Disability Commission Nominates New Chair, Vice Chair

Other Committee · Meeting of June 9, 2026

NORTHAMPTON — The Northampton Disability Commission nominated City Councilor Dubs for chair and floated Amy Lawton for vice chair, with a formal vote set for July 14. Outgoing Chair Lawton and Vice Chair Emma Cornwell both stepped back after years leading the seven-member panel, while member Jenna Perna-Elias announced she is leaving the commission for graduate school. Councilor Dubs also briefed the group on a city council order accepting Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40U, which would let Northampton use administrative hearing officers and property liens to enforce its snow and ice removal ordinance; she said "it's not like the solution to everything, but it's definitely... an official step." The commission approved its May 19 minutes 4-0, with three abstentions, and tentatively moved its Disability Pride Month reading event at Forbes Library from July 23 to July 16 to accommodate a librarian's schedule.

In the full story:

• Roll Call and Minutes
• Sunwood Builders Variance Withdrawal
• Disability Resource Fair and July Events
• Councilor Dubs Updates: Sidewalks, New Member, Snow Ordinance
• Human Rights Commission Update
• Disability Pride Month Reading Event Planning
• ADA Transition Plan Update
• Chair and Vice Chair Nominations
• Other Business Not Anticipated
• Adjournment
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 2,387 words

Source: the Other Committee meeting of June 9, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.