Watertown Commission on Disability

The minutes for the Watertown Commission on Disability October 15th, 2008 meeting was approved by the commission at the November 19th meeting.

Watertown Commission on Disability
October 15, 2008

In Attendance: Carol Menton, Kim Charlson, Ann Doughty, Gayle Shattuck, George Donahue, Fred Isaacs, Marilyn Devaney, Alex Liazos

Meeting called to order at 7:15 pm as the Planning Board had set up in the Lower Hearing room by mistake and we offered to move to the Town Council Chamber.

Guests: Dan Driscoll, Dept. of Conservation and Recreation

Roll Call

Guest Speaker:

Mr. Driscoll of the DCR had been invited to speak regarding the ongoing Thompson bridge problem. This is as a result of a discussion from a previous meeting in which Alex provided a follow up to the discussion on the Thompson bridge behind the swimming pool. He had called Dan Driscoll to find out when the bridge would be brought into compliance. Architectural Access Board had wanted it either replaced or fixed. Mr. Driscoll reported that in six miles of river there were few places for access. They now have improvements that are 100% compliant. This bridge is the only noncompliant feature in six miles of river walk. There’s a chance this bridge will not be replaced to ADA compliance. The Architectural Access board has the right to barricade the bridge in this economic climate when it could be still used by some pedestrians. Political push to make it a priority would be needed. He may need to ask for an extension. Bond money coming to DCR to catch up on deferred maintenance of bridges. He has other bridges that are condemned which would be a priority for the funding. A letter will be sent to Commissioner Rick Sullivan recommending that the Thompson footbridge be a priority for funding.

The Commission requested that Dan follow up on the graffiti on the DCR property on Charles River Road which was reported to several people at DCR about six months ago with no response. George will email him a reminder.

Chair Report:

Anne, George and Gayle are representatives to the town’s Emergency Management Coalition that meets monthly. Chief Orangio is the chair of that committee. There are subcommittee assignments.

The WCOD is sponsoring a meeting for families to attend regarding the issue of emergency preparedness so that they will be ready on their own Saturday October 18th at the Library Watertown Savings Bank room.

George met with the Natick Disability Commission last week. They are impressed with the work that WCOD does and asked him a lot of questions about how the WCOD operates.

There is a meeting coming up at the State House regarding the bus stop at the delta.

The Commission suspended the break and preferred to continue with the meeting to adjourn earlier.

Safety and Access Report:

Gayle gave an update from Jerry Mee regarding the last month’s feedback that the toners were too soft after having been too loud. The problem with the volume has been determined to be stray voltage hitting the back side of the central cabinet which makes the signal tones uncontrollably be too loud, too soft, non existent and back to too loud etc. $26K to replace the cabinet was approved by the Town Manager and Town Auditor this month. TriState is having a new cabinet built and wired v fixing the existing cabinet. In the mean time a DPW night shift employee goes into the square periodically to listen and observe.

Voting Update:

Kim reported that Judi Cannon said that she never got a call that there was an election commission meeting for her to attend to voice her complaints from the September voting experience.

A vote of the minutes from the September was tabled until November meeting.

Treasurer’s report was read, and a vote to accept was made. Gayle will find out if the Braille recycling brochures invoice has been paid and let Kim know.

Discussion about attendance. The rules of the Commission are that an absence needs to be excused prior to the meeting; no notification will result in the minutes reflecting an unexcused absence. A letter will go out from the chair to reiterate the rules.

Fred gave a SPEDPAC update. Lane Toulepano is Chair and Vice Chair Paul Hough a Watertown resident.

There may be two guest speakers for next Month’s meeting.

Marilyn commented that it was unfortunate that Faire on the Square had to be cancelled without a rain date.

8:27 pm motion to adjourn was made, seconded, voted and approved.