HomeMy Public PortalAboutWCOD Meeting Minutes November 2007_201401101412041876 Watertown Commission on Disability Minutes for Public Meeting November 28,
2007
Attending: George Donahue, Chair, Carol Menton, Andrea Greenwood, Alex Liazos,
Kim Charlson, Bob Hall, Ann Doughty, Gayle Shattuck, Lisa Bing and Patti Medbury
ASL
Called to Order at 7:05
Nominating Committee: Arturo Delucca was recommended for appointment at the
October meeting. Gayle has talked with him to let him know that a letter will be
submitted to the Town Manager.
A Discussion on Disability Commission memberships, amount of meetings per year
required by state rules. Need to verify whether it is 6 or 10 meetings per year is
required.
Bob Hall read information about Massachusetts Disability Commission Chapter 40:
Section 22G. Funds received from fines for handicap parking violations; deposits in
account; expenditures.
Correspondence from Executive Office on Transportation about hp placard fine
program in Waltham was read by George Donahue and discussed.
Minutes:
The October minutes were not emailed prior to the meeting. Gayle will email
those and the November minutes for approval at the December meeting.
Treasurer's Report:
Revenues as of 10/31/07 were $2,069 and expenses paid were $170 to Arlington
for the training attended by some WCOD members. Fred Isaacs has submitted a
receipt for SPED expenses which will be paid soon. Alex moved to accept the
Treasurer's report, Kim seconded; motion carried.
Bus Stop report: This issue was assigned to the Public Works Committee, Marilyn
Devaney Chair. A meeting was held on November 7th in which George and Gayle
attended. Minutes of that meeting were provided by Greg Watson and distributed.
Alex agrees that the delta is the better place for the bus stop but doesn't believe
that the MBTA will move the stop in a reasonable amount of time. He'd like the
Commission to be more proactive to get the bus stop moved soon. George will
contact Jerry and Gregg to find out where the Committee's recommendation
stands regarding the traffic consultant, Traffic Solutions and recommendation. Kim
made a motion that George as Chair will contact officials in Town and write the
WCOD position to the newspaper. Motion was seconded and passed. Gayle will
invite Jerry and Gregg to the December meeting to provide an update.
Break: 8:00 - 8:15pm
Special Education Report:
The calendar for SPED is available on the WCOD website. Andrea gave an update
regarding about new committees working with the Director of Student Services.
There are three teams visiting other school systems to determine what services
work well and how to create programs in our schools. Alex commented that Jim
Early had 3-4 programs that were dismantled under the previous SPED Director
without opposition from anyone. Was this a desire by the school committee to
control costs? Kim suggested that we invite the School Dept. back after the
holidays as a follow up to their invitation earlier this year. Bob commented that
their budget has a $300,000 set aside and they have not reported on what
corrections they are making from the Audit findings. The set aside money are for
outplacement, therapists, counselors but the therapists and counselors serve the
whole school population, so the money is not earmarked just for the special needs
students. Alex suggested that we invite the Parents' Advisory Council and the
Town Council Committee on Schools to the same meeting. George asked everyone
to email him questions for the School Dept. and he will facilitate that discussion in
January.
Safety and Access Report: Kim said things are going smoothly there have been no
complaints about signals. Carol suggested that the Pleasant Street project will
need watching. Alex said he will check if the new traffic signal at Russo's has an
audible signal. He would also like a review of the past minutes regarding trees and
bushes overhanging public ways.
Chair's Report: The Regional COD meeting will probably be held in May - the
library is holding the Watertown Savings room for us and will cater. Discussion
about supporting closed captioning of the Town Council meetings in 2008. Gayle
had a discussion with Tamarah Green, Executive Director of Cable Access. She said
that Peter Z. told Tamarah that only a few school committee meetings and two of
Mind You Own Business shows were done in closed captioning. They stopped last
summer because the costs were more than Peter had predicted (i.e. about $250
per one hour show v $150 per hour). The Cable Access wasn't able to continue to
support it.
Tamarah hopes to find another vendor who can do the closed captioning for less
than $250 but I get the sense from her that it is a time consuming project and in
the few months that she has been the Executive Director, it was not a top priority.
I told her that the WCOD is committed to supporting cc for the town council
meetings in 2008 and please let me know as soon as she finds other vendor. She
offered to meet with us any time.
George asked for input from everyone for the end of year report.
Dining Guide will probably need an update in 2008, a suggestion was made to
collaborate with Lisa Williams and her blog.
Invitations to report at the December 19th meeting to John Flynn, Town Clerk
regarding the voting machines, and Jerry Mee regarding the consultant's study of
the bus stop and recommendations from the DPW Committee.
Motion to Adjourn was made and carried at 9:07 pm.
Respectfully submitted
Andrea Greenwood