MACHIAS, Maine — The wheelchair ramp built by a Machias Main Street business over the objection of the Board of Selectmen has been allowed to stand, but may not be around for very long.
The ramp was built at Woodwind Custom Framers and Gallery by Main Street building owner Sandra Bryand during a prolonged row with town about how the ramp would be placed. Bryand wanted to build the ramp in front of the business, while the town, citing sidewalk access and ramp angle issues, preferred that it be built on the uphill side of her building, where a fence currently sits.
As the sidewalks are the property of the Maine Department of Transportation, a meeting was scheduled for Aug. 1 with the department to discuss the options for construction. Faced with a rotting front stoop Bryand opted to build the ramp last week despite the town’s and DOT’s inclination to hold the meeting first.
On Wednesday DOT engineers measured the ramp. Though they had concerns, the engineers found the ramp conformed with federal guidelines and issued a waiver. That allows Bryand to use the ramp until further notice, but the authorization can be retracted. Should the DOT determine that the ramp is an obstruction, it can force Bryand to remove the ramp.
“The waiver is an at-will license to be in the right of way,” said Steve Landry, assistant state traffic engineer. “But we are protecting ourselves in the future.”
The most important issue is the amount of sidewalk space left outside the ramp. The Americans with Disabilities Act currently calls for 36 inches of open sidewalk space, which the ramp currently leaves available. Next year that number may change to 48 inches, at which point Bryand may be forced to rebuild her ramp to meet those guidelines.
“In the end it meets ADA standards, but if 48 inches is adopted she will have to relocate the ramp,” Landry said.
Town Manager Chris Loughlin is quick to point out that another ramp up the street, though also built onto the sidewalk, leaves a lot of room for pedestrians.
“That ramp leaves four and a half, five feet.” he said. “This one is 36 inches. You have to consider the other users of the sidewalk. Usually a business owner puts their ramp on their own property.”
Even though a waiver was granted both the DOT and the town are disappointed that the ramp was built as it was. “We were hoping to reach a mutually agreeable solution,” Loughlin said.
Loughlin also was quick to point out that the problems with the sidewalks in Machias go beyond access space.
“This is probably one of the newer sidewalks in the state, from 1987,” he said. “But it needs a lot of work and the town gets $3,000 a year for maintenance, way below what we need.”
As for Bryand, regardless of the concerns expressed by the town and the DOT, she’s satisfied with the successful completion of her project.
This really good news, have been watching this situation, ya know, Machias is a nice town, I love driving the four-wheeler off the trail and the wife and I can drive right up and get breakfast. That is a rare special priviledge, thanks Machias.
Time to start voting new town leaders in! This is just foolish!
Well, if I had to guess, I would say that the owner of the business tried to work with the town and they procrastinated and would get off the lazy butts and get an answer to them. So, they did it anyways. Machias officals….a bunch of bafoons. I am surprised “the law in town up over the hill” did weigh in…
I support handicap accessibility 100%, but there is a permit process. This just tells people to go ahead and build and they will let you leave it because it is already built. I guess this means the town should do away with building permits and the planning board?
Yes exactly, they should do away with building permits and planning board, we got along just fine in the 50’s and 60’s without that bull.
Unless, of course, you happened to be disabled.
…do ANY politicians make decisions any more or do they mulch things over endlessly just to consider the impact on their political careers ?…
Stewart, maybe when the next seat on the Board of Selectmen become’s available, you should think about running. If you sat on the board, you might understand what has gone on behind the scenes of this whole ramp issue, or if you attended the Selectmen’s meetings, you might know a little more. These five men that make the decisions for the Town of Machias, do a lot for our town. Before you go throwing your nasty comments around, maybe you ought to remember, that it was these five men that made sure that the property taxes in Machias were NOT increased last year or this year! These men don’t serve on the board for the little stipend they receive. They serve on the board because they CARE about our town and want to do what they can for the town. Before you start slinging mud, you should be more informed about what you are commenting on.
Thank you, Machias Selectmen, for trying to do what you thought was best for the Town.
Especially, when Ms. Bryant had property adjacent to the building that she could have built the ramp on.
It sounds like you are married to one of the memebers of the “boys club”. Dont get me going on unfinished business. There is a long list of unfinished business that NEVER gets resolved. People in this town are tired. If you attended a town meeting and only a few people show up…what does that tell you? The town caters to no one. Welcome to Machias..Now get out!
She wouldn’t have the drama, public meetings on Main St. to review the ramp, or newspaper articles if she built an approved ramp on her property. What fun is that for her?
THE SKY IS FALLING, THE SKY IS FALLING!
(Another Machias Chicken Little rears it’s ugly head)