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HomeMy Public PortalAboutAll Citizens Access -- 2008-05-29 MinutesALL CITIZENS ACCESS COMMITTEI~,(JF BREWSTER MEETING NOTES 'OS JUN 12 ~.':1 ~`~ 6 Date: May 29, 2008 Meeting began at 9 am Members present: Brian Ladley, Jean Seazs, Robert Steinmann, Maureen Steinmann, James Geisler, advocate, and guests: Elizabeth Taylor (CPA representative) and Wendy Allegrone, Brewster's Recreation Director Members not present: Heidi Geisler and Marge Geisler. This meeting was held primarily to meet with Wendy Allegrone to discuss the beach wheelchair issues and to be made aware of any existing recreational programs for children or adults with special needs. The beach wheelchair issues were: 1. Whose department does the beach wheelchair come under? The Council on Aging, has had the responsibility of the beach wheelchair for many yeazs, more or less by default. The committee felt that the use of the beach wheelchair should probably come under the auspices of the Recreation Dept. rather than the COA. Conclusion: Wendy was open to what the committee was suggesting. It seems likely that the Recreation Department will take control of the beach wheelchair. 2. The availability of the beach wheelchair. The beach wheelchair has been kept in an outside shed at the COA and has been available Monday through Friday from gam to 4pm. If someone wanted it for the weekend, they would have to pick the beach wheelchair up on Friday and then return it the following Monday or day arranged. The protocol was to pay a donation of $10 for two days use, and have the borrower's driver's license photocopied. The committee felt that the best option would be to have the beach wheelchair available every day during the summer season, not limited to gam to 4pm, Monday through Friday, and suggested that the best place to keep it for the public's use would be the Police Station on Rte 124. Conclusion: Wendy said that she would ask Chief Koch about the possibility of keeping the beach wheelchair at the station, at least during the summer season. Wendy also said that she will check out how other towns handle their beach wheelchairs and their checkout policies. 3. Usage of the beach wheelchair. It does not get a tremendous amount of use during the summer. It was let out six times last summer. Jean said that the chair is used at the beach not only by those with special needs who want to enjoy the beach but also by people who attend special celebrations (weddings, etc.) held at the beach who have difficulty standing too long, walking in the sand, and the like. Without the use of the beach wheelchair, it would be difficult for some people to enjoy these special gatherings. Wendy also wondered how people transported the beach wheelchair to the beach. Jean said that most people pick it up in a truck or van. At some of the beaches at other towns these wheelchairs are kept available at the beach itself, but those beaches are manned. Conclusion: If the availability of the beach wheelchair was publicized more and the beach wheelchair could be available to the public seven days a week, then probably the use of the wheelchair would increase. The committee believes that the DPW was going to include a line on the signs at the town's beaches re the beach wheelchair's availability. 4. The age of the beach wheelchair and the need for a replacement. The chair is twelve yeazs old now and showing wear and tear. The committee is under the impression that the chair is still usable for this summer season. As for the replacement of the beach wheelchair, the cost is about $2600. Wendy felt that she could probably raise that amount of money through her planned recreational fundraisers. Jim Geisler also mentioned that some people had approached him about donating to a beach wheelchair replacement fund. Wendy was going to look into this and see how all the financial aspects should be set up. Wendy questioned the safety issues involved. Who maintains the beach wheelchair and who certifies that it is OK to use? She was especially concerned about the liability issue. Presently, Henry Seazs checks the chair over to make sure it is in working order. He was going to do that again this yeaz. Conclusion: The beach wheelchair should probably be replaced by next year. Also, it really is necessary to make changes in the way the town handles the beach wheelchair issues. By having the Recreation Department take over the control of the beach wheelchair, important issues such as maintenance, liability, availability, funding, etc., will be more thoroughly addressed. In summary, Wendy will let our committee know what she finds out as to how other towns handle their beach wheelchairs issues. She also will let us know her progress with funding a replacement of the present beach wheelchair. Regazding our survey, Wendy said she was rather limited in answering the questions on the survey. She has been the recreation director for about seven months and feels she really isn't awaze enough of the accessibility issues nor of all the areas mentioned in the survey. As for recreation programs for those with special needs, she tries to include everyone possible in her programs and there has already been a recreational event (basketball) held jointly with Chatham for children with special needs. Elizabeth Taylor, the CPA representative, shazed the survey she did last fall re conservation lands. A couple of the questions on her survey were about general accessibility. She is very interested in how conservation lands can be made more accessible to anyone with special needs. It was good of Elizabeth to come and share her time and survey with our committee. Meeting ended at l 0:20am. Respectfully submitted,