MACHIAS, Maine — There is a handicapped parking spot within 10 feet of the Main Street entrance to the Woodwind Gallery & Framers shop in downtown Machias.
Within 10 feet of the parking space there is a curb cut to allow wheelchairs and mobility scooters to access the paving brick sidewalk.
But as things now stand, the barrier presented by three concrete steps between the sidewalk and the front door of the gallery, frame shop and art supply store would preclude entry by anyone who can’t climb stairs.
Gallery owner Holly Garner-Jackson wants that situation resolved as more than a few of her customers have physical disabilities that preclude them from getting into her shop at 23 Main St. Since renting the space last month, Holly has been working with the building’s owner, Sandi Bryand, to have a wheelchair-accessible ramp designed and built.
As proposed, it would stretch across the face of the building, a ramp virtually identical to the one Bryand has just down the street to accommodate customers at the Bags O Rags thrift shop building that she owns at 40 Main St.
When Bryand first presented the ramp proposal to the town for approval last month, the Board of Selectmen had more questions than she had answers, so the matter was deferred. Unknown to her, she claims, her proposal came up two weeks later and was voted down. To say the least, Bryand was not amused.
On Wednesday she and supporters of a Woodwind Gallery ramp — including one in a wheelchair and others walking with canes — asked the five-member board to reconsider its decision not to allow construction of the ramp.
Without casting a formal vote, the board agreed unanimously that it could not accept the ramp design developed by Bryand and a contractor because it doesn’t meet the strict specifications of the federal Americans With Disabilities Act.
“This board is not anti-handicapped,” said Chairman Aubrey “Skip” Carter. “If we allow a ramp it will have to be built to ADA standards. We want to work with you, and we do not discriminate.”
Town Manager Chris Loughlin told the board he had problems with the ramp as proposed by Bryand because it extends onto the sidewalk.
“By putting it on the sidewalk, you are taking a public asset and diverting it for private use,” he said.
“Right now we are grasping at straws,” Carter said. “We’ll invest some money and have an engineer come down and then report to us.”
Why should the taxpayers of the town of Machias have to pay to have an engineer design a handicapped ramp for a private enterprise??
This is something the property owner should do, at her own expense. It also should not take up public sidewalk space.
Aside from this particular case, this shop has been used for other types of businesses in the past. Why did the owner not provide handicapped access then? It was the law then just as it is now. I commend the art gallery owner for requesting the owner build the accessible ramp.
Where does it say the taxpayers are paying for an engineer for the design? Do the steps take up public sidewalk space? If so, why the problem with a ramp?
The headline says “Machias to hire an engineer to develop Main Street wheelchair ramp options”
In a photo caption it says “The Board of Selectmen agreed Wednesday, May 9, 2012, to hire an engineering firm to explore other designs.”
Look at the last line of the story: “Right now we are grasping at straws,” Carter said. “We’ll invest some money and have an engineer come down and then report to us.”
The story also says “Town Manager Chris Loughlin told the board he had problems with the ramp as proposed by Bryand because it extends onto the sidewalk.”
Of course, we would have to see if that means it significantly obstructs the sidewalk. I’ve seen one that still left about 30 inches of sidewalk in front of the ramp. The town’s little tractor with snowblower had to manuever around the ramp. No big deal.
Thank you -I read the article but was not sure if the headline meant Machias store owner or taxpapers and I did not read the captions. Thank you for clarifying.
You’re welcome.
Wouldn’t it be cheaper for all concerned if the store operator arrange to have their wares in a catalog or bring the items to the window for those with handicaps? Obviously the owners of all these buildings accross America don’t have the money to put in elevators and ramps to every part of their businesses.
Will the ADA just be another nail into the coffins which old downtown business’ that were built before the ADA?
First off, I believe you mean ‘those with DISABILITIES.’ And it’s not too obvious that owner’s of all these buildings … don’t have money’ as this has been the law since 1992 and there’s been plenty of time for accessibility to happen. Sandi B’s been compliant with the law at her other business and everyone has coped with it for years.
Perhaps someone with a better understanding of the law might shed more light on this, but it’s all about ACCESSIBILITY and inclusion in society. Not providing a separate service such as ‘bring(ing) the items to the window.’
As we all get older, Universal Design makes more and more sense as mobility, sight and the other senses deteriorate over time.
Thanks for trying, Sandi.
How many businesses that are trying to eke a living out of these old buildings have the capital to meet every need of those with ‘disabilities’. They are trying to go up against the big box stores and retain customers. In an ideal world the towns would pay for street access to accomidate those with disablilities. Towns would have public restrooms for everyone, tourists and regular shoppers would love it. They would all be a accessable to the disabled.
Perhaps someone could get realistic about the laws regarding accessibility. I hope and pray that I won’t suffer from a disability in the future but I also don’t think that the world will change nor do I expect a small business owner to go to the expense of remodeling their whole store for me.
In this day and age, with the advent of the computer, there is less need to actually go to the store to make your purchases. I am confident that if the customer with difficulty accessing your store can be accomidated by phone if they are that valuable to the store.
Did you miss the part where the owner of the store was trying to comply with the law?
Or maybe the part where this has been the law since 1992?
The town already has curb cuts allowing access to the sidewalk, so that’s not a problem. And you think computers are solving everything, but there are plenty of people who never have and never will use them.
The solution is a simple ramp and after being law for 20 years, somebody at the town office could Google plenty of design specs without hiring an engineer.
http://www.access-board.gov/adaag/html/adaag.htm
All you need is some one like Debbie Gardner from the extension office locally to help design a ramp, she has been doing this for years and is very much aware of what the regs are for the ADA. Did you know that the chamber office in Machias is not accessible?? How nice for tourists who are handicapped to want to inquire about what is available in our area when the Information office is unaccessible
Just to clarify, Sandi has already paid for the designing of a perfectly adequate ramp and is eager to pay for its installation as soon as possible. Holly wants a ramp, which is not required for her business by the ADA, because it is the right thing to do and because it would help her to retain many loyal customers who have mobility impairments whether due to disability, injury or aging. No one is asking or forcing her to “put in elevators and ramps to every part of (her) business” or “to meet every need of those with ‘disabilities'” by “remodeling (her) whole store for (them)”.
You may not have noticed that the business in question is an art gallery and custom framing shop. Most people would find it difficult to be enthralled by an oil painting or to pick the right color from a stack of mat samples over the telephone. People with disabilities, as accustomed as we are to navigating in a society which often ‘handicaps’ us with poor architectural designs, are no different in this respect. You may also consider that the option of shopping by computer is perhaps an even larger “nail in the coffins of old downtown businesses”.
Some people (citizens and taxpayers, by the way) who happen to use wheelchairs still like to support their local shopkeepers. Plus, it’s a lovely opportunity to catch up with old friends and neighborhood news. I also “hope and pray that you wont ‘suffer’ from a disability in the future”. Hopefully by the time that you are no longer able-bodied, you will find that you can simply ‘live’ with a disability thanks to enlightened people like Sandi and Holly who are trying to make the world a more welcoming place… If not, you’ll be praying to at least be able to find an accessible public restroom, that is, if you ever care to venture out into society again.
I totally agree with justsaynotogovt! No taxpayer money should be used for any of this, it should be done totally at the owners expense. The taxpayers already had to pay for a fence to fence off her other property next door to this building just so it “looked better downtown”.
You would think the tenant would of researched this option before moving on Main Steet. How many other businesses are going to ask for help? Can the sidewalk on Main Street be acceassabile all year round to plowing, walking etc…? I think this a great idea but this is going to cost the town money that they dont have.
Before I moved my business, I requested a ramp from the landlady, and she said no problem, she would go to the town selectmen and make the request. That part of the sidewalk is not plowed by the town and is the responsibility of the individual businesses, ie me and the Machias Hardware store.
The design that Sandi’s contractor made of the ramp , leaves 42 inches of sidewalk, which gives more than adequate passage for foot traffic as well as wheelchair traffic. The steps presently protrude 24 inches onto the sidewalk, so Sandi is only asking for 16 inches more to accommodate the ramp. The sidewalk without the curb is 82 inches wide. The design is less than 1 degree off from the ADA standards and this is why the selectmen have decided to get engineers to check the angles and recommend alternatives. It is not our intention to cost the taxpayers any money, that is the selectmen’s idea!
It’s not likely a more selfless person than property owner Sandi could be found in Machias. A credit to the community she’d help anyone in need and I’d wager would even help her detractors here should they ever need help even though, in my opinion, it was their kind that took pleasure in burning those, that they in their ignorance, branded ‘witches’ in colonial times.
Hang your heads in shame, detractors!
Debbie Gardner from the local extension office can do the specs for the ramp, that is what she has done for years and she is very ADA knowledgeable. Why waste taxpayer dollars when you can use local people? All you need to do is download on an ADA website the necessary information. BTW did you know the Machias Chamber office is not accessible? Imagine my surprise when I went to ask a question and there are several steps leading into the office. How nice to have an information center that is not accessible to visitors.
Nothing like turning something simple into rocket science!
The construction of the ramp will be totally at my cost, and would not have cost the town anything had the selectmen trusted me to bring accurate informaton to the meeting. They decided to hire an engineer to check my work and explore possible other options than the design I offer. Even though the American’s With Disabilities guidelines, include the option of exceptions where conditions prevent strict compliance as long as a best effort is made to be compliant which is what I have done repeatedly. I am open to hear all ideas to find a solution as soon as possible.
This is not a solution, rather, I hope it is advice that might prove
helpful to both you and your tenant. In the future pay more attention to
“Phase 5”
Six Phases of a Project
1. Enthusiasm
2. Disillusionment
3. Panic
4. Search for the Guilty
5. Punishment of the Innocent
6. Praise and Honors for the Non-Participants
and the common plight of “MAKERS.” In Machias you are outnumbered two to one!
“No matter where or what, there are makers, takers, and fakers.”
–Robert Heinlein
I agree the owner of the business should be commended for requesting a ramp for the entrance to her business be constructed by her landlord. I don’t understand what all the hub-bub is about. There is a simple solution to Ms. Bryant’s dilemma: Move the fence on her property that abutts the sidewalk, build the ramp on her own property, buy another piece of fence for the offset. (I believe this suggestion was presented to Ms. Bryant by the Board of Selectmen.) Ms. Bryant would have her ramp and the Town wouldn’t have to consult engineers to appease her. Problem solved at NO cost to the Machias taxpayers!
I paid for $3,000 of that fence