[Music] Let me ask stop video. As to unmute. So I just asked Emarie to stop video. So see if that works. And asked to unmute. Let's see if that works. Hey Marie, can you hear
me? All right. You want to try talking? No. No sound. Is she on her computer? Ralph? Yeah. You You're on your computer, right? That you're always on. Tell her to on her phone.
Yeah. Try your phone to see if that's different. And then if that works, I'll log you off of this one. Good evening. We will start the commission disabilities meeting momentarily. Just having some audio issues. [Music]
Yeah, Marie, you want to try? Okay, I think this this works on my phone. For some reason, my computer I couldn't get get the button to unmute. I did. Yeah. Okay. Let me remove that
one. Okay. All right. So, we're all set. Maybe something it might be something with the internet on the computer. Okay. So, good evening. Welcome to the May 13th uh Commission Commission on Disabilities meeting. Um if we could
start with the uh saluting 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. Uh, if we can have um,
uh, co-chair Pauline Perno, if you could do a roll call of the members. Sure thing. Ralph Dico present. Pauline Pero is present. Jason Baron present. Mario Gmanis present. And Marie Fiori,
present. and Ellie Vargas. Uh it's not here as of yet. Okay. Okay. Okay. Thank you. Um uh item number one is a motion to approve the meeting minutes from the April uh 8th meeting. I had sent
everybody the uh minutes from our last meeting. Uh so hopefully everybody had a chance to take a look at it. If there are any errors, please let me know. If not, if someone would like to make a motion uh to accept and then to motion
to approve. Seconded. Okay, Jason and Mario. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Item number two is updates, next steps from the April 8th, 2025 meeting. Uh we have any updates in Pauline from
Pauline Amarie regarding the calendar for future monthly guest speakers. Uh this entails Pauline following up. Uh there was a specific company regarding the programming to see if they'd be able to join our main meeting. Um and I'm not sure if we heard from them, but if not
um Pauline, if you could also email me their information because I'm very uh interested in talking to them. I was hoping that we got in touch with them to come because I'm really interested in talking to them about our all abilities day out at at the beach in August. Right. I I am too. Um I have not heard
back from them. I'm actually now that all my kids are out of school, so I'm I'm not tied up with any other activities. I'm actually going to go out to the cotting school um in advance to make sure there's someone there from Waypoint Adventure. Um and I'm planning
on going out. I will give them another call this week early in the week. Um, see if I can get someone. I know that they're not out of school yet, so I know that cotting school is still in session. And if I have to go through cotting to get to Wayside, uh, Waypoint, rather, I'm thinking Wayside and Waypoint, I
will do that. But I will also email you um, their information. I haven't been able to actually get a real person to talk to. So I'm hoping that even if I go through cotting school maybe that have they have a better way of getting in to talk with
someoneated on that. Perfect. Because this way if it's if it's something that we're looking to do uh by having them um as a vendor um for our uh all abilities they reh uh through the reair procurement sun
system to make them a preferred vendor. Uh, so takes some time. So that's why I'm really interested in talking to them to see what services they offer um in what they would be able to bring to our event um uh that we're
going to be having at River Beach again. Okay. As soon as I have any information, I will send it on your way. Thank you. I appreciate it. Yep. Um, so the uh and is there any other um agencies or anything
that you're thinking of? I have a contact. She actually the woman works for Blue Cross and Blue Shield, but she herself has a disability and growing up I know her through college. Um, she graduated in 1988. Um, but she she also
does disability advocacy and so I'm going to reach out to her to see if she would be available on an evening to come join us as well. Um, because she herself had her parents being advocates for her and she herself is advocates for she has I think two or three kids. So I'm hoping
to reach out to her and see if she's available. She's local. She lives in Medford so um she's somebody real local. So I'm hoping get her as well. Okay. All right. Thank you. Mhm. Okay. Next um next uh thing that we had for next steps carried over from the April uh was
update to the music therapy uh program collaboration with Re Parks and Recreation Department. Um Emory, I know there's been uh some movement on that and um I I know you have been spearheading it and uh with some uh
interference from me. Um so I'll let you speak on that. It looks like we're we're hopefully going to be able to solidify some dates for for the workshops. Uh I guess there was a little bit of some um some issues with the music therapy program themselves. So that's what's
been uh lagging in in getting this up and running. So I'll let you speak on that. Yes, finally some light at the end of the tunnel. We've been carried over and carried over and carried over, but finally it looks like uh we should be finalizing the dates to start the three workshops. um I believe starting mid
July, finishing early August. Um so that's exciting. I'm I'm glad that it's happening before school is out because my hope is that we can start to promote it before school gets out with CPAC um and have spread the word in school before school ends for the summer so um
parents and caregivers and and the children are aware that the program is coming for the summer. Um, so hopefully if all goes well and there's a response with the three workshops in the summer, we'll be able to start the actual therapy classes. It sounds like immediately after if we decide that it's
best to start in the summer or maybe the timing will work out perfect that we can start with the school year starting in September. So, um, I think it's great to just get it started and see see where it goes, right? And we also want to see what we get for response to the
workshops and um you know what the demand is for it and then we can we can plan accordingly from there for for the for the classes uh themselves. Yes. Perfect. Perfect. Okay. And um I I promise I'll stop interfering on the on
the uh correspondence, but I just want Oh, no. Your help is much much appreciated today. Appreciate it. Yeah. Um, so I just want to I just want to get try and get that off the ground and and reox and Rex is is going to be great. They'll help with registering people and
getting that promoted um getting a flyer um you know getting a flyer done and they you know we're going to do a lot of the promote the promoting through the rear parks and rerecks. I believe uh CPAC does still even though when school is out, I believe they still have a an
email that goes out maybe once maybe once in July. Um and maybe once in uh yeah, one I know they'll have some going in June and then maybe once in July. Um and possibly August if I remember correctly. So, we should still be able
to go there and then we'll go through the parks and recreck sites and um uh the commissioner of disabilities has a Facebook page and then we will be able to utilize um the city reverses mayor's office's uh social media pages and the city's websit's calendar that we'll be
able to put anything on there too. So, once we have everything solidified um we can do that. Excellent. Okay. Perfect. Perfect. The last uh the last update was regarding uh the letter sent to Representative Churo regarding the River Beach Crossing
safety concerns. Uh specifically, Ellie was going to contact his office directly to update the commission on that, but uh Ellie is not at this meeting, but I did happen to um cross paths with Representative Turo last week and he
apologized. For some reason, our email um got lost in the shuffle. Um, but he was going to be getting back to me, but I have not heard back. So, I don't know if Ellie was able to talk to him or whatnot. But, um, this is why it's
important that if when I, you know, ask if we can as a commission member to, you know, follow up and something, it's real important to try and follow up. And so, we we're relying on that information. Um, and I don't want to have to get in the middle of it because then it's two
people possibly uh contacting Representative Turko's office and I don't want to ruffle any feathers um you know by doing that. So, it's it's it's great great gratefully appreciated when
uh when a commission member takes takes a task over and helps with that. uh it makes our commission that more uh successful uh and easil easily uh manageable to get tasks done and information um back to the rest of the
members uh without a long wait. So now we're probably going to have to wait until um next month's meeting unless um Representative Charco does reach out to me. So um I guess we'll just we'll carry that over to uh next month's
meeting. Um, item number three, the guest speakers. We don't have any, so we're going to skip over that. Um, item number four was COD of the Commission on Disabilities Alliance. Um, as I mentioned last month, um, the meeting that they had scheduled for the
beginning of April would have been before our commission meeting, but it was delayed till the week after. So, it was Wednesday uh, it was Wednesday, April 9th. Um, so I have um, some notes from that meeting. And what occurred at that meeting is the Islington Cood
mentioned that they have a a new wonderful uh universal design playground. Uh the Newberry Port COD mentioned that their project lightsaber program, excuse me, uh has been has uh has people fully trained, equipment
arrived, and it's underway, the program itself. And then there were discussions from various commissions and what it means to be a disability commission board member and what duties and tasks should and can be performed. Um so that was for the April 9th meeting. Since
then we also had a uh a meeting on May 7th and uh few uh few notes from that meeting is DPC who runs the meeting which is the disability policy consortium announced that it is the state budget season and one of their
main areas of focus will be advocacy for affordable accessible housing um this budget season. Uh, also the Newbury Port COOD discussed that they are looking to purchase two incumbent trike bikes to add to the town's ride share bike
program. Um, they are in the process of creating they're also in the process of creating a resource contact document for the community. And lastly, IHCD has been working on finishing their transition and self-evaluation plan for the town.
IHCD is a company that will that's going into um into uh newer report to do their transition and self-evaluation plan. I apologize that I do not have the information for what IHCD stands for. Um
but I did not get that. So I just have uh the initials for that agency. Uh, next, the Somerville Cood mentioned that they are assessing the city for accessibility by conduct by conducting a walkaround in the community and they will also be taking people in their
community with disabilities to a Red Sox game. Um, and lastly, the MEO Cood is planning an event for the disability pride month that will be coming up.
Um item number five uh is an all all abilities day out rea beach update. Um just as an update the I have finalized the DCR permitting um for our event. Um,
and I'm just waiting to get the approval for um, the date that I had submitted is um, Saturday uh, let me open it back
up is Saturday, August 9th. Um, is going to be the date once I get the approval for DCR for the permit. Um, it is going to be at the Oak Island Bath House. Again, we are going to, um, I talked to
the DCRI Universal Access Group. Also, we are going to set it up a little bit different this year uh to make it a lot more easier for um residents in and uh attendees that are in wheelchairs to get
exactly from the uh beach entrance down to where we have the access where we have the tables. The tables are going to be exactly alongside the um beach mats. So when they come in there, we're going to we're
going to set it up on the opposite side that we did last year. So, there is a cement walkway that leads to the beach and right from that cement walkway will be the beach mats and our vendor tables will be on the sides of the uh
accessible mat so that it will be a lot more convenient and easier for for attendees um to come that are in wheelchairs to get to to get to the tables if need be. Um, she's going to also DCI Universal Access Group is going to also see if
they could also put a tempor another temporary uh mat down if we need it. Um, so it's a little bit wider. Um, but she's they're going to work on that and see if that can be done. So that should that should help. Um, I really want to
do a little bit more a lot more publicizing with it once I get the permit that I know it's approved. want to see if uh we reach out to the news stations as Mario as Jason mentioned last time. Channel 7 I think does a lot
of um local publicizes a lot of local events. So, I will um talk to um the mayor's office, the communication department and the mayor's office to help with that to get that promoted or give me a contact there so that we can
contact them um because we really want to we really want to promote it this year uh even more um to get more residents and we have to uh promote it earlier so that people know where we are and the location. Um, the rec center is
helping me create a another flyer and we're going to try and see if we can streamline the link that they register and try and possibly downsize it as a tiny URL because the link is very long right now to register
and possibly see if a um if a QR code could also be created for that. So QR code can simply be scanned and it'll take them to that registration page for the event. So um thanks to the rec center unless if any members know how to
do any of that um I can put you in touch with um with uh Jen at the rec center to help with that. Unfortunately that's beyond my capabilities. So I I don't know how to do uh any of that. So if any any members do know how to do that,
please let me know. and um and I will uh I will put you in touch with them. Be greatly appreciate it. Um item uh I don't know if anybody else has has any comments on that before I move to item number six or any suggestions. Um we're
also looking for suggestions on um activities and uh amenities and things to add to that event. Um, so if anyone has any any ideas, please let me know uh on if we want to have any type of agencies we want to reach out to to come
and and set up a table, anformational table uh if anyone knows of any agencies that we want to have there uh that specifically um uh work with people with disabilities. I don't know if Jason if there's any agencies that you know of or
any contacts that you would want to reach out to to see if they would like to come and bring and have anformational table uh that day of the of the uh all abilities day out at River Beach or Mario or Amarie. If anyone knows of anyone that you would think would want
to come and join as a as anformational table, we are more than willing to uh to offer that up to them. Oh yeah. Okay. So, if you do have anyone, just please reach out to them and also by email and
also put me on it as a as a as a point of contact with them so that we could try and um try and uh solidify that. Um item number six is if we had any
items from the Massachusetts Architectural Access Board, which is the MAB, for any variances that are getting done within the city of Rivier. Uh we haven't we did not receive any since last meeting. So we do not have to discuss anything like that. Um so I can
move on to item number seven. Uh commission members um lateformational items. Um I will open it up to any commission members if they have any lateformational items and uh I will go last with one piece of information that
I have. So any member? Yep. So, just for anybody that then I figure it's important, Ralph, since we never know who's watching and listening, uh I just got wind that the uh GIC is bankrupt at the moment for health insurance. So,
this affects retirees and those that are working for the state and I figured that might affect those with disabilities that might be relying on health insurance. So, there going to be delays in payments possibly till July. So, I just got wind of that today from my
physical therapist. So, my therapy is put on hold at this point and I confirmed it with the uh GIC myself when I called today to get that info and it was on the news and in the Boston Globe. So, just thought that might be important
to put out so people won't be surprised. And and it's four of the plans from what I've been told. It's what, Jason? Four of four of the plans from what I've been told. that are yeah like well point um the
Brigham Women's something other and couple others but it's impacted yeah that's and wellpoint is one of the ones that's connected to like Anthem Blue Cross so but it's something going on with the GIC and has something and then the supplemental budget has been
involved so that's that's all I've been told and I only happen to know that my therapist brought up she said did you see it I said no so I just happened to get wind of that and that just came down today. I mean, it's probably been out a little sooner than that, but just thought it
might be, you know, I don't know who's watching or listening, so just in case that is not good. I know it's not good news, but thank you for uh letting people know that. It's necessary news. Thank you,
Jason. No problem. I just have to take a deep breath now. Okay, moving right along. Any other members? Okay. Um, I have one thing and I am going to
uh share my screen. Um, the River Pox and Rex uh is going to be having um I want to make sure that everyone can see this on their screen. Pauline, can you see it on your screen? Uh, yep. Okay. So, the River Parks and
Rex is going to be um hosting an all abilities baseball game uh on Sunday, June 1st at 1 p.m. at Grid Wall Field. Uh the Varsity Field, which is the bigger of the three fields. Um which is located on on Washington A behind um St.
Mary's Church there before the Stop and Shop. Um, and to register, uh, you can register it by emailing, uh, jd dugen rever.org or if you have any questions, you can reach out to the Rever Parks and Recreation Center. It should be a
fun-filled day. Um, and there is I believe there is uh no cost for that. So, it's the All Abilities baseball game, um, which will be taking place on J on Sunday, June 1st at 1 PM. Is there a rain date for that, Ralph? Or I don't
see Unfortunately, no, there's no rain and that's what's happened the past few years. Um, they didn't actually have one last year. It got it got delayed on trying to put it out and by the time they were going to do it, the weather had changed. Uh but like the year before
um the day that it was scheduled for it had rained and they were got to try and plan it. They didn't have a rain date and then they were going to try and plan it for another date and just the the the year went the time went by. So at least they're trying for June 1st
and if there's an issue that maybe they can do it later in the year, right? So, I just wanted to um put that out there for everyone to have. Um next is uh item number eight
was residents concerns or issues. Um I have not received any and um so I will move to item number nine is the next steps. The next steps will basically be uh we'll just carry over everything from
item number two from this meeting. We'll now go into item we'll be next steps for our um our next meeting in June. Uh if that's all right. I don't know if anyone has any other items that you would like me to add as a next step. No. No. Okay.
And um if uh item number 10 is our reminder. If uh Pauline if you don't mind reading that. Certainly. The Commission on Disabilities office number is 781-2868267. Residents can also call Rivia 311 directly and speak to their
staff Monday through Friday. They will answer most questions, but if they are unable to assist you or if you prefer to talk with the commission directly, please ask to be transferred to the disability office. 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 something discussed or added 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 disabled residents and their families in Reier.
Okay. Our next meeting via Zoom will be on Tuesday, June 11th, uh, 2025 at 6 p.m. Can I have a Can someone make a motion to adjurnn? Motion to adjurnn. Second.
Okay. Well, thank you so much. Uh I know it was a quick meeting. Uh but I appreciate um appreciate you all for joining and uh have a great night. Good night. Good night everyone. Thank you.