Date: Thu 02-Jan-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: DOTTIE

Quick Words:

Beres-ADA-Booth-Library

Full Text:

SIDEBAR: Beres Calls Library's Handicapped Entrance "Inaccessible"

BY DOROTHY EVANS

On the eve of the Cyrenius H. Booth Library's long-awaited reopening Sunday,

January 11, all is not well in libraryland. It seems a cloud is still hovering

over 25 Main Street -- a stubborn one that has refused to blow away.

At issue is the relative accessibility and safety of the library's new

handicapped access entrance ramp, and for the immediate future, at least one

Newtown resident, Wendy Beres, feels that the library should not be used

before the issue is resolved.

Mrs Beres has sent a letter to First Selectman Herb Rosenthal dated December

29 in which she points out that the access ramp does not comply with

guidelines of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA).

Calling it a "very serious situation," Mrs Beres stated that the building

should not be used for local municipal meetings "until such time as the ramp

is re-configured to comply."

At issue is the extreme length of the ramp (more than 160 feet) and the fact

that the ramp lacks the ADA required 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 cannot accommodate more than one wheelchair at a

time, coming or going.

"It's not a good situation and if they open it, they're open for a lawsuit.

There are some serious ramifications. It's dangerous," Mrs Beres concluded,

speaking from her Turkey Hill Road home Tuesday morning.

Clearly, said Mrs Beres, the architect "did not understand or follow the ADA

guidelines."

In her letter she also pointed out to Mr Rosenthal that several individuals

involved in the library project had been alerted to problems with the access

ramp earlier, but had seemingly "taken no action."

Those cited were Building Inspector Al Brinley, ADA Coordinator Fred Hurley,

chairman of the Public Building and Site Commission Frank Krasnickas, the

library board and members of the Legislative Council.

Rosenthal Seeks Answers

First Selectman Rosenthal said Tuesday that he and Mrs Beres would meet at the

library later in the week so he could see first hand what the problems were.

He has also contacted the architect to try to ascertain why the ADA guidelines

were not followed.

"Once I find out, I'll see what we have to do. Meanwhile, we'll hold no

selectmen's meetings in the library as originally planned," Mr Rosenthal said.

Mainly, he felt that to hold public meetings in a facility that might not be

accessible to all residents would violate Freedom of Information (FOI)

constraints.

"That's a cut and dried issue," he added.

As for opening the library to patrons for general use, Mr Rosenthal said that

since a certificate of occupancy had been issued, he thought there shouldn't

be a problem. Enforcement of ADA guidelines would come from the Justice

Department, he added, saying, "It's a federal issue. Someone would have to

file a complaint."

But Mr Rosenthal hopes it doesn't have to come to that.

"There ought to be a way to open the library and correct the problem in the

spring when the area can be worked. We definitely want to take action to

resolve this problem, but I'm not going to spout off until I hear from the

architect," Mr Rosenthal said.