Danbury disability commission urges accessibility be built into downtown sidewalk plans

The City of Danbury Commission for Persons with disAbilities said on Feb. 11, 2025 that planned downtown sidewalk repairs tied to a city revitalization project must be accessible to people with disabilities. Chairman John Gentile said he had asked Farley Santos to connect him with Planning and Zoning Director Waleed Albakry but had not yet received a response; the commission intends to follow up and raise the matter at the Government Entities Review Committee meeting that evening.

Commissioner Rose Marie Bouclier described recent difficulties using handicap parking downtown and said conditions "didn't seem to be the same" as when she previously took her husband to medical appointments. The group discussed how parking meters can require payment even when a space is marked for disabled drivers and noted the city's move toward centralized credit-card/phone payment systems could change how motorists pay for curbside spaces.

Commissioner John Neumuller told the group that, to his knowledge, the city was following applicable law and ordinances and volunteered to check with the Zoning Enforcement Officer and report back to the commission. The body left handicap parking and accessibility as ongoing items and said it will continue monitoring planned sidewalk work to ensure compliance with accessibility requirements.

The commission also listed "On Demand Transportation" as an open future project to pursue jointly with the Bridgeport Commission for Persons with disAbilities and reiterated it is seeking three regular members and three alternates to join the commission. The next regular meeting is scheduled for April 8, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.