Commission on Disability — September 9, 2026

The Fairhaven Commission on Disability met on September 9, 2026, to discuss accessibility concerns, upcoming community outreach, and committee updates. The commission approved the meeting minutes and noted that no funds had been spent since the start of the fiscal year. Eleanor led a discussion regarding accessibility feedback from a recent Cultural Council survey and received unanimous approval from the commission to investigate grant criteria and accessibility requirements for town buildings and cultural events.

The commission discussed physical accessibility challenges at Fort Phoenix, noting that the parking lot is owned by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) rather than the town, which complicates potential modifications. Members agreed to draft an article for the Neighborhood News addressing substance use disorder as a recognized disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), with Eleanor drafting the text to be reviewed by Noah and Crystal. In addition, the commission discussed logistics for an upcoming fall family movie night preview at the Council on Aging, opting to exclude the movie "Mary and Max" due to lack of subtitles and audio descriptions in favor of "Finding Nemo."

In member announcements, the commission was notified that the Select Board updated the appointment process, requiring anyone seeking reappointment—specifically member Kara—to submit an application by October 1, ahead of Select Board review on October 6. Member Randy reported that handicap parking spaces at Hastings Middle School had been repainted, though signage posts were still pending. The meeting concluded with unanimous approval to adjourn until October 8, 2026.

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