HomeMy Public PortalAboutAll Citizens Access -- 2008-09-19 Minutes~ ~r.
ALL CITIZENS ACCESS COMMITTEE OF BREWSTER
SEPTEMBER 19, 2008 MEETING NOTES J 5~
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Meeting began at 2pm.
Members present: Christine Glasheen, Jean Seazs, Robert Steinmann, Maureen Steinmann, and James
Geisler, advocate.
Members not present: Marge Geisler, Heidi Geisler, Brian Ladley.
Minutes for last meeting held on June 20, 2008 were formally accepted.
Our committee was delighted to welcome our newest member, Christine Glasheen. Christine was sworn
in this past week for athree-year term. Congratulations and thank you, Christine!
Updated list of members was distributed.
Status of automatic door opener and replacement glass door panels on the Council on Aging building was
discussed. The money for the automatic door opener was already included in the November 2008 warrant.
Jim Geisler thought that the money for the glass inserts replacing the two wooden door panels was also
approved to be on the Nov. 08 warrant. The committee was unawaze of this.
Update on Beach Wheelchair Usage: The COA was able to purchase a new beach wheelchair in early
July. This gave the town. one new beach wheelchair and one old beach wheelchair (over 10 yeazs old);
both aze adult size models. The beach wheelchairs were borrowed 16 times throughout the summer for a
total of 42 days usage. Both beach wheelchairs were on loan at the same time on five occasions. Jean
Sears said that the chairs were loaned out for use by both children and adults. Loaning the beach
wheelchairs was handled by the CUA this past summer. Brewster's Recreation Dept. had arranged for the
Fire Dept. to loan it out over the weekends, but this did not work out. By next summer we will be more
organized and decide how best to proceed with the loaning-out process. Jim Geisler also mentioned that
he found out that there is a beach wheelchair available at Nickerson State Park.
It was noted that Brewster's Recreation Director is raising money to purchase another new beach
wheelchair. This one might possibly be a smaller one for children's use, rather than a lazger one used by
adults. Initially it was thought that this one would replace the older beach wheelchair but maybe it would
work out better to have a smaller sized one made for children. The older one is still usable, but certainly
would not be loaned out to someone who is very heavy. The new beach wheelchair has a weight limit of
250 lbs and this information, along with the fact that one needs some kind of truck or van to transport the
beach wheelchair, will be noted on the information sheet next yeaz.
Advertising the availability of the beach wheelchairs didn't really happen until late July--next yeaz we
will get an announcement in the papers and post it at the Brewster's Visitor Center sometime in May.
Also, the committee wondered if there were any beach wheelchairs available that could be broken down
into sections for easier transport.
Jim Geisler brought up the construction at the Historical Society building on Main Street. The Steinmanns
also had the newspaper clipping re the same matter. Maureen will send a letter to Mr. Mosher, president
of the Historical Society and ask him if the Society would keep the `accessibility' factor in mind when
they were doing their expansion, in particular, ramps rather than steps, some level pazking spots
designated as handicap/van accessible, and proper lighting for those visually impaired.
The meeting then used its remaining time to review the survey results. To date 54 surveys were returned,
24 of which were from people with special needs. The members are going to review the summarized
survey information re access to Brewster's public facilities and offer suggestions, which will be reviewed
at our next meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 3:15 pm.
Respectfully submitted by Maureen Steinmann.