TOWNSHIP OF LOWER MAKEFIELD
DISABLED PERSONS ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2006
A meeting of the Disabled Persons Advisory Board of the
Those present:
BOARD MEMBERS: Lisa Huchler-Smith, Secretary
Ann Piccinotti, Vice-Chairman
Liz Harbison, member (absent)
Megan Dorko, member
OTHERS: Pete Stainthorpe, Supervisor Liaison
Jeannine Hesser, LMT Resident
APPROVAL OF JULY 2006 MINUTES
Ms. Huchler-Smith moved, Ms. Dorko seconded and it was unanimously carried to approve the July 2006 minutes as written. Mr. Stainthorpe abstained from the vote.
COMMUNITY PRIDE DAY
Ms. Huchler-Smith and Mr. Rogers stated they thought the day
went well. Ms. Huchler-Smith suggested
the Board make a list of accessibility issues she noticed at Community Pride
Day. Mr. Rogers noted it was a great
distance for the disabled people and elderly to travel from the parking area to
the activities. He suggested a handicap
parking area on
COMMUNICATION FROM THE LMT EMERGENCY SQUAD
Mr. Rogers stated the LMTEU hired a liaison, Maria Ferrrara to assist the LMTEU who introduced herself to him at Community Pride Day. He asked her for a status on the input of the emergency information cards that were filled out by residents and mailed back to the Emergency Unit. Ms. Ferrara stated that the emergency information cards were not inputted yet but she would get back to him. Mr. Rogers stated that he offered the Disabled Board’s assistance with inputting the emergency information.
ADDITIONAL HANDICAP PARKING REQUEST AT THE TOWNSHIP POOL
Mr. Rogers stated an elderly woman approached him at Community Pride Day who swims at the pool with her friends twice a week, asking if the Township could designate more handicap
Disabled Persons Advisory Board – September
26, 2006
Page 2 of 4
parking spaces next to each at the entrance to the pool so that her and friends could park next to each other. Mr. Rogers stated the Township does not want to set a precedence to add handicap parking spaces when people want them. Ms. Huchler-Smith asked if there are enough handicap spaces at the pool now. Mr. Rogers stated there is the required number of parking spaces at the pool and this request is just to have the spaces closer to entrance and together.
Ms. Huchler-Smith moved and Ms. Dorko seconded that the Disabled Board’s policy is not to add handicap parking spaces upon the request of residents only unless the number of handicap parking spaces is not sufficient. The motion unanimously carried.
Mr. Rogers stated that he would advise the woman of the Disabled Board’s decision as soon as she contacts him.
REQUEST FOR HOUSING ASSISTANCE
Mr. Rogers stated that he received two requests at Community
Pride Day from people looking for accessible housing within
REVIEW OF PARK & RECREATION PROPERTIES
Mr. Rogers stated that all of the proper signage and accessibility modifications have been done except for the “lip” in the bathroom at Macclesfield which he will check on.
REVIEW OF PUBLIC WORKS ACTIVITIES
Mr. Rogers stated Public Works installed all of the proper signage except at the Yardley-Makefield Fire House for special events, but that would be done soon.
HARVEST DAY
Ms. Huchler-Smith stated the Disabled Board has a table with
another non-profit group at
FIRE HOUSE OPEN HOUSE
Mr. Rogers stated that Fire Prevention week is coming up October 24th and the Fire House is having their annual open house. He asked if the Disabled Board should attend the open house
and give out brochures. Ms. Huchler-Smith stated that she did not think the open house was an
worthwhile event for the Disabled Board to actually attend because it is geared more towards
children. She asked if there are any senior events coming up. Mr. Rogers stated that
Representative Steil just sponsored a senior event, but they missed it.
Disabled Persons Advisory Board – September
26, 2006
Page 3 of 4
Ms. Piccinotti stated that she saw an advertisement for an AIDS walk in the Solebury/New Hope High School stadium and noted that other townships are coming to this area to post events. She suggested the Disabled Board should go outside of the Township with Disabled Board information. Mr. Rogers suggested posting signs for the Disabled Board in public places.
Ms. Piccinotti stated that the Yardley train station is not accessible for wheelchairs because the train has steps.
TRANSPORTATION PLANNING
Mr. Stainthorpe stated that he has not been able to attend a
meeting in several months but he knows that state put aside more money for
transportation in
ESTABLISHMENT OF COUNTYWIDE DPAB
Mr. Roger stated that Mr. Bob Shamburg has been working to establish a countywide Disabled Persons Advisory Board. He stated Mr. Shamburg is working with County Commissioner Jim Cawley to select the Board members. Mr. Rogers stated that Ms. Dorko expressed interest in being on the Board and asked if she would like him to give her name to Mr. Shamburg. Ms. Dorko stated she is still interested if she does not have to travel too far and it would not be too difficult for her to get to the meeting place. Mr. Rogers stated he would contact Mr. Shamburg for all of the information for Ms. Dorko.
Mr. Stainthorpe noted that a county group needs to have a
clear focus of what they want to accomplish, noting it gets harder to deal with
issues on a countywide level rather than a municipal level which we are doing
here. He noted that transportation is
one issue that should be addressed by the
BUILDING PERMITS
Mr. Rogers noted there are no new permits to report. He asked what is being built on
TOWNSHIP MEETINGS
Mr. Rogers stated Mr. Tom Wells contacted him about having a problem hearing what is said at the Township meetings. Mr. Wells noted there is an echo problem in the large meeting room which is the same problem he has encountered at other townships. Mr. Wells stated he would send Mr. Rogers information about a company that installs fabric walls for better sound quality.
Mr. Stainthorpe stated the Township hired a consultant for the sound system and cameras that
Disabled Persons Advisory Board – September
26, 2006
Page 4 of 4
will be installed soon. He noted that the Township received money from Verizon that will be used by the Township to upgrade the room. Mr. Stainthorpe stated he thinks the quality of the sound will be good because it will be fed directly into the system. He suggested giving the information from Mr. Wells to Mr. Fedorchak.
NEW BUSINESS/OLD BUSINESS
Ms. Dorko stated that she prepared the application forms to copyright the Disabled Board’s logo. She stated all the package needs is a check from the Township. Ms. Dorko stated that she put her name down as the author of the logo, but that could be changed at anytime. Mr. Rogers stated that he would give the application to Ms. States to mail with a check.
Ms. Huchler-Smith stated that she was at WaWa in Yardley the other day for a while and noticed all of the people parking in the handicap spots that did not have a handicap placard/license plate or were actually disabled. She stated that she approached several people and asked them to move their cars. She said she feels frustrated that parking in these spots is not being enforced.
Mr. Rogers stated that he read that in some places if a citizen sees a car parked in a handicap space without a handicap placard or license plate, they could be cited by the citizen who would in turn contact the police with the license plate information. He stated he would research that that issue further.
The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 24th at 7:30 p.m.
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lisa Huchler-Smith, Secretary