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Commission seeks ADA grant funds for automatic doors, lowered counter and evacuation track
Summary
Townsend's COOD identified two building-specific grant applications (town hall and police station) that would fund automatic push‑button doors, an accessible counter and an evacuation stair track, and voted to authorize letters in support of those grant applications.
The Townsend Commission on Disability voted May 28 to authorize the chair to draft support letters for two ADA improvement grant applications that would fund accessibility upgrades at town hall and the police station.
Chair Cindy King told members the state requires detailed, itemized estimates for any project submitted under the ADA improvement grant. She said the commission is pursuing two separate building grant submissions — one for town hall and one for the police station — and listed priority projects including automatic push‑button doors for both buildings, lowering the treasurer/assessor counter for wheelchair access, and a stair-evacuation track to aid people who cannot use stairs.
King explained the grant is a reimbursement program and the town must front expenditures before being reimbursed. She warned that town free‑cash available next spring could limit the town’s ability to advance reimbursement-eligible purchases and recommended keeping requested amounts modest and realistic. ‘‘We can get up to $250,000 worth of stuff. This is a reimbursement grant. The town has to spend the money first,’’ she said.
Members discussed procurement limits (work over $10,000 requires public bidding and some thresholds were raised under town rules) and the need to ensure electrical work for automatic doors could be included in grant estimates. Bob Garside said vendors are providing estimates to support the application and the police department is supportive of the door project.
The commission moved to authorize King to write grant support letters on behalf of the COOD; the motion passed by recorded voice votes. Next steps include collecting itemized quotes, finalizing bid/quote documentation for the grant application, and coordinating with town procurement staff if work will exceed bid thresholds.
