The Commission on Disability at its meeting Monday night discussed several projects it has been working on and pursuing the means to fund them through grants and other methods.

One issue discussed at every meeting is the need for a handrail for the sloped path leading to the Hopkinton Public Library’s Main Street entrance and push-button doors. The joint application for funding from the Community Preservation Committee for $47,114 was turned down in February. The reasoning behind the decision was a letter from town counsel about that portion of the building being newer and therefore not eligible to be funded from the historic preservation bucket.

Member Nancy “Punky” Drawe said she brought up the issue with state Rep. James Arena-DeRosa earlier that day. He held office hours in town to get feedback from residents about their concerns.

In an email to the Independent prior to the meeting, Arena-DeRosa mentioned the conversation he had with Drawe.

“I took a look when I was at the library,” he said. “Those steps are steep. The door is heavy for anyone!”

Arena-DeRosa advised Drawe that the commission should plan for a funding request to him for next year’s budget cycle. He offered to “help get funding into the next cycle’s earmark to help pay for some of the needed improvements.”

Another issue that was raised was the fate of the proposed adaptive playground. Member Amy Ritterbusch, who also serves on the Select Board, told the committee that there was “a lot more certified free cash this year than we were expecting.” Because of the additional available money, the Capital Improvement Committee is in the process of reviewing applications it had voted not to recommend for funding, including the adaptive playground.

“The town manager did put it in our budget to assume that we could fund it, partly through CPC and partly through free cash,” she explained.

The CPC had recommended approval for $300,000 toward the project. Ritterbusch said it would need to re-vote on that. Town Meeting would have to vote on using free cash for the rest of the adaptive playground’s cost, which is estimated at $1.2 million.

Member Michael DiMascio added that the CPC wanted to see the School Department kick in money for the project, seeing that it is proposed to be built at Marathon Elementary School.

“They felt that the schools would get as much use out of it as the town would at other times,” he said.

Commission chair Holly Morand said she is interested in pursuing a municipal ADA grant from the Massachusetts Office on Disability. The application process begins May 1, and all applications must be submitted by June 13.

If the library accessibility requests are not approved, she would like to pursue funding through this grant. She also is meeting with Department of Public Works Director Kerry Reed to see if there are “overlapping needs” that an MOD grant could fund.

Morand also discussed requesting funds for improving accessibility to the town’s public buildings. A grant could be used for a building analysis. She stressed that buildings like Town Hall should have two emergency exits that everyone can use.

Ritterbusch suggested asking town staff for feedback for potential funding uses regarding accessibility needs.

Morand will invite Christopher McWhite, the town’s director of municipal inspections/zoning enforcement officer, to the next meeting on April 14 for his input.

Handle with Care initiative to be discussed

Morand said she is inviting Hopkinton Police Chief Joseph Bennett, HPD Deputy Chief Scott van Raalten and Hopkinton Fire Chief Gary Daugherty to discuss a joint initiative they previously discussed called Handle with Care.

People who are older or who have health conditions or disabilities can fill out the HPD’s Person at Risk form to alert first responders about situations they may encounter. Examples would be to not use a siren upon approaching a home of a person with sensory triggers or to have naloxone available if a resident has a substance use issue.

The commission released a community survey last year seeking community feedback on the form, but only a handful of responses were received. It was released on social media, sent to various town email lists and made available at the library and the Senior Center in paper form.

Morand said that this process has been “a learning experience.”

Transportation needs raised

Near the end of the meeting, committee members discussed the lack of accessible public transportation in Hopkinton. One current option is a van that takes seniors to medical appointments. The MetroWest Regional Transportation Authority has a bus and a paratransit van. The bus doesn’t run that frequently, and the paratransit van has to be reserved at least two days in advance.

Morand discussed pursuing a ride-share program with Uber similar to the one offered by the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority. The MBTA offers a discounted Uber or Lyft plan for people who are eligible for paratransit services within its service area.