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Home My Public Portal AboutWCOD Minutes 5-18-16Watertown Commission on Disability 149 Main St. Watertown, MA. 02472 Meeting Minutes Wednesday, May 18th, 2016 The meeting was called to order at 7:12 p.m. by Vice -Chair Fred Isaacs. ROLL CALL- Fred Isaacs, Vice -Chair; John Hawes; Carol Menton; Jeanne O'Connell; Gayle Shattuck, Town Personnel Director and ADA Coordinator; and Carol Wilson -Braun. Absent- Kim Charlson, Chair; Lisa Feltner, Town Councilor; and Megan O'Halloran Our planned Guest Speaker, David Leon was unable to come to the meeting. John Hawes spoke about the issue he wanted to address, which was the review process for development projects. With what issues should the Commission be concerned beyond legal issues, and where should we enter into the process? David may want the town to pay for additional traffic studies and specific outside reviews. We will invite him to come next month. There was no Chair's Report tonight. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES- It was moved, seconded and VOTED unanimously to accept the minutes as corrected from the April meeting. Copies of the minutes may be requested from the Town Clerk's Office. TREASURER'S REPORT- It was moved, seconded and VOTED unanimously to accept the Treasurer's Report for April. Copies of the Treasurer's report may be requested from the town's ADA Coordinator in the Personnel Office. COMMITTEE REPORTS - 1) No Plans Review or Safety and Access reports. 2) Closed Captioning- Gayle said the contract has been signed and sent to Caption First, who will sign and return it. The Town Council agenda will be sent regularly to Caption First and it will start soon. Carol M. asked if it could be announced in the Tab and Patch. Gayle recommended waiting until everything is up and running well. Then department heads and the community will be notified. Carol M. wants to join in the testing process. She said the captioning could be made available for other meetings. 3) Special Ed- Fred reported that the June meeting was a coordinating meeting for parents. NEW BUSINESS - 1) Gayle said that Peter Centola was going to attend the Community Access Monitor training and recommended that the Commission pay his fee. It was moved, seconded and VOTED unanimously that the WCOD would pay for Peter Centola's $85 registration fee for attending the Community Access Monitor training in June. 2) Gayle presented a request for the Commission to pay for an ASL interpreter for a Historical Commission meeting last week. There was some discussion among commission members about which requests should receive our funding- large or small meetings, whenever a resident requests interpreter service? Does the town have a fund for accessibility/accommodations? This is a legal question for the town. Gayle said that basic accommodations have been giving the person a written transcript, but we have gone over and beyond this with interpreters and CART. The bigger question is who pays and for what? It was moved, seconded and VOTED unanimously to approve the ASL interpreter for the Historical Commission meeting that took place last week and will pay the fee. 3) This led to a discussion about whether there is a need to establish a town -wide standard procedure for requesting ASL interpreters and/or CART as an accommodation. Carol M. said there are 2 parts to the issue- the town knowing how to make a request (who to contact) and our willingness to pay. John felt this is an area not the Commission's responsibility, but the town's. It should go to the Town Manager and Town Auditor. Gayle can talk to them. We need a policy or we will be overwhelmed by requests. 4) Fred said that the Autism Family Support group needed a list of approved expenses. Gayle will send it to them, but it basically includes accessibility, training, speaker fees and technology and books. 5) Carol M. announced that Sunday 6/5 at 4 p.m. is an event sponsored by Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) at the Mosesian Theatre. A hard of hearing impaired comedian will perform. It was moved, seconded and VOTED unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 8:02 p.m. The next meeting will take place on June 15th at 7 p.m. These minutes are recorded and respectfully submitted by Carol Wilson -Braun, Secretary.