 |
DISABILITY ACCESS COMMISSION
The Disability Access Commission’s membership changed with the retirement and withdrawal of Art Heron, a valued longstanding Commission member and for several years its highly active, strongly committed Chair. The Commission offers Mr. Heron a heartfelt vote of thanks for his years of service and all he was able to accomplish in advancing the interests of Belmont residents with disabilities.
The Commission convened seven duly posted open meetings during the calendar year, six of those with a quorum: April 28th (no quorum), June 23rd, July 21st, August 25th, September 20th, November 8th, and December 6th.
At the instigation of the Disability Access Commission, the Belmont Citizen-Herald celebrated the 15th anniversary of the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990) with a front-page story, “Belmont slowly becomes more accessible” (July 21st 2005). The Commission chairman contributed op-ed articles to this local newspaper, including a Guest Perspective piece published October 6th to commemorate Disability Awareness Month; the article focused on the anticipated assistance needs of members of the Baby Boom generation as they age and acquire disabilities. The Disability Awareness Commission participated in the “Meet Belmont” event for newcomers, held at Belmont High School on August 31st, with an information table staffed by Commission members.
During the summer, the Commission considered alternative uses for the accumulated monies in the HP Parking Fine fund, dedicated for our use per MGL Ch. 40, S. 22G. Accumulated available funds ($47.400.00) were insufficient to finance any significant modification to the built environment, but the Commission considered attitudes to be in as much need of alteration as architecture. Thus it settled on sponsorship of the production of a Disability Awareness audiovisual product to be broadcast on the Town’s public access television channel and made available for use in schools, religious instruction classes, civic association meetings, and other appropriate community venues. Three area filmmakers were invited to show samples of their work, present their credentials, and prepare rough cost estimates for a 25 – 30
minute video: Emily Abt (Cambridge) Pureland Pictures of New York, NY; Joe Doyle (Belmont), Doyle Post Production Services of Belmont, MA; and Steve Rourke (Waltham), Lawler / Rourke Associates of Auburndale, MA. All three vendors had very professional and appropriate prior products, as well as impressive resumes. While the Commission could only fund one project at this time, it was realized that, with participation of other funding sources like civic associations, all three filmmakers could eventually produce videos for a future Belmont Disability Awareness Film Festival. Doyle Post Production Services was selected for the first, solely Commission-funded AV project, based on the flexible multi-chapter DVD product Mr. Doyle proposed, his personal familiarity with Belmont and cross-disability issues, and cost considerations.
The Commission continued to participate in the work of the Town Hall Complex Building Committee (THCBC), monitoring renovations that included required access features at both the Town Hall Annex (formerly the Homer School, rededicated as the Homer Municipal Building) and the School Administration Building (formerly the Underwood Library), as well as further improvements to the entry of historic Town Hall and major reconfiguration of the campus itself (roadways, walkways, parking, and green areas). Town Departments reoccupied the newly accessible Homer Building in late spring, and the School Department reclaimed its refurbished and accessible quarters just after the end of the school year
Disability Access Commission representatives also monitored the activities of the Senior Center Building Committee and the Wellington School Building Committee, reviewing and critiquing initial design concepts for the school. The Commission consulted with two new Belmont business places on access issues in the renovation of their venues prior to opening for business, and reviewed variance requests made to the MA Architectural Access Board (MAAB), as well as an access complaint filed against a long-established Belmont Center retail store filed with the MAAB by a concerned resident.
The Commission continued to operate its Disability Assistance Program, matching the unmet assistance needs of residents with disabilities with volunteers in community service, with the exceptions of personal care, medical or emergency services. A publicity campaign for the program was planned, for implementation in early 2006, after assignment of a new telephone number (617-993-2796), as the Town switched telephone operating systems. A flyer was prepared for insertion in utility bills by the Belmont Municipal Light Department in early 2006.
Over the summer, the Disability Access Commission, working with new Town Administrator and ex officio ADA and Section 504 Coordinator Tom Younger, initiated a review of the Town's compliance with stipulations of the 1998 Consent Agreement that resolved an ADA lawsuit brought by a Town resident in Superior Court. Based on papers provided by the Town Counsel who handled the matter at that time, the Commission prepared a document summarizing the original stipulations and modifications to them, extending various timelines for compliance. The Commission has recommended that each pertinent Town Department conduct an internal status review in early 2006 as the first stage of a full compliance review by a third party.
Respectfully submitted,
Raymond E. Glazier, Ph.D., Chairman
Members and Officers as of 1 January 2005: Kathy Allen, Celeste Andrade (Secretary), Ray Glazier (Chair), Laurie Graham, Joan Hantman, Janet Macdonald (Vice Chair), Carole Williams. Associate Members: Art Heron, William Rodi, Francis Williams
Members & Officers as of 31 December 2005: Kathy Allen, Celeste Andrade (Secretary), Ray Glazier (Chair), Laurie Graham, Joan Hantman, Janet Macdonald (Vice Chair), Carole Williams. Associate Members: William Rodi, Francis Williams
| |
