Disability Commission

December 8, 2021, Fitchburg Disability Commission Monthly Meeting In-Person Meeting@1:30pm. Commission Members: Bill Tolos, Chair Present Dan Cunningham Absent Sharon Tardiff Absent Doris Matte Present Carolyn Quirk Present Deanna Tardiff Absent Amy LeBlanc and Marshal Haneisen attended the Fitchburg Disability Commission Meeting. Item 1: Reading of the Minutes Meeting commenced at 1:30pm. October and November Minutes were voted and accepted. Item 2: Announcements/Notices/Events: Update on Accessible Playground at Parkhill, Poured in Place Rubber Safety Surfacing is being installed, waiting for lights to come in. The city is applying for grant funding to hopefully replace the existing playground equipment that is adjacent to the new accessible playground and would like to include updating the parking lot. Grand Opening is set for Spring 2022. Item 3: Open Forum: Guest: Sarah Nechamen, from the Disabled Persons Protection Commission (DPPC). Sarah gave a presentation on what the Disabled Persons Protection Commission does. Disability Commission Meetings will be held in the EAST Meeting Room at Fitchburg City Hall, 718 Main Street the second Wednesday of each month beginning September 8th, 2021 at 1:30pm. If you enter the front door of City Hall, the meeting room will be directly to your LEFT. Parking is behind the legislative building off of Wood Place, or on street. Item 4: Accessible Art Project: Art Classes are being held at the Senior Center and have been very successful, class is limited to ten people due to COVID 19, there are five classes scheduled for the month, four of the classes being the Holiday Ornament Class on December 13th sponsored by the Disability Commission. Item 5: Community Access Training: The Commission discussed holding the Community Access Training in Fitchburg for all members to attend and also Commissioners in surrounding towns/Cities. The Commission went and looked at possible sites that could be used for holding the Community Access Training Course. The Disability Commission would like to host this event in the upcoming future. Item 6: Grant Funding Projects: CDBG. The Disability Commission has applied for funding for the area where the Senior Center is located to include: sidewalks, curb cuts and the existing ramp all to be updated/replaced. Item 7: Old Business: a. Membership: Ongoing. b. Received complaint: Crosswalk at Main and Mechanic not working, there is no chirping sound, this issue needs to be addressed. This issue has been addressed and is being repaired. c. A number of curb cuts were discussed at open forum, there are several curb cuts located throughout the city that need attention, a list will be presented to the Department of Public Works. Some of the streets are listed below: List has been updated. Rollstone Road needs curb cut. Caldwell Street handicap spots need curb cut. Handicap Parking at Anwelt Complex will be reviewed for compliance. Status of list to be updated next meeting Item 8: Motion to adjourn, meeting at 2:45pm. The next meeting will be January 12, 2021, at 1:30pm, Wednesday, in-person at City Hall. . 2 3