Date: Fri 09-Jan-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Booth-Library-ADA-Beres

Full Text:

Rosenthal Asks State To Make The Call On Library Access To The Handicapped

(with cut)

BY STEVE BIGHAM

First Selectman Herb Rosenthal has called upon the state to answer the latest

question facing the Cyrenius H. Booth Library: is its sloped sidewalk

handicapped accessible?

Last week Wendy Beres spoke out in opposition to the ramp, claiming it does

not comply with the guidelines of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA).

At issue is the extreme length of the more than 160-foot ramp and the fact

that it lacks the ADA square resting or passing area needed every 30 feet; it

follows a precipitous retaining wall and is not protected by a guard rail; and

its width can not accommodate more than one wheelchair at a time, coming or

going.

"I'm just looking to make sure that, A) no one gets hurt and, B) the town

doesn't open itself up to even more library lawsuits," said Mrs Beres,

chairman of the town's Persons With Disabilities Committee.

In response to Mrs Beres' December 29 letter, Mr Rosenthal visited the library

late last week to get a closer look at the "ramp" that has become the latest

in a string of controversies surrounding the $4 million library renovation

project.

"I can see her point," Mr Rosenthal said. "It's not friendly to the

handicapped."

However, according to library architect Bruce Tuthill, the "ramp" does meet

ADA guidelines because it is actually an "accessway," not a "ramp." The

difference between a ramp and accessway is determined by the degree of the

slope grade (1:20), Mr Tuthill explained.

Mrs Beres, however, said this goes beyond ADA laws and has more to do with

state building codes. The Newtown activist wrote a second letter to Mr

Rosenthal earlier this week claiming that the parking lot is also dangerously

sloped.

"According to the state building code, parking lots are supposed to be flat,"

Mrs Beres said. "This isn't just an ADA issue, this is about state building

code."

Mrs Beres suggested that the first selectman hold off on the library's grand

re-opening (scheduled for Sunday) until he is sure that all aspects of the

library are in compliance. However, none of the issues is expected to be

resolved by this weekend and the re-opening/ribbon cutting is expected to go

ahead as scheduled.

Mr Rosenthal has announced that no public meetings will be held until state

officials make a final determination. Freedom of Information (FOI) laws

require that all meetings be accessible to the public.

Mrs Beres said she informed town officials last summer that she felt the ramp

had flaws.

"They could have rectified it right up front before anything was done," Mrs

Beres said.