Disability Commission - June 22, 2026

Good afternoon everybody.

Good afternoon.

Today is the June 22nd, 2026 meeting of the Commission on Disability.

My name is Brian Gallagher. I am the chairman.

As far as I know, nobody is participating remotely. Steve said that he's available by phone if we need him.

But I don't think we're going to need him since we have the the rest of us all here.

Okay.

Next on the agenda is the approval of the minutes of our prior meeting. Did everybody receive the minutes that I prepared?

Yes, sir.

Anybody have any suggested changes or comments about them?

No.

And may I have a a motion to approve the minutes?

Motion to approve minutes.

Second.

All in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

So, the minutes have been approved.

So, the next item on the agenda is we're welcoming our newest member.

Welcome.

Welcome.

Hi. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Welcome.

Amy Kaylee Viera.

Now, I tried to email you uh using your your married name at s e c i l.

s e c i l.

And and it came back that it wouldn't it could not be found, which is why I've been emailing you at your maiden name.

Yes. So, the k.ferreira is my email address with the company. I did not change my email address, so don't use Viera as for my email. So, it's [email protected].

Very good.

But may I make a mention that um uh on those monthly MOD meetings uh Kaylee was there, so it was very nice to have her jump right into the into the mix so on Zoom, you know how we we meet once a month with MOD.

Yep.

It was nice to have another colleague there on it.

Good.

The next item is the barrier beach plan.

Dun da da.

Did you need a key ejection, right?

So, we have special special guests with us today.

Well, thanks for having us. I'm Michael Berres, the town planner. This is Justine Rooney, a coastal scientist and planner with Woods Hole Group. Um we have talked to all of you about this plan except uh for you. I don't know if you've seen any of the public proceedings for this, but this is a project that we initiated 2 years ago with Woods Hole Group following um some pretty substantial storms that caused a

lot of overwash damage on East Beach Road in particular. Um and so, through a series of grants through coastal zone management and the municipal vulnerability preparedness program, we've developed a barrier beach management plan that spells out how the town is supposed to manage daily operations in these places. We're not looking 20 years into the future and saying this is what this place should

look like um at that time. We're primarily concerned with when there's overwash, what happens? If we put up sand sand fencing, you know, who who does who needs to approve that?

Um if we're putting up signage, are we making sure that we're staying out of uh resource areas or plover areas that have been roped off? You know, those those kinds of more um probably less exciting uh issues, I think, but they're also they're really critical things because the town is um beholden to the Wetlands Preservation Act as well as uh Endangered Species Act.

Yep.

All kinds of different regulatory um structures that you can read about in the Barrier Beach Management Plan. Um Justine, you want to talk about maybe a little bit about what has been updated since we last talked with some of the folks here?

Last time we spoke with you guys, one of the things that we talked about specifically was Beach Ave because I know that that is a topic that's really important to you all.

And actually, that was the meeting that Martin and I attended down at the Knobble. Is that correct?

about that, but we also came to speak with you all in the fall.

Right.

Mhm.

work is to continue. So, this plan, as Michael mentioned, covers the day-to-day um management of the beaches as it exists today. If you are going to uh re-level Beach Ave, here is how wide you're allowed to do it within the roadway layout, who owns what, etc.

Who's doing what, who to call. And that's all we're seeking um approval from the select board tonight to file a notice of intent with the Westport Conservation Commission for those activities.

What we also have done since we last saw you was apply for a next round of funding, which is incredibly competitive as the state always tells us, but that would be continuing to dig in and look at Beach Avenue and think about how it could evolve and change in the future.

So, we have not recommended any changes in including like we're not recommending to remove those two parking spaces you have at the end. The only thing that is recommended down there in the permitting application would be to permit sand fencing and adding a Mobi-Mat at the beach access point. So, not taking away the one at the Conservation Land Trust.

I always get the the order wrong.

But, not the one at the Land Trust owns.

It would be potentially adding a second one at the opening of the town access point. Now, that This is where the sign is this is town beach this way.

Yes, exactly.

In the last meeting didn't we address that?

I I thought we did. Is there Mobi-Mats there now?

We put a Mobi-Mat down we we discussed it and to my knowledge Ross did put one down and we also have these that the Mobi-Mat down at the very end as well.

Yeah, but not at the town opening.

There is one.

There is one right now?

there is I haven't been. You've been.

I haven't been there but I was told that it was there.

Oh, I don't think it's there.

Okay, if it is there technically it's not permitted.

Okay.

This which is okay.

It's not there.

I don't have I don't think Ross would take it and put it on town property.

property. Correct. He put it on on the um on the land trust.

Land Trust property. So, this would be to permit adding more. Yeah, this would be adding another one and so part of that feedback we received from you all was really important to us in thinking about how you could phase changes down there and adding before you subtract.

So, there's no subtraction, there's just recommendations that as you think about moving forward and that was kind of where we took the grant application as well was hey, let's first add some more ADA parking spaces at the town opening and think about how this is working and add more instead of just like moving to etc. So, I would say the big change from what we heard from all of you is really

just thinking about and that's what this whole process has been. Very slow, talking to everyone, getting consensus, but we did based on your feedback in the NOI application we are seeking approval to add sand fencing and add a Mobi-Mat at that location. And I I think all of that would There would need to be funds to buy the Mobi-Mat. There's still more steps to come, but that could be

something that I think definitely would be I think the town would be seeking input from you all on how do we place that Mobi-Mat? How long do you want it to be?

I chose the maximum size when I costed it out and permitted it. Yeah. I think I actually when I drew it up on the permit plans, I believe I actually also included it in an L for Mobi-Mat in case you wanted it so that you could have more length to get people further down the beach. So, I included that based on your guys' feedback. And so, noth- nothing's been taken out. If

anything, we've hoped we've listened to you and added some things you might want.

That L-shape is tremendous cuz a lot of times we have Mobi-Mats and then they just stop.

Yes.

The thought is what do you do when somebody's on a wheelchair and they I mean, yes, they can sit there and look but it'd be nice if it was an L or a T.

You go to the side and you can just plant yourself over there for a while.

Yeah, and I think if it ended up as a T, I don't think that would be a horrible thing, either. It just didn't feel like you had much run way to go. Okay.

I'm just suggesting Whatever works. Yeah.

Based on the space, I think would be advantageous so you can kind of decide which is better, whether it be an L-shape or a T-shape.

So, that's something that, you know, as we go through the ConCom process, that would be then be in that barrier beach permit is that work looped into it. Um so, that hopefully, too, if you wanted to seek grant funding for sand fencing and Mobi-Mat, you'd have a basis of being like, "Well, we already permitted it." So, that shows readiness.

Um and so, I think that's a nice thing, too.

But you mentioned if we wanted to do a grant for sand fencing and Mobi-Mats, are you recommending the town do it or are we are you going to hand it over to us?

So, in their proposal, right?

So, couple different avenues. I think I believe we included it in the match of the grant.

Yes.

In the match for the CZM grant we submitted this this winter.

Yeah. So, if that grant comes through, that's one level of conversation. If it doesn't, then I think you'd have to come up with other ways.

Okay.

But, the nice part is is that at least, you know, it's also documented in the Berry Beach Management Plan that's a priority and that was based on your feedback.

Yes, sir. And was was anything done about parking? Like were you were you suggesting parking along the side of the road near near that entrance at new entrance?

There That is I mean, technically right now you can in the proposal. So, it's called we called it a phased relocation plan in the proposal for the grant ask.

And what that would look at is more meetings like this with various groups to identify what everyone's various priorities are and to think about what the future of that site would look like.

Okay.

One of the ideas that we put forth in the proposal came from you all, which would be adding signage at those entry points, A, adding better signage so that people don't drive all the way to the end of the knoll to try to turn around.

We know sign pollution is a thing and no one reads signs, but they could be better down there. They're very dark, hard to see.

So, also I feel like I don't know if that is a problem that people are parking in your parking spaces, but Not necessarily I when I go down I see them parking right before those two last You know what I mean? Onto the sides. I just They park off to the sides, people back into the dunes.

Yeah. That's too bad. Yeah, that's not good.

So, the proposal asks for signage and it also talks about how maybe there could be near-term, mid-term, long-term options. And a near-term, one of the recommendations was adding ADA marked parking spaces right at that town opening as well.

Yes.

And from what we've heard, I mean, there's mixed reviews. I've been told no one uses it. I've been told it's completely full every Saturday, Sunday.

Um but there Either way, we were thinking that's one of the things that maybe in the near term you add more spaces and then eventually if you have to do a phased retreat at the Nubble and close that roadway you've established parking spaces somewhere else.

Close what roadway?

The end of Beach Avenue.

If the seawall washes really bad in the future and then we can't get access there, we would close that and move it forward up further up, correct?

And I can only And I can honestly say the times that Martin and I have been down there, it has been busy. Yeah.

There's always people that are parked They're all parked there.

We don't necessarily see wheelchairs.

We've seen it one time. We don't you know, it's not so busy that you see all kind of wheelchairs on the beach. Let's you know, be honest about it, but two spaces would be great.

Yeah.

If you're going to add spaces, we had have had great success with the geo grids that we have put down to stabilize those two spaces at the end.

Yep, right.

That really solidifies up that sand.

Matter of fact, we're going to do something down there. I don't know if you guys have noticed it a harder surface. And do you feel like the Beach Avenue section like by the town opening is a little harder packed?

I do feel like it's a little harder packed to start with at that area. Yeah.

So, those types of things were what we included. Again, I'm talking to you about like what we suggested doing not in this current planning effort. But again, this plan, although it's not shiny and exciting to everyone, hopefully these pieces set you up for continued work in that area.

That's fantastic.

You know.

And then I have a question with regards to you said um the restrictions or the requirements in order if we chose to enhance that road, how big it can be or if they choose to asphalt it or if they choose to They're I don't believe they'll ever be able to asphalt it.

Okay.

To be fair.

What would they be able to use to to make a harder surface cuz it is a town road?

Um to be honest, because most of it is a mapped resource area. So, especially that eastern section, if you kind of almost can imagine it in your head, you know, when you look at the roadway, you get past the town opening on eastward.

Yes.

That section is what's called barrier beach. So, it is mapped. We cannot put asphalt. They're not going to let you put down anything.

I think maybe you could talk to the ConCom about potentially some sort of stone, but I don't think they would I don't think it would be approved.

it's considered barrier beach at that What would you say, the last 200 ft or something like that?

Yes. You can't change the sediment characterization that's already there.

So right it?

Can you meet it?

In other words, could we asphalt up to that section and the rest all be sand?

believe so. Because that section is also mapped as land subject to coastal storm flowage, and you really can't change the storm So, the storage capacity in that resource area is really important. So, it's important there that the water is able to go onto the ground and get captured into the ground quickly. And what asphalt does in essence is just push it off.

the side.

Yeah.

What if it's kind of like a hard-packed pervious paver?

Yeah. I think it's that It doesn't have to be asphalt.

Yeah, they said that we could use a type of approved pervious paver.

Yes, and we could meet the respective line, if you will. We don't have to do the whole thing, but we could make it somewhat accessible, cuz I know Remind and I both have trucks. And sometimes the the divots and like regular cars to get down, I mean, you're bumping from side to side. Even in the vehicles when we go down. Um so, I think just for safety purposes when you're driving on any part of it, um

respectfully could be enhanced for safety issues, right?

Um but then not be able to interfere in the environment that you are so that you're dedicated to protecting.

I mean, I Well, it's not even me. It's just the regulations. I'm just good I'm I know those inside and out. I will say you're really different you're I hate to make it seem like it really is two different things, but that right that western two No, eastern 200 ft which really different from the western section.

okay. Pervious pavers I could see being approved um on the western section of the roadway. I don't think they would be approved on the barrier beach section.

Who do you think is going to be the the to get the approval from? Who's going to be more MassDEP.

Oh, yeah.

That's what Shawn had mentioned to us too that he's he's he's explored that. So, he would be willing to work with us on One thing I will say and I again, I think this is something if the grant is approved for next year, this would be like a beautiful starting point is that when we look at these what they're called managed retreat projects, if you were to abandon a small section of

roadway and allow it to re-naturalize.

Right now, that's not ideal. We we're not proposing that you do that. If you were to do something like that, it kind of brings you to the table with a chip saying we're willing to do this within this area, can we do this within this area to also meet our other needs. And so, that's one thing to think about is that in these resource areas, they're looking for that barrier beach section

to be restored to a more natural condition. Still accessible, but not necessarily by vehicles.

Okay.

So, just something to think about. The pervious pavers, I will note there is a cost just So, we just put pervious pavement in a barrier beach wetland resource area, but we already we were removing asphalt to put it there. One thing I will note with the pervious is that it requires cleaning and maintenance. So, when we think about that, we just have to work that into any budget of thinking about adding pervious

pavement is that there is a maintenance component to maintaining the perviousness of it.

else, right?

Yeah.

Yeah, and I understand that. I think I think from what was explained to us originally is that if you from what I was told, if you dig deep enough, you will find that there is an existing road there that was that as well.

And and it's been proven that it's there. So, we know that that is obviously a legitimate town road. Um we pay taxes on that road and we should have accessibility to that road. But, to what extreme with regards to the protection Sean had explained to us that it's two separate things. Like, the beach part is one entity and the road part is totally separate. So, we kind of have to stay in our lanes with

regards to the road itself and what you can and cannot do and it's separate from the beach. And what in the conversations that we've had with the beach commission, um they've made that perfectly clear and will help guide us accordingly so that we don't step on anybody's toes and we do what's acceptable and within uh your requirements.

I And I do think like I mean, I do this work all up and down the coast and I have to be honest like, we have competing interests and so it's again, it's just all coming to the table with our interests set and saying, "Hey, this or this doesn't make sense." I can see the argument 100% to adding some sort of pervious pavement on that western section, having more ADA accessible parking right by that town opening,

adding Mobi-Mats, potentially in the future thinking about could you then add a walkway to the knob? All these things, it's just um thinking about the competing interests of But, the perviousness is important and so as you start thinking about it, I think if you were going to make a case that there's asphalt underneath, you would probably have to do borings and I don't know how

much that would get you in the argument, but we can in our discussions as I keep talking around, I can I can ask around and get back to you.

What I understand, the research is already there and been proven. We just have to get our hands on the documents.

I feel like I've read a lot of it and I haven't seen it. I'm being honest.

We've been told that it it it's viable.

We just have to request it. So, Okay. I think Sean has said that. And Sean was actually on our steering committee. person.

Yeah.

So, Good. yeah, we did talk to him a lot.

Yeah.

Yeah, and and and there's a lot um and I mentioned this when I I wrote to my chairman, you know, there's a lot to interpret. There's a lot to digest.

There's a lot to learn about that we're not acclimated to. So, it's going to take us time to kind of embrace the information and digest it and look at it and see what are the focal points, what's the positive end result long term or short term. And I think it's just worth getting involved just to kind of read it so that we can make our own determination as to what is best for the

commission and for the people with disabilities. They so enjoy, you know, embracing the waterways. And we know that Charin Web, that's the one that we're having trouble getting access to.

Charin Web, Baby Beach, yeah, everyone has access to that. So, that beach is gorgeous. And I do realize that there are a lot of private homes down there and, you know, it's like their backyard and all of that, but you know, when it comes to ADA accessibility, we want to also be able to allow people with disabilities, our seniors, they don't necessarily have to have a disability, enjoy it because it's

beautiful. It's magnificent. We just want to make it easier for accessibility.

And we do we had you all on as a main stakeholder of that proposed work. So, any other planning efforts would definitely include all of you. And I think there were all the other things that came up down there. Like, could you improve flow? Could you reorient the parking spaces? You know, it is a safer way. Maybe you're pulling in at a diagonal so you don't have I mean, you've also got small children running

around, vehicles, and everything else.

You know, I think but I would just say as you think about your planning, just continue. I think there's definitely room for improvement.

I think there's I agree.

there's room to do more down there for the interest group that you're interested in supporting, but just think about the two sections as a little separate in what you're allowed to do.

Okay.

And I have one last question. When it comes to emergency vehicles, God forbid if anyone, not necessarily people who are disabled or seniors, what is the access points for people in an emergency situation if they need an ambulance or airlifted or whatever? What is the protocol and what is the accessibility based on that?

They're going to come through either the opening on the town's land or through the land trust, depending on where that that individual happens to be. We've talked to um So, there is a plan in existence for those emergencies that is that stipulates speak for what the fire department has on paper, but they have said that there have been situations where they've had to bring, you know, stretchers out there

and get people up off the beach.

Mhm.

So, I don't know if there's anything formal that they've adopted, but um Our certainly something you could talk to Dan Baldwin about as he's very good at.

Our plan notes that they would use existing access points and that they wouldn't anticipate driving any vehicles on the sand. I don't believe the fire department has it over sand vehicles that they're using.

So, they would access from the town opening. I don't think, if you're kind of asking, does that change how we surface that roadway to improve it? I don't think that that's an argument that's going to change what you are and are not allowed to do to that roadway because you have so many places where, you know, carrying webs a great example, you're going to have to traverse a large area regardless to get to someone.

That's true.

Um but I will note that when we talked with the police department, they did tell us that they're also they also have a drone that they use to help with emergency response. Um so, they can use that and deploy that to better understand where someone is and I think they can also utilize uh watercraft vehicles for emergency response as well.

Sure.

Yeah.

Watercraft come around that way, yeah.

Yeah. And I think it's something we did put in the plan and the NOI that, you know, an emergency response vehicle it trumps like that.

And you You can't go in the the uh fence habitat. You're still supposed to avoid it. It doesn't mean that you can't do emergency saving procedures in that habitat or get it on sand vehicles. So, we do actually have in the permit as well um allowing for on-sand vehicles if that's something the fire department added in the future. It is in our NOI filing so that they are also covered to

do that work um because it gets reviewed by natural heritage and they have to approve it from an endangered species perspective.

And is that in your plan or is that in the application?

So, I'm talking about them kind of as two separate entities, but they're kind of one thing. So, the NOI application, not everything that we talk about in the Barrier Beach Management Plan needs to go to the ConCom. So, the ConCom doesn't need to hear about dogs. That's not under their purview. They do need to hear about how we plan to have emergency response on the beach. If we're going to

remove seaweed off the beach, what equipment we're going to use. That doesn't really happen a ton here, but there could be a huge wash-up. Those activities that need a permit under the Wetlands Protection Act, they're in the NOI application. The beach management plan is an appendix to the NOI application. Dick and I were just joking about this. My whole NOI application, I believe, is about 800 pages long.

Wow.

It's an overwhelming amount of information, but it's a cat Yeah, you should have seen me zipping those together.

But, it's a catalog of information for the town that they now have pulled all together in one place. We have a lot of municipal turnover where someone has a tremendous amount of institutional knowledge, and one nice thing that Westport has now is all of that information in one place so that who handles what? How are we supposed to do this thing? So, it's overwhelming for anyone to go into it quickly. Um,

it's hard to try to review the whole thing, but as an example, we included all of the public engagement materials.

That was really important to us because one of the big things about this was building trust with the community and being really transparent about what we were doing. And also documenting like your feedback was incorporated. Their feedback was also incorporated. So, those pieces are in the plan. So, the application is the beach management plan in a way, but it's also kind of separate.

So, is there and I hate to say it like this, but is there like CliffNotes or something that we access so that Yep.

if we needed you to interpret something, but just give us like a basic knowledge?

If you open up the draft, it's on the town's website right now. We created kind of a three-page handout which explains each chapter of the plan and what the appendicee includes. Um, so so a great example on Huh?

it, sweet?

On the town's on the planning website, I believe.

Yeah, there's uh it's the Barrier Beach Management Plan section.

you could send to us like Yeah, I can do that.

Yeah, if you could send it like maybe to our chairman and he can Yeah, sure everybody gets it.

So, those first three pages under the cover page do just that. They talk about each chapter. A great example is like one of the appendicees talks about sediment characterization. Most people don't care about that.

Yes.

But, if you are homeowner on East Beach Road, you should care about sediment characterization because if you are going to ask to bring in material, you need to match what's already there, and so we have that. We can tell you exactly what's there, so they can just take that, go to the ConCom and say, "Here's the sediment that's there. Here's what I'm bringing in." So, there's different things for different people.

Um, we documented who we met with, so you our meetings with you all are documented in our public engagement appendicee, um, and we talk about how feedback was incorporated in the plan.

But my big thing for you all was really just the application that we put forth. I think we see you playing a big role in all of that. So that isn't looking at East Beach Road. It would just be looking at phase relocation of Atlantic and Beach Avenue. How are those two roadways potentially going to change in the future? Are they always going to exist the way they are? But more of a stakeholder-driven

process where, like, there's three teams. There's a lawyer, there's the coastal scientist, and then we have a the there's a stakeholder engagement specialist who does She has previously worked for the Consensus Building Institute. So her job really would be bringing everyone to the table and saying, "Okay, your interest is X, your interest is Y. How do we meet in the middle? What timeline are we doing this

on?" I think also what's hard is that like sometimes people want to do this resiliency planning right now. They're like, "I want to rebuild this right now." And it doesn't always need to happen right now. It could happen after the next big storm. Some people aren't ready for certain things at certain times. So the Berry Beach Management Plan is really different from that planning exercise. It's truly just

getting our ducks in a row with what the rules are, um, and what who we're going to call when certain things happen.

I think our our philosophy, at least from the the planning board's perspective, and this has been through, um, the previous town administrator and the probably the current town administrator as well, is to elevate some of that recreational access. You know, we want to maintain these public spaces because Westport is a community that really relies on, um, summer tourism.

It's a big part of the local economy.

And so we want to elevate that to the greatest extent that we can. However, we also need to have some contingency planning in there that maybe there's a day that we're not going to be able to use these spaces in the same way we always have.

Mhm.

And so, what does that look like? What are What are those pain points that tell us, you know, okay, as a community we can't afford to continue to invest in this place.

Not that we're really anticipating anything like that with with Beach Avenue. I think there other parts of town where that's more of a salient issue, but um it is something to think about because then if we have some sort of plan in place, then we can rework how we use those spaces.

Sure. Makes it Makes total sense.

Mhm. And so, um with regards to the commission itself, cuz I know Richard and I we sit on open space together. And we're we're constantly being asked, you know, with ADA accessibility. I represent our commission on that particular uh committee. Um is is there a way for us to stay in touch with you guys or maybe come to our upcoming meetings or get an invite, you know, if we wanted to just come and hear

it firsthand cuz I think we all panicked, you know, knowing that it was going to the select board. We didn't know what was going to the select board and it mentioned ADA and, you know, we just kind of wanted to make sure that that we got the necessary information moving forward.

So, tonight we're going as you said, we're going to the select board for their authorization to submit the notice of intent um for the Barrier Beach Management Plan and that will kickstart the public hearing process with the Conservation Commission.

So, I don't know what their schedule the ConCom schedule will look like, but yeah, we can make a note to invite you all to the ConCom public hearing.

Um and then if we get any grant funding, we'll certainly keep you involved cuz you're one of our main stakeholder groups in the process.

what I understand when you do, cuz I'm researching um grant money now, there's usually earmarked 20% for ADA accessibility on all of the grants that are that are given, you know, to a city or town.

Mhm.

Uh so, there is there is input, you know, where the commission uh does have recommendations because you get that 20% based on ADA accessibility.

Yeah.

Um the I think the requirement is is that we were involved with the management of it or suggestion part of it because it's earmarked for that grant for those specific accessibility uh issues.

Yeah, and I would say I mean, I wouldn't worry too much. You haven't missed Since we last talked to you, we really were just kind of doing these individ- So, we saw you kind of early on in the process. Nothing really we kind of just went around and did the same thing of hearing feedback from each group. So, I don't want you to feel like you missed something. It really this season was kind of having individual

small conversations. We met with Dec a few times, others a few times, highway department, all individually so we could hear about their concerns. And then It was a very Just wanted to jump in. One-on-one sort of um We wanted to meet with people on a more personal level than on the in these big public meeting sections where you have all these different competing stakeholder interests. Um we wanted and

also a different level of comfortability, too. Not everyone feels comfortable speaking in a public meeting and so we can meet with them um outside of that that setting where it's a little bit more familiar.

And I would say I mean, Michael and I are planners, so I guess we're a little more used to it, but this part was just a lot of writing and rewriting and rewriting. So, you mostly just missed edits on sentences. Um Endless team meetings.

endless team meetings. So, I would say, you know, the big thing is really just if that grant doesn't come through and it's something that interests the town, applying again next year, thinking about how it evolves. That would be one other plug is that I know that if you're looking towards identifying grant funding, the beach management plan can now serve as a point of reference to leverage into grants. So, the beach

management plan is a public document that speaks to what some of the public interest or ideas or recommendations are.

Having that and being able to put that with a grant application strengthens the application because you say, "Hey, this was identified in a previous planning project [clears throat] that would had public stakeholder feedback, everything else." So, use it as something that you can kind of plug and play into those applications. Because yeah, these I mean, I think I told you about this

last time I was here, but it's built and you should all if you feel like driving over the Bourne Bridge in the middle of the summer, but um Sandy Neck Beach in Barnstable, we leveraged about 200 Actually, they didn't the town paid for that themselves, but there's a beautiful new observation deck with a beautiful ramp and we you know, that project I'm proud of that one, too. We definitely we

changed and moved all the ADA parking spaces so that it was at a better elevation, etc. So, I would say this it's important that your voices are heard in these types of projects cuz we can't just think about the sand is moving around, but it also to your point about the driving vehicles, potholes, everything else. It adds more challenges.

No, and the signage was really beautiful executed to the environment. We talked about that at the last time that we had a meeting and they were very mindful of of keeping the integrity of the space, you know, being a beachy town and down the Cape and all of that. Um and the reflective um signage was helpful, too. So, when it gets dusk, when people go and see the sunsets, it's reflective on all of the

signage, you know, for cautionary and be careful with children, the environment, and all of that. So, congratulations on that. That was a a well-deserved feather in your cap.

Any other comments or questions?

No, that was good.

Yeah, that was very good. Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Thank you. It's just a communication thing. We just want to make sure that we're in the loop, and thank you. I know you know that.

Yeah, of course. Yeah, and you you're written throughout. Hopefully, just, you know, start thinking good thoughts about that other grant application.

Okay.

Which that the timeline for that, I mean, there's rumblings that they've already picked. But, end of summer, I would say, is probably a safe bet.

September.

September is when I I said the project would start if the grant funds were received, but yeah.

And we have um we've we've uncovered a couple of grants, too, that we can apply independently, but we have to have projects to assign it to them. So, we've been asking, like, the Beach Committee, and now we'll include you, open space, uh where we can allocate certain monies that we can actually apply for grants independently.

I will note, just as a plug, not to take up too much of of your time, but I know Cherry and Webb is an important topic to you, as well. We did, when our wetland team was out there doing an extra part of East Beach Road, we did have them go out and just take a look at those resource areas. I will note, in our discussions, there were topic conversations about the rare species

beyond just birds that are there. So, just important to note, as you think about that work, if there was a lot of public interest, the Bear Beach Management Plan could serve as the basis for a beach management plan at Cherry and Webb. Um I would recommend, if you're thinking about doing any sort of I know you had mentioned last time, maybe like having over sand vehicles help transport, etc.

Just know that, you know, you can leverage the material from this plan to help you in any of that work. Um it would involve some consultations with Natural Heritage because of the species that are down there. So, even if it's just thinking about that moving forward, you know, this the plan, the permits, everything else, the documentation, that the resource areas are similar, you can

leverage the information, but just that there are there's some sensitive critters down there that might be a little bit of a their own stakeholder group.

Right.

Another thing you might want to be aware about is that I've applied for two different grants to update the master plan. And so if that if we get awarded that funding, that would kick off sometime in this fall or or next year.

And so that's really a great opportunity to start to try to get projects into the pipeline. Um so you can have them identified in a a formally adopted town document that you can point to when you go and apply for funding is to update the master plan?

Yeah, it's to update the master plan. It was last initiated in 2014, 2013, something like that. So Yeah.

It needs it.

That's awesome.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

You.

It was great.

We'll see you tonight, Dick.

Okay.

Looking forward to it. We're item We're item M tonight.

Oh, is that right? We're on earlier than that.

Thank you, Michael.

Bye.

See you, Michael.

Bye.

Bye.

Bye Kathleen.

Justine.

Justine.

Justine. Justine.

Justine. Thank you.

Justine.

The next item on our agenda is Hicks Bridge landing and Seaport economic grant to try to help move that project along.

Does anybody have any information about the Seaport economic grant and where we stand on that?

Cuz it's part of that project has been done. The new floats are in.

I saw that.

Um I don't know if the handicap parking spaces have yet been paved and from uh my not too distant conversation with Jeff Bull the the walkway to get to those floats Yeah. Yeah.

is it's certainly not wheelchair accessible right now.

It is not, is that what you said?

Yeah.

But I understand they want to make it accessible.

That was part of the the original conversation that we had.

Um and there was supposed to be accessible and wheelchair accessible.

That's what I thought, yes.

But I don't know if that's ultimately going to happen.

I mean, but it should happen. If this is going to be a handicapped parking spot, then what's the point if you can't access it?

Right.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I think probably we should go down there at some point.

Yes. I I've been down there to take a look at it, but there's nothing's been done as far as the access or the parking lot as far as, you know, it's new parking spaces.

Correct.

I think it's something that we should follow up on Brian and if we need to do like a walk-through or something and give you some support information.

Mhm. Mhm.

We'd be more than happy to do that.

Um the next time I see Jeff I'll ask him if there's any um updates.

Is this project what we're talking about, the $5,000 that we set aside for?

Well, we set aside that money, but I thought there was also going to be more money coming through uh the seaport economic grant.

Oh, okay.

Correct.

And We have to take it out of our budget.

Right.

And there uh cuz there's going to be a substantial amount Jeff of money needed.

Mhm.

Uh above and beyond the 5,000. When I spoke to Jeff last time, he said it's not yet time for us to worry about contributing the $5,000, but he'd Okay.

let me know when it is.

Do you know if they're getting a grant for that? I believe they are.

that that as part of the Yes.

So, again, um I just like to highlight that when they do receive a grant, there is 20% allocated on the grant for ADA accessibility.

So, we should look at that to see what kind of money that equates to. If it's 10,000, 15,000, I don't know how much they're getting, but usually 20% of the award is allocated for ADA accessibility.

And that's what I've been finding even for us to um apply for grant money independently of projects that are happening in in the town and our cities.

Is that [clears throat] a state law that says that Yeah.

has to be allocated?

Correct.

But is that is that if it's a grant from the state or if it was a private foundation or you know, any other type of entity would is that still Normally when they're applying Normally when they're applying for grant money, it's either state or federal money. Um if it does come from someone privately, Mhm. Probably not.

it's the wish of the angel donor at that point.

I will say this, I don't know if if I didn't say it correctly, but I called Jeff over at the MOD, Mass Office of Disability, and he was not aware of any 10% 20% being set aside for ADA. So, maybe we should just It's a federal. It's on the I know, but we need to see that paperwork. I mean, you've been saying that, but I need to see the actual regulation that's there

because he did I'm just saying cuz he had no idea. So, if I'd like to show it to him so he would know what's going on.

Yeah, we can get that.

So, if it's federal, then that that 10 or 20% has to be So, that grant would have had to benefit us.

Federal money, right.

Right. So, are these grants that you're talking about federal money? Cuz if they're not, then the 10 or 20%, whatever it is, is not going to apply.

Correct.

Some of the state grants, right?

And normally what happens is is when they're applying for these big money, 300,000, 600,000, whatever the money is that they're applying for, it's usually already allocated cuz it is federal grant.

Right. Right.

And Martin, when you said Jeff, you mean Jeff Dugan at MOD?

I'm sorry. Yes, yes.

Okay.

Jeff Dugan, the uh I don't know if this is executive director of MOD, yes.

Right.

That's why it's so helpful with those once a month meetings. You can ask these kind of questions instead of trying to call and and getting a voice voice uh And I've spoken to Jeff a couple of times, too. He He's very involved with the training, right?

Yeah.

training uh uh We met him at the camp training, yeah.

Exactly. No, but I called him to follow up on it about the grant money.

I don't know when you talked to him cuz there was about a month about a month ago, I guess.

Yeah.

Okay. We'll We'll We'll We'll figure that out.

Yeah, we'll get copies of what you guys need.

Next item that I put on the agenda is the open space committee open space committee and position of the conservation commission regarding beach access. Lisa, did you mention going to the open space committee Yes.

meeting?

Yep. So, I have been going to the open space um committee meetings along with Mr. Brewer.

Mhm.

Mr. Brewer is I think Are you the liaison from the select board for that?

No, you're an active member. Okay. Um I was actually asked to prepare some uh guidelines with regards to accessibility, which I did do uh for our group. And I sent them in to Karen who um actually leads uh the SERP head entity of it. Um the information uh that I did receive uh with regards to ADA um was very helpful for her, and she actually incorporated incorporated in her final draft. They are going to be

having um a public town meeting. I believe it's at the end of the month or beginning of next month, I think it is.

It's in July.

It's in July. I have the flyer for that.

I'll send the flyer out to everyone. And then I did um send everyone the feedback with the accessibility at historic cultural sites and included um all of the recommendations that I received from ADA and I sent that to everyone in the email and I believe everyone got a copy of it.

And it was suggestions based on her interpretation of what she needs to include in her final draft for SERP head and the projects that they are working on.

And Dick and I went to the last the most recent meeting with uh open space and she found the information that I had given her was very supportive in helping her complete her report that she needed to for conservation and for open space.

Thank you.

You're welcome, sir.

Now, with respect to uh our new and old business one of the questions that has arisen is about the the continuing need for the ADA transition team.

Yes.

And Martin, you sent around email earlier today about your position on the ADA transition team.

I know early on I was on it with Anders and maybe you maybe somebody else and we never met. We never even That's right.

any discussions about the ADA transition team. And then when the plan was updated um you may have met with the folks at SERP head. I had no input on it at all. And Mr. Brewer, who's now on the ADA transition team with us was not even told about the dates for the meeting.

It happened so quickly. Mr. Hartnett, who was an administrator at the time, just kind of contacted me and I think maybe you or I contacted you because you wanted to get that plan updated and put a grant in and SERP head It uh brought SERP head in and so what and they did most of the work. We did have a couple of meetings. Um I remember Liz asking specifically Elizabeth I think is her name

of our recommendations and I put in for a couple of recommendations. I don't know if you did or not. And all all as it was what I put in for was I thought we need to really update the webpage. And of course I was going through all all the processes as it was.

And Rick helped us with the transition with the transition.

So that that as far as like the way if you read that document, you know, the schools have up-to-date as far as accessibility of the town hall the annex the playgrounds and of course we got the one going up on on Gifford Road now which is fantastic.

And that'll be accessible as well. And um So my my my thought was as you mentioned we didn't meet even though we had this committee together whether we needed to keep it together.

I didn't think so. I thought we should form a new one maybe within a year or two before the next plan needs to be updated. This is a 5-year plan so that would be 2030.

So either we can get another group together in 2028 or 2029 and do a few meetings then. I I I just personally didn't think that we need to have all these meetings because I don't think we have any um really you know you know what I'm saying something something that's really important.

I I think I think with regards to the transition team I think you know, it's unfortunate that Mr.

Brewer wasn't aware that he was on this transition team and then unfortunately didn't even get to participate in any of the meetings.

Well, that's not quite true but go ahead.

Okay.

I'd like to finish your thought. I'd like to respond to that cuz I think Yeah and and so my thought is is that I think we're learning as we go and I think Martin's with Martin's efforts and and Rick and everybody else, you know, we kind of had to what I'm getting from it cuz I wasn't on the commission at that time is we were racing against time to meet a deadline

because we had to have this transition document because it was essential for the town. And I think they did a remarkable job in getting the the document together on on a very quick turnaround time. My thought of of disbanding it is I think we should have the opportunity to explore what we're disbanding.

And if we have to kind of reface it like Martin said to start meetings because we are covered for 5 years. I think rather than rush to judgement we should look at like what does the transition team actually do and what type of input is put forward. I know that Sir Ped did the majority of the work that got us through you know the technicality of having the proper document in place.

But because we don't know what we don't know, I would like the opportunity to not disband it, talk about it, familiarize yourself with it, find out what are the good things or what are we going to lose if we're not going to lose it. We don't I don't know any of that right now. So I would rather just leave it as is and then open it up for discussion on our level before it's

voted on without our input.

Well, I might suggest that rather than disbanding it we just let it lie dormant.

Yes.

And then when 2028 rolls around or 2029, if those of us who are still around want to remain on the transition team, great.

Yes.

But we should have a conversation about it.

Yeah.

Because as some of us are circling the drain, you never know if we're going to be around 5 years.

Right.

Right.

And we have new members that are unfamiliar, you know, so and you knew a lot about So because I I follow the select board meetings. I do watch them on YouTube. I don't attend it. But my my understanding is the ADA transition team So it's not legally required. So, the ADA transition plan is a required document Mhm.

for any local government Mhm.

that has 50 or more employees. So, I'm My understanding of this was the ADA transition team was created to develop the plan.

Correct.

But, I believe from the select board meetings that I watched, and please correct me if I'm wrong on this, but I believe the thought to dissolve it was because they want This is something that the commission on disability should be charged with.

Yes.

So, they you don't need a separate team or separate committee to do something that the commission is capable of.

responsible is responsible for. So, it's just kind of a duplication.

Sure.

So, I would be in support of dissolving it because I I don't think if anything, it's adding work to the the commission on disability. It's not taking anything away from it.

Mhm.

That's what I got out of it.

Yeah, and I think I think from the people who actually participate on it, because it was diverse, and maybe Mr.

Brew, you can explain this. I think your position, and maybe I'm wrong, but if you would clarify, please. You as a select board member was on the transition team, because I don't believe that you were a commissioner or a part of the ADA commission at that time.

That's correct.

Okay. So, you represented the select board, and then we had the town administrator.

Yes.

And then, of course, other members from the commission. So, I think with the guidance of the committee, having the administrator, which since I've been on the commission, I've never had a meeting with our with our administrator since I've been a part. So, I think having an administrator, and now having Mr. Brew is uh grace coming not only as a select board member, but now as a part of the commission. And then having

commissioners involved, you kind of learn government as to what the transition team does with the other departments. That helps us better understand how the commission can better serve our community. Is that safe to say?

What You're talking about the ADA commission?

The Or this The ADA transition team committee is a it has many members of different departments. Like you represent Well, not a department, but you represent the select board being on the ADA transition team, correct? Then you have the um the administrator.

And he comes in as a member. And then you have other commissioners that participated, such as Martin and and our chairperson.

Mhm.

Um so having that diversified committee, Mhm.

you're allowed to give guidance from a different perspective when it comes to the transition plan because you represent different bodies of government in town.

Yeah.

And they're independent from the commission, even though it is ultimately our responsibility from what you're saying.

The Mr. Brewer might say something based on being a select board member that would help us understand a reason why certain things need to be addressed in that transition plan. Or the administrator.

Right. That's a little different issue.

But uh When I don't want to interrupt, but I I do have something to say about this.

Yeah.

The reason why I discuss why we're discussing it is select board driven.

And you're right. There's nothing that you said, Kaylin, that conflicted with my same understandings.

So, what happened here was unrelated to the ADA.

The select board, every so often, and I've been urging everybody that my work for or work with as town administrator, that we have committees that don't meet very often. We're not sure of the purpose of some of them.

And Shana, to her credit, said, "Well, we ought to round these up. The ones that don't meet, we ought to question whether or not they should exist. If they don't have a purpose, we eliminate it."

Simple.

And ADA wasn't top on the top of the list. There were a few others.

Um so, and that's on the agenda tonight.

And so, what happened was uh this is the second time well, the first time we were going to discuss this, we we ran out of time, I assume.

If you recall.

Uh but the they were the uh select board, if I I don't want to speak for the select board, but I can detect mood sometimes. And the mood was that to eliminate the ADA committee under thinking that if it hadn't met in years, Mhm.

then what it can't have a purpose, because if it did, you would have met.

Of course, that's not quite true. What really happened is members of the ADA committee met and fulfilled the the mission, which I think is important and shouldn't be lost in this. Which was and originally it planned in 2010 and then an update recently.

So, the the board is somewhat agnostic about this the the select board. They don't They don't really care what the the decision is. They They want logic here.

Okay.

They want to know what the reason is to keep it. And if there is a good reason, they wouldn't get get rid of it. They'd let us continue to use it.

Right.

But now, a different question has been raised and mentioned to you already is that it looks to me, and I think when I was originally appointed, it was to make sure that the plan was created, and it was.

And there was no no more need until recently to update it.

Correct.

So, now, it seems to me it's very logical since you can't get far away from this committee, the Commission on Disability.

So, it seems logical that this committee could have a subcommittee to do some work.

That's right.

And but the the select mino- uh they don't they don't have an axe to grind here.

It's just And tonight tonight I have to tell them what we're going to do here.

And I will tell them what the consensus is, what the agreement is among members of this committee, what they recommend.

So, if if if the answer is, well, we don't want to do away with it. We find out, just tell them that. And if we can weave it into the work of the committee on disability, which is to me is logical, Right.

we will do that.

Yes.

And it will limit eliminate the committee. That doesn't mean the work is going to go away. It's going to still be done. In fact, I think the work will be done in more assuredly and more decisively because we've got this committee the right hurt on this.

And then we can have us like I say, a subcommittee to work on it in a couple of years instead of reconstituting the American uh ADA transition committee, just we have a task of this committee, which seems well equipped to do that.

Agreed.

So, that's that's I So, I do have a mission tonight to one way or the other. So, we got to have a kind kind consensus on this or a vote or something. So, what I'm going to tell Okay.

I'm going to tell them what you want me to tell them.

Yeah.

Well, I'll give you my own opinion.

I think I think sometimes and and this has always been uh contentious uh that we have now so many things on our plate and we're always time-sensitive, right?

So, with our time sensitivity that we talk about a variety of different um things that are on the agenda, it's not a bad idea to have a subcommittee that just delegates its time to the transition team.

Yes.

And and this way, if we do go dormant like like our chairman suggested, and we don't have to address this till 2028 or thereabouts around, I think it would be advantageous so that it doesn't take away a chunk of time from us that if there was a subcommittee, it gives us the flexibility of dissecting whatever we need to dissect for the future for 2028, rather than taking away time during, you know, other

pressing issues that we always seem to like wait till the following month and the following month. So, I think in essence of time, I I I agree with our chairman if if you know, we can have it dormant like you said, not be not worry about, you know, meetings that we have to have between now and 2028, but still have it there and if we choose to add members or subtract members or or

what have you, just at least be able to have that subcommittee in place where people who do cuz you have a lot of experience with it. We wouldn't even really know how you even Well, I I just researched this like you you you are mentioning. Don't forget this Dick said 2010.

I don't think any of us Well, you were here. You know, we're we're on that we're on that committee to to help was that was um Oh my gosh. What's What's her name? The The gal that we talked about. We wanted to do a little award for her. Um Oh.

You know what I'm saying? Elaine Elaine Elaine Ostroff. No, and that gang put it all together.

Exactly.

So, and well, and the way it worked this time around was as it was coming time for the update, we as a commission, we all talked about it and and ideas that we had maybe members of the transition team could pass along to SERP it. Well, as it turned out, SERP it just kind of took the ball and ran with it.

They did, yeah.

Um And and you know, Martin may have had some contact with them.

You know, I was a little disappointed because there wasn't a lot of contact.

Once once they ran with the ball, they they they just finished the the document, which is fine.

I wasn't offended, by the way.

I was No, no, okay.

But but I thought they may they might say, "What do you think of this as a draft?" as I mentioned as I mentioned in the email, but they didn't. They just said, "Here's the final."

Which is fine and it it was great. But, they seem to have more more more experience with it probably with other you know, other towns and communities.

I'd like I'd like to suggest that that we we vote to disband it and then start our our own subcommittee here. Take the responsibility away from the town and have this committee kind of just floating out there.

That's my personal opinion.

fine, yeah. That's I think that's the way to go.

You don't have to set up any subcommittee on this.

Okay.

What's important is that the that's the functions, which you really maintenance now. The plan is plan exists.

Yes.

Now it has to be maintained.

Yes.

And this is the committee for that. So at the time when maybe a year from now, whatever the plan is 2000 I don't know when you start.

2020 You start too early, 2 years early.

Yeah.

You probably should start Well, yeah, then I would I would say so, that's fine.

Well, that time you you could I mean you could do it any way you want, but Yes, you could.

A subcommittee is a good idea because people are focused on it.

Yes, agreed.

So that time you just appoint a subcommittee.

Yes.

And you don't need anybody's approval to do that.

Okay.

And I like that.

Then you the control of it now is in the hands of this committee, which is to me I think where it should be anyway.

Exactly.

So that's what I would suggest. And I will tell the select board tonight that I'll probably say some words like the functions of that haven't gone away.

But they're subsumed by this committee This committee.

then appropriately do it themselves, have a subcommittee whatever at the appropriate time to do the next revision of this.

And that's that's that's simple.

It is simple.

So is it the understanding that the committee the way it's set up now is under the select board?

Yeah, I was appointed as a select board member and I had the understanding they appointed all the members.

Mhm.

They they appointed you too?

Mhm.

Oh, okay. So your recommendation is not to have it fall under the select board, but to have it fall under the commission on disability.

No, I'm my recommendation is to abolish the committee.

The ADA transition commission knows it no longer serves a purpose, I will recommend that it be discontinued.

Okay.

Okay. Now, that doesn't mean the whole that the work is abolished.

I understand.

There there is work to be done here.

And it has to be continued and and I'll be saying, if somebody's interested in hearing this, that this committee it certainly has the skill set and the the the people power to do this and to do the next part of that ADA Transition Plan, which is the 2030 update. It will then take whatever action it will.

So, it's similar to what Caleb said.

So, the responsibility will be properly with this committee.

Yes.

All right. So, we'll disband the ADA Transition Team Mhm.

with realists.

And then come 2028, we'll have a conversation about it and see what advice we can render for any updates.

Yes.

And then I think what Dick is saying that we could have a subcommittee.

Do whatever you want. Yeah.

With with us. Cuz we're ultimately responsible for it, right?

of course.

Yeah, we'll have a conversation about it and see if if anybody wants to be on the transition team or if we just have some ideas that we you know And the idea would be to would be to look at the 2025 transition plan, which has uh 5-year suggestions and you know, it's right in there in the Plan that Next time we should go this way or we should proceed forward. So, in that

year, let's say we do whatever, 2028, those 2 years to look at the plan and then also look around the town and decide what else we want to add to it and then kind of put those ideas together and then start contacting you know, get get in the money to to to to do circuit or whatever we we decide want to do.

Okay. So, So, I I I feel like 2 years is plenty of time to Yeah.

look at it. So, 2028 would be the time.

Do you guys have like recommended completion dates for each of the town Right.

things here. So, they do have some action items. Now, since being new to this, I don't know if any of these things were actually completed, but I think what would be important of the commission is to read through this plan.

That's right.

I did not get this until today. I didn't even know it was a thing. I could not find it on the website. So, I think it's important to make sure that this is under the Commission on Disabilities Town of Westport um Town of Westport page that under the document section so that if any resident wants to actually look at it, they can go and find it. Um and then maybe we talk about action

steps on completing some of these things because they're in you know, make an Excel spreadsheet like this is what we did.

Yes.

There is recommendations on each I mean, this is very well done.

It's great.

It That's the whole point, Kaylee, is that that we we sit down with that those 2 years and go through every Yeah, cuz they have stuff that um you know, completed in 2025. So, whether it was completed or not, I don't know, but maybe we should go through and say yes, this was completed or no, it wasn't. It action is still required. And then they have um recommended completion dates for 2026

and and so forth on each I mean, they go down from Adamsville to the playgrounds, to the old high school, the new high well, the new high school is compliant.

Mhm.

Um they have Cherry & Webb on here. So, that it is very it's a detailed document.

Yeah, it's pretty extensive. So, that would be my recommendation, but I do agree with the to dissolve the ADA Transition Team. I don't think it's needed.

Uh Martin, will you make sure that Rick can um upload the plan to our website?

will.

Uh if anybody is curious about it, they can go to our Yeah, well, it's it's critical here that regardless of what we're doing with the ADA Transition Team, that's really not important anymore.

It's that we monitor this and I would suggest and take Kaylee's idea here is this committee should have down the agenda like once a year or something.

Yes. Yes.

At a particular date. I like dates, you know, like on a work out of week.

Eight, you know, October 1st we're going to the town meeting or whatever it is. 10 November, whatever you say is best. I don't know what the dates are here.

To make sure we're following up.

And in recognizing when we've completed something, that's something to celebrate. But also if there's unfinished business.

Yes.

This is a live document.

Yes.

And the select board should be looking at this every so often and saying, "How is this committee doing? What What are you updating the plan?"

Right.

And you know, they needed some education on this, too, by the way. But if we don't bring it forward and do this, they will not really look good.

Could I nominate you to Since you have the plan right in front of you, to kind of take a look at it and give us a list of what, like you just mentioned, there's some things that they should be done by '26, '27.

Yeah, yeah, it's And if we're going to be in '28, we're going to be like, "Oh my god, we missed that."

I'll type it up and then Would you mind doing that? That would That's how we get you involved.

Thank you, that'd be great. Cuz Cuz Dick makes a good point that it is a live document. It's not really to be dormant and sleepy for, you know, two or three years until we get back to it. Like we should stay on top of it.

Yeah, I agree. And I also think too that there are some things that are done in the according to seasons, you know, in the winter maintenance falls and winter spring. So maybe we could do something like at the end of each season, have her give a report based on certain things that needed to be done during that time frame because there are things, especially with the maintenance part of

it and and Michael and uh his uh Christine. Christine. Um Justine.

Justine. Uh we're mentioning that. There are certain things that do need to be um recommended and and followed up on. So I think that maybe four times a year if we discuss it, you know, when our agenda is quarterly. And then, you know, obviously passing that information along to the select board would be helpful.

Okay.

Great job.

The next thing that we are going to talk about are Are there bills to be paid?

Yes.

But wait a minute. Are we clear that Dick then is going to suggest that tonight? We're all set?

Yeah, all day. Yeah.

And she's like I just want to make sure that okay, cool.

Yeah.

Well, I probably though one last piece of There's two ways to do this in terms of the formality. You want to wreck it for the future to see what we did did here.

Either to take a vote or agree by consensus to go in this direction.

Yes.

Terminate the ADA or recommend to the select board terminate the committee because those functions are being subsumed by this committee going forward.

Right.

And that then you've got a record.

Yes.

People will say what happened back then?

This is what happened.

Yes.

All right. So, do we have a consensus that's what we're going to do?

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Okay. Well, so we're going to disband the current ADA transition team.

Yes.

And going forward our commission is going to Take over.

keep an eye on it and maybe every year see where we're standing.

Yes.

How far along things have gone and and ultimately in 2028 2029 we can make further recommendations.

And basically we assume the responsibility of that, right?

Right.

Yeah.

Sounds good.

That's what you can tell the select board.

We have a consensus.

Consensus, yes. That's great. Sounds like a good plan.

All right.

Perfect.

I'm sorry to have interrupted you, Mr.

Chairman. Go go ahead about the bills.

Bills to be paid?

We do. Um there is uh several bills that I and you were right, Brian. I looked back at the agenda and the and the minutes. So, we did uh approve of the um meet the candidate. We split the um Right.

the uh not the maintenance uh the janitorial expenses uh with um the school actually had a blood drive.

So, instead of paying $120, we ended up uh they're charging us $60 for that, which is an internal payment. And then, of course, um I do have the um receipts for uh for our marketing uh that we approved of in several meetings prior to. So, that $1,000 that we get for um educational purposes, Mhm.

we can utilize that money. I spoke to Rick.

Oh, good.

Um so, we'll be able to uh use a portion of that $1,000 that that that has been an ongoing with shirts and uh embroideries and all that kind of thing along with uh um brochures and other things like Do you have a figure for how much the receipts are that you're going to that you're going to put in or you have an actual add them up yet cuz I was going to go

over with those with Nicole tomorrow, so I can email everyone, you know, what the final tabulation is. I know we have a $1,000 that we can use and we can utilize it. We've never utilized it before. Um but Rick said that, you know, with marketing um it's uh earmarked for education and other purposes to promote the uh commission, so it can be utilized in that fashion.

Good. So, and you need to get them done by the end of the fiscal year, which is what um Correct.

June 30th.

June 30th.

That's correct. Um so, I just would What? Well, actually, we already had the approval to submit these receipts. Um and in doing so, I will get together um with Nicole's uh the last couple of weeks, I believe that she was in a um some type of uh uh training program a couple of times when I came in uh the other lady was there.

Joanne?

Joanne. Um so, um my intention is to meet with her at one point this week and make sure that all the receipts are put on a warrant and everything is uh Could you also ask while you're there if they have an update yet on the amount of money we've gotten from the, you you uh tickets for Yes.

you know, for parking.

still tabulating that because some of the checks Well, actually, that money hadn't been disbursed to us with regards to to that, and they were still waiting on that.

don't My point is we don't really know what kind of how much money we have. You know, we get that are coming in.

Yeah, yeah. It's been over a year, I think.

Or close to it. Yeah, so it should be substantial, I think.

only like 1 month that I've been in charge.

No, I I I'm not blaming I'm not blaming you at all.

Oh, come on, Lisa. That's come on.

I know.

I know. But, I did give everyone a copy um the last meeting that we had of the updated um tabulations thus far. Um and keep in mind, I don't do the accounting work. It's it's strictly from Nicole.

She basically um sits down with me and and goes over each um each and Brian has it.

Yeah, yeah.

Uh each account um and she get she had given me what she had had. Um I know that she's involved with year end um and I didn't want to impose on some of the documents that she's preparing now for year end, but she did welcome me uh along with Joanne to come in at some point this week to sit down with them and go over all of the bills that are existing that have already been

approved. But, I will get you the tabulation of the finance numbers.

Thanks.

And keep in mind, we are coming to the very busy summer season, so I anticipate there will be a few more parking fines.

I know. I saw quite a few, actually, up at the beach area, and I guess they are still parking at the landing, so. And correct me if I'm wrong, but when I was talking to one of the police officers, they said that the that the amount went from 300 to 500.

Have you guys heard that?

No, no.

Yeah. So, he said in a handicap spot?

ticket. I thought it was three.

Um in my research, it was a $300 ticket, but I guess um some of them are $500 tickets.

Well, that Well, that might maybe deter some people from I think so. I wonder if that was the reasoning behind it, but I didn't question it. I just said Okay.

For a long long time people would think, "Well, I did the beach.

Well, I'm only going to pay $25. Right.

It's well worth it."

I think it's more than $25 to go to the beach.

Yeah, and then what what went to $250 now it's going to be 500 and maybe they'll And commercial vehicles, it's funny because I was down um at the landing, one of the landings, and there was a commercial vehicle um and I he said hello to me and I just said, "Do you realize that you're blocking handicap parking?" He said, "Yeah, I know." And I said, "You know it's a $1,000 ticket." And he said, "My company

would graciously pay it because we have to get the deliveries in by a certain time." So, they don't really care. We'll pay the $1,000. And I was like, "Oh my goodness." That happened also at Brinks.

Brinks parked their trucks in front of Santander Bank and they blocked three handicap parking spaces.

And they paid the $1,000 like no big deal because they have to get in and get out by a certain time.

Well.

So, I was surprised at that response, but That's that's interesting. Well, we are out of time.

Our next meeting is July 27th, Mhm.

2026.

And um and we'll probably schedule it for in the same room cuz it's Mhm.

easy and comfortable.

Air conditioned. Air conditioned.

Oh, did somebody mention air conditioning at the DNA?

No, I don't recall.

I don't recall.

No.

No.

I don't think so.

No.

Thank you.

All right.

We have a motion to adjourn.

I'll make the motion.

I'll second it.

All in favor of adjourning, I.

I.

We are adjourned.

Thank you.