During the April 23, 2007 Annual Town Meeting, Article 31 was inserted to re-define the composition of the membership of the Disability Access Commission. With this article, the commission will consist of seven regular and two alternate members. In the case of absence or inability to attend a meeting, the Chair may designate an alternate to vote or carry out other duties of a regular member. After a subsequent Board of Selectmen meeting at the start of fiscal year 2007-2008 regular members included: Ray Glazier, Laurie Graham, Dr. Gopal Gupta, Joan Hantman, Janet MacDonald,
Carole Williams and Fran Williams. Alternate members appointed were Nan Donald and Patricia Livingstone-Espiet.
The Disability Access Commission convened seven duly posted meetings during the 2007 calendar year, six of those with a quorum: January 11th, March 29th, May 31st (no quorum July 19th, September 27, October 24th and November 29th.
The Disability Access Commission continued to participate in Town building projects through its representation on the Senior Center Building Committee and the Wellington Building Committee. In addition, the Commission met several times with the Belmont Building Services Department to discuss proposed installation of TTY access in the Town Hall, Homer Annex and School Department buildings as well as Police, Fire and other emergency services.
At the request of the Belmont Community Development Department, the Disability Access Commission communicated with the Massachusetts' Highway Department to support installation of red audible warning panels in curb ramps throughout the town.
On January 15th, the Disability Access Commission was one of the co-sponsors of the 13th annual Martin Luther King Breakfast held at the Belmont High School. The Commission provided funding for American Sign Language interpreters and members assisted with tasks prior-to and during the well-attended event.
On May 10th, a representative from the Disability Access Commission attended a training session on Open Meeting Law which was required for all Belmont Town Departments, Commissions and Committees.
On June 6th, a member of the Disability Access Commission participated in a Police-Community dialog which followed Diversity Training completed by all members of the Belmont Police Department. This discussion was designed to exchange information and promote understanding among and between the police and community.
On August 23rd, members represented the Disability Access Commission at the 5th Annual Meet Belmont event held at the Belmont High School. The Disability Assistance Program brochures were distributed and members were able to speak with town residents as well as other members of the community organizations.
On September 19th and 20th, the chair of the Disability Access Commission attended a Community Access Monitor training session provided by the Massachusetts Office in Disability and subsequently received certification as a Community Access Monitor. These sessions provided training on how to survey buildings and programs for access and compliance.
In October, in commemoration of Disabilities Awareness Month, the Belmont Disabilities Access Commission collaborated with the Belmont Special Education Advisory Council to mount a display of book titles focusing on a variety of disability issues. These titles, both fiction and non-fiction, were available at he Belmont Memorial Public Library.
On November 7th, a member of the Commission assisted with the Meat Raffle event at the Senior Center which raised funds for the new Senior Center Building.
In November, the Chair met with the directors of the Belmont Health Department and the Belmont Emergency Management Agency to discuss issues of emergency preparedness for those with disabilities and how the Disability Access Commission might be able to assist.
On December 13th, the Chair assisted at the annual Senior Luncheon held at St. Joseph's Catholic Church.
The Disability Access Commission continued to monitor its Disability Assistance Program phone-line by matching up caller's assistance needs with able-bodied volunteers and to distribute its brochures in Belmont at businesses and Town Departments
Respectfully submitted,
Laurie Graham, Chairman
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