Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Building Accessibility topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Danvers Accessibility Commission pursues fixes after YMCA doors exceed 5‑pound pull requirement
Summary
At its Feb. 26 meeting the Town of Danvers Accessibility Commission heard a Danvers YMCA member report doors that are hard to open for people using walkers; Inspectional Services found the door pull tension exceeded the 5‑pound code limit and adjustments are underway. The Commission also reviewed other accessibility complaints and approved prior minutes.
The Town of Danvers Accessibility Commission on Feb. 26 heard a public complaint about accessibility at the Danvers YMCA and agreed to follow up on long‑term fixes and funding options.
Peggy, a Danvers YMCA member, told the commission the accessible/family changing area doors were difficult to open for individuals using walkers. Inspectional Services inspected the door and determined that the door pull tension exceeded the 5‑pound requirement set in the applicable accessibility code; the inspector said adjustments are underway to correct the pull tension. Commission members discussed long‑term options, including installing an automatic door during future renovations, and agreed to pursue follow‑up and potential grant opportunities to support longer‑term changes.
Commission liaison Matt Mitchell provided a broader update on recent accessibility complaints, citing sidewalk jurisdiction reviews, handicap parking violations that require correction under 521 CMR Chapter 23, additional private‑business door pull weight violations, and snow‑removal issues at a Town‑owned property that have since been resolved. Mitchell said the Town will perform a one‑time review of complaints submitted between November 2024 and the present to confirm they were addressed.
Earlier in the meeting the commission moved to approve the previous meeting minutes; the motion was seconded and approved unanimously. At the end of the session Karen Craig moved to adjourn, Christi Showman‑Farrar seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
The commission did not vote on installation of an automatic door at the YMCA; members emphasized follow‑up, potential funding sources, and continued coordination with Inspectional Services as next steps.
