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Commission on Disability says three ADA grant applications submitted for doors and service counter improvements
Summary
The commission reported three Massachusetts Office on Disability grant applications — for two electrified public doors and a lower treasurer/assessor counter — have been submitted; the chair said the total request is modest and noted a 2019 capital article may provide short-term upfront funding while awaiting reimbursement.
Cindy Kane, chair of the Commission on Disability, told members on Tuesday that she submitted three separate Massachusetts Office on Disability (MOD) ADA improvement grant applications intended to remove immediate physical barriers at town facilities. "I got three grants submitted," Kane said, listing an electrified entry door at the building where the commission meets, a public entrance at the police station, and lowering the treasurer/assessor counter to an accessible height.
Kane said each request must be included in the town's ADA transition plan, a requirement for MOD funding, and estimated the combined requests would be "under $30,000." She said MOD provides awards up to larger statewide limits and expressed confidence the town qualifies. To avoid losing an award because the town cannot cover upfront costs, Kane noted a 2019 capital article for police-lobby improvements appears to have about $16,000 remaining and she has contacted the police chief to confirm whether that balance could be repurposed temporarily while the grant reimbursements are processed.
The report stressed practical timelines and vendor coordination: Kane said contracting for doors required matching vendor availability, and that she had located a local vendor who previously estimated similar work. She also noted security considerations for police-lobby doors and that she included prior public complaints about the front door in the grant narrative.
Members asked clarifying questions about the grants' relationship to the transition plan and whether the requests might require additional town funding if an award is not granted. Kane said she believes the applications meet program criteria but acknowledged the town should plan alternatives in case funding is denied. No formal vote was required to submit the grants; the update was recorded as an informational item.
The commission said it will follow up with the police chief on the 2019 capital-article balance and will report back to the commission when the state issues award decisions.
