Minutes of Dec. 9, 2008 Commission On Disabilities meeting:
Members Present: Rob Loud, Jim Spindler, Adeline Naiman, Debbie Dorsey, and Anita Scheipers.
Meeting convened at 1:00 pm.
Discussion and Action Items:
1) Acting Chair Rob Loud announced the meeting time had been incorrectly stated on the cable TV and it required his having to call all the members to ensure they knew the meeting was to start at 1:00pm. Anita stated the legal meeting posting listed the correct time.
2) Rob expressed his concern that he soon may no longer be able to physically handle being Chair of the committee, and possibly may have a difficult time attending meetings. Debbie stated that if Rob felt unable to continue to be chair, that she would be willing to assume the role. No decisions were made on this at this time.
Rob also stated that he knew other members had challenges in attending meetings and he reiterated the need to seek new members who were able to handle the physical challenges of membership. It was agreed that members should attempt to seek out potential new members, and that Anita would see that a notice was again placed in the local paper and on the cable TV to encourage people to consider joining the committee. It was also suggested that a way to encourage people to get involved would be to identify some smaller projects with limited project terms and ask people to commit only to that small task rather than a huge multi-year commitment to a committee. The hope is that involvement in such projects could breed interest in more involvement and perhaps as in membership itself. To
begin this effort, the commission will need to draft a list of such projects prior to seeking assistance. This will be discussed at a future meeting.
Debbie mentioned that we should seek members who represent a cross-section of different disabilities other than just obvious physical disabilities. She also mentioned we should seek a parent of a disabled child in the Lincoln school system. Concern was expressed by Rob that we should ensure people are aware that the role of the commission is to provide general assistance, and that we may not be able to assist people with issues which lie outside the scope of our role.
3) The following items were discussed briefly:
a. The ADA Self Evaluation is still slowly being finalized by Anita. She will provide the group with the final draft when ready.
b. The concept of taping the commission meetings was briefly discussed and tabled for now.
c. The webpage updates are complete and approved minutes of each meeting are uploaded within days of approval.
d. Rob agreed to write the 2008 annual town report with the help of Adeline.
e. The resident request for help with improving HA parking at the resident commuter lot has been passed along to the Highway Dept. who will re-grade the lot this fall and will pave and sign the necessary area to establish two formal HA parking places where there is now only one.
f. The resident request for help in improving wheel chair access to the train cars has been stalled. Anita agreed to contact Caroline Connor, the Town’s MBTA representative, and ask her to work with the MBTA on our behalf to improve access.
g. Anita announced the Town will be applying for grant funds to assist with conducting a community health needs assessment next year, and she asked the group to consider having a member work on the project should we be awarded the grant funds.
h. It was asked if the proposed Town Nurse would be the appropriate person to help us ID residents who may need our help. It was agreed that it was appropriate.
i. It was asked why we have not been having a COA rep to attend our meetings as expected. Rob explained he had not as yet placed Asst. COA Director on the email distribution list. Anita offered to email the COA and to encourage their attendance at future meetings.
j. The group briefly discussed the recent Selectmen’s meeting at which residents expressed strong concern about the housing which has been established for a small group autistic adults.
4) The next meeting is scheduled for the first Tuesday of the month – Jan 6th – at 1pm. Anita will book the room, and post the meeting.
5) The meeting was adjourned at approximately 2:30 p.m.
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