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Fitchburg Disability Commission approves minutes, plans outreach events and flags parking access issues
Summary
The Commission approved its April minutes, discussed upcoming outreach events including the Seven Hills Fair (May 18), an All Abilities art workshop (May 28) and art show (June 10), reported a successful sensory‑friendly movie and discussed a tentative July 19 screening, and noted Parkhill Plaza curbcut improvements and off‑duty Van Pool parking concerns.
The Fitchburg Disability Commission on May 13 voted to accept the minutes from its April 2026 meeting and discussed several upcoming community events and local access issues.
A motion to accept the April minutes was made and seconded and the motion passed; the minutes do not record a roll-call tally or the names of the mover and seconder. Commission member Emily Stark said she plans to attend the Seven Hills Fair at Devens on May 18 and Commission member Bill Tolos agreed to help with set up.
The Commission noted a free All Abilities acrylic-abstract workshop at the Senior Center on May 28 and an art show on June 10 in the Senior Center Fireplace Room to showcase art from groups Carolyn Quirk works with. Emily Stark reported that a sensory-friendly movie shown at Hammond Hall (room G01) earlier in May was successful and allowed attendees to come and go freely; members discussed holding a more accessible screening on Sunday, July 19 to better serve people beyond the university community.
During open forum members reiterated a request to add a request-for-accommodation contact to posted meeting agendas and formalized the need to hold an organizational meeting in January. The minutes also record concerns about Van Pool drivers parking in handicapped spaces when vans are off duty; the minutes note the practice is allowed while vans are in service but not when they are off duty, and that this raised enforcement concerns. The minutes do not attribute the parking concern to a single speaker.
Minutes further record that Parkhill Plaza was restriped and curbcut access improved, reducing prior instances of vehicles blocking curb ramps. The Commission adjourned at 10:55 a.m.; its next meeting is scheduled for June 10, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in the West Room at Fitchburg City Hall.
