City Man Highlights Accessibility Issues at City Hall

Zack Bastian is taking the city to task over accessibility — or lack thereof — at Newport City Hall.

To attend this week's City Council meeting, Bastian pulled himself up the 21 granite front steps of City Hall.

"If  was not as strong, and if I was limited more with a higher injury, I may not be able to come into this council room," Bastian told the council.

His wheelchair doesn't fit in the elevator. When he came in, two public workers said "we have a lift here," but they didn't know if it worked and either way, they didn't know where the key was, Bastian said.

"I thought it was important to climb the stairs and show the council and not everybody can do that," Bastian said, noting that his message is intended to get local leaders to decide "whether or not this is an acceptable form of communicating with people with disabilities."

Bastian said residents can request a live feed of council meetings at the police station across the street on Broadway, but "it's [2014]" he said. "I know as well as any other person with a mobility issue would say that is not acceptable."

Being physically present at meetings on matters pertaining to local government is important and today, there are certain social rights that should be respected by now, Bastian said.

"This is a gorgeous building, this is where City Hall may stay, but I just think it should be more accessible," he said.

Mayor Harry Winthrop thanked Bastion for his comments and said "we take your comments seriously and appreciate your very valuable input."

Wintrhop told NBC10 that people need to understand the building is very old and there are some hurdles to improving accessibility.

Winthrop said a contractor was hired to look at the elevator and a previous effort to upgrade the lift system resulted in no bids from contractors. A review of bids to replace the existing elevator is due in April.

For Bastian, his message wasn't to provoke but to say he was just "a friend trying to help you guys."