Architectural Access Board (AAB) Subcommittee Is Seeking Membership

The Massachusetts Architectural Access Board (AAB) is a state agency that enforces regulations designed to make public buildings accessible to, functional for, and safe for use by persons with disabilities.

To carry out the AAB’s mandate, regulations are incorporated in the Massachusetts building code that are designed to provide full use of buildings and facilities so that persons with disabilities may have equal education, employment, living and recreational opportunities.

The authority of the AAB is triggered by any construction, renovation, remodeling, or alteration of a public building or facility. Public buildings are those that are open to public use, as well as privately financed buildings that are open to and used by the public.

The nine member Board meets every other Monday to hear requests for variances by building owners and to hear complaints about buildings that are believed to be in violation of the AAB regulations. All hearings on complaints and variance requests are open to the public.

The Board also has the authority, after a further hearing, to impose fines of up to $1,000 per violation for each day of noncompliance.

In its efforts to expand the Subcommittee on Regulations, and improve the quality of the regulatory process, the AAB is extending this invitation to all interested parties to have them submit a resume and letter of interest to the AAB Office for membership consideration. This is a volunteer position, which will involve detailed reading and code comparison, as well as individual light research assignments. The Subcommittee on Regulations generally meets 6-8 times a year and are hoping to add more meetings to speed up the promulgation process.

Please submit resumes and letters of interest to the AAB Office, attention Thomas Hopkins, Executive Director at the following address: One Ashburton Place, Room 1310, Boston, MA 02108. Resumes and letters of interest for consideration will be accepted up until Monday, October 1, 2007.