HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/25/2020 - Letter to Richard Vaillancourt - 481 Sutton Street January 25, 2020
Richard Vaillancourt, Chair
North Andover Board of Selectmen
120 Main Street
North Andover,MA 01845
Dear Chairman Vaillancourt:
We are writing you regarding American Disability Act (ADA) compliance concerns brought to
our attention by concerned citizens regarding accessibility at the new Family/Senior Center.
Below are a list of issues which the Commission Members are asking to be addressed by the
Town of North Andover when planning, reviewing and constructing the new facility to ensure
accessibility to all North Andover residents. The Commission is interested in having a dialogue
with the appropriate members of Town management to address the following:
1. Push button access to the building for those who may have difficulties opening doors;
2. First floor space being reserved for activities and not offices to ensure:
a. as many occupants as possible are able to evacuate safely in an emergency
situation; and
b. ease of mobility of program participants to other areas of the facility after a
program has ended;
3. Chairs should be easily accessible for participants to include but not limited to
comfortability both in height and weight. The concerns are as follows:
a. the current chairs are low and are uncomfortable when sitting for any length of
time;
b. they do not provide proper accessibility in that they pose a potential safety risk for
individuals who might have mobility issues when either descending to or
ascending from the chair; and
c. they are overall difficult to maneuver.
The Commission respectfully requests a walk through throughout different phases of
construction to assist in resolving these concerns.
The Commission also respectfully requests a meeting to address the above-mentioned concerns.
Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter. The Commission looks forward to
working with you to resolve these concerns.
Very truly yours,
ahylrijolles tacey eibow tz
Commission Chair Commission Se r ary
4iss
`Lmda B ers
DA Compliance Officer Commission Education Liaison
Don Stewart Nancy Murphy
Commission Member Commission Member
Cc: Melissa Rodriguez, Town Manager
Jeffrey J. Coco, Director Emergency Manager
Stephen E. Foster, Director Facilities Department
Denise Casey,ADA Coordinator
Irene M. O'Brien, Director of Senior CQnter•/Elder Services
lian Enright,Planning Director
tan Goldberg, Chair,North Andover Planning Board