Part 2: Accessibility Discussions, Election Planning, and Future Policy Direction — 06/15/2026
- PECConnect
- Jun 15
- 5 min read
While Part 1 focused on the major topics discussed during the Accessibility Advisory Committee's final meeting of the 2022-2026 term, the conversation was also shaped by several committee members, staff representatives, and council members who shared their perspectives on accessibility, planning, elections, and the future direction of the committee.
Accessibility Awareness and Community Engagement
One of the first discussions centered on the success of National Accessibility Week. Staff member Meagan Dowling presented the results of the County's public awareness campaign, highlighting strong engagement with social media posts about beach accessibility, Mobi-Mats, Quinte Transit, and other accessibility initiatives. Dowling explained that the Mobi-Mat content generated the highest reach and engagement across County platforms, showing strong public interest in accessible recreational opportunities.
Environmental Services and Sustainability Supervisor Albert Paschkowiak praised both the communications team and staff for promoting accessibility initiatives. He pointed out that the accessibility posts generated engagement levels comparable to municipal election content, which he viewed as a positive sign that residents are paying attention to accessibility issues throughout the community.
Committee members generally supported continuing National Accessibility Week activities in future years, and Dowling confirmed that staff intend to continue the annual campaign.
View the entire PEC Council Meeting; or view our recap>
Accessibility Feedback System Showing Results
When staff presented updates on accessibility feedback submissions received from residents, committee members discussed how the reporting process has evolved.
Committee Chair Sarah Moffatt reminded members that the feedback form was originally championed by the committee because residents previously lacked a clear and consistent way to report barriers they encountered on municipal property. Moffatt noted that this was the first time the committee had received a detailed report on the submissions and outcomes.
During the discussion, Albert Paschkowiak specifically asked for follow-up information regarding concerns about skating aids at Picton Arena. Staff confirmed that the issue had been forwarded to the responsible department and that additional information would be provided once available.
The committee voted unanimously to receive the accessibility feedback update and continue monitoring future submissions.
Municipal Election Accessibility Planning
The upcoming 2026 Municipal Election generated considerable interest from committee members.
Bob Waldon from the Clerk's Office provided an update on election preparations and explained that curbside voting would be available for residents who prefer to vote from their vehicles. He also highlighted the continued use of online voting and described ongoing accessibility reviews of polling locations throughout the County.
Moffatt welcomed the variety of voting options being offered, noting that flexibility helps ensure residents with different accessibility needs can participate in the democratic process.
The committee voted to receive the election update and expressed support for the accessibility measures being implemented.
Building Accessibility into Every Council Decision
One of the most detailed conversations of the evening focused on the proposed Accessibility Lens for staff reports.
Bob Waldon explained that the idea was inspired by a recently developed environmental review framework. The goal would be to require staff to consider accessibility impacts whenever reports and recommendations are prepared for council.
Albert Paschkowiak encouraged the committee to keep the framework simple and practical. He suggested using categories already contained within the County's accessibility feedback form, including physical, architectural, communication, technological, attitudinal, and organizational barriers. Paschkowiak emphasized that staff should honestly identify both positive and negative accessibility impacts when preparing reports.
Committee member Jeffrey Beatty expanded on that idea, arguing that accessibility should extend far beyond physical infrastructure. Bailey specifically highlighted communication access, website accessibility, digital services, hybrid meetings, captioning, sign language interpretation, emergency information, and public engagement as areas that should be considered whenever decisions are being made.
Councillor Roy Pennell supported the initiative but also stressed the importance of practical review. Pennell argued that accessibility considerations should be incorporated earlier in development projects and suggested that committee members should have opportunities to physically examine sites when accessibility concerns arise.
The committee ultimately supported continuing work on the Accessibility Lens concept. Bailey volunteered to help develop recommendations, and Waldon agreed to work with him to prepare future guidance for staff.
Planning Applications and Site Accessibility
Accessibility considerations in development projects generated another substantial discussion.
Paschkowiak raised questions about a proposed condominium and subdivision development near Fogart Lane and asked how accessibility requirements are considered during the planning process. Planning staff member Stuart Cade explained that many accessibility reviews occur later in the planning process through zoning and site plan review stages rather than at the preliminary subdivision stage.
Pennell again emphasized the importance of site access and inspection opportunities. He argued that accessibility should be fully considered in new developments and businesses before projects move forward.
Committee member Ben Thornton expressed interest in visiting the site to gain a better understanding of the proposal and its surroundings. Cade indicated that any site visit would need to be coordinated through planning staff because the property remains privately owned.
The committee agreed that the Planning Working Group should continue reviewing applications and providing comments where appropriate through the remainder of the term.
Looking Ahead to the Next Committee
As the meeting drew to a close, members shifted their attention toward priorities for the next Accessibility Advisory Committee.
Paschkowiak recommended early diversity, equity, and inclusion training for future committee members and suggested making plain language a stronger requirement across municipal documents and procedures. Thornton advocated for ensuring accessibility is considered from the very beginning of projects, whether they involve physical spaces or digital services.
Moffatt also encouraged future committee members to continue building relationships with community organizations and accessibility advocates. Several members expressed support for reviving community networking events that bring accessibility-focused organizations together to share ideas and collaborate.
Before the meeting ended, Councillor Roy Pennell announced that he would not be seeking another term on council due to health reasons. Pennell thanked committee members for their work and encouraged them to consider serving again, emphasizing that accessibility remains an important issue for the County's future.
What This Means for Locals
For the County residents, the biggest takeaway is that accessibility is becoming more integrated into how municipal decisions are made. The committee spent considerable time discussing ways to move accessibility beyond individual projects and into everyday municipal operations, planning reviews, communications, and council decision-making.
Residents can also expect additional accessibility options during the 2026 Municipal Election, including curbside voting and continued online voting opportunities. Meanwhile, the accessibility feedback process remains available for anyone who encounters barriers in municipal facilities, programs, or services.
Perhaps most importantly, many of the committee's discussions focused on creating long-term systems rather than one-time projects. Whether through accessibility reviews, plain language initiatives, development planning, or future staff report requirements, members repeatedly emphasized making accessibility part of the County's culture rather than treating it as a separate issue. If those ideas continue into the next council term, residents may see accessibility considerations appearing much earlier and more consistently in municipal projects across the County.
Disclaimer: This article is based on a meeting with an approximate duration of 1:10:41. Due to the length of the meeting, our team was not able to independently review the full recording in its entirety. As a result, we relied on software-generated transcription, automated summarization, and automated recognition of speakers and participants, which may not be entirely accurate. All transcriptions, summaries, and related content are prepared by our team in good faith and on a reasonable best-efforts basis. The content is provided for general informational purposes only and is intended to support public understanding of the topics discussed. While reasonable efforts have been made to present the information accurately, automated processes may result in errors, omissions, or unintended misinterpretations. This article does not constitute an official, certified, or verbatim record of the meeting, and it should not be relied upon as such. Readers are encouraged to consult original source materials, official minutes, or recordings where available for confirmation or clarification. Questions, requests for clarification, or suggested corrections may be submitted to hello@pecconnect.ca for review and consideration.
Comments