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Disabilities Commission MINUTES-11.19.19Northampton Disability Commission Gene Page, Chair City Councilor Marianne LaBarge, Vice-Chair Northampton Senior Center, 67 Conz Street, Northampton, MA 01060 DRAFT Minutes of the November 19, 2019 Disability Commission Meeting Members Present: Rodney Kunath, Gene Page, Marianne LaBarge, Linda Kakos, Michael Morton, Jeremy Macomber-Dubs, Emma Cornwell ADA Coordinator present: Marie Westburg Recorder: Douglas Renick Guests Present: Two local girl scout troop members which meets at Smith. They came to share ideas about accessibility and a service project. Public Comments: Kenneth Richard Pratt, 81 Conz, #319, Salvo House. Requested that the Commission look into the eviction of the resident who lived in #712. Mr. Pratt believes that the resident was improperly evicted and he can provide details. Look deeply into this. Alula Shields: A couple of years ago I collected signatures for an ordinance that would ban single use plastic straws. Plastic is a problem for the world. The average human consumes a credit card of plastic per week. (from Australian data) We need to replace single use plastic with plant based plastic made from corn or paper straws or re-useable straws made from glass, aluminum, etc. The ordinance will include styrofoam. I’m proposing the ordinance. It is not an attack on people who need to use straws. The ordinance suggests alternatives. Councilor LaBarge asked for a copy of the ordinance. Ms. Shields said she would provide one. The ordinance is for Northampton. Easthampton is also interested. Buckland passed a bill banning all single use plastic. Paper straws degrade faster than people can consume. Mr. Kunath: CDH still uses styrofoam cups. They did have paper cups but no longer. He recommended returning to paper cups 3 or 4 years ago. No change. Ms. Shields said that a letter in support would be great. The ordinance will go before the City Council soon. Approval of the September 17, 2019 meeting notes: This agenda item was forwarded to the next Commission meeting when everyone has seen and read the meeting notes. Human Rights Commission Survey: No one representing the HR Commission was present. Postponement of Election of Officers due to Administrative Code: Elections of positions on “multiple-member” bodies happens at the first meeting of the body in July. The Sustainability and Planning Office is gearing up to hire an ADA Coordinator. This will happen in January. The City’s Administrative Code covers all committees, commissions and boards and the elections happen at the same time of the year. The Administrative Code overrules the by-laws of the Disability Commission. The terms of positions on the Commission are not the same. People start at different times. We can communicate with the Mayor’s office that the Administrative Code is not clear. Director Westburg will clarify this. Mayor’s letter about restructuring of the ADA Coordinator Position: Everyone had seen the letter and understood the coming changes for the Disability Commission. Wayne Feiden’s letter about working together on finalizing the ADA Transition Plan after the new ADA Coordinator is in place in the Planning Department: Councilor LaBarge moved that the Commission approve Mr. Feiden’s request that the Commission hold off on finalizing the Transition Plan until the new ADA Coordinator is in place and the Transition Plan has been strengthened. Emma seconded the motion. The Commission voted unanimously to approve the motion. Mr. Kunath: I have only just seen the letter from the Mayor. I wished I had time to ask questions. Note: The letter was sent to Commission members prior to this meeting. Ms. Cornwell: how long will we have to wait for the Transition Plan to be approved? Director Westburg: Mr. Feiden is clear that the Plan needs to be moved forward but with the knowledge of the many new City Council members. It will surely not take a year and it is not a stalling tactic. Interviewing is happening now for the new ADA Coordinator and that person should be on board soon. Councilor LaBarge concurred. Next meeting: Councilor LaBarge moved that the Commission not meet in December. The motion was seconded by Ms. Cornwell and was unanimously approved. Discussion prior to final approval of the motion--Mr. Macomber-Dubs: there are things we need to talk about with winter coming on. People in chairs should not have to go out to find situations that need to be addressed. We could talk about that. Do we need a sub-committee? The city will take time to come up with a plan to address the snow related problems in the plan. The Commission will need conversations with the new ADA Coordinator. Where will the resources come from to move the snow? Northampton Neighbors now knows that people are unwilling to help because of liability issues. Could we write a letter to Mr. Feiden saying that we are concerned about the winter problems in the Transition Plan? Or perhaps write a letter to the Chamber of Commerce, a reminder about the importance of shoveling. Mr. Kunath has suggestions about shoveling the snow. Mr. Macomber-Dubs: the snow situation is critical for people in wheelchairs. New Business: Happy Holidays! Adjournment: Michael Morton moved to adjourn. Jeremy Macomber-Dubs seconded the motion. Unanimously approved.