TOWNSHIP OF LOWER MAKEFIELD
DISABLED PERSONS ADVISORY
BOARD MEETING MINUTES
TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2005
A meeting of the Disabled Persons Advisory Board of the Township of Lower Makefield was held in the Municipal Building on Tuesday, April 26, 2005. Chairman Rogers opened the meeting at 7:40 p.m.
Those
present:
COMMITTEE MEMBERS: John
McConville, member
Lisa Huchler-Smith, Secretary
David Rogers, Chairman
Ann Piccinotti, Vice-Chairman
Liz Harbison, member
(absent)
OTHERS: Scott
Fegley, Supervisor Liaison (absent)
Bob Shanburg
Ms. Huchler-Smith moved,
Ms. Harbison seconded and it was unanimously carried to approve the March 2005
meeting minutes as written.
UPDATE FROM THE CHAIRMAN
Mr. Rogers said that he
talked with the LMT Seniors Group President to ask if he could speak at one of
their meetings and she told him to call her in August. She stated to him that the seniors only have
formal meetings every other month or when the need arises.
Mr. Rogers noted the
audible signal on Big Oak Road is in the process of being installed.
Mr. Rogers stated the
Yardley-Makefield Emergency Unit sent out a 2005 fund drive request with a
questionnaire for people with disabilities to fill out. He stated the questionnaire would be
distributed only to Emergency units to help them better assist disabled persons
in the case of an emergency. Mr. Rogers
stated he would contact the YM Emergency Unit to ask if they would provide only
the number of disabled persons who replied to the questionnaire.
Mr. Rogers stated he has
been going to the Township Building each week to look at commercial permit
applications and noted there are none at this time.
Ms. Huchler-Smith
discussed McCaffrey’s Supermarket and questioned the total number of handicap
parking spaces for the shopping center.
She also stated there was a problem with the elevator the first day the
store opened. Ms. Huchler-Smith stated
she has noted a lot of people lately with a handicap placard parking in
handicap spaces that are very capable of walking and
Disabled Persons Advisory Board –
April 26, 2005
Page 2 of 3
not giving up the
parking spot to someone who cannot walk.
Mr. Shanburg stated any doctor could grant a handicap placard regardless
of the person’s medical situation.
Mr. Rogers said the
letter he wrote on behalf of the Board to Mr. Fedorchak regarding parking in
the Fire Lane at McCaffrey’s was also forwarded to Ms. Frick.
TRAINING ON ADA REQUIREMENTS
Mr. Shanburg was present
at the meeting to train the Board members on ADA Requirements. Mr. Rogers said he received approximately 150
copies of the ADA Guide and Tax Credits for Businesses to be distributed to
local businesses. Mr. Shanburg asked how
the Board intended to distribute the information. Mr. Rogers said the Board might hand deliver
the information. Mr. Shanburg said the
Board couldn’t presume the owners are responsible for ADA compliance, the
tenants may be.
Mr. Shanburg said he and
Mr. Rogers went to the universally accessible playground in Bensalem and it is
a great playground to see. He said he
proposed to Mike Fitzpatrick that each county donate a portion of the parks for
a universally accessible playground.
Mr. Shanburg referred to
a memorandum citing requirements that set minimum standards for ADA compliance
citing code numbers. He discussed the
“Monday Morning” accessibility campaign in Trenton to determine accessibility
compliance at local businesses. He said
they use a tape measure, camera, door pull weight and notebook. Mr. Shanburg said “Monday Morning” also
developed a card to reference the ADA code, no citation. Mrs. Piccinotti suggested the Board
distribute a doorknob hanger citing the ADA violations at a particular
business. Mr. Shanburg discussed parking
requirements he handed out recently to the Board. He said the most important compliance issues
are 5 pound pull doors and 36” doors.
Mr. Shanburg noted to
the Board that they need approval from the Township to visit the businesses
door-to-door citing non-compliance with ADA requirements. Ms. Huchler-Smith suggested giving literature
to the businesses then give them 90 days to digest the information and revisit
the businesses to correct the deficiencies.
Mr. McConville discussed
that he is uncomfortable with personally going to businesses to tell them they
do not comply with ADA requirements.
The Board discussed that
doing this is a two-step process, first send a letter to the businesses with
the ADA requirements and Tax Credit information, giving the businesses 90 days
to respond, then send the businesses a letter from the Township with a list of
the non-compliance issues.
Ms. Piccinotti stated
she feels it is the responsibility of the business owner to know the ADA
requirements and the Board should not approach businesses that have been in
existence for years.
Disabled Persons Advisory Board –
April 26, 2005
Page 3 of 3
Ms. Huchler-Smith said
the Board is in agreement that the entire Township is not in compliance with
handicap signage that is enforceable.
Mr. Rogers said he would meet with Mr. Fedorchak and inform him of the
signage problem and go from there.
Mr. Shanburg suggested
sending a letter to local businesses informing them if they want more
information about ADA requirements, they could go to the Township Tax Office to
get the information.
The Committee
scheduled the next meeting for Tuesday, May 24th at 7:30 p.m.
The meeting was
adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
Respectfully
Submitted,
Lisa
Huchler-Smith, Secretary