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CITY of BEVERLY
191 Cabot Street
Beverly, Massachusetts 01915
Phone (978) 605-2340
Mayor
Michael P. Cahill
Chief of Staff
Julia Long
Executive Secretary
Martha A. Lewis
Building Commissioner
James Butler
ADA Coordinator
Ameila Boivin
COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES
Thursday, July 23th, 2026
12:00pm
City Hall 3rd Floor Council Chamber, 191 Cabot St
Attendance
Attendees
- Paul Willenbrock, Commission Chair
- Nevaeh Hourican, Commission Secretary
- Bruce Doig, Director of Parks, Recreation & Community Services
- Ameila Boivin, ADA Coordinator
- Bud Rehal, Commission Member
- Ed Horak, Commission Member
Absent
- James Butler, Building Commissioner
- James Billings, Commission Member
- Marylin Osburn, Commission Member
1 - Accessibility Accommodations
The Chair reviewed accommodations available for the meeting: Braille materials (available on request) and sensory accommodations (available on request). No ASL interpreter was present at this meeting.
2 - ASL Interpreter Access & Northshore Music Theater
Bud Rehal reported on his follow-up meeting with the Northshore Music Theater General Manager regarding a prior request raised from a Deaf community member seeking tickets to attend a show with an interpreter. The GM had no record of that request ever being received.
In that same meeting, the GM proposed that Northshore Music Theater donate a block of tickets directly to the Beverly School for the Deaf (BSFD) for them to send one of its own interpreters to accommodate the show. The GM is arranging a follow-up meeting with the head of BSFD to pursue this.
Separately, Ameila Boivin reported that she has identified a funding line to cover the cost of an ASL interpreter and has requested an interpreter for the August 27th meeting.
3 - Beach Wheelchair Update
The Commission reviewed the status of beach wheelchair accessibility. The manual PVC-frame chairs with inflatable tires (usable in water) are currently available at the beaches however, signage has not yet been installed to inform the public of their availability.
The Commission also has electric, sand-capable wheelchairs, which have been idle for approximately a decade and have degraded, non-functional batteries. Bruce Doig will look into whether these units can be repaired.
4 - Friends Fund
The Friends of Beverly Recreation fund is now able to accept donations for the Commission's use. Checks can be made out to "Friends of Beverly Recreation Inc" with a note that it's for the Commission on Disabilities. Checks can be mailed to P.O. Box 691 Beverly, MA 01915.
5 - BevCam Streaming
The Commission discussed whether BevCam is able to livestream meetings at The Council on Aging once City Hall's operations relocate.
6 - Homecoming Event
The Commission discussed participating in the City of Beverly's citywide Homecoming event on August 6th as an additional public outreach opportunity, separate from the previously planned evening library meeting.
Public Access & Contact Information
Know your rights under the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law.
Meeting materials and future minutes will be available in alternative formats upon request:
Contact Us
Commission Chair
Paul Willenbrock
Email: pwillenbrock@stetson.edu
Phone: +1 (978) 985-7942
Commission Secretary
Nevaeh Hourican
Email: nevaehhourican@icloud.com
Phone: +1 (978) 578-4261
Building Commissioner
Jim Butler
Email: jbutler@beverlyma.gov
Phone: +1 (978) 921-6025
ADA Coordinator
Amelia Boivin
Email: aboivin@beverlyma.gov
Phone: +1 (401) 524-8020