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Accessibility commission seeks records of $87,000 ADA grant as DPW installs curb ramps
Summary
Commissioners said they found a FY25 $87,000 award on the Massachusetts Office on Disability list but could not locate a Self‑Evaluation Transition Plan (SETP) or local records; DPW staff confirmed engineering requested and is installing curb ramps tied to the grant. The commission tabled action pending follow up with the ADA coordinator and DPW.
A member of the Town of Danvers Accessibility Commission said on May 22 that the commission located a FY25 $87,000 award listed by the Massachusetts Office on Disability but could not find a corresponding Self‑Evaluation Transition Plan (SETP) or other public record of the project on the town website, and the commission tabled further action pending follow‑up.
The commission member who reported the finding said the amount was listed on the Mass. Office on Disability municipal recipient list and that the group needs to confirm how the grant was administered locally. Cheryl Stanford, who identified herself as working in the Department of Public Works engineering division, told the commission that DPW engineering staff — including Stephen King — participated in requesting the ADA grant and that DPW is in the midst of modifying curb ramps around the Fulton/Richmond area. Stanford said, “Our engineering division, Stephen King, participated in requesting the ADA grant for the $87,000 and, we are in the midst of modifying all the handicapped accessible ramps around the Fulton Richmond.”
Commission members said they could not find a Self‑Evaluation Transition Plan (SETP) posted on the town site and do not know whether an SETP was completed and filed. The commission noted the town splitter for ADA responsibilities: the building commissioner, Tim Hudon, is listed as the town contact for building work, and a staff member named Jasmine previously covered related duties but the transcript indicates that position is currently unfilled. The commission discussed the urgency of clarifying the grant status because the deadline for this year's application process is June 13, and commissioners said they need to know whether the FY25 funds were already spent or remain available for a new application cycle.
Commissioners asked staff and members to reach out to DPW staff (Stephen King and Sharon Clement were cited as involved in the grant request), to the building commissioner, and to the Massachusetts Office on Disability to verify records and project scope. The commission formally tabled further action on the grant pending that outreach and additional documentation from town staff and DPW. No formal appropriations or program decisions were made at the May 22 meeting.
