An audit conducted by the New York State Comptroller’s Office has found that several City of Auburn facilities have physical accessibility shortcomings, potentially limiting access to municipal programs and services for individuals with disabilities. The report, released in February, identifies 70 accessibility components in need of improvement across City Hall, the City Court, the Fire Station, and the Police Station.
The audit reviewed 538 accessibility features within these buildings, uncovering issues such as inadequate service counters, improperly marked accessible parking spaces, and restroom signage lacking raised lettering and Braille. City Hall was found to have the most deficiencies, with 31 components flagged for improvement, followed by the City Court with 25, and both the Fire Station and Police Station with seven each.
Among the identified concerns were thresholds exceeding the recommended height at City Hall’s entrance, unsecured entrance mats, a lack of van-accessible parking spaces at the Police Station, and service counters that were not at an accessible height in the City Court. The audit relied on the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design as a reference to assess compliance and recommend potential improvements.
City officials responded to the findings with agreement and indicated they would take corrective action. The report recommends that the city assess the feasibility of implementing these changes to improve accessibility for all residents.
With over a quarter of U.S. adults living with some form of disability and more than 10 percent experiencing mobility impairments, the report highlights the importance of ensuring that public spaces are navigable and usable for all individuals. While the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does not mandate that every facility be fully accessible, it requires municipalities to operate their services in a manner that does not exclude people with disabilities.
The Auburn City Council is now expected to review the report and develop a corrective action plan to address the identified issues. According to state guidance, the council must submit a written plan outlining its next steps within 90 days.
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