HomeMy Public PortalAboutAll Citizens Access -- 2008-10-17 MinutesALL CITIZENS ACCESS COMMITTEE OF BREWSTER
OCTOBER 17, 2008 MEETING MINUTES
Meeting began at 2: l Opm.
Members present: Christine Glasheen, Jean Sears, Brian Ladley, Robert Steinmann, Maureen
Steinmann, and James Geisler, advocate.
Members not present: Marge Geisler, Heidi Geisler.
Minutes for September 19 meeting were formally accepted.
Three handouts were distributed by the Chair:
ADA checklist for existing facilities
Updated summary of survey results and suggestions.
Copy of article submitted by survey participant re Hearing Loss Association of America.
Jean Sears also brought something to share with our members. A handout regarding the `MA Home
Modification Loan' program. This program enables elders and those with disabilities to modify their
homes by borrowing money at a lower cost through a non profit organization.
The Chair mentioned that she had sent a letter to the Brewster Historical Society asking them to keep in
mind the needs of the disabled when planning their expansion. A copy of the letter was sent to
Mr. Staley, Brewster's Building Inspector. Jim mentioned that the old blacksmith shop from the
Brewster Fire Museum will be moved to Drummer Boy Farm rather than to the Historical Museum site
as previously planned.
Update on survey: 56 surveys returned, 26 of whom have some sort of disability. We will keep the
survey open for a while longer. There was an announcement in a recent Cape Codder to that effect.
The survey is available at the COA and the Library and on the town's web site.
It was noted that money for the automatic door for the COA and the replacement window panels for the
COA entry door are included in the Nov. 17, 2008 town warrant. Jim noted that the automatic door
openers for both Town Hall and the COA will be done at the same time. Tom Thatcher at some point
will be taking care of replacing the two top wooden COA door insert panels with some type of
plexiglass. This is being done for safety reasons when the automatic door opener is installed.
The Chair mentioned that the CART system (Communication Access Realtime Translation) will be
available at our future town meetings. Doreen has a live stenographer set for this Novemeber 17`}' town
meeting. At last May's town meeting CART was done over the Internet. A letter will be sent to the
Cape Codder and Cape Cod Times letting residents know about this improvement at Brewster's town
meetings for those with hearing disabilities or impairments. Our thanks to Brian Ladley and Doreen
Contrastano, Town Administrator's Office, for bringing CART to Brewster's town meetings!
Brian explained the "loop system" mentioned in the article submitted to us by a survey participant
suffering from a hearing impairment. Basically, one's hearing aid would have a T-wire (telecoils) built
into it and thus be able to pick up the magnetic transmission of sounds in rooms whose sound system
have been wired in a "loop" form.
Brian also updated us on the emergency preparedness plans for those with disabilities. He stated that
emergency preparations through CORD do include the needs of those with disabilities. CORD (Cape
Organization for the Rights of the Disabled) is preparing to have the necessary basic equipment
available at the regional emergency centers.
Jean mentioned that the COA is in need of wheelchairs in good shape to loan out to residents. Denise
will put a notice in the COA December bulletin re this.
Christine brought in a newspaper clipping re Code Red Emergency Notification system in Orleans.
Our committee is under the impression that the Brewster Police Dept. already has a similar system in
place.
Jim suggested having Larry Greeley who runs Channel 18 cable station as a guest at one of our
meetings.
It was thought that our next meeting on November 21 will be held at town hall. There we plan to do an
on-site review of town hall, keeping in mind our personal suggestions and those gathered from the
survey. If possible, we also hope to do an on-site survey of the COA building.
Meeting adjourned at 3:15pm.
Respectfully submitted by Maureen Steinmann.