Present were: Chairman Councillor Juan A. Gomez

Councillor Konstantina B. Lukes

Councillor Timothy P. Murray

Also: Deputy Director, Human Resources Larry Raymond

Human Rights Director Shirley Wright

City Clerk David J. Rushford, clerk

1. Communication of the City Manager transmitting communication relative to Americans with Disabilities Act Transition Plan.

#14A CM December 5, 2000

Recommend Approval of the Plan

Additional Speakers:

1. Mike Kennedy, Center for Living and Working presented a written statement from Angel P. Hampton, Lakeside resident.

2. Ronal Madnick, Executive Director of Central Mass Chapter of

ACLU, 12 Pine Tree Drive, Worcester spoke about

communication improvements that have taken place between

City Hall and the handicapped community and urged the

Committee to utilize an appropriate share of the total city budget

for the handicapped community.

3. Bob Bailey, Director of the Center for Living and Working spoke

about adopting the plan with pro-active plan for addresses the

most repeated concerns; the City Hall, ramps and curb cuts,

polling sites and Union Station.

4. Joyce from Canterbury Tower spoke about the need to spend funds for improvements.

5. Al Powers, 95 Downing Street, Worcester spoke about moving forward to implement the plan’s points.

6. John Cronin, 20 Benson Avenue, Worcester, spoke about the involvement of the Advisory in modifying the plan and to encourage the City to plan to fund the plan.

7. John from Legal Assistance Corporation of Central MA spoke about the need to have a schedule of curb and ramp installations, about addressing all city facilities including Union Station and public schools and lastly, in the introduction, that in facilities the City leases, that private owners be required to pay for accessibility improvements.

8. Joe Leone, Center for Living and Working spoke about door accessibility, recreational program grants and rotary construction.

Chairman’s Order request the City Manager request the Superintendent of the Worcester Public Schools report to the City Council on their progress in the implementation of their ADA Compliance Plan in the facilities occupied by the Public Schools.

Chairman’s Order request the Worcester Redevelopment Authority report to the City Council within sixty (60) days any steps that they have taken to bring their facility into compliance with the ADA requirements.

Chairman’s Order request the City Manager report to the City Council concerning why, regardless of the ownership of the Union Station and land on which it is constructed, why it cannot be included in the ADA compliance plan as are other facilities owned by the City of Worcester.

Chairman’s Order request the City Manager report to the City Council on accelerating the requirements of the ADA compliance plan.

Chairman’s Order request the City Manager to all he can with reason to locate funds to double the amount of money currently allocated to installing curb cuts in the city’s public sidewalks.

Chairman’s Order request that the City Manager consider having his Department Heads and the general workforce undergo additional sensitivity training concerning the needs of the disabled communities.