Yarmouth commission eyes municipal ADA improvement grant; senior center bathrooms proposed as priority

At its April 10 meeting the Yarmouth Commission on Disability reviewed two categories of funding opportunities and agreed to pursue information on applications. Joanne (speaker 8) outlined a Municipal ADA Improvement grant and a set of transportation-related grants listed on mass.gov, and advised the commission to act quickly because registration for the municipal grant begins on April 15.

Members noted the commission applied for the municipal ADA grant in a prior cycle and suggested the senior center bathroom renovations as a project that could fit the program's scope. Gail Sherrette and others recommended talking with the public works department and the senior center director to identify a specific project and confirm whether the town lacks the capital to complete needed work without grant support.

The commission agreed that one or two volunteers would attend information sessions on the grant, coordinate with a volunteer grant writer if possible and then recommend a single, specific project for an application (the municipal grant typically funds narrowly defined projects rather than a bundle of items). The panel also discussed transportation grant options that could fund transit service expansion, shuttle or mobility services, or vehicle replacement for elder services.

Members asked staff to reach out to the assistant public works director and the senior center director to determine existing plans and funding status, and to report back to the commission with recommendations on which grant to pursue and who will prepare the application.