County councillors began on May 27 what could become a series of long-running debates when they deferred a decision on building an elevator for the Governor’s House.
The building is a heritage one, and it sits on the grounds of the county “campus” in Guelph, and councillors heard a presentation from Paul Sapounzi, of Ventin Architects, for the plans to place an elevator inside the building.
But when the county began debate of an administration, finance, and personnel committee recommendation to proceed with an elevator on the inside of the building, a number of councillors wanted more information before deciding.
The work is being forced by the provincial government, which is demanding that all public buildings have handicapped access by 2025.
This week marks the fifth anniversary of that legislation, and the government announced earlier in the week that is the first standard to be implemented – for accessible customer service – and it is already in place for the public sector.
By Jan. 1, 2012, Ontario businesses will also have to meet that standard.
As well, the province is developing four more accessibility standards: for information and communications, employment, transportation, and the built environment.
The first three of those standards will be integrated into a single regulation, making them more flexible for businesses.
With a large number of buildings, the Governor’s House is just one of many county owned buildings on the list for upgrades.
When council debated the motion, councillor Mike Broomhead said he did not hear a great deal of support for Sapounzi’s proposal. He asked that it be debated and voted upon separately.
Chief Administrative Officer Scott Wilson said the consideration was to have the elevator inside or outside, and it had nothing to do with the other buildings on the property.
But Broomhead said Sapounzi, when asked, had said he had considered only an elevator for the inside of the building.
Committee chairman Chris White said that was what the committee had decided. He admitted it would cost more to have the elevator inside, but because of heritage and esthetics and other issues, that is where the committee felt it should be built.
Councillor Gord Tosh said building the elevator outside would definitely not fit in with the other buildings. “Do we want to wreck the building outside with an elevator, or wreck it a little inside?” he asked.
Councillor Bob Wilson offered another perspective. The building currently is not used, and, “I’m not even sure we need the space.”
Warden Joanne Ross-Zuj said no decisions have been made about the use of the building, but it is county owned, and must have handicapped access.
Councillor Jean Innes said the elevator could be placed outside the building and built to match the other buildings in that area.
She said it would involved moving one picnic table and it would cost no parking spots. Plus, she said, “It would be cheaper” as well as having the benefit of doing “no damage to the building itself.”
White said the county has other buildings to make accessible, and council could leave it vacant for now.
CAO Scott Wilson said that the human resources and the information technology departments each would like to use the building. But, as it is, “I can’t let staff go in.”
He noted there would be strong irony if the human resources department was there and interviewing to hire someone, and an applicant with a wheelchair would be unable to get into the building.
White said that the county would probably make a decision about which department uses it once an elevator is built.
Councillor Walter Trachsel said council should defer a decision and ask the CAO to determine exactly what is should be done with the building, and then council can decide if it agrees. “One more month isn’t going to make a difference,” he said.
Broomhead said he has no objections about accessibility, but he felt there are four options available, two of them being inside versus outside.
He said he heard one cost factor in a closed session, and wanted to know more. Further, he said, he wanted to know how much space the county would lose if the elevator is built inside the building.
“This needs a whole lot of work on it,” he said.
CAO Wilson said the figure he had used was $300,000 and it was not meant to discuss the issue in a closed session.
Ross-Zuj defended Sapounzi, and said he gave council what the committee had asked him to present.
Innes said it would help knowing which department will use the building, and if space needs to be saved for that department.
Council then voted to defer the issue, but it was not unanimous. Councillors John Green, Lou Maieron and Barb McKay were absent.
