BCAT News

The Burlington Board of Selectmen approved the use of funds from the Disability Access Commission’s (DAC) account that are garnered from fees paid by handicap parking offenders.

In total the fund has approximately $109,000 from illegal handicap parking finds. DAC Co-Chair Maura Mazzocca presented two proposed projects for the board’s consideration. The first was $12,000 to update the town’s AutoMark voting machine software to keep it working smoothly. AutoMark is the voting machine used by people with impairments and the funds would cover updates for the next three years.  

Members of the board expressed support for the proposal. 

“I support this, it’s something we’ve been supporting for a number of years now,” Selectman Bob Hogan said. “It is our contribution to make sure the machines are kept up to date so when we go to use them they function properly.”

The board voted 5-0-0 in favor of using the funds. 

The second proposal Mazzocca put forward was $15,000 for a project that is a partnership between DAC, the Burlington Parks & Recreation Department and Marshall Simonds Trust to build an access ramp to the deck of the wading pool at Simonds Park. In total the cost of the project is estimated to $40,000 and this represents DAC’s portion. 

Members were also in favor of this project. 

“I really like this one a lot,” Selectman Mike Runyan. “I think it’s needed, I’ve been up there a few times with my grandchildren. I fully support transfer of funds.”

This project also received unanimous approval. 

Finally, Selectman Bob Hogan said he wasn’t surprised all the proposals that come to them from DAC are normally passed without exception. 

“DAC takes this stuff really seriously and by the time the request comes to the Board of Selectmen it has been thoroughly thought out,” he said. “They don’t throw money at projects just because they have it. They are aware they might not have it in the future if people stop illegally parking in handicap spaces.”