ADA Committee

Montpelier ADA Committee February 4, 2014 Attendance: Kim Brittenham, Marty Roberts, Dianne Richardson, Jessie Baker, Tom McArdle, Thom Wood, Arne McMullen. Introductions and Welcome The meeting was called to order by Kim Brittenham, Chair. Dianne Richardson is joining the committee as a citizen. She gave a brief introduction. Check in on committee priorities 2014 Jessie will see that the priorities are on the city’s website with a link to ADA.gov One priority is to enlist new committee members and one has been added. Thom suggested a priority for himself, with the committee’s assistance to help direct the Rec Department to better comply with ADA issues, especially the building on Barre Street. This was not included in the Community Needs Assessment (CNA). Kim has to develop a summary of the work of the ADA committee to update City Council, which is to be done quarterly. The first one will be for the March meeting. She will also send it to the committee. Montpelier Alive! is to be encouraged to self-evaluate themselves, especially for outdoor activities. There is an ADA checklist. Jessie said there is a Summer Solstice event that has just been approved and is not part of Montpelier Alive! but is being run by a private vendor. The contractor may need to be notified that they should evaluate for ADA compliance. Kim will send the checklist or a link to the checklist to Jessie and Thom. The city’s employment practices review has not had any recent activity. The job description needs to have physical requirements specified. Jessie will add this to the HR update plan. Dianne asked how people who need accommodations in the workplace get that help. Kim told her that VCIL can help. Tom reported that John Odum had requested a polling place access survey, done by Disability Rights Vermont. A full City Hall ADA review has been done. Some of the issues were raised letters and Braille for the elevator and different audible tones for up and down and when the doors are open or closed. Dianne mentioned that she goes to swim at First In Fitness with a friend with ambulatory issues and the dressing room there is dirty and not equal to the non- handicapped dressing rooms. She goes as part of the Montpelier Senior Center activities. She doesn’t know how to address this. Jessie mentioned that the Senior Center might address that with First In Fitness. If Dianne would write up the issues, Jessie will pass that along to the Senior Center. Thom reported that a room numbering system in compliance with 911 is being installed during school break. There will also be a map so people can orient themselves in the building – ADA compliance bathrooms, etc. Disability Rights Awareness Day at the State House will be February 19. Kim has been contacted by Bethany, Christ Church, and Unitarian to review their ADA accessibilities for their spaces. Review and approve meeting minutes from January 7, 2014 Thom made a motion to approve the minutes, Jessie seconded. Tom asked that they be amended to change to “modify the clerk’s counter” instead of “cut down the clerk’s counter”. The amended minutes were unanimously approved. Confirm next meeting date Town Meeting is the first Tuesday of the month. March’s meeting will be skipped and then just meet April 1. Respectfully submitted, Tami Furry Recording Secretary