MONROE - Gene Rood, Monroe, said he is not ready to end his push on the city to open up its senior center to all people of disabilities, regardless of their age.
The City's Judiciary and Ordinance Review Committee held a grievance hearing for Rood on Tuesday and determined the city was not in violation of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The senior center board policy allows only those of age 55 and over to use the Behring Senior Center. However, the center's front web page on the city's website welcomes anyone, regardless of age, who has a spouse age 55 years or more to use the facilities.
Rood said his intent to open more city programs and services to people with disabilities is not limited to his own situation, and he was disappointed with the committee grievance process focused on him and the senior center policy.
"They think I'm doing this for myself, but I'm not," he said. "I'm doing it for all disabled."
Rood believes the American Disability Act requires state or local governments to eliminate any eligibility criteria, including any unnecessary age requirements, for participating in its programs, activities and services, especially those criteria that "screen out" or exclude people with disabilities.
"We are third-class citizens," he said Wednesday. "There's the working class, the senior class and then the disability class. That's not right. We shouldn't be neglected."
Rood said if the city opened its current facilities and programs to individuals with disabilities, the need to "come up with another board and a place to meet" for its disabled citizens would probably be eliminated.
"The committee found the senior center does make arrangement for people with disabilities," said Phil Rath, city administrator. The age limit of users at the center "is not having to do with disabilities," he added.
The committee heard from Rood; Tammy Derrickson, senior center director; Carol Stamm, city clerk; and Rex Ewald, city attorney, during the hearing.
Rood said he is waiting for a copy of the official summary and conclusions of the hearing before deciding his next step in the process.
The City's Judiciary and Ordinance Review Committee held a grievance hearing for Rood on Tuesday and determined the city was not in violation of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The senior center board policy allows only those of age 55 and over to use the Behring Senior Center. However, the center's front web page on the city's website welcomes anyone, regardless of age, who has a spouse age 55 years or more to use the facilities.
Rood said his intent to open more city programs and services to people with disabilities is not limited to his own situation, and he was disappointed with the committee grievance process focused on him and the senior center policy.
"They think I'm doing this for myself, but I'm not," he said. "I'm doing it for all disabled."
Rood believes the American Disability Act requires state or local governments to eliminate any eligibility criteria, including any unnecessary age requirements, for participating in its programs, activities and services, especially those criteria that "screen out" or exclude people with disabilities.
"We are third-class citizens," he said Wednesday. "There's the working class, the senior class and then the disability class. That's not right. We shouldn't be neglected."
Rood said if the city opened its current facilities and programs to individuals with disabilities, the need to "come up with another board and a place to meet" for its disabled citizens would probably be eliminated.
"The committee found the senior center does make arrangement for people with disabilities," said Phil Rath, city administrator. The age limit of users at the center "is not having to do with disabilities," he added.
The committee heard from Rood; Tammy Derrickson, senior center director; Carol Stamm, city clerk; and Rex Ewald, city attorney, during the hearing.
Rood said he is waiting for a copy of the official summary and conclusions of the hearing before deciding his next step in the process.