Corporation of the Town of Huntsville
ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Corporation of the Town of Huntsville
ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Meeting held on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. in the Huntsville Civic Centre, Partners Hall
Chair:
Debbie Kirwin
Members:
Councillor John Davis
John Kenny
Bruce Liddle
Rod Mundy
Laurel Shaw
Agatha West
Deb Willows
Absent:
Grant Wager
Staff:
Dianne Conwath, Deputy Clerk
Denise Corry, Director of Corporate Services
1. CONVENE
Moved by Rod Mundy AAC16-09
IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT: we do now convene as the Accessibility Advisory Committee at 2:03 p.m.
Carried.
2. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Moved by John Kenny AAC17-09
IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT: the Accessibility Advisory Committee Agenda dated Tuesday, May 19, 2009 be adopted as printed and circulated.
Carried.
3. DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST
- Nil -
4. MINUTES
Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes – April 21, 2009
The Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes dated April 21, 2009, were received and reviewed.
5. BUSINESS ARISING FROM MINUTES
Deaf Access Simcoe Muskoka
A discussion took place regarding different type of fire alarm systems and the use of a strobe light for people with hearing impairments.
6. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION
a) Colour and Location of Exit Signs
Councillor Davis raised the matter of the visibility of exit signs during a fire. Councillor Davis noted exit signs are red, the same colour as a fire and are placed near the ceiling where smoke would accumulate. It was noted that the colour and placement of exit signs could be a standard of the Office of the Ontario Fire Marshall. Chair Kirwin said that between the Fire Chief and the Chief Building Official, she would be able to obtain an answer.
Paralympics Legacy Fund – Transfer of Funds
Chair Kirwin provided a verbal report.
A discussion took place regarding the transferring the money from the Paralympic Legacy Fund to the Centennial Centre Pool for accessible equipment.
A discussion took place regarding the wording of the resolution and its referral to the Parks and Recreation Committee for their consideration.
Moved by Agatha West AAC18-09
WHEREAS: the Accessibility Advisory Committee made a proposal (as attached) for accessible equipment at the Centennial Centre Pool;
NOW THEREFORE IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT: $10,000.00, up to the closing amount of the Paralympic Legacy Fund, be donated to help offset the purchase of all of the accessible equipment for the Centennial Centre Pool;
AND FURTHER THAT: the $10,000.00 transfer be reflected in the Community Services 2010 Budget;
AND FURTHER THAT: this resolution be forwarded to the Parks and Recreation Committee for consideration.
Carried.
7. REPORTS
Seniors Report
Member Liddle enquired as to when the handrail beside the Town Hall will be installed?
Councillor Davis said that the handrail has been delivered and we are waiting for it to be installed.
Denise Corry noted that she would follow-up with Kelly Pender, Chief Administrative Officer who is working with Brian Crozier, Director of Community Services on this matter.
b) Accessibility Advisory Committees Regional Forum – North Bay
Chair Kirwin highlighted the Accessibility Advisory Committees Regional Forum which took place on May 13, 2009 in North Bay noting that Members John Kenny and Laurel Shaw were also in attendance.
Member Kenny said that listening to what other Committees are or are not doing was very useful.
Chair Kirwin noted that she has been asked by the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario to sit on the panel for the Regional Forums being held in Toronto on June 1st and in Ottawa on June 5th. Chair Kirwin said as the Province requires the Accessibility Advisory Committees to educate the public, her presentation will be more of an educational approach as well as showing the Town of Huntsville Accessibility Advisory Committee’s successes and working relationships with the Chamber of Commerce, BIA, local businesses, Muskoka Tourism and Council. Chair Kirwin said that she would like to make a presentation to Council with presentation that she will be making at the Forums.
Committee reviewed a DVD, Serve-Ability: Transforming Ontario’s Customer Service that is available through the Province of Ontario to business owners to assist them with the customer service accessibility standards.
A discussion took place regarding the content of the DVD and its educational value to the business community. Committee felt some portions of the DVD could be condensed.
Chair Kirwin said that the Province is not asking Accessibility Advisory Committees to do any of the training or provide the education material, but suggested that the Accessibility Advisory Committee could assist businesses with the tools to do what needs to be done to make the transition simple.
A discussion took place regarding the amount of training time required and the cost to businesses to train their staff.
A discussion took place regarding the Committee’s role in assisting/providing the business community with customer service training.
Denise Corry said that Kathleen Gilchrist, Municipal Clerk is presently working on the Town of Huntsville Accessibility Customer Service Policies which will include best practices and procedures and that it should be ready for our review at the June meeting.
8. UPDATES
- Nil -
9. NEW BUSINESS
Articles from the May/June Municipal Monitor
Denise Corry distributed, for Committee’s information, two articles that appeared in the May/June 2009 Municipal Monitor – “Becoming an Accessible Ontario by Andy Koopmans and “Accessibility: “What’s Coming Down the Pipe? by Frank Nicholson. (Schedules “A” and “B” attached)
10. ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Deb Willows AAC19-09
IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT: We do now adjourn at 3:45 p.m. to meet again on Tuesday, June 16, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. in the Huntsville Civic Centre, Partner’s Hall.
Carried.