Town Clerk Connor Degan on Monday night told the Commission on Disability that accessible voting booths are ready for the May 19 Annual Town Election.

Degan explained that the town won a grant from the Massachusetts Office on Disability to upgrade its election equipment.

“We were able to replace all of our existing booths with those that are actually fully accessible,” he said. “Each of the booths will have the ability to have up to four sections to it, and each section will have an adjustable shelf. I’m very excited to see them deployed for the first time.”

Some booths for each precinct will be adjusted to a lower height to accommodate wheelchair users and people who use walkers or rollators. Degan said chairs will be available for voters who wish to sit.

He added that older model accessible booths, which he described as “awful metal contraptions,” now are “long forgotten.”

Stressed Degan: “This will allow everyone to get the same voting booth experience, regardless of any type of accessibility needs.”

Degan thanked the commission’s support of his grant application, saying its support bolstered the town’s chances of getting the grant. He added that Hopkinton is one of the first towns in the state to use MOD grant funding for this purpose.

“That was a really great trend to set,” added Degan. “We hope other towns can benefit from that as well.”

He explained that the town “got very lucky” with the timing of the purchase. The booths are made exclusively in the United Kingdom, and the order went through “just before the tariff” went into effect so that the price was not adjusted.

Previously, there had been many requests for this accommodation, Degan noted. He said some people don’t have the ability to stand for long periods of time, making the new booths “a big win on many levels.”

“As much as we get people who do ask for things, I’m sure we have a lot more people who don’t because they’re ashamed to ask for it,” he added. “They shouldn’t even have to think about it. We should just be able to include that in there for them.”

Commission members praised Degan for his commitment to inclusivity in the voting process. He also initiated the use of electronic voting clickers during Special Town Meeting in November 2023. Previously, he had an ASL interpreter and screens with closed captions available for Town Meeting members.

“It’s nice to walk into a room and know that someone was thinking about you being in there,” said chair Holly Morand, stressing the concern for “dignity.”

Handle with Care initiative seeks publicity push

Hopkinton Police Lt. Aaron O’Neil discussed the department’s joint effort with the commission to get the word out about its Handle with Care program.

O’Neil explained that a “person at risk” form has been available on the HPD website for years, but it is not easily found. It allows people to explain any special circumstances they have that would help first responders more effectively meet their needs in an emergency. Examples include letting police know if there is a wheelchair user in the home, if sirens or flashing lights could trigger seizures or anxiety, or if a person has a hearing impairment. It would be important to likewise know if a person with Alzheimer’s disease has a tendency to wander.

Data is entered into the HPD in-house computer. It is accessed only in emergency situations by first responders and not shared, he stressed.

The commission tried to get public input about how a rebranded Handle with Care form could be improved and made more inclusive. A community survey only generated a handful of responses, Morand said.

“We want to make it known to the public that it’s there,” said member Nancy “Punky” Drawe about the push for publicity. “Many people don’t even know it’s there, and it could be really beneficial if something were to happen.”

Added Drawe: “Don’t be afraid to fill out the form. Your name’s not going to be in the paper.”

O’Neil said paper copies could be made available at the police station, Town Hall, the library and the Senior Center because some people might not be comfortable using an online form. He also suggested that it be made “more prominent” on the website.

He added that if people are intimidated by going to the police station, there is a police drop box at Town Hall.

Other than the form, explained O’Neil, the only way first responders would know if there was a person who had a special circumstance is if officers previously interacted with them.

O’Neil said this is similar to the state’s Blue Envelope program. It alerts officers to drivers who are on the autism spectrum to facilitate understanding during traffic stops. It is relatively new in Hopkinton.

Added O’Neil: “We’re trying to take more and more steps to be aware of a situation through our communication and with information.”

Spreading awareness about the form and how beneficial it is in emergencies are chief concerns for both the HPD and the Commission on Disability.

“We don’t use it for any sort of background investigation,” he shared. “It gives us more information about what our approach should be and to have all the information and tools in place before we get there.”

The person at risk form is available here.

Commission supports adaptive playground

Commission members voted 4-0 to support articles that would provide funding for an adaptive playground at Marathon School at the May 5 Annual Town Meeting.

Article 25 requests that $943,000 be allocated toward the project. If this article is approved, a Community Preservation Committee funding allocation of $300,000 would be voted on as part of the CPC’s recommended projects.

The commission also voted to support Article 29, which would bring Hopkinton’s policy on accessory dwelling units into compliance with state regulations.