Handicap Access Project
at the Columns
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Updated 5/25/03 - Added Link to the Wheelchair Lift Inaugural Page under May 2003 Pike County Historical Society (PCHS) Websites - Pike History and Pocono Vacations PCHS receives primary funding from the following sources:
Handicap Access Project The Pike County Historical Society (PCHS) acquired money through grants and fundraisers to make their Columns Museum handicap accessible. The PCHS received money for this purpose but then reversed course and resisted making the changes. TSUC was the first to bring this issue to the attention of the public. TSUC then involved the Pike County American with Disabilities Act Committee (ADA) and the Center for Independent Living (CIL). As a result, PCHS has been forced to re-institute its plans to make the building accessible. Nevertheless, PCHS has still delayed full accessibility. The time-line below shows that the project was initiated in February, 1999, and accurately sequences and documents the progress and the resistance to the project. The complete scope of the project, as envisioned by the former director, is found in the various links below. Project Timeline of Events April 1999 - Director gets bid on handicapped access lift from Scranton firm. PCHS Minutes for April 11, 1999. Director receives contract from engineering firm for study on Columns. May 1999 - PCHS receives grant application for up to $50,000 to make Columns accessible. Board strongly recommends not submitting the application and states it has no handicapped individuals on staff and has no plans to “employ such a person in the immediate future.” PCHS Minutes for May 12, 1999. July 1999 - New PCHS president resigns over dispute with director and members of Board. Bill Kiger assumes presidency. A board member also resigns. Another board member agrees to “bury the hatchet” but instead continues to actively attack the director. August 1999 - Evaluation dispute with director over false statements made by board members. Director files grievance. Eventually the director's challenge is sustained and the evaluation is destroyed.
September 1999 - PCHS plans included changing the office area to allow for accessibility - Office Plan 1 and 2. The PCHS director's drawing notes to widen the door (from 28 in. to 36 in.) and place furniture to create a path Engineering firm study commences. Electrical code violations found. Also, roof leaks. Comprehensive plan for redesigning offices and workspace (including handicapped restroom) presented and then referred to committee. Second bid received on handicapped lift. PCHS Board member writes multiple page diatribe against Director, including negative comments on handicapped access - Sample Page. Gasbarro's Response to the Diatribe.
October 1999 - Engineers note serious problems in portico roof area. Plan for redesigning office areas conceptually approved. PCHS Minutes for October 13, 1999. Extensive discussions with engineer on subjects of handicapped access restroom and portico. Director's Report for October 13, 1999. Grant proposal to Arcadia Foundation written by Director, submitted October 25, 1999 - Page 1 and 2. November 1999 - Builder gives estimate to repair portico over porch and stagecoach. Director indicates grant proposal for $34,000 submitted to Arcadia Foundation. Contractor makes temporary repairs to portico roof at no cost to Society. PCHS Minutes (below) and Director’s Report for November 10, 1999. Arcadia Foundation notifies Director of $15,000 award on November 17, 1999.
December 1999 - PCHS Board notified that they will receive a $15,000 grant from the Acadia Foundation to make the Columns handicap accessible.
January 2000 - DVHS teacher measures library for new shelving. Minutes for January 12, 2000. Renovations approved to make Columns accessible. PCHS Winter Newsletter - Page 1 and 2. March 2000 - Contractor estimates received for portico repair, handicapped restroom. Report given to donor on progress of library renovations. Insurance company indicates extensive water damage not covered in policy. PCHS Minutes for March 8, 2000 and Director’s Report for March 8, 2000. April 2000 - Director
calls for resignation of entire Board for “unprofessional conduct.” Director suspended. Gasbarro
resigns as Treasurer and from the PCHS Board. Gasbarro describes
June 2000 - PCHS received the $15,000 grant from the Arcadia Foundation. Director fired.
July 2000 - Handicapped access project halted. PCHS decided to use the grant money for general operating expenses. February 2001 - Settlement reached with Director after litigation involving Pennsylvania Department of Labor. Past President resigns from PCHS Board before the end of his term. June/July 2001 - TSUC brought up at PCHS Annual Meeting that the society never used the grant money to create handicap access at the Columns. See TSUC Meeting Minutes. See personal letter from Norm Gasbarro to the new PCHS President, Fred Burke - July 13, 2001. Threatening replies to Gasbarro from PCHS attorney denying requests for documents and access to PCHS meetings.
August 2001 - By-Laws violations submitted to PCHS Vice President by Norm Gasbarro. Gasbarro volunteers to serve on Research Committee. Letter on August 24, 2001 - Page 1 and 2. Gasbarro sends letter to American Association of Museums concerning ethics violations - August 29, 2001. TSUC notified the Center for Independent Living (CIL) of handicap issue at the Columns - Letter Page 1, 2 and 3.
August/September 2001 - Series of articles and letters to the editor about the issue. The CIL began to question the PCHS. Bill Kiger, in justification as to why the Columns was not handicap accessible, stated "it was a matter of compatibility with the Society's historical objectives" .Issue brought up at August ADA meeting – outrage expressed. See TSUC Internal e-mail, August 27, 2001. Gasbarro’s request to volunteer at PCHS is denied - Letter.
November 2001 - PCHS Board of Trustees approved portions of the accessibility project and planned to have the wheelchair
lift in place by that Spring 2002 - Pike County Dispatch November 22, 2001. See also letter
from State Representative Birmelin to Bill Kiger dated November 6, 2001. TSUC Meeting Minutes indicate that a Justice Department Report will be issued and the ADA,
George McDonald, is also looking into the matter. Paperwork was submitted to the federal government to enforce
the proper use of those funds. The representative from Pike County, Mr. Bermlin, will also follow through with
this issue. February 2002 - The PCHS president and vice president spoke at the ADA meeting - Meeting Notice. The president assured them that the Society contracted a company to install the wheelchair lift. The ADA debated whether or not the changes are sufficient and a list of concerns was submitted to the PCHS by a committee member. List - Page 1 and 2. ADA offers to provide a committee to work with PCHS Board on access issues. ADA meeting reported in Pocono Record for February 13, 2002. See also TSUC Internal email, February 13, 2002. See also TSUC Meeting Minutes. March 2002 - PCHS Board rejects offer of ADA to provide a committee to assist them in making the building accessible. April 2002 - Norm Gasbarro temporarily suspends website on Lincoln Flag to give a “cooling off” period - TSUC Internal e-mail, April 20, 2002. PCHS objected to statement on web site at http://www.geocities.com/lincolnflag - More Info. June 2002 - “Cooling off” period over. No progress on handicapped access reported. Website on Lincoln Flag re-activated. October 2002 - PCHS announced that they now plan to install a wheelchair lift at the Columns. The lift will be on the outside of the building and will allow access to the first floor where handicap restrooms will also be located. The lift is expected to be operational by the end of December as reported in the Pike County Courier for November 11, 2002. Halloween Party held at Columns and Tom Quick Inn – both inaccessible! Photo of party from Milford Magazine's Holiday 2002-03 issue. December 2002 - Holiday Party held at Columns. Wheelchair lift still not installed! February 2003 - Lincoln’s Birthday Party held at Columns – not accessible! After attending Greenway meeting and observing lack of access, Gasbarro reported on possible fire and safety problems at Columns. TSUC Internal e-mail, February 25, 2003. May 2003 - COLUMNS STILL NOT ACCESSIBLE? The PCHS held an event on May 14th to announce that the wheelchair lift is finally complete. Other handicap accessible plans have not been completed e.g. restroom.
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