While the City of Somerville was reconstructing the Front Entrance ramp to City Hall, public meetings were being held without provision of adequate physical access into this facility. Several residents called the Community Access Project and requested that we survey these issues. We surveyed the exterior of City Hall andsubmitted this complaint to the MA Architectural Access Board. the City ADA Coordinator responded with a request to "continue the complaint until November 1, 2011."

1. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Department of Public Safety Docket Number
Architectural Access Board
____________
One Ashburton Place, Room 1310 (Office Use Only)
Boston Massachusetts 02108-1618
Phone: 617-727-0660
Fax: 617-727-0665
www.mass.gov/dps
GENERAL BUILDING COMPLAINT FORM
PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THIS FORM IS A MATTER OF PUBLIC RECORD AND WILL
BE DISCLOSED UPON REQUEST.
1. What is the name and address of the building believed to be in violation of the Rules and
Regulations of this Board?
Name: ___Somerville City Hall
Address: _93 Highland Avenue
City/Town: Somerville, MA 02143
This is a time-sensitive complaint. While the front ramp is being reconstructed, access to
Somerville City Hall is substantially decreased.
This complaint details lack of proper signage at inaccessible front entrance, plus lack of compliant
temporary accessible entrance and features, to the maximum extent feasible, at the rear
delivery entrance. Photos show rusty, abrasive, non-grip ramp handrails, broken ramp landing,
and non-grip door hardware at facility's rear ramp/delivery entrance .
Above left: Somerville City Hall Entrance during Summer 2011 ramp reconstruction.
Above right: Google satellite view showing pedestrian path between front and rear of facility. The
delivery/rear entrance is ~ 500 feet from the Front entrance and HP parking spaces.
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2. 2. What is the use of the building (please check one or more)? _x__MUNICIPAL FACILITY
3. Does it appear that the building was recently constructed or renovated? Front Entrance ramp is
currently under construction, July/August 2011
4. What date were you most recently at the building? 8/7/11
5. How many floors? _4 (3 plus basement)
6. Please check the appropriate section(s) of the Board's regulations that you believe is being
violated, then describe each section, as specifically as possible, in the space below. Please note
that section numbers are from the 2006 Regulations.
The code violations alleged in this complaint are named in red bolded font with yellow fill.
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2.6 MAINTENANCE OF ACCESS FEATURES At all times, accessibility features must be maintained and
fully operational. (i.e. access aisles kept clear at all times, mechanical devices be kept in operating
condition, etc.).
During the construction of the front entrance ramp, the following public accessibility features are not
maximally compliant at the Somerville City Hall facility:
-(Service) Ramp landing surface and handrails, (Service) Entrance, (Service) Door hardware, and
Signage at Front and Rear Entrances.
3.10 TEMPORARY STRUCTURES Temporary buildings or facilities, including … temporary pedestrian
passageways around a construction site, shall comply with 521 CMR.
Temporary facilities at Somerville City Hall that do not currently comply with 521 CMR include:
service entrance ramp, signage, doorway, and passenger drop-off area.
3.3.4 No alteration shall be undertaken which decreases or has the effect of decreasing
accessibility or usability of a building or facility below the requirements for new construction.
In this case, the City of Somerville has already undertaken alterations without first ensuring that the
temporary access entrance has been mitigated to provide accessibility and usability to the maximum
extent feasible. Thus, for non-stair users, these alterations have the effect of substantially decreasing
accessibility and usability of Somerville City Hall during Summer 2011.
The following pages also name violations of eight more 521CMR codes:
25.6 ENTRANCE SIGNAGE
41.1.3c SIGNAGE
25.1.1 Service entrances
25.2 ENTRANCE APPROACH
24.5.5 Ramp handrail Size
24.5.6 Ramp handrail Shape
24.5.7 Ramp Handrail Surface, and
24.7 Ramp SURFACES
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3. INACCESSIBLE FRONT ENTRANCE
25.6 ENTRANCE SIGNAGE Any entrance/exit of a facility not accessible by persons in wheelchairs
shall have a sign clearly indicating the location of the accessible entrance/exit.
41.1.3c SIGNAGE shall be provided at Accessible Entrances and inaccessible entrances shall have directional
signage to indicate the route to the nearest accessible entrance
◦ There is no directional signage indicating the location of any temporary accessible entrance.
At Front Public Entrance; the “ramp” sign is pointing to a current demolition area; and the
delivery notice to the left of the “RAMP” sign does not indicate whether the rear delivery
entrance can be used by people who cannot climb stairs, as the City Hall temporary
accessible entrance during construction.
Above: Somerville City Hall Front Entrance- no compliant signage provided. (Circled signage at left of
Entrance and HP Van-accessible parking is seen in close-up photo, below.)
Above: close-up of misinformation sign pointing to demolition area where prior “RAMP” existed; and,
notice for Deliveries. Notice says, “All deliveries are to be made at the rear of building.”
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4. DELIVERY (SERVICE) ENTRANCE IN REAR
25.1.1 Service entrances: If the only entrance to a building, or tenancy in a facility, is a
service entrance, that entrance shall be accessible.
25.2 ENTRANCE APPROACH The approach to an accessible entrance shall be a paved walk or
ramp with a slip resistant surface, uninterrupted by steps.
41.1.3 (c) Accessible SIGNAGE shall be provided at c. Accessible Entrances
above left: rear delivery ramp entrance with temporary passenger drop-off sign for individuals with
ambulatory impairments. The bottom of the sign is at 4 feet and hilly grade of sidewalk is shown.
above, right: rear delivery entrance door
above: rear delivery entrance ramp from foot to entrance door. This photo shows the lack of smooth
paving at foot of ramp, and the lack of any informational signage indicating whether a wheelchair-user
can enter the building here; or, if not, where an accessible entrance is located anywhere within the
boundaries of this municipal facility.
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5. REAR ENTRANCE RAMP
RAMP HANDRAILS The delivery/rear ramp handrails at Somerville City hall are not round or oval- and
some surface parts are flaked with rust.
24.5.5 Size: Handrails shall have a circular cross section with an outside diameter of 1¼ inches (32mm)
minimum and two inches (51mm) maximum.
24.5.6 Shape: The handgrip portion of the handrail shall be round or oval in cross-section.
24.5.7 Surface: The gripping surface shall be free of any sharp or abrasive elements.
RAMP SURFACES The foot of the delivery/rear ramp is crumbled and broken, not smooth.
24.7 SURFACES Ramp surfaces shall be stable, firm, and slip resistant.
Above, left: ramp's rusty, non-grip handrails. Above, right close -up: broken
ramp landing
(Please note: Complainants did not measure rear delivery entrance ramp's width and slopes, nor
handrail heights; nor did we measure rear delivery entrance's doorway widths, vestibule,
maneuvering clearances, or threshold landing slope)
NOTE: Separate forms are available for complaints on Curb Cuts, Handicap Parking Spaces,
Public Telephones, and Housing. Please call the office and request one or more forms.
OPTIONAL INFORMATION
The following information is optional, and your complaint will be processed regardless of
whether or not the information is provided. However, you should be aware that the less
information that is provided, the longer it will take this office to process your complaint.
a. Name and address of the building owner or manager:_Mayor Joseph Curtatone,
Somerville City Hall, 93 Highland Ave., Somerville, MA 02143
b. The Board only considers complaints with respect to buildings which are:
1.) constructed by the state, city or town, and construction, reconstruction, alteration or
remodeling occurred after December of 1968; or
2.) privately financed buildings that are open to or used by the public and construction,
reconstruction, alteration or remodeling occurred after June 10, 1975.
The following information may be obtained by contacting the Local Building Department
DATE BUILDING PERMIT(S) WAS ISSUED: __________________________________
ESTIMATE COST(S) OF CONSTRUCTION: __________________________________
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6. c. The assessed value of the building will determine the extent that a building must comply.
You may obtain the assessed value of the building by contacting the Local Assessor's
Office.
ASSESSED VALUE OF THE BUILDING AT TIME PERMIT WAS ISSUED: Somerville
City Hall is not listed separate from the Somerville High School in the online Appraisal
Vision Assessor's Database
7. Name and address of person/organization filing this complaint (if organization is filing, please
provide the Board with the name of a contact person) (required):
Community Access Project- Eileen Feldman and Stacy Hart
PO Box 434, Somerville, MA 02143
8. Individual Signature (required): Please see signature scan Date: August 8, 2011
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