Good evening. Welcome >> Good evening. >> Welcome to our June 9th Commission on Disabilities meeting. If we could please salute the flag. 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. [clears throat] Um Pauline, if you could do a roll call, I'd greatly appreciate it. >> Sure thing. Ralph DeCicco. >> Present. >> Pauline Pernot is present. Jason Barone. >> Present.
>> Mario Germanis. >> Present. >> And Ellie Vargas. Okay. Okay, so we're missing Ellie. Okay. >> Just give me one second. >> Mhm. >> Sorry about that.
>> Hey. >> Just trying to reach out to Ellie. See what's going on. Um so our our uh first uh item on the on the agenda is a motion to approve the meeting minutes
from uh from May 12th. I had sent everyone a copy of the meeting minutes. I did not hear anyone from anyone if there was any issues with it. So, I'm hoping that means everything was fine, nothing was missing, nothing was incorrect. So, if
that's the case, if I could have I could have a motion made by someone to approve. >> Motion to approve. I'll second that. >> Okay. >> [clears throat] >> Okay.
>> [clears throat] >> Okay. Item number two, since we don't have a guest speaker for this meeting, we will just move on to item number three, which was updates and next steps from the May 12th meeting.
Worth the first item was any updates from Pauline regarding the calendar for future monthly guest speakers. >> I've had little to no luck with getting people to confirm that they will be available. So, I will keep tugging away at it and see
if we've got some folks. I'm hoping that once I get a full response from some of our people for the All Abilities Day, I'm hoping that I can snag maybe one or two or three of them to commit to the fall as well.
>> Okay. And then the second item for the update was update from Pauline regarding the Revere Beach Crossing safety concerns. >> And I have not heard back from Julie Damore, who is also she had forwarded
our information to her person at DCR. So, I have not heard back on anything. I'm still seeing a number of people with near misses. So, it's it's still an ongoing problem. Um I will continue to
try to reach those in positions of hierarchy to see if we can get something at least on the table to be moving forward. Um I will reach out to Jessica Janino to
see if she also has any input thoughts on how to progress. >> Okay. And then um any updates Pauline regarding vendor agencies for the All Abilities Day Out at Revere Beach with any other members?
>> Yep. So, I have reached out to 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 um quote vendors, not necessarily people who are selling things. Um we have been confirmed with the Revere Police Department to have our our comfort dog
and or dogs possibly depending on who's available um to be with us on that >> Okay. >> Um Revere Fire has not gotten back to me yet, so I'm waiting their response as well as Cataldo's. Linn Recreation, we are on their calendar. We've been penciled in. They
are currently doing their summer and fall planning. Uh so, I got in at just the right time. Gave them the dates and times and all. So, I'm hoping that um we will be a permanent go for that day, but we are on the calendar to be um
kind of brought up as a discussion and to see if they're available to come. So, that's looking good. Our um constituent at Swampscott Commission on Disabilities, the lovely Lauren, has been spreading the word and she's doing a nice job of it. Um so, she's getting
the word out north of here. Um I have also reached out to the Lynn Disability Network, which is a totally separate entity from the Disability Commission in Lynn. Um because they're doing an awful lot of stuff and I think that that would be a great resource to have them come. I'm
going to try to pop in. I sent them an email also because they're doing an all abilities cooking class for kids on, I think it's June 11th. Um, so I want to see if I can pop in and just take a look at that just because I'm really interested. Uh, you know me, I love to
cook. Um, and then maybe be able to touch base person to person with the woman that's in charge of it, but I've been following her and I have reached out. >> And see if they want to have a table at our event, too. >> I'm offering these people tables if they need like PM, you know, if they have pamphlets, handouts, that type of stuff.
Um, I don't believe the the police department will need a Well, maybe they will. Um, Captain Malone will get back to me if he needs anything else, but he we are on their we are on their docket for that day. So, we're we're good. And then lastly, um, I have the Mass General
Brigham Community Care Van, which I have been penciled in for uh, when we first came up with the date. I've reached out to their program manager, um, and just to make sure that they're coming and to see what they need for setup. >> Okay, yeah, cuz that's what I'm going to
need to know. Yeah, definitely. >> Yeah. So, as soon as I hear back from the folks that what do they need, I will be in touch with you so we can firm up yes, we need four tables, yes, we need six tables, whatever it is. >> Well, yeah, what I'm going to try and do is I'm I'm very limited as the tables
that that I'm getting. So, so that's what I need to do and basically they're going to need to bring, you know, hopefully have their own chairs, but I'm going to need to going to need to know uh, ahead of time uh, if cuz I've already asked for for what I I'm
basically what I needed from from from last year for our vendors. So, that's where we'll have to go in one I want one items, item number five, I'm going to elaborate a little bit more on that, but I wanted to see where where you were on that. The other thing I
wanted to mention to Jason and Mario, if there's any agencies that you know of that you would that have worked have worked with you, if you wanted to reach out with them, if they wanted to come and have and set up an informational table, you know, please please reach out to them and let
them know and and give them my contact if it's something that they want to do. Especially for the I believe Mario, you are you involved with the um Are you involved with any any agencies or Commission for the Blind or anything
like that or >> I am. I'm not sure of the who to talk to from Mass Commission. I mean, I do have like but like I you know, I have I've got services from them in the past. So, but like not nothing you know, recent.
>> Okay. >> But it is a good idea though to bring to bring that to involve them in in this in this >> That's why that's why if anybody has any contacts or know of anyone that has contacts, that's what you know, and that's what we were trying to get so that we have people like that with table
informational tables for people. Um and I'll let Pauline continue if she has any more and then I'll I'll elaborate a little bit more. >> No, that's basically where I'm at. As I talk to people, you know, I also do mention if you have any other, you know,
contacts that would be available that would like to come, that type of stuff. I I will check in with Swampscott Commission on Disabilities. I'll check in with Lauren because she also has her fully fenced alliance that
been doing with the playground. So, I don't know if she's going to be she said she is in she said yes, count her in. But I want to see in what capacity and if she needs anything set up as well. So, like I said, you know, I I'm doing a lot of cold calling and a lot of
outreach and you know, yes, I've got people at least they're getting back to me, which is good. So, I'm just waiting on a couple more. As those things come in, I certainly will get in touch with you, Ralph, so that we can have a like a finalized you know, join us for all of these vendor things.
Um, >> Perfect. >> So, that's where I'm at. So, we >> Okay, perfect. >> So, that are coming. So, you know, the tide tables are in our favor. It doesn't become high tide until close to 3:00, so we should be all set. >> Okay, perfect. >> I will also, um, the state police, the
horse units do come down my street. I'm not sure why, but they do to get onto the beach. So, I'm going to check in with them cuz they're very friendly, the horses and the police. Um, I'm going to check in with them to see if they would also be able to, uh, mount on by that day. I think that it would be a
thrill for, you know, especially if we've got kids, you know, kids and horses, who doesn't love a horse? >> Right. Okay, perfect. Perfect. Okay, what I will do is I'm going to move to item number four, which is called the Commission on Disabilities Alliance.
Um, we we didn't meet for a couple of months, but we did have a meeting on June 3rd. Uh, so I'm just going to discuss a couple of items that were talked about. The Brookline COD mentioned that they have completed a municipal accessibility parking study, which what they did is they marked
accessible parking spots as full either if they were as fully accessible having barriers such as trees, poles, biking racks, etc. causing an issue that made that accessible municipal parking spot non-compliant. Um, the Marrows COD mentioned that they
are looking to partner with the school district, the school district special education department SEPAC to create mentorship with area businesses that may want to be part of that initiative. Um, the Cambridge COD mentioned that they sponsored a program that was run by
an outside company and an outside company on water safety and swimming for children with intellectual disabilities and their families. Uh and the Boston Commission the Boston Commission on Disabilities Advisory Board
will be sending a letter to Secretary Galvin's office regarding the accessible voting voting machine Automark as that they're being inadequate and they and they need to be updated with new technology. So those were some of the commissions had
brought into to the monthly quota meeting. So I just wanted to let everyone know about that. Um if anybody had any questions on that. If not, I'm going to move to item number five which is the grant application
update for that we received from Save the Harbor Save the Bay regarding this DCI permit if any. I still have not received the official approval from DCI, but I'm I've heard it
is we should not have a problem. So I've been moving ahead with the process as I was instructed to do by Save the Save instructed to do from Save Save the Harbor Save the Bay.
We've finalized our flyer that I'm going to share my screen with so that I could show everyone. Um let me just one second.
Lost my video. Hold on a second. Um advise this. >> Please let me know if you're able to >> Got it. >> See the >> I'll see it through me. >> All right. This is the new flyer for the Revere Commission on Disabilities All
Abilities Beach Day on Revere Beach. Uh which will be Saturday, August 15th. Um from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Uh what we have is we have the uh website URL and we also have
the um scannable um uh Why am I drawing a blank right now? >> QR code. >> QR code, thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Uh QR code that will take them directly
to the page to register. Um and it's it's a form and they're using um Eventbrite that you'll be able to get electronic tickets for it. Uh Save the Harbor helped me create the the flyer. They also sent it to
um to the mayor's office um so that they have it there. Um and it's the registration link is going to is is through um Eventbrite. They are also going to be putting flyers up for us throughout the city Revere. Um
I will be putting this into the local papers uh starting um the first or the second week of July. Uh so it'll be running in both of the uh Revere Journal and the Revere um Advocate uh along with uh trying to post
it in as much social media as possible. I will also be sending a copy of this to Revere TV uh so that they can post it. I'm just waiting for uh the translations by uh by the city of Revere to translate this in the the
other languages for us so that I can share that. Uh but in the papers they will be uh they will just be in English but they will be shared um electronically I believe um in the other the other languages that the city of Revere does in translations in.
Um so that's the uh that's the new Let me just move that. So that is the new uh flyer. Let me just move it up so you see it. It's the All Abilities Beach Day uh on Revere Beach Saturday, August 15th. It's going to be in the same
location that it's been the past 2 years which is uh which is 462 near near 462 Revere Beach Boulevard which is um the bathhouse and entry 36. So you would want to pass Kelly's, you would want to pass Kelly's Cream
uh and we are down past Kelly's Cream on the right side is the Oak Island Bathhouse and the entrance is entry 36. Uh is the location. One side of the bathhouse is entry 36, one side of the bathhouse is 37. You can come in either
or but I'm just using entry 36 as the main entry because that's where the sign-up table the signing table will be um for for people to uh to sign in. Um so that's that's where um
everybody everything will be. Um so that's where we are on that. Uh there'll be a little bit more information on the Eventbrite. I believe there will be um a little bit of a map showing where our location is uh and the approximation of where
Kelly's Cream is uh so that people will be able to see the relationship of where we are to them, uh so they have an approximation on how to get there. Um we are going to the the first 100 people that register, we will be providing a free lunch to the
first 100 people that have registered for the event um to the best of our ability. Um so that's where we will be on that. Um I'll leave this up for a couple of minutes as I just uh talk a little bit. Um Save the Harbor has been a tremendous
help. They've reached out to um Representative Jeanino's office. She's been a tremendous help in and outreach to uh different people. She's been helping uh outreach to the city for me and uh she's going to be outreaching to see um
if they can get anybody to come as a uh informational vendor to uh come and enjoy in the uh in in the the the event itself. Uh I just wanted to make mention that this is a free event. So we are not
allowing any vendors that sell anything. Um it's just an informational vendor uh informational vendors that we want there. Um nothing with anybody that is there to make a profit or to sell anything cuz this is a a totally free event that we
want to have family-friendly uh event for a day out at Revere Beach. Uh and everybody is going to want to just bring their um their chair, their chair, their towels, some snacks, um extra you know, water and things to
hydrate themselves. Um and also we will have the accessible water and sand wheelchairs, but when you register it will also tell you uh that and you should you do need to bring a companion uh that will be capable of
helping you in and out of the wheelchair, um, accessible, um, wheelchair accessible chairs uh into the water. Um, so I just wanted to put some of that information out there on that. Um, I know, uh, Jessica Giannino,
Representative Giannino, is also, I believe, it along with the mayor's office, also Pauline, I think they are also reaching out to, uh, Revere Fire, Revere Police to see what type of, um, assistance they will be able to provide to us, too. Uh, on the on the day of the
event, uh, which is, uh, which is a tremendous help. Um, so and I'm still waiting to see, um, if the D- if DCR will be able to reallocate any lifeguards to our area. If not,
um, I talked to, um, uh, Director Michael Hano, also from Revere Parks and Recs. There are, um, lifeguards that certified lifeguards that they use for the community pool that I would be able to hire,
um, for for our event. So, worst-case scenarios if we uh unable to get, um, life- a lifeguard allocated for our event from DCR, um, I will, um, trying to keep some funds available to have a lifeguard, uh,
at our event. If, um, I'm also hoping that we, as we did in the first year, we had Revere Fire, uh, EMTs, uh, for all day for the event. So, we may also have that. So, we we should have some some type of coverage we will have.
Um, so that's what that's what it would be. So, now we just, uh, >> Wait. >> Wait and need to hope for, fingers toes crossed, that we have a nice weather, um, again, as usual, so that we can have a a fun day, uh, for the 30th annual, uh, All
Abilities Day out at Revere Beach. Any questions or, uh, comments or concerns before I move on to the next item. Everybody like like or the the flyer look good or >> The flyer is excellent. >> Okay.
>> Excellent. >> Perfect. Perfect. That's what I wanted to make sure. >> Okay. Yeah, that's a nice flyer. Yeah, well done. >> They did a great job. Yeah, thanks thanks to Save the Harbor. They they they they they did a great job
and I was really really thankful to them. I know like you know, I'm a pain to them probably, but they've been they've been helping I've been having a lot of meetings with them. So uh let me stop let me stop sharing this momentarily. Where is my
stop share. Okay. So I will close that one and I will move on to item number six. This item number six is uh Massachusetts Massachusetts Architectural Access Board Amy for variances.
Uh we did not have any variances, so there are none for that. So I can move on to um item number seven, which was chapter 40 section 222 HP funds. There's no updates for that either.
So I can move on to um item number eight, which is the DCI's Universal Access Program. Um they have the summer 2026 adaptive program schedule has been released. For
general questions, you can contact the Universal Access Program by sending an email to dcr.universalaccess@mass.gov. Uh you can call them at 413 461-7126. Uh you can also uh contact them if you
can directly go to um their website, which is uh mass.gov/dci/access. And what I'm going to do is I'm going to share my screen again. Just to make sure that you can see the DCI's
Universal Access Program 2026 program schedule should be coming up on your screen momentarily. Um for the TV audience. So, this is their summer program, their general information. A lot of information I just gave the
Universal Access Program has the link. They talk about different programs that they have at that website. Um and they they also this page is that website that I just told you you can check out, which is
mass.gov/dci/access. To keep up-to-date with their activities, you can be added to their email list. Uh there's release forms and pre-registration that you can find out there. There's essential eligibility criteria, uh program attendance guidelines for
activities, accommodation requests, and then it gets into different different types of activities that they have and where they have them, uh specific locations and if there's any costs involved uh at their programs.
There are some uh there probably could be some that are at no cost, but some are at cost. But, please feel free to take a look at their website. That's where I had gotten all this information from. Um
it's a great It's a great program that the Universal Access Group Uh from DCI puts out. That's who is going to be coming and bringing the um the water accessibility wheelchairs and sand chairs to the All Abilities Day
um at Revere Beach on August 15th. As you can see, there is a lot of different programs that they have. I know I'm scrolling through this fast, but I just want to give you a general idea on what they have. Yeah.
All right. So, I'll stop sharing that for a moment. And I will go on to item number nine was commissioner members, uh late informational items. If anyone has any late informational items.
>> Yep. So, I've got some good news and some bad news. So, the good news is my I have a loaner chair they gave me for now while I'm getting my thing either repaired or getting a new chair. We don't know when. I have not heard. Um but they had picked up my chair cuz
it had died. Uh as they were picking it up, believe it or not, as they were testing it. So, some good news there. They saved my chair and they're working on that and they are trying to fix the Wilmington office for National Seating and Mobility. So, we'll see how things go.
The general manager has called me himself a couple of times. Um and on the good news side, my Social Security thing, as I told you before, on the good news side, that's being escalated, so hopefully others won't be running into too many issues with Social Security Administration, I hope. Um
but uh we'll find out, you know, so. And um you know, they're getting more strict on the program, so just letting everyone know, make sure you read everything on any of program you apply for.
Cuz the feds want to make changes. They're talking about cutting Medicare, Medicaid. So, I hope they don't. >> [clears throat] >> Cuz that will cut my PCA part that I really need. Unfortunately, that that's all I have at the moment.
>> Any other members? I I have one and I'm going to share my screen again. >> [clears throat] >> Okay. So, what I have now is let me just lower it down. I want to make sure it's
showing the full screen. Um this Saturday, June 13th, uh Rivera Parks and Recreation Center is going to be having their Sensory Adventures Day um from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the SBA field at 107 Newhall Street. It's absolutely
free. Um this is, I believe, their third or their fourth annual one. Um Miss Ali does a great job with this, so I wanted to help promote this for them. So, it's in the SBA um at the in the parking lot in front of the main
entrance, behind the ball fields. Um so, they have a lot of great activities there, so um if anybody's interested, or if you know anyone that'd be interested in it, um it's um on the I believe it's on their their Parks and Recreation's website. I
also have this flyer on the Commission on Disabilities Facebook page. Um so if anybody needed to to take a look at it, um this is where it is. So it's this Saturday, June 13th, at the SBA field uh at 10107 Newhall Street from 2:00 to
4:00 p.m. Saturday, June 13th. It's the Century Adventures Day and it's a it's a great it's a great time. It's a lot of fun uh for the children. So I just wanted to uh pop that up for everyone to take a look at. And uh I will leave that up. I'll keep
that up for a few minutes as we uh continue to um go on with the meeting so that people can see that. Um you can go to www.revererec.org uh to find some more information about it or you could also call 781-286-8190 if
you wanted to find out any more information about Century Adventures. But it is a free event uh and I let everyone know the location of it. So uh that's what I have for late informational items.
Um residents' concerns and issues um I haven't gotten any um So there's no no one has called and asked me asked me for uh to add anything or any questions to to answer uh or to
bring anything up at the at the um Commission meetings. Uh just been getting uh handicap applications. Just want to make sure everyone knows that on the Commission on Disabilities page on the City of Revere's website, there's there's information on there on how to
apply for a handicap sign in front of your house. Um there's um what you need to know is the first thing you want to take a look at. Then there's the application itself, then the medical application. But what everyone needs to know is you need to have a handicap
placard first that is issued by the Registry of Motor Vehicles. Handicap placards are not issued by city or towns. They're only They're only issued by the Registry of Motor Vehicles and you need to contact them in order to fill out a separate application through
them for the placard itself, which is done through their Medical Affairs Unit. Uh and one thing you always want to do is when you fill out that application, that gets mailed into a post office box for the Medical Affairs. Always keep a copy of it for yourself.
Uh so if something happens, you already have a copy because you having a doctor fill out a portion of that, so you don't have to run back and get another and something filled out again by the doctor, so you have a second copy of it uh just in case uh to send it in. The
other thing is when your placard expires, has an expiration date on it. If it is a permanent placard, they automatically renew your placard if it is in good standings and it is not a temporary placard. Um you do not need to
contact them. They're pretty good at hopefully getting it to you on time. Uh but again, that is only done through the Registry of Motor Vehicles. It's not done through the city or towns. >> And I would add to that, Ralph, that they should uh I'd recommend putting and I know it
they think it's expensive, but I would put a certified on it when you send it to a PO box just because that way you'll have a a tracking ability to know when it was received. Because it is 30 days uh and sometimes they get extended. This way when you go to call the Registry, they'll be able to reach out to the
Medical Affairs Bureau to check on the status if something is more than 30 days. >> I thought they would see they would now just referring everybody directly to the Medical Affairs. >> Yeah, it it's true, but you still have to contact the Registry office if you are checking on the status. You You get
into the Medical Affairs bureau without calling the main office, please. That's what I'm saying from the contact center side. They won't let you in. >> So that number for that they gave you for medical affairs, you're not supposed to call them anymore? >> No, not directly, not unless they authorize it. We're not supposed to give it to people unless we're unless there's
a circumstance that permits that, yeah. >> It's on their form now. >> Yeah, that's I don't know why. They They That's what they told us, but they can they can try it. They probably won't respond to it. They don't have many people answering it. They're usually very busy. They usually end up leaving a message
and they don't get back to people, so. But that's what I was told when I started and been for a while. But very small department, believe it or not. >> [laughter] >> You would think it's bigger, but >> [snorts] >> Yeah. >> But you are [clears throat] correct. It
is It does go there, yeah. >> [snorts] >> Yeah, it goes actually goes to a post office box. >> Yeah, unfortunately. >> Yeah. Okay. Um next steps? Pauline, what do we want to carry over? >> Everything. Let's carry it all.
>> Yeah. Sounds good to me. >> All right. The the thing for We don't have the The one thing I wanted to mention is we do not have a July meeting. >> Nope. >> Okay. So our next our next meeting is going to be
um the Tuesday right before the the same week as the All Abilities um All Abilities uh God Day at Revere Beach. So um what we'll do is instead of um we'll
we'll keep it as update from It's we'll we'll keep it as update from for vendor agencies as we'll do it as we'll change it to finalization of uh vendors that we know that are that are going to be participating. >> Sounds good.
>> I'll just change it around a little bit. Um other than that, um I just wanted to, um, uh, go to item number 12 if you wanted to read that. >> Sure.
Reminder. The Commission on Disabilities office number is 781-286-8267. Residents can also call Revere 311 directly and speak to the staff Monday through Friday. They will answer most questions, but if they are unable to assist you or if you would prefer to
talk with the Commission directly, please ask to be transferred to the Commission on Disability direct number. Please leave us a detailed message and we will respond to you shortly. As always, please don't hesitate to contact us if you would like to discuss or add something to our monthly meeting
agenda. You can also let us know if you want to discuss any concerns. The Commission is here to help and assist all residents with disabilities and their families in Revere. >> Okay, thank you. Um, if I can have a motion for a meeting
to adjourn. >> Motion to adjourn. >> Oh, I was just going to say I'd like to add to Revere Public Schools, congratulations to the class of 2026 who graduate tomorrow. The the class that's graduating was the
last class that I had at Paul Revere before I left. So, all my former students and I I miss them dearly and I'm sure they will go on to do wonderful, wonderful things. So, congratulations to completing your Revere Public Schools education and to
whatever endeavor greets you, best of luck. >> And Mary, Jason, you made a motion to adjourn meeting to adjourn. >> Seconded by anyone yet? >> Me. >> Yeah. >> Yep. >> Okay, Pauline. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you.
>> Okay. So, as I mentioned, there is no July meeting. So our next meeting will be on Tuesday, August 11th at 6:00 p.m. I just want to wish everyone a safe happy 4th of July. Please stay out of the heat as Jason
told us before I meet right before we came on. Make sure you stay hydrated. >> Yes. >> Stay as cool as possible. >> Yep. >> Okay. >> Correct. >> You got it. >> Thank you and have a great night. >> You too. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Everybody. >> Bye-bye. >> Bye.
>> Oops.