The Commission on Disability met on Monday with Kerry Reed, the Department of Public Works director, to discuss a spring effort to make residents aware of the challenges people with disabilities face navigating the downtown area.

Reed said she initially thought about having an event that would have coincided with White Cane Awareness Day, a national observance that takes place on Oct. 15. But Reed said it was “a little ambitious” for this year.

In order to receive input from the commission, Reed decided to create a spring event that would be “in the spirit of White Cane Day.” She based the idea for the event on something similar that was done when she was employed by the city of Worcester. Community leaders there participated to learn what it was like to “move through public spaces” if they had a mobility, hearing or visual impairment or used assistive devices.

Reed was prompted to create the event because of the volume of questions she receives about accessible parking spaces and crosswalks. She hopes to gain insight that will help her update plans for ADA compliance for transportation and public spaces. She currently is applying for a grant that would pay for a consultant for this purpose.

“I thought it was a really cool thing,” said Reed of the event. “As an engineer, we all come with our own personal experiences and biases.”

The initial White Cane Day will involve going from the Hopkinton Public Library to Town Hall. Once the concept catches on, Reed said she hopes to be able to broaden its distance and scope in partnership with the commission.

Reed added that town staff members she spoke with were “very energetic about it.” Commission members would answer questions about obstacles they face in town and promote the exercise.

“There was a lot of sensitivity to how this could be perceived,” Reed said.

Chair Nancy “Punky” Drawe added that it was “really important for people to know what we’re doing for the town and why.”

Resident Pamela Loch volunteered to help. A guide dog assists her due to her visual and hearing impairments.

Added Reed: “ADA compliance does not always mean that something’s accessible.”

Snow removal an issue

One challenge Drawe brought to Reed’s attention is the lack of snow removal from curb cuts after storms. This prevents people from accessing sidewalks, forcing them into the street.

The downtown area is evaluated annually when creating a snow removal plan, Reed explained. Snow is first plowed from public safety buildings, then from the schools and school bus routes. The downtown area and Senior Center are prioritized next, with efforts moving outward from there.

Some of the DPW’s equipment is not ideal for clearing curb cuts, she added. Also, in recent years, snow has melted relatively quickly, creating puddles that freeze overnight. A third problem mentioned is snow piled along curbs that can impair sidewalk access.

Reed stressed that residents should call the main DPW phone number at 508-497-9740 to report any nonemergency issues they encounter.

Drawe also pointed out a concern raised at the previous meeting about the volume of the walk light in front of Town Hall being too low for people with hearing impairments. Reed said that some of the traffic lights that are part of the Main Street Corridor Project “are just not working correctly,” while others remain under construction. Once the traffic signals and crosswalks are completed for the project, the DPW will oversee them.

Member Nancy Cavanaugh and others mentioned that the DPW is “very responsive” during snow emergencies. Reed noted that it takes time to get to every street due to staffing issues, but none is intentionally forgotten.

Accessibility funding pending

Drawe provided an update on the status of the $60,000 [Editor’s note: This amount was corrected from $600,000] allocated in the state budget to improve accessibility features at the library. Town Manager Elaine Lazarus told her that the funds have not been dispersed yet. Once the money is received, plans for a railing for the sloped pathway and a push-button front door can move forward.

Added Drawe: “At least now we know we’ll have the money.”

Unofficial COA liaison welcomed

Patrick McGowan, a member of the Council on Aging, volunteered to be a liaison to the commission.

While member Amy Ritterbusch explained that the commission’s charge does not specifically call for liaisons, she said McGowan’s input would be valuable.

“I see what you’re doing, and I see your agenda is progressive,” he said, noting the interaction with town departments.

Meetings to go fully remote

Because of poor sound quality at hybrid meetings, members agreed that future meetings should be fully remote to enhance accessibility. The next meeting will be held Dec. 8.