Commission For Persons With Disabilities

Commission for Persons with Disabilities Regular Meeting October 4, 2018, 6:00 PM Room 319, Norwich City Hall Minutes • Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM. • Attendance Present: Kevin Harkins, Victor Harley, Cynthia Litton, Laurieann Messore, Lottie Scott, Elanah Sherman Absent: No absences Others present: Brigid Marks, Norwich ADA Coordinator, and Kevin Aherne, Bulletin reporter • Determination of Quorum: It was determined that a quorum was present (6/6). • Approval of September 6, 2018 Minutes: On a motion from Elanah, the Minutes were unanimously approved as presented. • Citizen Comments: Kevin Aherne talked about his coverage thus far of Disability Awareness Week. He stayed for the duration of the meeting. • Communications: None • Old Business 1) Commission Vacancies: Kevin addressed vacancies when he and Elanah were guests on the Stu Breyer Show (WICH AM) on the morning of this meeting. (See Disability Awareness Week, below.) 2) By-laws Update: Elanah reported that Betsy Barrett, the City Clerk, informed her that no attorney review is necessary for the by-laws change regarding phone attendance. Elanah will distribute the draft of the change to Commission members before the November meeting. 3) Taste of Italy. Laurie and her husband generously set up the booth and canopy. Elanah, Laurie and Cyndi staffed the table. All three reported that many attendees showed interest in the Commission’s work and the upcoming Disability Awareness Week. Brochures were distributed. 4) Disability Awareness Week. On October 3, Elanah and Cyndi attended the veterans’ coffeehouse to publicize the Week. On October 4, Elanah and Kevin appeared on the Stu Breyer show on WICH AM to talk about the Commission’s work and Disability Awareness Week. (Thank you, Kevin, for arranging this appearance!) The banner has been hung at the intersection of Rtes. 2 and 82. Elanah revised the brochure and Brigid re-formatted it. Elanah’s upcoming ADA workshop will include  staff from Miranda Creative, including a staff member with a disability, talking about their experience negotiating and implementing reasonable accommodations. The Mayor will present the proclamation at the start of this workshop. Elanah, Cyndi, and Lottie will staff the Commission’s booth at the Resource Fair on October 10. Elanah urged members to disseminate information about the Week’s events to their social networks. • New Business 1) Cyndi and Lottie brought to the Commission’s attention two issues from Taste of Italy: rough cracked pavement in Brown Park (Cyndi) and heavy smoke from food vendors’ kiosks (Lottie). The Commission will discuss these issues at a meeting before the end of the year. 2) Elanah announced that she could not attend the next meeting, scheduled for November 1. On a motion from Kevin, seconded by Lottie, members unanimously voted to re-schedule the November meeting for November 15 (the next Thursday that Elanah is available). Elanah will submit a notice to that effect to the City Clerk. • Adjournment: On a motion from Kevin, seconded by Laurie, the meeting was unanimously adjourned at 6:37 PM. The next meeting will be at 6 PM on Thursday, November 15, 2018 at Norwich City Hall in Room 319. Meeting Minutes written by Ivery Stakley on October 4, 2018; revised by Elanah Sherman on October 10, 2018.