Town Services, Council & Committee Meetings, Accessibility Advisory Committee Minutes

The Corporation of the Town of Huntsville

ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING

Meeting held on Tuesday, February 17, 2009 at 2:00 p.m.

In the Huntsville Civic Centre, Partners Hall

Chair:

Deb Kirwin

Members:

Councillor John Davis

John Kenny

John Krochak

Bruce Liddle

Rod Mundy

Laurel Shaw

Grant Wager

Agatha West

Deb Willows

Staff:

Denise Corry, Director of Corporate Services

Dianne Conwath, Deputy Clerk

CONVENE

Moved by Grant Wager AAC04-09

IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT: we do now convene as the Accessibility Advisory Committee at 2:00 p.m.

Carried.

ADOPTION OF AGENDA

Moved by Agatha West AAC05-09

IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT: the Accessibility Advisory Committee Agenda dated Tuesday, February 17, 2009 be adopted as printed and circulated with the addition of the following under:

UPDATES

(d) Budget

NEW BUSINESS

(b) Tourism email – Built Environment Standards

Carried.

DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST

- Nil -

MINUTES

(a) Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes – January 20, 2009

The Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes dated January 20, 2009 were received and reviewed.

BUSINESS ARISING FROM MINUTES

(a) Kent Park Parking

Member John Kenny said he had met with Peter Brown, Director of Public Works regarding accessible parking in Kent Park and that with the present configuration of the Park, the creation of an accessible parking spot is not feasible.

Chair Kirwin noted that parking in Kent Park has been an issue since 2003 and that Member John Krochak recently provided her with some historical background information pertaining to this matter.

(b) Bowling Alley

Chair Kirwin advised that Mike Gooch, Chief Building Official would be writing a letter to both the Owner of the Bowling Alley and the Owner of the Building recommending changes to the handrail for safety concerns.

Chair Kirwin noted that the lift was closed down due to Fire Code Regulations (the lift was a hindrance to a fire escape route) and was decommissioned.

ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION

(a) 2009 National Access Awareness

i) ‘Draft’ Publication

Chair Kirwin highlighted the ‘draft’ Publication, for the 2009 National Access Awareness Week. (Schedule “A” attached)

ii) ‘Draft’ Customer Service Training Manual

Chair Kirwin outlined the ‘Draft’ Customer Service Training Manual noting that all information contained in the Manual are from Provincial Government Web Sites. (Schedule “B” attached)

It was the consensus of the Committee that both documents had excellent content and were clear and concise for the reader.

Discussions took place regarding:

the format of the Customer Service Training Manual i.e. a booklet;

how much information the Committee wanted to provide in the Manual;

research to see what format other areas are utilizing for awareness training i.e. London/Barrie/SCAPD; and

getting the message to businesses that the Standards are set by the Province and any efforts taken by the Committee are to assist the businesses in complying.

Chair Kirwin noted that as a result of the upcoming G8 Summit, Muskoka Tourism is looking into the Development and Implementation of a Customer Service Training Program.

Chair Kirwin said that this initiative is outlined in Report CAO-2009-01, prepared by Kelly Pender, Town of Huntsville Chief Administrative Officer, which was recently presented to Huntsville Town Council for approval. Chair Kirwin said that local Chief Administrative Officers and Mr. Michael Lawley, Executive Director of Muskoka Tourism developed the proposal. (Schedule “C” attached)

Chair Kirwin said she had emailed Kelly Pender to see that if the project is approved, will accessible training for customer service be included in the development and implementation of the customer service training program and as well, that she would be doing a follow-up with Mr. Lawley.

Chair Kirwin will provide Committee with an update at the next meeting.

Denise Corry, Director of Corporate Services reminded the Committee that we are not obligated to educate the businesses but just to assist them.

A discussion took place regarding the implementation of the Town of Huntsville Policy and Procedures regarding Customer Service. Once Kathleen, Gilchrist, Municipal Clerk, Chair Kirwin and Denise Corry, Director of Corporate Services prepare the 'draft' policy, it will be presented to Committee for review and input.

A discussion took place regarding whether or not a follow-up of the Town of Huntsville Accessibility Training Program, which was offered a couple of years ago, had taken place.

REPORTS

(a) Senior’s Report

Member Bruce Liddle provided a letter thanking all Town Hall Maintenance for keeping the sidewalks free of snow and ice this past winter. A copy of this letter will be forwarded to Council and the respective Departments.

UPDATES

(a) Accessible Lift at the Centennial Centre Pool

Chair Kirwin noted that along with Member Laurel Shaw they did a site inspection of the pool in Bracebridge noting the accessibility level of the pool, the level of training and that the change rooms are not completely accessible for people who need some assistance.

A discussion took place regarding the accessibility of the Centennial Centre Pool and the requirements of a lift in the change room and a lift into the pool.

Denise Corry, Director of Corporate Services said that she had spoken with Brian Crozier, Director of Community Services who said that nothing had been included in the 2009 budget for a lift. Ms. Corry noted that Mr. Crozier was very open to the proposal of a lift and possibly once the new pool is up and running the installation of a lift could be addressed. Mr. Crozier noted that part of the installation is the need for Staff training.

A discussion took place regarding customer services standards and that the Town will have to so its best to address the challenges of all customers.

Chair Kirwin noted that it is necessary for the Committee to do as much research as possible related to the installation of a lift in order to make the necessary motion ( i.e. particulars of what type of lift is required and possible sources of funding available) as we move forward with being able to access any G8 funding.

Member Laurel Shaw will continue to research the different type of lifts available in order to acquire a lift that best suits the needs of most people.

A discussion took place regarding the use of a track lift noting that the pool ceiling is too high and is too restrictive.

(b) Business Awards – Accessibility Award

Chair Kirwin said that the Business Excellence Awards nomination deadline closed on Friday, February 13, 2009.

Chair Kirwin noted that the Award Presentation will be held in the Algonquin Theatre on March 26, 2009 and Claude Doughty and Deb Kirwin will present the Accessibility Award, which is sponsored by the Doughty Family.

Chair Kirwin advised that she was in attendance at the February 4, 2009 Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting along with Ross Kirwin, who represented the Huntsville/Lake of Bays Rotary Club to witness the rubber stamping of the approval for the Sway Fun. Chair Kirwin said that the Sway Fun would be installed in time for the opening of the Park this summer.

(d) Budget

Chair Kirwin provided an update on the Accessibility Advisory Committee Budget noting the inclusion of a line item for Staff Accessibility Training and the deferment of the Transit Study to 2010.

NEW BUSINESS

(a) Leisure Guide

Chair Kirwin and Denise Corry, Director of Corporate reviewed the contents of the ‘draft’ page ‘Accessibility within the Corporation of the Town of Huntsville’, which is to be included in the next publication of the Town of Huntsville Spring/Summer Leisure Guide. (Schedule “D” attached)

(b) Tourism Email – Built Environment Standards

Chair Kirwin read an email that she received from Muskoka Tourism regarding comments from Mr. Bruce Gravel of the Ontario Accommodation Association related to the AODA built environment standards targeting the tourism industry for which there is no government funding available.

Chair Kirwin said she would be preparing a response to the email outlining her concerns.

Chair Kirwin noted that the Town has now secured the funding for the second ice pad and that the plans have been drawn up.

Chair Kirwin had a number concerns relating to accessibility noting one item in particular being that the building is more than doubling in size with no provision for additional elevator access.

Councillor John Davis explained the construction process and the current stage of construction noting that the steel has been ordered; therefore, the shell structure is set and if Committee has concerns related to the elevator issue, those concerns should be made to Kelly Pender and Brian Crozier, as soon as possible.

Chair Kirwin said that she would email the drawings to all Committee Members for their review and comment.

Discussions took place regarding:

the number of accessible washrooms;

the need to have the change rooms universally designed instead of having just one accessible change room;

location of the elevator to amenities;

now is the opportunity to get things changed that are not right; and

provision of additional parking.

Denise Corry, Director of Corporate Services suggested that in order for Committee to review the drawings, perhaps Kelly Pender, Chief Administrative Officer and Brian Crozier, Director of Community Services could attend the next Committee Meeting.

ADJOURNMENT

Moved by Bruce Liddle AAC06-09

IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT: We do now adjourn at 3:37 p.m. to meet again on Tuesday, March 10, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. in the Huntsville Civic Centre, Partner’s Hall.

Carried.