ADA, Cemetery Upgrades on North Adams' Agenda
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The council voted to table two funding requests until the next meeting. |
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The city hopes to begin bringing the city up to compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act in the next few months.
The City Council on Tuesday night tabled for two weeks a $250,000 bond request to cover the first phase of the project to allow councilors time to review the line items involved.
The U.S. Department of Justice found numerous violations of the federal law after a complaint was lodged over access to the police station. The DOJ and the city have negotiated over some 300 items, some of which can be addressed within the city budget and others at significant cost.
Administrative Officer Michael Canales said the funding should cover 90 percent of the issues, but not the biggest ones — such as the police station and Alcombright Field.
"This is everything from coat hooks to bathroom rails," he said after councilors were given a printout of the spreadsheet of items. "The final 10 percent could be in the millions."
The outlined work includes renovations of restrooms, ramps, grab bars and signage on the lower end and nearly $46,000 for Braille signs, elevator adjustments, doors and bathrooms renovations at City Hall. Another $47,000 is targeted for Windsor Lake and the campground for parking, accessible paths, buildings and bathrooms, and signage.
"This will tackle all of the smaller items," said Canales. "The building inspector looked into the cost of anything we had to buy and then we're going to do as much in-house as we possibly can."
Some of the costs will also be offset through funding such as Community Development Block Grants and nonprofits using the city facilities, such as the Northern Berkshire YMCA, will use grant funding for ADA-related issues.
Councilor John Barrett III was quickly seconded on a motion to table the matter for review. "I would just like to look at it and read it," he said.
Mayor Richard Alombright said much of the work can be done in-house but pointed councilors to final line item for $40,000 to hire two temporary laborers to work with the building inspector.
"Some of the jobs are probably too big for one or two people," he said.
Barrett asked if the council would see an analysis of the public safety building.
The mayor replied that full study would be done on renovations to current building, renovations to another building and building new. Officials have informally met with a company does analyses and Alcombright said a request for proposals would be forthcoming.
The city has three years to address the issues although Alcombright said the DOJ is aware the public safety building is a major undertaking.
Councilor Jennifer Breen said several times that she couldn't understand how the city had fallen so far behind in compliance, focusing on a handicapped bathroom at Alcombright Field that was difficult to enter.
Alcombright said many of the buildings had been built prior to ADA or had not had significant changes to require updates.
"Everything was done within the rules and regulations of the time. Rules change," said Barrett, who was mayor when the field and some other buildings were renovated.
Vice President Lisa Blackmer, who was presiding, cut off debate between Breen and Barrett, saying, "we're discussing a borrowing order, the past is the past. Let's move on."
The council also delayed a request to take $20,000 out of the $42,000 Tinker account for improvements at Hillside and Southview cemeteries.
Alcombright said past practice had indicated the trust created by the estate of E.R. Tinker could be used for "cemeteries" and not just Hillside, where the Tinker family mausoleum is located.
Barrett said the fund could only be used for Hillside but acknowledged funds had been used for equipment and labor that could also be used at Southview. Several audience members, however, insisted it could only be used for the mausoleum and the area immediately surrounding it.
The mayor said he would split amount evenly between the perpetual care account (which has only $12,000) and the Tinker account, but would research the trust more.
The funds for Hillside are expected to be matched by fundraising to begin restoration of the historic cemetery. Resident Roger Eurbin has been cataloging the cemetery and is spearheading the project with the mayor's office.
In other business, the council approved:
• Renewal of secondhand business licenses to Mary Ann George for Mary Ann-Tiques at 615 Ashland St.; Jeffrey Hudson for Hudson at 1112 Mass MoCA Way; and James Montepare for Empire Antiques at 63 Main St.
• An application by Michael McMillian of Houghton Street to drive a taxi for David Smith's American Cab.
Tags: ADA, cemetery, city council, DOJ,
