Danbury disability commission presses for better paratransit, parking enforcement and ADA coordination

The Commission for Persons with Disabilities, City of Danbury, met by Zoom on Nov. 12, 2024, and spent most of the session examining gaps in transportation and accessibility services for residents with disabilities.

Commission Chair John Gentile said the commission called a Zoom‑only meeting because of equipment constraints but plans to resume hybrid meetings at City Hall once additional cameras and microphones are installed. He urged residents interested in joining the panel to apply through the mayor’s office.

The meeting focused on paratransit and so‑called “sweetheart” services that participants said limit riders to a single scheduled errand and require long waits. Gentile, who leads the commission, said the cost and inconvenience are acute for some riders: “Someone that needs a ride has to call a special vehicle and pay 80 to $100 a trip,” he said. Don Donaldson, co‑chair of the Bridgeport commission who joined the call, described similar problems in his city and supported the idea of regional cooperation.

Why it matters: Commissioners said the combination of narrow service windows, eligibility rules tied to proximity to transit and inconsistent enforcement leaves many residents with disabilities unable to access medical appointments, shopping and evening activities.

Discussion highlights included differing descriptions of paratransit eligibility (participants referenced distances ranging from about a mile to three‑quarters of a mile from fixed transit) and frustration that some specialty programs (for example, transport tied to certain treatment programs) offer more reliable rides than general disability services.

Participants also credited local police for a recent targeted enforcement effort that reduced handicap‑parking abuse but said problems persist in private parking lots and pickup‑designated spaces. Gentile said police Deputy Chief Sturdivant had helped the commission with a public education blitz.

Several commissioners raised concerns about the city’s ADA staffing: Fran Ryan reported that the state Department of Motor Vehicles appears to have no current ADA coordinator. Gentile said the city’s acting designee is Les Pinter, the corporation counsel, but cautioned that the role is not necessarily a full‑time ADA position. “When he was given the 2nd job… he quit. And, when he quit, no one replaced him,” Gentile said of a prior staff change (paraphrased). Commissioners urged pursuing a designated, trained ADA coordinator rather than a stopgap assignment.

Training and budget: Commissioners said they have pursued ADA and related trainings through the CCM and ADA Coalition but that the panel has no independent budget. Don Donaldson said some trainings cost only modest amounts per class; Gentile said the commission should consider requesting funding from the mayor’s office so multiple commissioners can attend.

Local programs: Isabelle Domber, who described herself as legally blind, said she is applying for Habitat for Humanity’s Aging‑in‑Place program and cited an income threshold the presenter described as about $5,000 per month. Domber and others said such programs can help retrofit homes for independent living.

Next steps: Commissioners supported working jointly with nearby commissions, including Bridgeport and Ridgefield, to ‘pool power’ for state‑level advocacy and to explore shared transportation solutions. The chair announced the next meeting for Dec. 10, 2024, as a hybrid session at City Hall and on Zoom.

Votes at a glance: The commission approved the prior meeting minutes (motion by John Newmuller; second by Jeff; voice vote recorded as "Aye"). The meeting was adjourned following a motion by John Newmuller and a second by Jeff; voice vote recorded as "Aye."