A group of residents have submitted a report to West Windsor officials detailing what they say is a lack of ADA compliance on the township’s part.
Resident Michael Ogg approached the Township Council during the February 16 meeting to present the findings of a partial audit conducted by a group of residents to determine which items in the township’s ADA Transition Plan — adopted in 1992 — had yet to be rectified.
According to Ogg, who has multiple sclerosis and uses a wheelchair, the township was supposed to rectify all of the issues by January, 1995. Now, 15 years later, some issues are still unresolved.
The group looked at the interior and exterior of the municipal building, the Ron Rogers Arboretum, Van Nest, Community, Hendrickson, and Zaitz parks, and the Conover Road Athletic Complex.
“Although the township has made some progress on ADA compliance since it adopted the plan on July 13, 1992, it is distressing to see so many items that were identified but still have not been resolved more than 15 years after the deadline,” the report concluded. “It is also distressing that the township has not updated the plan and that some items, constructed after the plan was adopted, are still not ADA compliant.”
At the municipal building, the group found that the main public entrance doors are compliant and that the main public entrance ramp is compliant, although the distance of the nearest curb ramp to the beginning of the building’s access ramp is over 100 feet.
The audit states that the employee entrance and entrance to the east side of the municipal building are not ADA accessible, but that they are not required to be compliant. The group found height violations with the windows in the Violations Bureau in the courthouse and that the entrances to the courthouse and police station are not ADA compliant. The doors to the restrooms there and the height of the toilets are also in violation, it stated.
The doors to the public areas in the Health and Recreation departments do not comply with regulations, the group also wrote.
The audit also stated that “there are many issues with the sidewalks, particularly the one between the municipal building and the courthouse/police station,” the group wrote. “These include broken paving slabs, excessive grades, excessive steps, obstructions, and insufficient clearance.”
In Van Nest Park, the group wrote that the path from the parking lot to the picnic area and boat dock is not compliant because “of incorrect construction (e.g. the railroad ties between the parking lot and the path) and some to insufficient maintenance (e.g. tree roots breaking through the path).”
The restrooms at Van Nest Park are not accessible and do not comply with requirements, and the edge of the boat dock is completely unprotected, creating a dangerous situation for all users, particularly young children, the group found. There is also no accessible route to the barbecue pit, and there is no wheelchair seating at the picnic area.
“Van Nest Park is one of West Windsor’s most popular family picnic areas from at least Memorial Day to Labor Day,” the audit stated. “Many local and visiting families have a disabled parent and/or child. The township should welcome such users of its facilities.”
At Hendrickson Park, there is no accessible parking that conforms with ADA regulations, and the path from the parking area to the tennis courts and the Ron Rogers Arboretum is too steep and does not comply, the group wrote.
At the arboretum, several parts of the path, particularly near the September 11 memorial, are uneven, have broken paving slabs, or have steps that are nonconforming, and while the gazebo itself is accessible, there is no accessible route to get to it, the group wrote.
At Community Park, there is no striping in the handicapped accessible parking space, and there is no accessible drinking fountain. There is also no accessible route to Water Park from the entrance on Princeton-Hightstown Road, the group wrote.
At the Conover Road Athletic Complex, there are no accessible routes to any of the fields, and there is no accessible parking. At Zaitz Park, there are also no accessible routes to any of the fields, and the rear fields can only be reached by a roadway “covered in very coarse gravel that is almost impassable for a wheelchair.”
Township Business Administrator Robert Hary said he would be reviewing the report and Ogg’s observations to come up with priorities and determinations “as to what we can do to improve our ADA compliance.” The Township Council has also put the topic on the agenda for discussion at its agenda session in mid-March.
Hary said that “it’s not that we haven’t done things to comply with ADA regulations or made improvements.” He pointed to the recently upgraded wheelchair access to the municipal building vestibule, which was requested this past year by Ogg. Also, in the senior center, officials were sure to install a door that was “as ADA compliant as possible.”
“We’ve been working with all of our new buildings to the extent we can to become ADA compliant and friendly as possible,” Hary said.
There are some things that the township has already scheduled for repair, Hary said, including the sidewalk leading to the Health and Recreation trailer. The sidewalk is heaving due to roots from a tree and normal wear and tear and is scheduled for repair in the spring.
“It is a challenge,” Hary added. “Clearly there are a lot of township properties, and a lot of construction was done prior to ADA laws, which would require a significant amount of retro-fitting.”
EMS Billing. In other business, the Township Council will review an ordinance for possible introduction at its meeting on Monday, March 1, for EMS billing.
According to Business Administrator Robert Hary, the ordinance would permit the township to bill third-party insurances for ambulance services that are provided from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. “It’s estimated we can generate approximately $200,000 worth of revenue annually,” said Hary.
