that's I feel like for a lot of this project, we've been right here and no one's ever
asked. So, that's the important piece. Um, and you had said something about parking and I wasn't sure what to do with that. Uh, who to ask where to go with that, but um, now that you have accessible entrance there, do they need
to add any handicap parking >> to like in that part. >> No, you Well, you can't really do it on the street there >> or in West Street >> any because it has
surface spots or like down a hill and I I was like I would never use that. That would be impossible to get up in a wheelchair or even with my prosthetic would be be hard. And I think the thing moving forward is that we can be a
bridge between compliant and inviting. And I like that's still the parts lacking that. >> Like I know inclusive you is being more inviting. Like we want you here, you belong here. like that feeling isn't there when you pull up
because I drove by as well and I was like I've walked up and wheeled up to that park area several times and I've never felt invited and welcome to go in there and that there was anything for me to enjoy in there. So, I think, you
know, I think working on the parking would be a huge win of there's all those spots right there near the disabled entrance, but none of them are disability parking. >> You know, bring this up with the traffic. >> Okay.
>> They're the ones who decide where handicap parking is made available. >> Now, I know that the ones that face the house, >> those are >> those are handicap. Those are the handicap accessible ones for that area. >> And there there are handicapped
accessible signals, you know. >> Yeah. Yeah. And and that's great. What people don't, I think, don't always understand is that the word itself has to be, you know, there's a lot of things. You can't just like all of a sudden designate a handicap parking
spot. Um, and the wood uh the parking that they have there, it's the most accessible route. to the ale house and in that area. Um, you know, so that's compliant.
It's not convenient for people, but um I'm I'm thinking if it's going to garner more traffic that because you're supposed to have a certain amount of handicap parking per um for however many typical parking spaces
you have, there has to be a certain amount of parking and I know that we're compliant right now, >> but once the park is open, I I'm just curious. >> Well, the park isn't going to create any additional parking. It has the parking up front, but >> Okay.
>> There's no additional parking that's being presented as part of >> Okay. So then, so would it make sense to have a couple of the places that are right opposite the third level entrance be designated as handicap? >> I think the issue with that is that the actual grading
It's not going to it has to be >> it has to be flat. >> The West Street parking lot by large >> I mean that's% >> and that's why you can't do a handicap accessible parking in front of the house because
>> you know and then it has to be safe on both sides. You have to be able to put a lift down on either side. The wrecks keep evolving. Um, but the parking that people use for the M house down below the M house, they have to go
up past a 9% grade to get to the house to get on that sidewalk. >> I know. >> I know. >> The West Street Park law is a >> it's a work in progress. A lot of things are
>> um And now our understanding from conversation we had with you is that the fourth tier they're calling it is going to have some type of signage to not allow people up there.
>> I mean looking at the building commissioner's original response there is no mention of the fourth level being the proposed fourth level being an issue. So following the building commissioner's
response of whether or not the park's current design inclusive of the stairs to the ungraded grass area is inclusive of 521 CMR then that would tell us whether or not you know there are signage there signage
necessary to say keep off the grass or whether it's I don't know the language and intricacies of the uh Commonwealth's um building code and municipal code um for or not I know
it's municipal code but not like the whole state building code for for that governs this um but whether or not it's kind of inferred that the ungraded grass is part of the park >> um and that there you know isn't any
part of the park as we have built that needs to be accessible for the fourth level. So that's going to be up to their of whether or not that needs to be done. >> Well, I would suggest that you put a
chain over that staircase and just say only for gardener municipal workers. >> Yeah. So >> that's what I would have the uh commission here recommend that they do because if you leave it open, anybody could go up there and it would be
non-compliant. Well, as as the building commissioner put in in his response, the fourth the level that we're talking about here is not mentioned anywhere in his in his complaints of violations back
in October or actually in August. Um, so the building commissioner doesn't consider this to be a violation >> of any any CMR uh any CMR violations, then it's not going to be considered
necessary for the city to to do so. >> Why not? >> You know, I understand what you're saying, but why not just put a chain up there with a sign only for municipal workers? >> I think that needs to be deferred to people who are not here to speak on that right now. I think, you know, themselves
are is the one who deter whether or not >> well I would make sure that you recommend that that happens >> so noted um but no I I appreciate everything that that's happened the whole project and
it's just got a little >> maybe last year since January 22nd I don't know something happened that day >> but Definitely a question. >> Okay. Can you can you hold on that and for a minute?
>> I forgot to announce that part in the beginning of the meeting. I'm sorry. Um, we need to get through with the meeting business. Um, so I just want to be clear that none of this is a reflection on anybody who's
here today. Um, of how this has gone. Um, as someone who's been working with people with disabilities and families for a long time, it's just, um, it's like always that one step forward, one
step back kind of thing. You know, stuff meets the requirements, but it's like just still like Daniel said, welcoming. So, I think the important piece of all of this is that
we're here and we want to be part of this stuff >> because it's past time for people to feel included >> and I appreciate that note. And again, a
lot of what I'm saying here in terms of the preamble to, you know, kind of my actual update is, you know, so that, you know, there isn't any miscon uh misinterpretation of, you know, who was present when these decisions were being
made, who was present when the park was being completed and had little oversight of it. You know, those people no longer work for the city. >> Um, we have they they were part of the department. They have no longer uh they're no longer with us um in the
department. Um, and that, you know, we want to make sure that the city and and this commission knows that, you know, when it comes to, you know, we attending and listening and and, you know, trying to find a solution for, you know, projects that we move forward with that,
you know, if there are any issues with already existing structures, I'll be here and having conversations and we'll be having those until we get to figure them out and >> get them solved. And that, you know, you have a mode of communication with the
people who are designing. >> Yeah, >> I appreciate your your time and everything. Is there any questions, comments, or concerns from the committee? >> Steve, >> well, I was just going to say if you
think that that uh the ash area, what do you call that? >> The stone dust, >> the stone dust, >> why don't you cement it over? Make a recommendation to cement it over. We would do a stabilize it. We would do a stabilizer stabilizment. Cement would be a lot more expensive than all the
rebar pouring. Especially this time of year, we wouldn't see the park done. >> There's nothing we can do about it, right? >> So, we would do a stabilizing agent and we have a quote for a stabilizing agent. I would just have to get more more money together because >> Yeah. >> I'm not a I'm not an endless wallet of
>> No, but the project has come to the to the end of its funding basically. >> Yeah. I we've used every count. It's I'll be giving a presentation of the echo dev meeting on Friday and I'm also going to be presenting in front of city council um at the city council regular
meeting uh this upcoming Monday. Um they requested me present and go over the financials of this. Every single cent of remaining what is called ARPA funds that you know were fed federally distributed during the co 19 pandemic. you know that
we have left over from the projects that were you know considered um you know really pertinent for the city to do during the co pandemic. The leftover funding from that from projects that came under budget have all been used every single scent has been used to
fund this project um and make sure that it gets done. So I I do not have a single unencumbered >> scent to be used for for you know for for this as as our budget currently
stands as much as I would love to. Um so if it does come that the stone dust is recommended to have a stabilizer then that's a conversation that we can have in terms of what would be the timeline of how long would it take for us to potentially get those funds to get
there. >> Yeah. These are the good these are just the small things that have been brought up that I know are going to take some time and find a way to allocate any kind of funding to it. So >> thank you. >> It will always come with the the
documentation of where the funds came from, how they got allocated. Those will all be also addressed in in the echo dev and city council meeting as well. So if those are of any of interest, um feel free to attend the meeting at 12:30 tomorrow.
Is it tomorrow? Is it Thursday? >> Tomorrow is Thursday. >> Oh, no. No. Tomorrow. No. Uh, Friday. 12:30 Friday 7:30 p.m. >> Um, on Monday. >> I just All right.
>> Anyways, any other questions for you before I head off? >> Comments? >> Thank you for coming. >> Thank you, Jason. I Yeah, you've been a real pleasure to work with. I feel like you understand what our mission is. >> Absolutely.
>> And you came into a huge mess of stuff. >> The best way that we can solve these problems moving forward. I'm always >> Yeah. >> open to hearing what the best compromise can come to and eventually hopefully is not compromises. Hopefully we're, you
know, at the beginning of inception of projects. >> Yeah. considering being welcoming and inclusive >> rather than just coming to a compromise later on and saying how do we get close to that >> that's not acceptable >> right >> so
>> I guess I do have a question the project that's going on right here >> we had a chance to look at the plans >> no on the agenda >> unfortunately >> um just because I don't want any any any
violations of discussions of things not intended for the so if you want it for a future agenda item I'd be glad to talk through it um >> thank you very much >> of course thank you for having me I'll see some of
you or I'm sure I'll hear emails or or something from uh the response from the meeting city council anyone who attend or listens in >> thank Thank you for the information. >> Okay, back to our agenda. So, the monthly photo update, Danielle, I'm
going to let you do that because I was unable to call this month. So, um most of it was on parking and building business compliance, but they did mention the um partnership they're having with understanding our
differences. This commission in Newton is working with them to have like an open bike night and like we should look into possibly um reaching out and seeing there's something we can do in partnership to get more community involvement here.
just kind of, you know, have activities for people with disabilities and gardener to enjoy and also just kind of raise awareness. They do a lot. They'll do presentations in the school and stuff, too. So, I think it'd be good to have make a connection with them. Um,
in January, they're going to send a joint letter to Bill Galvin about the Automark machines for voting and R who was conducting the meeting um He's going to send that out so that anyone who's interested can join in and kind of speak
up because that's a major issue statewide for voting and um kind of advocating for changes and updates to that so that people with disabilities can vote and um that the machines are addressed because there's very
problematic. Um, we talked about business compliance with the 30% rule. Um, architectural access board regulations are being updated with ADA regulations. Um, AR is going to also send out a checklist we
can kind of bring to businesses to do like their own self evaluation as far as are we meeting compliance. Um, the ADA coordinators can't regulate well can only regulate what the city owns and
operates, but our commission can go to private businesses and share the title three obligations and reminders and bulletins. And title three requires private businesses and nonprofits to remove barriers and credibly accessible achievable, sorry. Um, so I think I
believe AR is going to send out kind of a thing that we can bring into local um if we see barriers that they could address if they were made aware that you know they're obligated to do so. And I think there's a way of approaching
businesses where it's you know friendly and just kind of informative versus you know do this and you know [snorts] being upset and not coming from a collaborative point and so businesses know they can also come to the commission and say I you know want to
make my building more accessible. What can I do? Um, I think that was that's a great idea to collaborate, you know, things to for for us to be able I read over the notes, but
didn't really get too much into it, but to be able to go into some place and say, hey, you know, part of the commission and this is what we do and invite them to a meeting. You know, those kinds of things. And that's I
think too we're going to move Those are important connections. >> I think some businesses there's barriers that are related to landlords and like building age, but we we can all come together and have community events and
accessible spaces with businesses. I remember Diamond Heart Studios. He said, "I'll carry you in." I'm like, "Thank you." No. But, you know, I appreciated the owners both saying, "We want people with disabilities to come. We have the stairs." And that is a barrier, but it's
the building's barrier and we're in the building, but we don't control the accessibility of the building. So, and then that takes there's so many people who have the misconception that the role of the Haiti coordinator covers everything in the
city, which it doesn't. A majority of the complaints that I get phone calls are of our private property owners and they're you know something on their property and you know it's hard to tell people I want to help you but unfortunately like you have to approach
the property owner or you know our hands are kind of tied you know we can't make somebody cut down a tree that's interfering there's just only certain things that we can do but like we're happily able to give resources and give advice and point
them in the right direction, but a a lot of it really is privately owned and hard when it comes to that. >> So like privately owned landlord type situation >> or just even private property. So um >> even nonprofits >> Yeah. So, like if if someone's um you
know like trees and shrubbery is growing out into the sidewalk and it makes it hard for a wheelchair to go by that street, you know, we could ask our DPW to go cut the shrub, but if it's on private property, then the DPW can get in trouble for cutting a bush or a tree
on private property. So there are certain things that you know we could ask nicely for the property owners to know trim trim back bushes or whatnot but things like that where it's private property it really >> I had a question on that now the
utilities cut into >> I'm sorry I'm sorry >> I thought that the city sidewalks. >> I I don't know. I don't know. I don't know that >> the sidewalks themselves. I mean, the
owners of the businesses are responsible for certain things. >> Yeah, I do know like businesswise, even like snow clearing like businesses are supposed to clear, but I don't know. I don't know the legality of of that. Yeah, >> I know that if there's like road construction and stuff and they have to
pick up a sidewalk and it's second property based on a sidewalk. >> It's not their property. They have six feet from that. >> Gotcha. Yeah. I don't know the falities of that. >> So if a bush we had this situation in our neighborhood, >> a bush was just hanging over the
sidewalk making it >> impossible to walk or even an abled doggy person walk. >> Exactly. making it impossible to see around the corner. Getting who owns the branches that are hanging over the sidewalk, >> right? If the tree is on the property
owner, I believe that's the property owner to address the tree because you can't like cut someone's tree. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I think it I I don't know. I don't know. >> Yeah. And we've we've had issues with
like my neighbor has a magnolia and if it grows over a certain point then it's then you need the um because it's involved near the electrical lines >> it's just >> it's not just a quick fix. It never
seems to be. So, >> but again, I'm wondering too with like with the checklist for, you know, to go into private businesses and stuff like that, if you referred someone to the commission and we could say, you know,
well, we could we could try to talk to this person. we could let them know and invite them to a meeting and let them know what your concern is and you know but I mean that that would be but it's still it's
bridging that gap because that person might not know >> and it's not coming from the city of social it's coming from appointed >> well I don't know what we call ourselves >> it comes comes from it comes from people who are appointed to to to like notice
this stuff And I think you know >> it's kind of twofold. >> Businesses don't want to exclude people and make you know accessibility more difficult. So I think being made aware is is the most important thing.
>> If we can do that, you know, you know, technical with the checklist way where they can just look at it and it's black and white. It's not, >> you know, we're not angry. were just coming in here was, you know, you know, collaborate and work together.
>> And do you think this kind of like goes into one of our other agenda items, but I think we >> we should review what's on the commission website and put more information on there that's more accessible to people as resources.
>> Um, and I know this came up due to someone bringing up, you know, a broken link on the website, which is great because I I don't regularly go on there and click off the link. So, it's good that people are accessing that page, but maybe that's something that we can think about putting checklist, putting different resources on there.
>> All right. Um, any other questions, comments or concerns about the photo? Question, Steve? >> Oh, I just wondered what the utility requirement was to come on private property to chop down trees and branches over the utility. That could be the
possibility that that could be used for over sidewalks just >> I'll reach I'll reach out to like DPW and I'll ask them questions from different couple different departments just so that we know for our knowledge as well. >> Yeah, I think it's just the more
knowledge we have too. >> It's like that's enables us to be able to know what we're talking about. >> But there's always the I was always taught you just say >> I'm not sure about that but I can get the information for you,
>> you know. So all right, moving on. New business, city councelor update. We do not have one. So we will move on to the case um playground. Um I in this packet is the email that I
received. Um, and my understanding is that Dean Arnold is in charge of um these updates to the park. Do you know anything more about that? >> I do not know. I'm not even sure if
that's correct. I don't know. >> Okay. >> So, that's something we need to find out. But again, it's once we find out who is in charge of it,
we really need to >> make sure it's inviting and not just ad what's your exact you want who is in charge of what's so I believe >> what is this project >> the thing is I think this email is not from an official I think this is just
somebody sharing so I'd be very cautious to >> I don't know who sent this. So, until we get formal official notice, I I would be very cautious to do anything with >> with this. >> Okay.
>> I can find out more information. I do know there was something about updating um equipment, but there was more to it than just this. So, let me dig around a little bit. I'll ask the questions. I believe the mayor has more information on this so I can ask him and then I'll touch base too.
>> I did ask him briefly but there was >> there was a bunch. >> Okay. So we're going to table that and get some more >> we'll get more information for our next
meeting. >> Okay. Um next is the council chamber accessibility. So, I included some pictures of the council chamber where you're um
so the first picture is when they're sitting at the um what do you call it? The front of the building for the meeting. I I think it's important to start this conversation by saying the council itself reached out to us and
wanted a recommendation on if we think it would be beneficial to remove the first queue of um seats and make that an accessible area for wheelchairs, visually impaired, hearing impaired. Um, so I just think it's important to like
preface that by saying the council is the one recommended that we always >> but if you look at the picture you can see like towards the as the as it narrows there are shorter pews there. So, the thought was to
remove one of the long ones for like wheelchair access and then to have maybe a couple of the smaller ones put up front. He just was these are just ideas because this is how the chamber
looks to the city council president went there. So, [snorts] because for right now, they just have the chairs off to the off to the right and you can move those, but there's not
a lot of wiggle room in there. Um, as you can see too, behind the chairs that go up to the podium, you know, you're typically having to move people to get somebody somewhere. So, but um they would like our input on
trying to uh rectify some of that, which leads me into the elevator. >> I guess let's let's finish talking about this one first. Um so, if would that recommendation work if if they took out one of the smaller cues in the back,
remove one of the longer ones, would that create enough space for a wheelchair or two to go there? And that's why it would have to have somebody doing the measuring and know the regs and that kind of stuff. >> Yeah. I guess that's why like we're
asking people to give input so I think that's why they're coming to us, >> right? >> Um >> now I know um we have William at the school like just knows everything. >> Yeah. Is that what they
>> Yeah. So now does he do stuff for >> he's just we have two maintenance um staff at the city hall um but they would not be I mean they could absolutely measure for us but they wouldn't know >> code and how much space is needed. So, I
think that would be on us to make a recommendation of you should have x amount of space available for a wheelchair or two or whatever it is, whatever. I think we should recommend that to the council as far as here's what we recommend. If you do move that,
there should be, you know, 60 in of and I'm just throwing numbers of space accessible for two wheelchairs or I think we should make that recommendation to them, not have them measure and tell us, >> right? Okay. >> So maybe that maybe that needs a little
research on our end to find out what the proper measurements are and then go back to them with measurements. Does that make sense? >> I mean they're actually >> Yeah. >> And I think it's great that they're asking for the feedback because they
clearly see an issue and they want to solve it. So this is exactly what we're asking during the day come to us. >> Isn't it typically locked? >> Um it's locked with almost every department has to chamber. So it's not an issue. >> So we like coordinated with you
>> and you could let us in and um so we could coordinate a field trip. >> Yeah. is like with pictures you only get so much out of >> it is true what Ann was saying when people are sitting in the seats you know does that cause a problem there is a
back door as well that's usually left locked but you know maybe that's a conversation can that door be unlocked is that door wide enough to fit a chair through to go through a different entrance so that it's not as hard to get to these seats so I think it's I think that'd be a good idea is to go there actually like visually see it see what
makes most sense >> and then give our Yeah. So, the problem being if you want to make that accessible, you need to have an elevator that works. And it's there is a um there's a email that
the mayor had sent me that was sent to the elevator company because this has been going on for months. And I just want to make it very clear, the city has done everything we could possib I mean I'm talking phone call after phone call after
phone call to this elevator company. Um it's completely unacceptable. I I don't want anybody to think that this is the city. >> No, I have the whole email chain. >> Yeah. So we're >> and as far back it goes back to like November. >> So what >> the beginning of November. So ultimately
what it is is part of one of the mechanisms in the elevator broke. Um the elevator is so old that they no longer make the part that needs to be replaced. So what they had to do was order different pieces from different
companies to almost create the mechanism that needs to be replaced. Um there's been delays just on shipping on pieces. Um, we are in the process of getting quotes to update the entire elevator. Um, new contracts for new service
providers to ensure this doesn't happen again. Um, so we know this is a huge issue and I have been personally on top of this. I think it's completely part of city hall that's available. >> The basement.
>> Yes. And we've um I've personally sent emails to department heads stating that we need to be available to go down to the basement. If someone needs us, we should be going down to the basement, bringing things up to other offices, helping them with bills, helping them
whatever they need for us to be able to assist them. We need to be stepping up and doing. It's absolutely not ideal. So, everyone has been great about helping people. I think the Cheryl retirement, everyone who works on the
first floor has been extremely helpful in getting things where they need to be, but it's it's not ideal. It's horrible to be honest, but >> but I I it is I had heard that everybody was really doing their due diligence.
>> We're trying. We really are >> to make the best of a terrible situation. >> And it's hard to because that's probably the original elevator for building >> probably. >> So, and
years ago um because the commission meetings used to be over there, >> but um the commission members got stuck in an alligator. >> Oh, no. >> That's when it started coming from here. >> Yeah. >> Oh, boy. Well, I'm glad nobody got stuck this time, but >> Yeah. >> Yes.
>> I can I can follow up on because it's such a it would be such a significant cost to replace the elevator. I'm sure it has to go out a bit. We have to get multiple votes. I do know we have one. Um I don't know where it stands from there, but I'm happy to send um an email
and follow up on on where we're at as of today with as far as the repair and both the new elevator. >> And this is why it's important for you to give us your updates and information because unless you're I understand the fiscal stuff
>> to a point because I know that, you know, you can't just fix something. It has to, right? There's a process and, you know, for school, you have to sign off warrants and >> Yes. >> contracts. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> And there's all kinds of, you know, Mass
General law regarding contracts and bids and Josh is on top of it. He's amazing. He knows it like the back of his hand. He's he's doing everything he can to ensure we're in compliance as far as the contract goes and notifying them timely and he's doing a good job for that. But
he obviously can't make a decision to >> get a new elevator. So >> in the meantime, a different meeting location for council meetings and then meetings. Um, we I believe we posted um
I believe there's just something posted stating that if you need accessible access to the meeting to we can arrange a screen to be in the auditorium so people can can do it live. I as far as I know we've not had any requests to do so yet.
>> Um >> and also those are actually broadcast >> via the internet. >> They are all live. at home. But I understand if they want to work. >> Yeah. >> I actually go to school committee half
an hour early just because I know I have to go up all the stairs and my respiratory stuff is, >> you know, I just >> because it's well it's a little embarrassing when you're like breathing hard and people are asking you if you're
all right. your head. It's like you can't breathe as well, too. >> So, I go up early, >> sit, catch my breath, >> cuz there's a chair outside [laughter] >> and I'm good before everybody else comes
in. So, >> yeah, >> I will follow up again and again and again as much as I have to, you know. >> Yeah. Yeah. Just keep those post on that. Um, so commission website links. We kind of
touched on that that there, but that kind of falls into two. Um the old business with the um the commission email address we had talked about the last meeting. We were going to have an
email just for the commission that would go to you, but then you could just forward it to me. >> Follow up with Bob um I general and I honestly I may have dropped the ball on that and I don't know if I followed up with that. So if I do not I will
>> and then that way we'd also that would take you know take stuff off your plate if we know if we have more email access to things that are happening with you. To be honest, I get maybe in the time that my email address has been listed on there, I've gotten
maybe four emails total in a year and a half. So, the amount of traffic is is minimal. Um, so it's it's right now it's manageable to just forward emails and respond to people. Very manageable, but it would be helpful if it could go to multiple people.
>> Yeah. If we had our email address to be able to put it on the brochures, we have data >> and things of that nature. so that stuff isn't like going to my school page or you know whatever. So, okay. Um the web
links we had talked about that. Um >> yeah, so just to dive in a little deeper so this being recorded so I kind of have a little more background. Someone had emailed me saying that a link was broken. It was like a list of I believe
like educational resources for those wanting to apply to colleges. Um the link was broken and we couldn't figure out a new link to post. So for the time being we did just take that link down so it's not a broken link. Um but it did I I told the woman who notified us that I
would put it on the agenda, but it did make me think further that you know what other resources either are not there that should be there or you know should we go on once a quarter and just make make sure everything looks good, everything's working, everything's current. I don't know the last time that was done.
>> I do not either. Um, that's something that that we could Daniel's nominating. [laughter] >> And to be honest, we might be able to just look at other municipalities websites too and say, "Oh, I love that
idea. I love that idea." So, it might be as simple as just taking an hour and, you know, I'm happy to do it, but just going the resources that other people have, right? I don't want to reinvent the wheel because we don't need to, >> but my thought was if maybe she could
>> she she knows where to look for that stuff. >> Y >> um if you could like research a few different websites, see what they look like, and maybe in next meeting we can discuss that. >> Absolutely. >> Okay.
>> Do we know is our Where are we at with our website city? I do know that it just got updated to the newest module, but I do not know about the accessible um font or whatever that update was. I
don't know if that was part of the full update. >> Okay. >> Um yeah, I'm not sure about that aspect. >> Okay. Other comments, questions, concerns. Um self evaluation and transition plan.
I sent everybody a copy of the one that was and for your reading pleasure all like what bazillion pages of it. Um, what Danielle found is that in researching grants,
it's a Massachusetts Office of Disability recommends that they're resent and updated both of them before you apply for a project grant. And we can get a grant to have both conducted. And that's where they recommend starting if we
don't have any recent ones is submitting a grant and getting those done before we >> start. >> Do you know if we've ever had one? >> I do not know. I can >> and I'm assuming no. I'm just going to
assume no. I look into it. Um, I do know we have a company that we outsource to that helps write grants. So, I don't know if that's something you wanted to work on writing the grant or if you want us to look into
if that's something you want to bring our outside in for um at least one. >> All right. So, you're gonna >> I will find out >> you'll find out if there's ever been a self evaluation in terms of plan
>> and because we need we kind of need that to move forward with with what we need to do >> and I think if we're doing a grant for me it makes more sense I don't know if the commission agrees with the subed evaluation and transition plan to be
that grant writing service because with the project. It's more or more involved in that. And I think that it would make more sense to have that grant um requested by that service versus
>> per project. I think that's something we can invest a lot of time into and we'll be more part of that. So >> yeah, I'll ask the mayor if that's an option. >> I believe at one point the city did have a south done. I to say it was in the
last 10 years, but I could be wrong on that. >> Um cuz I know that they're supposed to be like like left on file for like seven years or something and then you update them. And at one point I did see >> Okay. >> online a self evaluation. >> Okay.
>> And I couldn't find anything. >> Okay. >> So either I'm not looking in the right place or >> or maybe it's expired maybe after the >> I don't know. >> Really expired. Well, it might have been taken down if it was >> if
I saw it wasn't in the last six months. >> Okay. I'm curious as to who did it >> and if it was even done properly >> because if you look at like the one from Hbertston which caused me to like look
at other ones um they're done by outside people >> you know and a lot of the commissions and stuff have requested grant funding to have them done >> and I think that that's the most objective best to go if it was was done
internally. I honestly I would trust that the information is all accurate. >> All right. So, you're going to let me know >> if there is one of those and then we'll follow up.
>> All right. That brings us to the end. I am going to check with um the uh library after today's meeting to find out. Um, >> do we have we don't have anything before
January yet? >> Not yet. >> So, I can't do the 14th if we go the second Wednesday because I won't be at the >> Yes. So, >> I won't be here 14. >> I won't be on the 14th. Um, so what?
Other business not anticipated. >> Danielle, you're up. >> What are you tell us what you're doing? >> Um, I am going to Las Vegas. The ampute coalition um invited me to come and be a part of their 40th conference in Vegas.
>> I'm going to go I'm going to do um peer visitor training while I'm there and then I'm going to share my experience. So I'm going to be gone. almost a week. >> Just kind of meet other advocacy groups and provide, you know, help providers
for the um prosthetics and they're going to have adaptable sports and adaptable yoga. So, I'm really excited to just kind of go and be a part of a community and hopefully bring back some stuff to share with the
useful here. excited. >> I'm excited for her. >> She's come a long way since the first time I met her. >> Very. So, I need a motion to make
it. >> So, when is the next meeting? >> I to be honest, I got to ask. All in favor? I We're dismissed. All right. Um