The proposed roundabouts at Southeast Street sparked debate, with committee members voicing apprehension about their impact on pedestrian safety, particularly for individuals with disabilities. One member recounted their concerns about how individuals with guide dogs might navigate such roundabouts, and the committee reflected on a past incident where a child was hit in a crosswalk at a roundabout. Despite a memo from the Department of Public Works emphasizing traffic flow improvements, members stressed the necessity of prioritizing pedestrian safety and accessibility. The committee discussed the need to draft an independent memo to articulate these concerns to the Transportation Safety Oversight Committee (TSO).

Martha, a local resident, contributed a memo to the discussion. The committee considered endorsing Martha’s memo or crafting their own response, with the consensus leaning towards a coordinated communication strategy with the TSO. Members recognized the urgency of asserting their position before the TSO finalized plans.

The meeting also addressed the potential transition of the committee to a commission, which involves expanding membership from seven to nine members. This change aims to ensure broader representation and expertise. Discussions included the benefits and challenges of maintaining active participation with increased membership. Members were urged to consider their willingness to be reappointed and the duration of their terms, as a staggered membership approach was deemed essential for continuity.

Digital accessibility was another focal point, with the committee expressing concerns over the current layout of the town’s website and community calendar. The issues highlighted included the difficulty of navigating the site for individuals with visual impairments due to poor color contrast and cramped text. A particular accessibility tool, represented by a blue circle icon, was discussed, with suggestions to reposition it for greater visibility and reconsider its labeling for clarity. The committee emphasized the need for these accessibility features to be consistently applied across all sections of the town’s website.

The meeting further explored a proposal to enhance the visibility and utility of a form that collects information about residents with disabilities for first responders. The form, currently only accessible via the committee’s webpage, was recommended to be made available on police and fire department pages to increase its accessibility. Members highlighted the importance of clarifying how submitted information is processed and utilized by the respective departments.

While discussing improvements to the committee’s webpage, members noted the need to update outdated content, such as self-evaluation surveys from 2006. The importance of consolidating relevant information to enhance navigation was stressed, as was ensuring the accessibility of information for visually impaired users. Members agreed to review existing resources related to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to verify their relevance and update the resource page accordingly.