- Jurisdiction
- Maryland
The town I live in, has fewer than 600 people in the entire town. I live in the center of town with a relative/homeowner. The front of the house faces the town circle like the other homes located around the center of town. The town dates back to the 1800's, when it was just a church camp existing on the center of town. The town was incorporated in 1937. Recently a 'boundary survey' via GPS, was done following a neighbors house burning down. The relative/homeowner of the house we live in, bought what was a burned out shell of a house that had burned down in 2002. There was never any boundary survey done then. When I and/or the relative/homeowner enter/leave the house. We enter/leave the house by the 'backdoor'(remember the front of the house faces the center of town). When leaving/entering the house, there is a wooden platform w/ a railing extending 2.5ft. from the house, with five elongated wooden steps. Because of the boundary survey, the town council wants to cut the stairs in half. The relative/homeowner is in their 70's and is not exactly quick on their feet, even though they still have a drivers' license. While I am athletic at 48. I have collapsed arches in my feet. I also have clips on a (congenital)brain aneurysm, a shunt for (congenital)hydrocephalus, and I am on medication to control my epilepsy. By cutting the steps in half and having to rebuild them at a shorter distance. With the steps cut in half. The angle to the deck in front of the door will go from a 25-degree angle. To a 90-degree angle. All because the steps partly being on town land. The town is being adamant about this, even though it could endanger my life. The ground around the deck n' deck stairs is covered with neatly placed bricks.
Up until now, I have been blowing the leaves off of what the town says, is the town's property which includes a brick-covered path to the house. I am thinking of telling the town. That since the major pedestrian access to the street is on town land. That they will have to maintain it, or pay me. Because, I can easily trip due to lethargy in my legs. From brain surgery as a child.
If the town goes ahead with this, under ADA guidelines wouldn't the town be responsible for maintaining it, instead of me and the affected relative/homeowner?
Up until now, I have been blowing the leaves off of what the town says, is the town's property which includes a brick-covered path to the house. I am thinking of telling the town. That since the major pedestrian access to the street is on town land. That they will have to maintain it, or pay me. Because, I can easily trip due to lethargy in my legs. From brain surgery as a child.
If the town goes ahead with this, under ADA guidelines wouldn't the town be responsible for maintaining it, instead of me and the affected relative/homeowner?