1. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Department of Public Safety
Architectural Access Board
One Ashburton Place, Room 1310
Boston, Massachusetts 02108-1618
Deval L. Patrick
Governor
Phone 617-727-0660 Thomas G. Gatzunis, P.E.
Commissioner
Timothy P. Murray Fax 617-727-0665 Thomas P. Hopkins
www.mass.gov/dps
Lieutenant Governor Director
Mary Elizabeth Heffernan
Secretary
April 11, 2012
William Schaefer
William Schaefer and Associates Architects
15 Bay Street
Cambridge, MA 02139
Re: Notice of Action of the Board; The Armory, 191 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA;
Docket Number C10-059 and V09-197
Dear Mr. Schaefer,
On April 2, 2012, the Board Staff conducted a site visit and determined that the slope of the
entrance ramp to the property in question had a generally compliant slope (8.3% or less), with
some areas as high as 8.7%. On April 3, 2012, the Board received your letter regarding the
completion of the work required at the entrance ramp to the property in question, as well as a
request to abate the fines that have accrued at a rate of $500.00 per day since October 31, 2011.
On April 6, 2012, the Board received a letter from the Complainant, Eileen Feldman,
regarding the collection of the accrued fines. The Board also received a letter from John Kelly on
April 9, 2012, in support of Ms. Feldman’s request.
The Board discussed this matter during an administrative review at their regularly
scheduled April 9, 2012 meeting and voted as follows:
- Based on the results of the Board Staff site visit that showed that the ramp slope is 8.7% at
the steepest and that threshold at the front entrance complies, the Board voted to ACCEPT
the slope of 8.7% and allow the building to be used, once again, for public events. The
Board also noted that the issue of the abatement of the fines will be reviewed during an
administrative discussion at the Board’s April 23, 2012 regularly scheduled meeting.
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2. ARCHITECTURAL ACCESS BOARD
By:
Donald Lang, Chairman Diane McLeod, Vice Chair
Andrew Bedar, Member (not present) Myra Berloff, Director of Massachusetts
Office on Disability
Raymond Glazier, Executive Office of Elder Gerald LeBlanc, Member
Affairs Designee
Carol Steinberg, Member D. Mark Trivett, Member
Walter White, Executive Office of Public
Safety Designee
A complete administrative record is on file at the office of the Architectural Access Board.
cc: Local Building Inspector
Local Disability Commission
Independent Living Center
Complainant
Joseph Sater, Highland Armory Realty Trust
David Shapiro, Assistant City Solicitor
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S:AABKSuttonAgenda's and ResultsDECISIONS2012040912The Armory Bldg, 191 Highland Ave., Somerville - AMENDED 040912.doc