Danvers Council on Aging approves new staff and van parking plan and schedules accessibility upgrades

At the Jan. 16 meeting of the Town of Danvers Council on Aging, board members approved a plan to reorganize staff and van parking at the Senior Center, decided not to pursue additional handicap-designated spaces, and recommended accessibility and traffic-calming projects for future implementation.

Matthew Mitchell reported on a meeting with Land Use and Community Services Director Aaron Henry and Building Commissioner Tim Hudon, who is the town's ADA compliance officer. Mitchell said Tim confirmed the Senior Center currently meets ADA requirements. Based on the discussion, the board agreed to designate staff parking along the soccer-field side during operating hours; to park vans 401, 402 and 404 in spaces opposite vans 403, 405 and 406; and not to request additional handicap parking because adding formally designated spaces would reduce the total number of usable spots.

The board also recommended pursuing two accessibility and safety projects: adding actuators to the left and right side entrances (Mitchell said he will present that request to the Department of Public Works for purchase and installation) and painting a crosswalk from the Senior Center entrance toward the Highlands Elementary School walking path as a traffic-calming measure. Mitchell proposed making the actuator project a spring project; the board agreed. Mitchell also proposed making the back part of the parking lot one-way with a Do Not Enter sign and moving the Veterans reserved parking closer to the front entrance.

Board members asked that the staff/van parking changes be implemented, if possible, by the following week. The meeting minutes record these items as board direction and consensus rather than separate formal votes.