HomeMy WebLinkAboutAccessibility Advisory Committee Minutes January 20, 2022 Cape Breton Regional Municipality
Accessibility Advisory Committee
Meeting
Thursday,
January 20, 2022
4:30 p.m.
Via Videoconference
The Chair, Councillor Cyril MacDonald called the meeting to order.
Present: Councillor Cyril MacDonald, Chair
Councillor Steve Gillespie
Citizen Louise Gillis
Citizen Sarah MacPherson
Citizen Linda Murray
Staff: Kirk Durning, CBRM Accessibility Coordinator and
Manager of Recreation
Deborah Campbell Ryan, Municipal Clerk
Sharon MacSween, Recording Secretary
Absent: Citizen Marcie Shwery-Stanley (Regrets)
Citizen Elaine Swartz (Regrets)
Citizen Veronica Merryfield
Accessibility Advisory
Committee Minutes
January 20, 2022 Approved May 26th, 2022 Page - 2
Summary of Decisions
Roll Call
1. Approval of Minutes:
Motion to approve of the Accessibility Advisory Committee Minutes as
amended for:
• October 19th, 2021
Carried.
3. Business Arising: October 19, 2021 :
3.1 Update on RFP/Awarding of Contract - CBRM
Accessibility Plan:
Four (4) RFP response submissions were received for the Accessibility
Plan and the RFP was awarded to the reachAbility Association.
For information only.
2. Approval of Agenda
Motion to approve the January 20, 2022 Accessibility Advisory Committee
agenda as circulated. Carried.
4. CBRM — reachAbility Municipal Accessibility Plan
A presentation was provided by reachAbility Association as an
introduction to the process for the CBRM Accessibility Plan "Moving
Accessibility Forward".
Accessibility Advisory
Committee Minutes
January 20, 2022 Approved May 26th, 2022 Page - 2
Summary of Decisions (Cont'd)
5. Roundtable
A roundtable discussion took place following the presentation by
reachAbility.
For information only.
6. Citizen Vacancies — Update:
It was agreed by Committee consensus to defer the decision of filling the
vacancy of the 9th Committee Member until a later time.
It was agreed to defer nominations for a Vice Chair until a future meeting.
Adjournment
Accessibility Advisory
Committee Minutes
January 20, 2022 Approved May 26th, 2022 Page - 3
Roll Call
1. Approval of Minutes:
Suggested amendments to the October 19, 2021 draft Minutes were
discussed.
Motion:
Moved by Councillor Gillespie, seconded by Citizen Louise Gillis, approval
of the Accessibility Advisory Committee Minutes as amended:
➢ October 19th, 2021
Motion Carried.
3. Business Arising: October 19, 2021 :
3.1 Update on RFP/Awarding of Contract - CBRM
Accessibility Plan:
Kirk Durning, CBRM Accessibility Coordinator, advised that four (4)
submissions were received in response to the RFP for the Accessibility
Plan. He advised that the submissions were reviewed and scored by the
Committee Chair, Councillor Cyril MacDonald, Paul Burt and himself. It
was anticipated that the Vice Chair was to participate in the process,
however he was unable to do so. Through the scoring process, it was
unanimously decided to award the RFP to the reachAbility Association.
For information only.
Accessibility Advisory
Committee Minutes
January 20, 2022 Approved May 26th, 2022 Page - 4
2. Approval of Agenda
Motion:
Moved by Citizen Linda Murray, seconded by Councillor Gillespie,
approval of the January 20, 2022 Accessibility Advisory Committee
agenda as circulated.
Motion Carried.
4. CBRM — reachAbility Municipal Accessibility Plan:
Jessica Ward, Project & Program Manager and Primary CBRM contact,
provided background information on reachAbility Association as an
introduction to the process for the CBRM Accessibility Plan "Moving
Accessibility Forward". Highlights included:
• Past Projects
• Project Team: Jessica Ward and Krista O'Connor
• Our Lens:
o provincial and federal legislation, Rick Hansen Accessibility
standards, and Universal Design to evaluate:
■ accessibility
■ inclusion; and
■ inform on recommendations
• Standards and Benchmarks:
o Goods and Services
o Built Environment
o Awareness
o Information and Communication
o Transportation
o Employment
o Education
• Cape Breton Regional Municipal Moving Accessibility Forward
• Environment Scans:
o Capital Assets / Buildings
o Parks, Playgrounds and Trails
o Sidewalks, Public Spaces, Libraries, etc.
Continued...
Accessibility Advisory
Committee Minutes
January 20, 2022 Approved May 26th, 2022 Page - 5
CBRM — reachAbility Municipal Accessibility Plan (Cont'd):
• Engagement Strategy
o Community Consultation
o Surveying
o Mapping
• The Plan including timeline
• Information for consideration when developing CBRM Statement of
Commitment — Town of Kentville and Lunenburg County examples
were provided and reviewed:
o ensuring equal access and participation for all people,
regardless of their abilities
o treating all people in a way that allows them to maintain their
dignity and independence
o meeting the needs of people who face accessibility barriers
o identifying, removing, and preventing these barriers by
meeting the requirements of Nova Scotia's Accessibility Act
• Definitions:
o Inclusion
o Accessibility
o Barrier-Free
5. Roundtable
Following the presentation, the Chair opened the floor for discussion.
It was agreed to relax the speaking time rules of order to allow discussion
in 2-minute intervals without restrictions.
The following was then discussed:
• Looking beyond physical barriers
• Identifying barriers and key issues that interfere with daily routines
• Colours and transitions, inside or outside buildings including textile
considerations for those with sight loss
• ASL (American Sign Language) interpreter
Continued...
Accessibility Advisory
Committee Minutes
January 20, 2022 Approved May 26th, 2022 Page - 6
Roundtable (Cont'd):
• Short term changes
• Equal access for all
• Physical and cognitive disability considerations (i.e. ADHD,
Alzheimer's)
• Benchmarks and opportunities will guide the Plan (which should be
a living document)
• Service animals (including birds, gold fish)
• Health care issues
• Priorities
• The Plan is for CBRM-owned buildings and spaces (including trails
and parks) and not for those privately or Provincially/Federally
owned
• Affordability and availability of services for users (i.e. buses)
Ms. Ward advised that reachAbility will be in CBRM between February 22
to 25th to visit as many places as possible, including downtowns and rural
areas. They will also be contacting stakeholder groups with expertise, as
well as individuals in the community. Meetings in the community will be
set up during these dates and will follow COVID-19 rules.
Chair, Councillor Cyril MacDonald, thanked Ms. Ward for the presentation
and information and the discussion with the Committee.
6. Citizen Vacancies — Update:
Deborah Campbell Ryan, Municipal Clerk, reviewed her Memo included in
the agenda regarding the two Citizen vacancies. She advised that the
Council passed a motion to not fill the vacancy created when Jenny-
Rachel Lind moved to Newfoundland, and to leave the Committee
composition at 9 members. She also advised that Douglas Foster recently
resigned from the Accessibility Advisory Committee and his resignation
was brought to the Nominating Committee at their January 17, 2022
meeting with a recommendation to not fill the vacancy and that the
composition of the committee be eight (8) members. At that meeting, the
Continued...
Accessibility Advisory
Committee Minutes
January 20, 2022 Approved May 26th, 2022 Page - 7
Citizen Vacancies — Update (Cont'd):
Nominating Committee, passed a motion to ask the Accessibility Advisory
Committee for their input on whether the second vacancy should be filled.
It was pointed out that Mr. Foster was the Vice-Chair of the Committee
and that position is now vacant.
Discussion took place which included requirements under the Act,
quorum, representation, and the Vice-Chair position, and process to fill a
vacancy.
It was agreed by Committee consensus to defer the decision of filling the
vacancy (re: the 9th Committee Member) until a later time.
It was agreed to defer nominations for a Vice Chair until a future meeting.
Adjournment at 6:26 p.m.
Councillor Cyril MacDonald Deborah Campbell Ryan
Chair Municipal Clerk
/SIM