TOWNSHIP OF LOWER MAKEFIELD
DISABLED PERSONS ADVISORY
BOARD MEETING MINUTES
TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2005
A meeting of the Disabled Persons Advisory Board of the Township of Lower Makefield was held in the Municipal Building on Tuesday, March 22, 2005. Chairman Rogers opened the meeting at 7:40 p.m.
Those
present:
COMMITTEE MEMBERS: John
McConville, member (absent)
Lisa Huchler-Smith, Secretary
David Rogers, Chairman
Ann Piccinotti, Vice-Chairman
(absent)
Liz Harbison, member
OTHERS: Scott
Fegley, Supervisor Liaison (absent)
Alex Godun
Ms. Huchler-Smith moved,
Ms. Harbison seconded and it was unanimously carried to approve the February
2005 meeting minutes as written.
PROCESS FOR REVIEW OF PLANS
Mr. Rogers said the
Planning Department has a list of current permits on file. He said he reviewed the list this month and
there are only two commercial permits, Villa Rosa and a doctor’s office for
renovation on file. Mr. Rogers stated he
sees a problem with the Villa Rosa renovation at a listed cost of $35,000,
which has hand drawn plans. He stated he
is concerned about the bathrooms in the Villa Rosa renovation. Mr. Rogers stated the other permit was a
doctor’s office in Floral Vale. He
stated as long as this Board looks at the plans before the certificate of
occupancy is issued, changes could be requested.
Ms. Huchler-Smith asked
if Villa Rosa is putting in a door with a 5-pond pull. Mr. Rogers said the door is not part of the
renovation, but the Board could suggest changing out the doors on its visit to
the local businesses. Ms. Huchler-Smith
asked if a change in a business requires a permit, giving the example of the
White Rose to Dunkin Doughnuts on Route 332.
Ms. Huchler-Smith said she has lists of businesses in Yardley including
schools and churches, which do not have to comply with ADA requirements. Ms. Huchler-Smith said she would address the
schools and churches at a later date regardless of the non-compliance imposed
on them.
Mr. Godun suggested talking
to contractors about ADA requirements or give them a packet when they apply for
a permit at the Township building.
Disabled
Persons Advisory Board – March 22, 2005
Page 2 of
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Mr. Rogers said he sent
out a letter regarding the Edgewood Village shopping Center about the blocking
of the curb cuts and snow removal to the Board to review. The Board discussed how to enforce blocking
the curb cuts and made suggestions such as marking the fire lane more distinctly
or designate a few existing parking spaces for food pickup. Mr. Rogers stated he would add the
suggestions discussed tonight to the letter to Mr. Fedorchak.
OLD BUSINESS/NEW BUSINESS
The Board suggested
talking with the Lower Makefield Township Seniors group, asking churches to
distribute information to home bound people and have a table at a community
event to get information out to the community about the Disabled Persons
Advisory Board and the services it can provide.
Mr. Rogers stated he
found out the state has cut $600,000 out of its 2006 budget. He said he does not know if that budget cut
will affect the proposed Bucks County CIL (Center for Independent Living).
Ms. Harbison stated she
would contact St. Ignatius Church to get information on how to reach out to
homebound people the Board could assist.
Ms. Huchler-Smith asked
about training in ADA compliance at the April meeting and having the Fire
Marshall speak at one of the Board’s meetings.
Mr. Rogers said he would contact Mr. Shanburg to ask him to train the Board
in ADA compliance at the April meeting and would contact the Fire Chief, Fire
Marshall and Fire Safety inspector to see if one of them could speak at one of
the Board’s meetings.
Mr. Rogers talked about
Bensalem’s difficulties with getting a Disabled Persons Advisory Board up an
running and made the suggestion that disabled boards from other townships get
together to brainstorm for the May meeting to assist Bensalem’s Board.
The Committee
scheduled the next meeting for Tuesday, April 26th at 7:30 p.m.
The meeting was
adjourned at 8:50 p.m.
Respectfully
Submitted,
Lisa
Huchler-Smith, Secretary