The Needham Commission on Disabilities voted unanimously at its January meeting to send a letter to downtown businesses identified in a recent accessibility audit, asking whether they have an accessible entrance and offering to discuss options to improve access.

Commissioners reviewed a draft letter addressed to businesses in Needham Center and discussed changes to the list. During discussion members noted some businesses or addresses on the draft needed updating: Bagels Best was removed because staff said the location has an interior lift; Vintage Finds was reported closed and removed; Lola Tortola had been replaced by a different occupant (the recommendation was to list the current business at that address). Commissioners agreed the letter should go to current occupants and/or property owners and proceed as a small pilot outreach.

A motion to send the letter as drafted to the identified downtown businesses was made and seconded; the commission approved the motion by roll call. The commission requested that the town liaison coordinate the town's administrative process for sending letters and confirm recipient names and addresses before mailing.

The letter text as shown in the meeting said, in summary, that the commission, a volunteer-appointed town committee, had completed a downtown accessibility audit and had noted the business did not have a visible accessible entrance; the letter invited a conversation about potential solutions and provided contact information for the commission.

Commissioners said the outreach would start as a pilot with a subset of businesses that commissioners had inspected and would include follow-up if owners wanted to discuss improvements.