Resident celebrates ADA ramp

(l-r) Austin and Linda Gelzer, Ricky Fernandez, City Councilman Brian Unger, Timothy Johnson, Timothy Peterson, Bill McLaughlin and Wally Bruchman gather at the Long Branch oceanfront to celebrate the completion of the Cottage Place beach access ramp. LONG BRANCH — City resident Austin Gelzer said that after more than a year of fighting for better access to the oceanfront, he is happy that seniors and the disabled can get their toes in the sand again.

Last week, 82-year-old Gelzer was joined by community members and Councilman Brian Unger to celebrate the completion of the beach-access ramp at Cottage Place.

Although the ramp is in place and is compliant with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Gelzer said he objects to the design of the new ramp.

He said there are a "dizzying number of turns [the ramp] takes to reach the sand" and he wonders whether a more direct design could have been used.

"Maneuvering a wheelchair, stroller or walker down that route takes a compass or GPS device," Gelzer said.

On the brighter side though, he added, "We have shown that one person can make a difference. I did this for my friends.

"Beach access is not just for surfers and fishermen. It's for everyone, regardless of age, infirmity or other limitation," Gelzer said.

Gelzer, a longtime activist for rights of seniors, has been attending the biweekly City Council meetings over the past year, requesting that officials replace the "dangerously dilapidated, overly steep and collapsing" stairs that served as beach-access routes along the southern part of the city's boardwalk.

"I was ignored by city officials, even after I collected a petition with 250 signatures on it supporting the replacement of the steep, broken steps with a ramp," Gelzer said. "But all I got was ignored."

After a final request in 2007, Gelzer filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice, alleging a violation of the federal ADA, which was adopted in the early 1990s and requires disability-compliant access ways.

"Better late than never," Gelzer said. "But I still don't understand why I had to fight so hard to obtain this public benefit that the city was required to build 15 years ago."

He explained that he was told by city officials that the ramp would be constructed in the future by developers of the Beachfront South redevelopment zone.

"But [the developers] seem to have disappeared and the city can't wait forever," Gelzer added.

Gelzer was assisted in filing the complaint with the federal department by attorney Jeffrey Ross Williams, who has been active in beach-access issues throughout Monmouth County.

"The city apparently thought it could shift its federal obligation to comply with the ADA to the redevelopers, who would then construct these access ways at some unspecified time in the future, using funds it may never receive from sources that may or may not ever approve the request," Williams said.

"Mr. Gelzer proved you can beat city hall and hold city leaders to be responsible to provide important public benefits required by law," he added.

The city entered into a settlement agreement with Gelzer, which called for the city to build an ADA-compliant beachaccess ramp, as well as appoint a city employee as the official ADA coordinator and adopt a formal ADA grievance procedure to receive, process and resolve disabilityrelated complaints and inquiries.

Unger said, "The public has a right to receive benefits that are mandated under the law. Making beach access a reality for our disabled neighbors and friends should be a city obligation the public shouldn't have to fight for.

"Austin Gelzer, at 82 years of age, led this effort and is a great asset to Long Branch. I thank him for his persistence and interest in helping others experience the sand between their toes.

"Beach access should not be denied based on disability, social or economic status," he continued, adding, "And I thank the city for finally doing the right thing and making this ramp a reality."