Norwalk ADA committee trims capital request to $336,000, prioritizes Gallaher Mansion elevator
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Summary
The Norwalk City ADA Committee reduced its fiscal-year capital submittal to $336,000 after a citywide 30% budget cut. The committee said it will prioritize an estimated $400,000 elevator at Gallaher Mansion and delay lower-priority work at the Benjamin Franklin Community Center if needed.
The Norwalk City ADA Committee on Wednesday adjusted its capital budget submittal to $336,000, a 30% reduction from the $480,000 figure the committee had prepared, after a city finance directive to lower department requests across the board.
Bill, who chaired the meeting, told committee members the chief financial officer instructed all departments to cut requested budgets by 30% because of concerns about the city's bond rating. He and Keena McMahon, the committee's new human services director, confirmed the committee will record the $336,000 request for fiscal year 27.
Why it matters: the committee had earlier divided $480,000 among three projects: $250,000 for an elevator at Gallaher Mansion (Cranberry Park), $150,000 for ADA improvements at the Norwalk Senior Center on Allen Road, and $80,000 for upgrades at the Benjamin Franklin Community Center. Bill said the elevator project's total cost is expected to be roughly $400,000 and can be phased over two years if funding is not provided up front.
Committee discussion focused on how to prioritize and phase work if the reduced request holds. Bill said he prefers to fund the elevator upfront to avoid stopping midproject and proposed a phased approach of $250,000 year one and $150,000 in year two. He also said some Benjamin Franklin Center work (replacement grab bars, sink insulation and signage) could be delayed or scaled back; grab-bar and plumbing insulation repairs were identified as the highest immediate priorities.
Keena McMahon, the newly introduced human services director, and other members discussed practical fixes that would save money, such as deferring nonrequired power door openers and staging exterior ramp construction in phases. The committee noted that building-code requirements and usage thresholds—not the ADA itself—determine when power door openers are required.
Bill said rec and parks staff might be able to contribute funds to the elevator project and that the committee will continue to press for interdepartmental cooperation. Suzanne Genetti will circulate advocacy strategy materials to members to support the committee's request through the mayor's office and subsequent review steps.
Next steps: the committee recorded the $336,000 request and plans to monitor the budget-review process while pursuing additional internal funding or phased construction as needed.
