At the forefront of the meeting, the commission tackled the imperative topic of accessibility. The need for an updated accessibility report for the town was highlighted, as well as the creation of a transition plan to ensure ADA compliance. The CAM initiative’s role in assessing public buildings was central to these discussions. The members shared their progress in this initiative, noting that four town buildings had been assessed with intentions to continue this effort.

The commission also recognized the importance of collaboration with local businesses in this endeavor. They cited several success stories where businesses have taken steps to improve accessibility. For instance, the purchase of more accessible chairs and the investment in Moby wheelchairs for beach access were mentioned as positive outcomes from their educational outreach. The commission encouraged the public to report any inaccessible public spaces for action.

The conversation extended to healthcare venues, with a focus on making these places more age-friendly. Public input was deemed critical to inform the commission’s work in this area. The members discussed the need for public spaces and services to be accessible to people of all ages and abilities.

Moving on to community engagement, the commission discussed the Milestone newsletter published by the senior center. They spoke about featuring an individual from the Community Connection Employment Services in the newsletter and the idea of including a QR code or web link for additional content. Furthermore, there was a conversation around writing an article for the Yarmouth Chamber of Commerce newsletter, acknowledging the task’s urgency given an approaching deadline.

The commission also highlighted the need for members to complete state conflict of interest training, with a reminder to finish the required reading and acknowledgment. In addition, they shared the recently completed annual report and deliberated on whether to vote on the Yarmouth Conservation Division procedures during the current meeting or postpone it.

Within administrative discussions, there was a debate about the chairman’s handbook and the proposal to include future voting items on the agenda to ensure preparedness. The suggestion for members to print their own materials was met with pushback, as it was recognized that not all members may have the means to do so.

The meeting also addressed participation in the Seaside Festival. Members considered the logistics, time commitment, and the need for engaging activities at the commission’s booth to attract visitors. The possibility of collaborating with organizations like the Habilitation Assistance Corporation was discussed, along with involving the local school in producing educational materials for the festival. The commission conveyed the necessity of having a clear plan by June, and the topic of funding for the project was raised.

Lastly, the commission mentioned an upcoming event at the DoubleTree Hilton and a future speaker from the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority scheduled for the following month. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn, following a visitor’s expression of support for the commission’s work and the need to keep members informed about upcoming votes.