Handicap accessibility rating low in Saugus

SAUGUS – If the team that surveyed the streets Tuesday were to grade the town on handicap accessibility it’s likely the town would not pass.Dennis Gould, who is a resident as well as a community access monitor for the state, conducted a survey with the help of a group from the Americans with Disability Association.Split into teams the group prowled the main streets of the town to judge which were handicap accessible and which were not.In terms of gathering data to present to the town regarding accessibility Gould said the outing was perfect. In terms of the town’s actual accessibility, it was dismal.”We really haven’t moved forward,” Gould said.In the 1990’s the town received a transitional plan that if followed would bring it into compliance with the ADA. But the plan was not followed.Town Meeting member Al DiNardo has placed an article on the warrant of the next special Town Meeting requesting $150,000 to address the handicap access issue but Gould said that would only cover priorities.The main priorities as Gould sees it are basic curb cuts.”We don’t do curb cuts very well,” he said.A number of the schools as well as handicap and senior related places such as Heritage Heights don’t have the proper curb cuts or any at all and have sidewalks that are not only lacking but in at least one case downright dangerous.Gould said one wheelchair-bound gentleman that he toured with hit three potholes in sidewalks near Heritage Heights, one so severe he didn’t think the man would be able to work his wheelchair free.Once Gould finishes his report he will forward it to the Massachusetts Office on Disabilities. The office will then write a letter to the town pointing out its deficiencies. It would also most likely suggest a self-evaluation and transitional plan for the community to address the deficiencies.The Sidewalk Committee meets next month and Gould said he would also make his presentation there as well at the next Disability Commission meeting, which is just days later. From there representatives of both committees will accompany Gould to the next Board of Selectmen meeting where he will once again give his presentation.”We’ll tell the Selectmen and the Town Manager what we think we should do, then we wait to see what happens,” he said.Whether the town wants to face facts or not, the lack of handicap access is a big issue, Gould said. Once Gould presents his report, if the town chooses to ignore it, it could result in a violation of the ADA requirements, which could lead to even larger problems for the town.He also pointed out that should the state step in and require the town to hire a consultant, it will end up paying roughly $150,000 for what Gould and his team just did for free.Gould called the survey eye opening, particularly for people who didn’t realize how bad the accessibility is. But the answer he feels is simple: comply with the state codes for handicap accessibility.”If you want to go from Saugus Center to the high school or from Saugus Center to Cliftondale it should be possible,” he said.