CUMBERLAND — Chris Myers on Tuesday asked the mayor and City Council if they had a response to concerns he raised, via email and at a public Cumberland meeting earlier this month, about pedestrian safety.
Myers, who is visually impaired, works at WCBC radio at the corner of Baltimore and Mechanic streets, and owns a general store, sandwich shop and deli on South Liberty Street.
“Two weeks ago I was before you and asked a number of questions,” he said. “Not a single answer came from the mayor or from the council.”
Cumberland Administrator Jeff Silka said he did not receive the letter.
Email
Myers copied the Cumberland Times-News on an April 6 email he sent to Mayor Ray Morriss and Councilmen Brian Lepley, Jimmy Furstenberg, Rock Cioni and Eugene Frazier.
“I am writing to formally express my concerns regarding pedestrian safety and the management of construction zones in downtown Cumberland,” it stated. “While I support community development, the current lack of safety oversight, particularly along Baltimore and Liberty (streets) presents significant hazards for residents.”
Current regulations require protection for infrastructure, such as plywood for new brickwork, but there are no mandates for signage or barriers to protect the public from equipment or falling debris, he said.
Construction equipment blocks curb cuts, and a dumpster has occupied “the only designated handicap parking space at the intersection of South Liberty and Baltimore (streets) for over 10 months,” he said.
“While building renovations are beneficial for the city, they must not compromise public safety or accessibility,” he said.
Response
The downtown pedestrian safety issue is not new, Myers told the mayor and council at Tuesday’s city meeting, which allows five minutes for speakers during a public comment period.
“I don’t know what to say,” Cioni said. “Construction to me means progress. It also means a pain in the rear end for some people (and) you certainly are one of them.”
Furstenberg echoed the progress sentiment and added, “I believe the construction company should have a spotter.”
Myers said the contractors are in compliance with the city’s ordinance, “simply to protect the bricks.”
But in terms of safety, the law doesn’t address measures to prevent hazards for pedestrians in a construction area, he said.
“Your statement to say ‘just walk around the equipment,’ that is not an (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant statement, gentlemen,” Myers said. “That’s illegal.”
The city can’t force pedestrians into the roadway to avoid construction equipment, he said.
“I feel like you’re treating me like as a second-rate citizen who has a disability and you don’t think it’s a problem,” Myers said.
“What you’re telling me is you’re not interested in resolving this issue at this level, is that correct?
The mayor responded, “You have about 15 seconds left.”