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mat or similar product to provide additional access $eport of the onto the beach. Americans with Disabilities ' Act Committee Thanks to the efforts of Kathleen Moore and Tom Mayo the Communications Access Realtime Translation(CART),large-print warrants and reserved To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and the citi- close-in parking was once again available at the two � zens of the Town of Mashpee. town meetings. Additionally, with the assistance of Sherry Bergeron, Executive Director of the Audible , Selectmen Carol Sherman, Werne a � The continued support of town officials, the Local Ledger, y Board of Selectmen and several other boards and com- Taylor and Michael Richardson recorded CDs of the mittees has resulted in the approval of,preparation for meeting warrant for the benefit of the vision and/or and completion of a number of significant projects reading impaired residents. certain to make Mashpee one of the most disabled- friendly towns on Cape Cod. Thanks to the Cape Cod Housing Assistance Corporation the "Big Fix" came to Mashpee on The ADA committee suffered two major losses September 28, 2013. The HAC organized over 300 this year with the well-earned retirement of Marilyn volunteers to complete projects such as yard cleanup, Farren, a major contributor since the committee was landscaping and housing repairs requested by selected reconstituted in 2004. Marilyn's extensive experience seniors, disabled and/or veterans in Mashpee. The s as Director of Human Resources proved invaluable in "Big Fix" was extremely successful and the work of keeping us in tune with town policies and promoting the RAC and volunteers is greatly appreciated. 5 ADA Committee objectives throughout "official Mashpee."Mert Sapers,a longtime volunteer support- Chief Town Manager, Board of Selectmen and mg numerous programs in Mashpee, moved from Chief Collins are fully supportive of an initiative by town in early June. Mert worked with the Police the State Police,Registry of Motor Vehicles,Office on I Disability and the Inspector General to crack down on Department to establish .the parking patrol program. He also had been involved with TRIAD, Men's Club handicapped parking violations and misuse of handi- capped placards and plates. The Mashpee Police and several other community support programs to improve the quality of life of seniors and disabled res- Department is developing a program for increased enforcement of state and local regulations. idents. The recognition of the importance of handi- In order to highlight Mashpee as one the most capped accessibility by town officials has resulted in disabled-friendly towns on Cape Cod, Selectman routine inclusion of handicapped accessibility features Carol Sherman and Mary Lou Palumbo, Executive in some important projects. Specifically, the upgrad- Director of the Mashpee Chamber of Commerce,have ing of the Great Neck Boat Ramp, the improvements been actively compiling data on accessibility features to the Mashpee Archives and the Community Park, of Mashpee businesses. The accessibility features of constructing a paved sidewalk along Great Neck Road these businesses will be indicated in the next chamber North, upgrading the recreational facilities at Johns brochure to be published in the Spring. Pond and Heritage Park, and plans for an accessible Cape Cod Rehabilitation has moved into a new Therapeutic Playground for pre-schoolers at K.C. building in the Mashpee Industrial Park. The new Coombs School. We thank Catherine Laurent and the DPW and all others involved for their outstanding facility features a heated, handicapped accessible work in getting these projects off the ground. swimming pool. We will look into the possibility of the pool being available to disabled residents who are Another project of significance to persons with not patients or FITPLAN members. disabilities was the completion of an access ramp at I Our biggest frustration is the lack of progress of the State beach at South Cape Beach. This ramp efforts to make busses used for off-cape tours orga- enables a disabled person to travel easily from the Parking lot to the viewing platform overlooking the nized through the Senior Center, CAPERS and other borganizations accessible to wheelchair-bound travel- beach. Plans are now in the works to install a Mobi- 27