A small financial burden is to be lifted for Wellesley Township’s disabled residents, as council voted unanimously on Tuesday to waive fees for applicants applying for permits for barrier-free ramps in private residences.
Currently, Wellesley Township charges a fee from the building department for permits. Coun. Jim Olender introduced the motion noting, “I had somebody call that needed a ramp built to get in and out of the house in a wheelchair … I think these people have enough going on that they don’t need to be paying for a building permit.”
Chief building official Rik Louwagie estimated dealing with such cases would apply to an average of one to two Wellesley residents per year.
Citing concern for taxpayers, Mayor Ross Kelterborn suggested an amendment to the motion to encourage applicants to seek other alternatives first. “I was also approached by this request,” he said. “I gave them the address of the social services at the Legion where people can receive extra help. … Possibly people should be asked to apply for this to see if they can get help. If they can’t get help through the process, then we would think about it.”
The waiving of fees will not be automatic, and will be granted only to those who apply. The permit and plans will still have to be approved by the township. The motion applies only to the cost of the building permit, and not construction. Coun. Paul Hergott requested that the motion also specify that the applicant provide a demonstrated need.
With these modifications, the motion eventually stated that council would “authorize that building permit fees for barrier-free ramps at private dwellings be funded from the administration’s miscellaneous account, and further, that the applicant be responsible to find a demonstrated need for the barrier-free ramp to the chief building officer prior to such funding approval, and further that the applicant has exhausted all other avenues prior to the building fees being paid through the administration miscellaneous account.”
While applicants will still be charged for the permit, this motion means they will be able to apply for a refund.
