Meeting Minutes

Members Present: Michelle DeMarco, Terry Horwitz, Ken Russo, Jo-Ann DiOrio, Doug Johnstone

Members Absent: Toni Schiff, Susan Miriam

Others Present: Lorraine Kujawa, Rik Kapler

Minutes of the April 12, 2006 Disability Commission meeting were read and approved.

Old Business:

Progress on updating Wheelchair Accessibility Brochure was discussed. Lorraine Kujawa said she has made significant headway on researching accessibility of businesses in town and that Tourism Director Bill Schneider has agreed to re-write the back page of the brochure. Doug suggested that the Commission apply for a Visitor Services Board grant for printing of the brochure in FY 2008. The grant applications are usually made available in December with a mid-January deadline for consideration. Michelle suggested approaching the Provincetown Business Guild for advance money for printing of the brochure this summer, with money to be paid back after fundraising activities in the Fall. Doug will follow-up with Town Accountant to determine how donations should be received, and if they will be tax deductible. Target date for review of brochure prior to printing will be the next Commission meeting in June with distribution by the 4^th of July.

Doug distributed list of Town owned properties obtained from the Assessor’s Office for a possible review of accessibility to be conducted in the future.

Toni to update Commission on information from PTV regarding potential promotional ideas – possibly a program on disability issues, or a bulletin board type notice/announcement, or both.

New Business:

Truro resident and Provincetown business owner Rick Kapler addressed the Commission with his concerns related to the recent changes to Handicapped parking in town-owned parking lots and distributed two letters addressed to both the Disability Commission and the Board of Selectmen. The second letter contained a proposal for additional handicapped parking spaces along Commercial Street. Jo-Ann explained parking quotas along Commercial Street. Doug explained Annual Traffic Hearing procedures. Michelle discussed availability of Handicapped Parking designation throughout the year if household demonstrated a need for disabled parking near their residence, and that this policy is already in place and may need additional promotion throughout the year. Michelle to contact ADA regarding time limit for parking at metered spaces along Ryder Street. Jo-Ann suggested that the Commission write to the Selectmen requesting that lost handicapped parking spaces in town-owned lots be added to available handicapped parking in the downtown business district. Doug to draft letter to the Selectmen. Rick Kapler to be copied on letter.

Michelle suggested placing handicapped parking information and new regulations for town-owned parking lots in Wheelchair Accessibility brochure.

Next meeting scheduled for Wednesday, June 21, 2006 at 10:00 am.

Motion to adjourn by Jo-Ann, seconded by Doug.

Meeting adjourned at 11:05 am.

Respectfully submitted by Terry Horwitz