Harvard Commission on Disabilities
Meeting Minutes
1/20/21
Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89222297002?pwd=Z2Uxb1JqcHFpUWJ3SnpsTEZaYUxhUT09 Meeting ID: 892 2229 7002 
Passcode: 655242 


Called to Order at 4:02 pm by Davida Bagatelle 
Present:  Davida Bagatelle, Toni Spacciapoli


Approval of December 16, 2020 Meeting Minutes


Old Business:


Municipal ADA Improvement Grant Program Application Update 
* The Town of Harvard was recently notified that the Town’s Improvement Grant applications were not granted for the School Committee’s renovation of the Middle School ramp, the Self-evaluation and Transition Plan update, and accessibility review and improvement of the Town’s website.  In the letter notifying the Town of MoD’s decisions, it was communicated that the number of grants approved and the amount of money available for the improvement grants were reduced from the original numbers by 50%.
   * The members discussed next steps, which may include:
      * A review of the current Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan report to determine areas of the Plan that can be updated.  
      * In conjunction with Town Hall and other boards and commissions update the Plan in areas that do not need funding.  For example, the CoD may be able to use town funds to update portions of the website that is under the jurisdiction of the Town Administrator.


Review letter to Town boards/groups-Outline strategy for follow up 
* Decision made to send out email.  Added the CoD members’ email addresses.
* Discussion as to the manner in which CoD should approach boards and subcommittees in Town, such as, Council on Aging, Open Space subcommittee, Transportation subcommittee, and Park and Recreation.  Identify groups that should be on the CoD priority list.  
* Davida Bagatelle shared the brief description she wrote for submission to the Town warrant for the annual meeting.
New Business: 
* Davida Bagatelle discussed information she collected from her interview with the Town of Lancaster’s CoD chairperson regarding establishing CoD as a viable entity in town.  Recommendation to invite Lancaster CoD chairperson to the February meeting.  
* Ongoing discussion related to posting .txt documents that are website accessible.  Recommendation to post information on the website as both PDF and txt.  Inform Julie Ducette that this is the direction we would like to move towards and to start with CoD documents.  Davida Bagatelle shared information regarding this from the CivicEngagement website.
* In the future will follow up with Marie regarding Civic+ and website accessibility.


Next Steps:
1. Send out the invitation letter blast.
2. Members will review resource links for the disability community and website links that were shared with Tim Bragan by a concerned private citizen.
3. Davida will invite the Chairperson from CoD in Lancaster to our next meeting.  Our Selectboard Liaison, Stu Skalar, will be invited
4. Tune into upcoming board meetings for information that may correspond to the CoD’s mission.


Next monthly meeting scheduled for February 17, 2021 at 4:00pm


ADJOURNMENT- Motion to adjourn at 4:50 pm. 




Respectfully submitted, 
Toni Spacciapoli, Commission Secretary