Newly Formed Disabilities Commission to Meet Thursday

PEABODY, MA – Handicap parking abusers beware: Your days are numbered under the new city Disabilities Commission.

The commission, which was formed over the summer and will meet for the first time on Thursday, seeks to be a voice for disabled residents in town. One of the major complaints in Peabody? Drivers that misuse the handicap parking spaces, either with a fraudulent tag or no tag.

"They had a Disabilities Commission in the city maybe 10, 12 years ago, and we’re bringing it back," said Mayor Ted Bettencourt. "A big issue that will be discussed is the protection of handicapped parking spaces, which has become a big problem for the community."

He said representatives from the city, including from the Peabody Police Department, will regularly attend the meetings.

Kayla Bentas, a Peabody resident who has been blind since age 9, was involved with bringing the commission back. She heard about the Burlington Disability Access Commission, and brought the idea to Bettencourt with the hope of making Peabody even more accessible than Boston.

Bentas is one of around 300 legally blind Peabody residents.

"It’s actually quite exciting to see it put in place. It’s happening so quickly," said Bentas ahead of Thursday's meeting. "I think our first meeting will be getting to know one another and maybe getting ideas for what we’d like to look toward fixing in the city."

She said her ultimate goal with the commission is to advocate for disabled residents in Peabody, and make the city accessible "in any way possible." The commission will tackle issues in the city that make getting around more difficult for people with disabilities.

The Commission on Disability is made of the following members, formally announced on Sept. 16:

• Erica Barrett
• Kayla Bentas
• Karen Cahill
• Alan Frost
• Thomas Gould
• Thomas Muxie
• Beth Brennan O'Donnell
• Anthony Porcello
• Daniel Terenzoni