Okay, good evening. Welcome to the uh January 13th Commission on Disabilities meeting. Uh if we could please start with the pledge of allegiance. Uh 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. Uh Pauline, if you could please do a roll call of the members. >> Absolutely. So Ralph Dico, you are
>> present. >> Incarno is also present. Jason Baron, >> present. >> And Mario Gmanis, >> present. >> Ellie Vargas, >> present. >> Hi, Ellie. And Ann Marie Fiori. She um sent me a message a little while ago
that she was uh had a uh emergency with the sun. Uh so she is going to be absent. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. Okay. So we had the roll call of members. Uh item we don't have a very lengthy agenda this month. Um so item
one is a motion to approve the meeting members meeting minutes from our December 19th 2025 meeting. Uh first I should have uh said uh I know it's not proper etiquette now because we are now in the 13th of January but happy new year uh since this is our first uh
meeting for the 2026 year. Um but I had sent everyone a copy of the meeting minutes from the December meeting few to look over before this evening um to see if there are any changes any uh information that is missing on any
information uh that I need to update um was if there is none seeing none if I can have a motion to approve. >> Motion to approve >> and I'll second. >> Okay. And uh item number two is where we always have a spot for a guest speaker.
Um but we do not have a guest speaker for uh for this meeting. So we will just proceed to item number three. Uh which is next step next step next steps from our December 9th uh 2025 meeting. And mostly uh the first one is one that we
just constantly roll over which is any updates from Pauline and Amarie regarding the calendar for future monthly guest speakers. And I know Pauline you've been trying to work on for February, March. >> I have um I may have Februaries. I'm just waiting for a call back.
>> Okay. >> As I know you will know. I'm just waiting. It went to one person needed to go somewhere else. So I'm just waiting on that call back. So hopefully, keep your fingers crossed, we'll get that for um February. >> Okay, perfect. And the next update
hopefully is regarding a letter sent to Representative Tero regarding a beach crossing safety concerns uh specifically. And Ellie was going to try and contact his office directly to >> I did I have not have any um reply, but I'm going to do is uh I I have to go to
the emergency room. So, I'm going to go to the [ __ ] I'm going to city hall and I'm going to drop it cuz I need to do that. I've been in Puerto Rico since 2 days ago. So, I came back. But my focus is to get that letter immediately cuz the revering is getting bad just
like you were uh back in the scene. So, I totally agree. I need to immediately send that letter cuz it's getting bad. >> Okay. Thank you. Um next that those are the only two items that we had for an update. Next is item number four which
is KOD Commission on Disabilities Alliance uh meeting with monthly meeting which was held um last Wednesday January 7th. Um as people would have noticed that the the the meeting notes were not time were not ready in time for the posting but I do have it right now. It
basically is just uh one main thing that was on the agender agenda. They had a presenter um at that meeting um which was a person by the name of uh of Ellie
uh Stea who is uh who runs the C consulting and training area of DPC um which uh uh is helpful for the training and resources. Uh this is a relatively new department at DPC which
was established in 2024 and this is one of one of the many many areas DPC uh can uh be of assistance to people with. Uh if anyone wanted any more information they can go to the DPC's uh website and
the DPC stands for the disability policy consortium. Um so most of the meeting was uh was on discussions on that and just a few commission members just basically said that they were um going to be getting their meetings going. Um they a lot of them didn't have uh
meetings on relatively much going on in December uh towards the end of December and before our our our monthly meeting in January. So there really wasn't much to um to report on or a lot of time to discuss that since we were they were had
a presentation for us uh from one of the departments there at DPC. Um so that's what I have for the monthly um monthly kod um information. Uh next is item
number five is items from the Massachusetts Architectural Access Board which is the MAAB for variances. Uh we haven't received any variance applications for any projects um since uh since uh the last month that we
discussed. So there's none to report on that. Um like I said, it's going to be a relatively quick meeting. Um, for item number six, if we have any commission members late informational items that they wanted to um to discuss or talk
about, I will open the floor up to you. As long as it'sformational, um, we can discuss it. >> Um,formational to tag on to what we've been doing as far as addressing the crosswalk and the walking situation
along the beach. Please be aware that up towards as you go northbound on the beach um where they're doing the current construction on the the um newest condos slash buildings >> apartment buildings
>> apartment condos what whichever they are >> where the um trucks are entering and exiting as they exit going southbound. I almost got sideswiped. um because I couldn't see.
It was a smaller truck, but it was a truck that was coming out. He never looked and he couldn't go past where they've got the safety netting up. So, if you're southbound, >> be aware. I had to swerve into the northbound lane. Thank goodness it was a
smaller car that was on the other side. But the lanes down there are extremely narrow. They have a a area that they cannot see past to see oncoming cars coming southbound. So just be aware for anyone who is either a driving, b
walking or c traveling in a passenger vehicle that you know you may not be driving but you might be the passenger. So just an extra awareness. It's extremely extremely tight and it's extremely um difficult to see past the blind spots coming out of that those
work areas. So note of interest for anyone everyone. >> Okay. Are they gonna post Are they going to post a Why don't they post an officer over there? Because that's that's a situation where a detail where they might utilize that
>> so that they for a while, Jason, they did have um a state cruiser parked there. >> Yeah, because it's it's a state road >> and but also not constant. And I don't know, you know, I travel that road at 5:00 in the morning. I travel that road
at 11 o'clock at night or 12 midnight. So the times that I'm coming out, it's mostly first thing in the morning, like right before that school rush. And my biggest fear is because the school buses do utilize the beach road
>> um to pick up for both elementary and middle schools and the high school as well. So it it's just as a note of interest. I don't know how they decide on the details, but it is a state road and I know that there was a cruiser there for, you know, on and off periods
of time. So, it's just again, it's just going to be due diligence on either a if you're driving or b if you are a passenger, you know, just the awareness that it's out there and it's extremely narrow and it's extremely um blind spotted. So,
>> that's something again, if we want to, we got to go through the states. So, >> good luck with that. >> Uh, no. Uh, but interest out there and I know LA will be interested. So, um, and I'm not sure I haven't gotten the details on it, but the, uh, Mass Health
now requires, uh, Tempest, but we're not sure if it's Tempest that does it or your PCM agency for those that have PCAs have to do background checks now, both criminal and sorories. So, we before you had to do it yourself. Now they're
making the requirements and you have to be 16 now. No more 14. They changed that too. So that was as of January. >> Wow. >> Yes, that is correct. But we're not sure on the background check part because when I asked they didn't seem to have too much of an
answer on that. So I haven't gotten an answer on that. Have you heard anything LA on that one? Sadly, I' I've been hearing it, but because of the money shortage, I don't know who's doing the background checks anymore because I used
to limited or or Northeast uh Arc, >> but it's a huge bloody mess. So, I don't know who's doing the background checks anymore. I've been with my mom forever, so I never have another PCA. >> They weren't they were definitely weren't doing it because even current
PCAs have to do it now. So, I don't know. Tempest was saying they thought that the PCM agency is supposed to do it and then the PSM agency was saying no they thought Tempest was supposed to do it but Mass Health is requiring it before it was us you and I had to put
front the money to get it and I am I can't afford to do that. Um but that's you know something so that's something hopefully we can find out. they need to let people know how that's getting done so we can make sure it gets completed because if it doesn't that could shut
off programs too. So >> because then the requirements aren't being met. Um >> you should hit up the agency the uh the the what is it? What the heck is it called? The 1197 the the union
>> for see if what their information are on it because I know a lot of people are having difficulty. So, I think you should hit them up cuz I know they have more information like Rachel and Vaughn who runs the program. >> Okay. Yeah, I'll see what I can find. And
>> yeah, and on the health side, everybody just again, I've been warned by our nurse here. So, everybody, just be careful. Neuro is making a huge thing around and the flu is really bad. A couple of kids have already died up here in mass. They said that's how bad it is
this season. So, everyone just be careful. Keep your hands washed. Do what you can to stay safe on that side of it. >> And just pick up off of that. I literally was in Puerto Rico for the two weeks ago and I got COVID, the flu, and
that other new stuff on New Year's Day and and just shows you going from cold to hot. Make sure you don't touch surfaces. Make sure you you know do everything you can. Also, take vitamin C, okay? Please daily take vitamin C
because a lot of immune systems are down and I literally picked up everything. I had an infected foot. I had COVID. I had that bral thing that just came out recently and the flu. So >> be safe people out there. Thank you. >> And I know that Pauline would understand
with me that you know surfaces are you know they do hold things like hepatitis B can live for seven days or longer on that based on the temperatures and things. So to be careful everybody please it just we don't know at this point. So even door handles whatever it
is please just we got enough trouble. >> Yeah. >> Any other updates from any other members? Any concerns or any uh updates or any information? >> My only concern is how the heck are they going to make the high school right in front of Wonderland and we barely have
streets? That's what I said. >> That's what I said. >> Well, that's not for that's unfortunately that's not for the commission to discuss at this time. So, I'm sorry. >> I know. I'll just say it. It's just >> Yeah, >> it's crazy. >> Yeah, it's just uh but any other any
issues or um as as I ask every month to you know my commission members to please give me anything that you would like to be be discussed at our commission meetings. that is gratefully appreciated. And I put it out there, it's it's also um we say at the end of
this meeting, if any residents have any concerns or questions, uh please feel free to email or call the commission phone number and leave a detailed message, uh we could also address that at a uh upcoming commission meeting. That's what we're here for. The other
thing that I want to let people know is we have uh centers for independent living uh that are greatly are a great asset uh to people and families with disabilities and the Boston Center for Independent Living is uh is the center
that greatly that that ser serves uh the River community. Um so they have a lot of resources. Um they have an online presence and they have a phone number. Um, so it's the Boston Center for Independent Living and the abbreviation
is BCIL. So you could Google search BCIL. I believe I also >> I I I have it on our website. I don't have it off of the top of my head. Uh, if somebody else had some other discussions, I would have been able to pull it up right now. Uh, but I just
don't have it off the top of my head right now for the Boston Center of Independent Living. >> And I'm a proud member of the board member. So if you don't have a PCA, I mean uh advocate, please contact BCIL whether you're elderly, physically,
mental, or individual invisible disabilities. They will have an advocate for you and they'll find navigate you. Also, they work very close with the DPC. So, and the modsmen, so hit them up. >> They have a lot of great resources.
They're they're a valuable resource to use. >> Excellent. Um, >> okay. The number is 16173386665 for BCIL, Boston Center Independent Living. Thank you everyone.
>> Great. >> Paul, I'm going to um look for you for the commission members lateformational items for the notes. So, even if you want to chicken scratch them to me, >> I will scratch them and I will send them along. >> Yeah, you can just photo you can just
take a picture of it and and text it over to me. >> Okay, I can do that. >> Yeah. Um uh item number if before I move on, is there any other commission membersformational um if they want to pass on? Okay. Um, item
number seven is residents concerns or issues that we may have gotten via email or via voicemail. And I have not received any. I've received some calls for um uh from some voicemails for some
issues that we really um don't deal with for the commission oursel internally. Uh but I have g called back and given them the resources on who they who they need to contact um such as um renewals for
the handicap placard, where to uh get the handicap placard, how to apply for handicap placard, uh which is on our website, but I also a lot of the people don't have internet access. Um so they call the number, our art commission number, and I give that to them. We've
been also getting some calls through the commission on disabilities for disability uh people with disabilities for um rent for rental apartment looking for rental apartments um and I've referred them to our um one of our
divisions in city hall that has been able to uh reach out to them and get them the proper uh resources to assist with them. Um, so that's that's what I've been getting some calls on. So even if you don't think we can uh help,
please call and I will try and get you to the proper uh to the proper channels or you can also always reach uh Revier 311 and let them know what you're looking for. Um, and if even though uh you're a resident or as a family member
with disabilities, yes, the Commission of Disabilities is here, but sometimes it's not a matter for the commission to that can assist with, but we do have other resources that we should be able to let you know where to where to go or who can assist
you. Hopefully, I was clear on that. Um, if anybody wanted to add, try to, you know, we're here to help as much as we can. Um, item number eight is next steps and we're just going to carry over our usual
um our usual monthly next steps is the updates for our um guest speakers and hopefully Ellie will be able to update us um with the with the crossing u safety concerns u for next month. I'm
gonna I'm gonna call and bug Ellie every day until the next meeting and Pauline's going to do the same. We're gonna send you we're gonna we're gonna we're gonna see if we once you get in touch with them, just reach out and let me know that you got in touch with them. >> No, I contacted their office just now. I
left a message again. So, I'm going to do that every couple days. I'm gonna call the office and say, "Hey, you're available." >> Yeah. I I have I have directly Turko's number and his personal number. So message reach out to him directly and uh
do it that way because we really want to get get something maybe maybe we can see if somebody from the office wants to you know come and talk to us about the concerns at a meeting too. I'm welcome. You know, talk to Pauline too for any any any member has any ideas or knows
anyone that wants to come as a guest speaker. Even though Pauline is looking at people, please reach out to Pauline with some with some contacts that anyone has for for monthly guest speakers. >> Yeah, I'm >> you know, >> maybe we should representative Turo to
just come in person or via Zoom, >> right? >> Yeah, May maybe that's an idea. Okay. Thank you. >> Yeah. That's all. Okay. Um, like I said, it'd be a pretty quick meeting tonight. Um,
so that we did that. Item eight was next steps. Item number nine is our monthly reminder. Pauline, if you wanted to um go over that, >> I would love to. The Commission on Disabilities office number is 781-2868267.
Residents can also call Rivia 311 directly and speak to the staff member through Monday through Friday. They will answer most of your 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 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 rever. >> Thank you. And I also wanted to just um say one thing. Knock on wood. I'm going to knock on my head because it's made of wood. We've been relatively safe and
sound with uh no snow this year. We've had some ice, but please remember if you see any sidewalks um or curb cuts that are uh covered with snow on a on on a public walkway such as
Broadway or if there's an intersection or bus stop. Um please feel free to reach out to Re11 to let them know. Um, I know there's issues with cities and towns right now, um, with communications with MBTA on who's supposed to be
clearing MBTA bus stops and and things of that nature. Um, my my feeling is whoever can get there first should be cleaning them and keeping them and keeping them clean for everyone uh, instead of having it tied up in
bureaucracy. Um, so, you know, bus stops should be clean. um not only for just snow but all year round basically, especially the ones that have the bus shelters. Um I seen to I seen a report tonight that the um that the MBTA and
I'm pretty sure um Julie from um community development may know some insight. The MBTA is on their new um bus routes or whatnot that they are and I'm not sure if it's in the river community. They're trying to um put more bus
shelters up at a lot of their bus stops >> where they can. Some places you can't because there's not adequate spacing for it >> um because the sidewalking is tight or because of they're right next to an abutter's property. Uh there's not
enough enough distance. But they are trying I've seen a report that they are trying to uh make more bus shelters. And if you see a lot of the new uh bus shelters, they're trying to keep them a little bit further away from the road. They're putting the bench seats along
with leaving uh enough space for wheelchairs. So, they are trying to do their work along with I don't know if anybody saw the report that the biggest ongoing settlement with the MBTA uh with F I believe it was fineold was just
finally settled after years in the making uh was a big disability lawsuit. So they are making strides to to do uh better for for people with disabilities. It was a long time coming. So hopefully they just keep going on the right path.
And um I believe I believe it was by was it 2030 that all green line trains are supposed to be the I forget what they call it. I should know this off the top of my head
and I'm not. They're not. They're all gonna have the level. Uh, what's the word I'm looking for? Paulie? >> Oh, floor. That's what you're looking for. >> Yes. Thank you. >> Yes. >> I believe it was by 2030. >> It's it's it's the the equivalent. It's
the green line trains are going to be the equivalent of the quote kneeling buses. >> Yes. So that come down rather than having the oldfashioned bridge plates that had to be manually thrown. The only reason I know that is because I've heard horror seen them. But
the oldfashioned bridge plates that actually were exactly that and you know they would slip, they would fall. You know it they were not safe. So you know bringing everything up to speed where it's leveled basically. Well, the solution really would have
been if they were smarter, and I just mean this respectfully, but would have changed the equipment uh to more like what the blue line or the orange line or the red line had. And all they need to do because they're already doing in certain places where they make the platforms a certain way
anyway because honestly, I got caught on the train coming back and the uh thing wasn't coming out. So they had I had to get through the car part to the other side of the car to get because it I couldn't >> otherwise she would have to use the
manual to get me down and my power chair is 350 lbs plus my >> weight ask you because I just read something. Sorry I have this thought. I just read something that said that those power chairs can weigh up to 400 lb. Is that correct? >> That is correct. Yep. And it can weigh
more than that in some cases. >> Yeah. It depends if you have the eye level. If you have a eye level to raise up the chair, it's even heavier. >> The neutral chair I have is around 350 pounds minimum. >> And I have like two of them that are like that big. So, they could even be
heavier. >> It depends on It depends. It's not just that. >> It's the It's the parts. It's the parts on it, too. Because if like >> the batteries are the batteries can weigh a lot, too. And then some of them have a backup battery on them, too. That even makes them more heavier. No, no.
Usually they have is two batteries that are um synced to each other. So, usually the chairs always have two batteries, right? >> You're talking about the newer ones, that's a whole different like I have. Yeah, they mine. >> Yeah. The newer ones >> synced the synced ones, you don't need it. And that's why they But those chairs
are the ones that you get through insurance. And those like mine mine is customized. And now the parts on the front my my foot rests come out like outward so I can raise my legs to stretch and then the back recline. So those kind of things will add
>> uh you know >> more weight to the chair. >> No because I I didn't honestly have I mean I knew that they were heavier than like say just a regular manual one with the wheels just you know. >> Right.
>> And I was wondering about that battery. Do they all come with a secondary battery or do you is that >> the more expensive ones, the ones you get through insurance generally do? They're designed to do. Now, some people if you get a Now, if you go buy something online somewhere, which you can do, there's offmarket like you can
go get a wheelchair, and a lot of people do it because they don't want to go through the insurance process. Uh, my chair was, according to what I was told, was over 15 grand. So, you know, you might go buy a chair for $1,500. Like one lady, she had her batteries died, but then she couldn't get the part for
it anymore cuz they don't make that model anymore. And the other guy had the one that you were talking about where you have to switch it. >> Ours what what Ellie's talking about, they automatically these two charge and they keep >> they charge each other.
>> Yeah. But because they're car batteries like they're they're wet cell or whatever the heck it is. >> Yep. That's why we have to charge them every night and try to charge them when we if we know we're going to go out and we knew that we've been out for half a day now and we're going to go out again later tonight, let's say.
>> Also, I want to do a shameless plugin. Look up for re-equipment. Requipment. We always have donations for chairs. I just got one that's not the greatest eye level and I got it for only 20 bucks and
I didn't have to pay much. You just say you need it for whatever reason. Blah blah blah blah. Bada bing, bada boom. They'll tell you if you got it, then they'll tell you when they're going to send it to you. It's a minimum is like $20, but if you want to donate, please donate if you can. More the marrier. They need the money. They almost didn't
get the budget last year, and I hope they get the budget this year because they've been getting a lot of these chairs from people that are like pass away, retirement, whatever the case may be. and they repurpose it. They give it to you brand spanking new. So, >> hit them up with equipment.
>> Got it. Thank you. >> Thank you so much. >> Okay. Um item 11 is our um meeting adjournment. So, if I should have a motion to adjurnn. >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Second that. >> Okay.
>> Okay. and our next meeting will be on Tuesday, February 10th at 6 PM. >> Okay. >> So, thank you. And uh let's just keep hoping that the weather I know it's cold, but let's just hope that's all we get.
>> And uh and go Pats. >> That's right. We need >> Yeah, we need something good like that. And maybe we'll be lucky, too. Maybe uh maybe the MBTA will follow Kansas City and start putting uh heated sections right near their bus stop so they won't
have to worry about snow and sidewalks. Hopefully.