MACHIAS, Maine — One Main Street business in downtown Machias believes that the struggle to provide for handicapped access is finally over.
The town doesn’t agree.
When building owner Sandra Bryand and her tenant Holly Garner-Jackson, proprietor of Woodwind Custom Framers and Gallery at 23 Main St., proposed a ramp to the entrance of the store in April, the Machias Board of Selectmen voted against it until further study could be done to determine where it would go. Bryand and Garner-Jackson planned on building it in front of the shop, while the selectmen worried that the ramp would impede use of the sidewalk.
After submitting engineering and Americans with Disabilities Act reports to the town and still not getting approval, Bryand was told the plans must go through the Maine Department of Transportation. After speaking with the DOT she took the next step and began building the ramp as she had designed it with support of Garner-Jackson’s customers, including many who rely on wheelchairs.
The town of Machias is less pleased with Bryand’s actions.
“We don’t want it the way she’s installing it,” said Town Manager Chris Loughlin. “It makes using the sidewalk difficult, and the way it’s pointing [downhill] makes the ramp potentially dangerous for someone coming from the handicapped parking spot.”
Loughlin and the town are not against a ramp being built and had their own design, which involved the removal of a fence to make more room for the ramp.
“The uphill side makes it easier to use and keeps it more off the sidewalk,” Loughlin explained.
Bryand and the town had planned a meeting with the DOT on Aug. 1 to finalize plans on the ramp, but a rotting entryway forced Bryand to rebuild the front stoop and she opted to put the ramp in at the same time.
Though she began the ramp construction without permission, the town hasn’t decided what steps it will take.
“As far as I know the [Aug. 1] meeting is still going to take place,” Loughlin said. “We’ll wait until then to take any action.”
The meeting will be held out in front of the storefront, where Bryand and Garner-Jackson hope to show town officials an already functional and well used ramp.
Garner-Jackson is especially excited as her customers have been requesting a ramp since she moved to the location from her previous building, which has a ramp.
“We’re planning on having wheelchair party once it’s finished,” she said. “One customer even told me he’d take off his prosthetic leg and come in on a wheelchair.”
It amazes me how arrogant people are. She has no regard to anyone else or the fact that to build without a permit is illegal. I say make her tear it down and put it back as the town says. I saw the ramp this morning and is definitely heading downhill–not too smart…
It should be between her and her customers, the town needs to butt out.
The ramp takes over half the sidewalk…..I’d imagine that makes it a town issue.
Gladys, dear, I beg to differ. First, you must not know that “she” is dedicated to helping everyone she can, is extremely generous with her time and resources, and for months has been trying to build a safe ramp for people with wheelchairs, walkers or strollers – none of which she uses, by the way. I think that this all demonstrates a particularly high regard for other’s needs as opposed to your assertion that “she has no regard to anyone else”. Unfortunately, good deeds are often not appreciated and sometimes even resented. I imagine your misconstrued notions may have been influenced by unkind remarks that you may have overheard from petty little people of that sort.
Secondly, since you are evidently still inexperienced at wheelchair use, I should warn you that your assumption that a ramp that leads to a continuation of the downhill slope is “not too smart” is not completely accurate. Obviously, a level road would be the preferred option, if that were possible. However, in this case, turning the ramp around could prove more dangerous. Coming down a ramp that connects to a slope in the opposite, uphill direction can easily lead to what is usually called a “face-plant” onto the pavement. It is painful, lacks dignity, and is to be avoided.
Three months to make a decision they act like baboons.
It is not like this was a minor issue. People in wheel chairs need to be able to get in and out of this store as well as others. They should have had a plan and decision much faster. It not only stopped people from getting in and out of the store but cost the business customers. Sounds like an ADA violation to me.
If they’re going to go after her, they need to go after the other merchants on the same block who put displays of their wares out on the sidewalk and block the way. They’ve been doing that for years.
ohhh nooo….
a RAMP is leading down to a SLOPE….
From what I have seen of Machias, I think this Loughlin, would be just happy there was a business open down there, LOL.
Help me out here.
Is Machias Town Manager, Christopher Laughlin the same Christopher Laughlin who was
Director of Support Services, Down East Community Hospital, when
(discharged patient) Reid Emery froze to death in the hospital parking lot?
A big “Thank You” to Sandi and Holly for withstanding nearly four months of delaying tactics and tangles of red tape, and not giving up. One small ramp in Machias, one giant leap for those with disabilities. This is a victory for common-sense, fairness and inclusivity.
Now, if the Machias town officials are actually on the side of small businesses and of the people who use wheelchairs, I anticipate that ramp-construction will be encouraged throughout the town. There is much more work to be done. It is easy to hide indifference and inertia behind further studies, meetings and impractical proposals, however.
I wouldn’t hold your breath on ramps appearing at businesses throughout town.
The issue at hand here is not that the Town doesn’t want her to build a ramp, the issue is WHERE she wants the ramp. She owns enough property adjacent to the building to construct the ramp AND keep the sidewalk clear at the same time. (By the way, Noreaster, she owns the same business you are referring to that displays her wares on the sidewalk!) But, she obviously thinks she is above the rest of us who have to apply for building permits from the Town if we want to build additions to our properties, and has gone ahead and built it anyway. The Town is responsible for clearing the snow from the sidewalks and the upkeep of the sidewalks…..I question whether the Maine DOT has actually given permission for this ramp to be built.
If the Town officials and the State agree to let her keep the ramp where it is, then they are just opening the door for everyone in the Town of Machias to do whatever they darned-well please without gettting permits, or paying taxes on improvements. Ms Bryant, by the way, hasn’t paid her property taxes in 2 years!!!
I say she should be forced to take down the ramp and build it on her own property.
…GO Sandi !…
that shop really dont do enough bussiness to even go threw all this crap,,she thinks shes above the law and everyone else in this town,,,shes one of the hens that talk about people like theyre nothing,,she should be made to take it down,,,let alone it is making the side walk smaller and harder for other peopl who need to use it,,,what makes u so special gossip queens??
just a couple of gossiping hens who want to get there way and think theyre above any law,,,plz, that place dont do enough bussiness to go threw all that agravation,,,and now the sidewalk the other public people use is way to small,,,I mean really,,,they went and made it any way and they should be made to take it down untill a reasonable decison is made the right way,,you two are no better then any one else in this town.