Sparks fly over handicapped ramp at Bardstown City Council meeting

Angela Zizzo, left, speaks to the council while at right Mayor Bill Sheckles tells her she is out of order.

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette

Louisville TV media filled most of the front row of seats in the council chambers Tuesday night. The stations were following up on the story of the handicapped ramp at a home in the 700 block of Moore Avenue for a handicapped girl. Click to enlarge.

Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2013, 11:55 p.m. — Due to the extensive news and social media coverage regarding the handicapped ramp built without the required permits and inspection at home in the 700 block of Moore Avenue, the audience of Tuesday night’s meeting of the Bardstown City Council included concerned local citizens and at least two Louisville TV stations crews.

WHAS 11 on Monday ran a story about the ramp built for Stephanie Hadley’s daughter Faith who was born with a birth defect that left her without legs. The ramp was in violation of local ordinances, and some feared the city would demolish the ramp following a Friday deadline. News about Faith and the ramp spread through social media like wildfire.

Prior to Tuesday’s meeting Mayor Bill Sheckles told Louisville media that he anticipated there would be little for them to take back for the evening news. “This may be the shortest meeting in council history,” he joked.

Angela and Paul Zizzo of Bardstown listen to Mayor Bill Sheckles read a statement regarding the handicapped ramp for 6-year-old Faith Gregory of Bardstown. Click to enlarge.

“Let me give the facts of the matter and not just a story,” the mayor told the media.

Sheckles explained that the mother and stepfather of the child rent a home from a man who owns a number of rental properties in Bardstown. The landlord may not have have known about the needed permit and inspections of the ramp that was built using materials supplied by the landlord and labor provided by a charitable organization, he said.

When the ramp was determined to be in violation, planning and zoning sent letters to the property owner advising him of the need for a permit, inspection and a variance to bring the ramp into compliance. The landlord did not receive the letters because the landlord’s address was listed in PVA records as the property address. Therefore, the landlord’s tenants received the letters.

Councilmen Francis Lydian (seated) and Bobby Simpson talk prior to the start of Tuesday’s meeting of the Bardstown City Council. Click to enlarge.

The building permit and variance process is the same for any property owner in Bardstown, Sheckles noted in his statement. On Tuesday afternoon, the landlord, David G. Newton, filed the applications for the necessary approvals in order to bring the ramp into compliance, he said.

“None of this had to do with the tenant or the handicapped child,” Sheckles said. “There were no plans for anyone to tear down the ramp, which I told the renter yesterday when I talked to her.”

Sheckles said he told the woman Monday she needed to contact the landlord to get him to apply for the needed permits and approvals.

With that Sheckles turned to the council for input as he prepared to close the meeting. A couple in the audience — Paul and Angela Zizzo — raised their hands to get Sheckles’ attention.

“Sir, ma’am, I don’t see you on my agenda for tonight.”

The Zizzos told Sheckles they wanted to make a statement; Paul Zizzo said he called City Hall and asked for an opportunity to speak at the meeting.

“It never made my agenda,” Sheckles said firmly. “It won’t be addressed.”

“Well I’m going to address it anyway,” Angela Zizzo replied. She told Sheckles that she was aware of his phone call to the mom of the handicapped child, during which Zizzo said Sheckles told her “You need to quiet down, quit talking to the media and causing so much of a stir. What do you think about that, Mister Mayor?”

“I asked her if she talked to her landlord; she said ‘no,'” Sheckles said. “I told her she didn’t need to contact any other people than her landlord because he is the one who needs to be addressed. If she could contact him, send him to planning and zoning, this matter could be resolved — just as it has been.”

Zizzo started to speak, but Sheckles stopped her, saying “You’re out of order.”

Zizzo continued to speak while Sheckles continued to say she was out of order.

“I was there during your phone conversation with the woman on the telephone and I know what you said, and you are a liar,” she said. “You told that woman to keep her mouth shut, do not come up here and speak because it would be bad business for you.”

“You are out of order and that’s not true,” Sheckles replied. The issue regarding the ramp is over, he noted. “It’s resolved.”

Zizzo placed blame for much of the ramp issue on Sheckles, who she said failed to take time to help the family with the issue. Sheckles said he had worked with the family, and now the landlord is taking the action he needs to in order to comply with the regulations. “It’s over,” he said. “The issue is over.”

Zizzo said she had a recording of the mayor’s conversation with the child’s mother, and members of the media would be getting a copy. “You’re more than welcome to do what you want to do,” Sheckles replied before moving on to other business.

After the meeting, Paul Zizzo said he had talked to someone in the mayor’s office at 3:30 Tuesday afternoon and was told he could be placed on the agenda. In regard to the handicapped ramp issue, he suggested that it would be helpful if the fees were waived for those who need to build a ramp.

TURKEY KICK. The annual Turkey Kick that takes place the Wednesday before Thanksgiving in Bardstown has applied for an event license to sell alcohol, and before the council meeting ended, organizer Jamie Hodges wanted to ask the council about the license application.

Sheckles told him Hodges he hadn’t filled out the proper paperwork. “When you come correct with the proper paperwork, it will not be discussed,” he said. When asked for clarification, Sheckles told him the city will not give an event license to a for-profit organization or an individual.

The mayor serves as the chief Alcohol Beverage Control administrator for the City of Bardstown.

The Turkey Kick, which has taken place each year since 1979, is not a non-profit organization, nor is it a recognized civic event. For many years, the event was a fundraiser for the Nelson County Association for the Handicapped. The association parted ways with the Turkey Kick organizers in 2007.

Hodges said the state’s rules don’t require he be a non-profit entity, just a recognized civic event.

“Until you come correct as a non-profit entity, there’s no discussion about it,” Sheckles said.

ZONING CHANGE. In other business, the council gave unanimous approval for first reading for a zoning change for approximately 9.55 acres on the south side of Old Bloomfield Pike near Life Care Way.

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