FACT SHEET

Settlement Agreement between the United States of America

and Chautauqua County, New York

On August 4, 2009, the Department of Justice entered into a settlement agreement with Chautauqua County, New York, under title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12131-12134, and the Department's implementing regulation, 28 C.F.R. Part 35, as well as section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 794, and the Department's implementing regulation, 28 C.F.R. Part 42, Subpart G.

The Department of Justice initiated a compliance review of Chautauqua County, New York, in September 2006. Facilities covered by the agreement include, Mayville Municipal Building, Gerace Office Building, Courthouse, Chatauqua County Home, Hall R. Clothier Building, County Social Services, South County Office Building, the Chautauqua County Jail, Luensman Overview Park, Abe Mattison Millrace Park, and the Erlandson Overview Park. In addition, the Department conducted a program access review of the following polling places: Frewsburg Central School, Carroll Town Hall, Busti Fire Hall, Harmony Town Highway Department, Panama Fire Hall, French Creek Highway Building, Ripley Town Hall and Community Park, Westfield Eason Auditorium, Lakeshore Community Chapel, 1st United Methodist Church, Laona United Methodist Church, Lily Dale Lyceum, Seymour Library, Kennedy Volunteer Fire Hall, Maple Springs Fire Hall, Gerry Town Hall, Gerry Fire Hall, Charlotte Highway Building, Arkwright Town Hall, Villenova Town Hall, Cherry Creek Town Hall, Ellington Town Hall, Sherman Fire Hall, Clymer Community Building, Mayville Zoning Office, North Harmony Community Building, and the Portland Town Hall.

The Department also reviewed the County's voter registrationa nd polling place procedures, emergency management policies and procedures, employment policies, sidewalks program, and 9-1-1 emergency services. County government officials worked very cooperatively with the Department throughout the investigation in order to reach a settlement agreement.

The physical changes and the signs noted below are not required at every facility. The text of the settlement agreement specifies where modifications will be made.

The County has agreed to:

• Make physical modifications to its facilities so that parking, routes into the buildings, entrances, public telephones, restrooms, service counters, and drinking fountains are accessible to people with disabilities;
• Post, publish, and distribute a notice to inform members of the public of the provisions of title II and their applicability to the County's programs, services, and activities;
• Continue to ensure that the 9-1-1 emergency service TTY calls are answered as quickly as other calls received, that such calls are monitored for timing and accuracy, if other calls are monitored, and that employees are trained and practiced in using a TTY to make and receive calls;
• Ensure that the County's official website is accessible to people with disabilities;
• Develop a method for ensuring that voters with disabilities can vote independently, and make auxiliary aids and services available to the public upon request, including ballots in alternate formats and accessible voting machines; and
• Install signs at any inaccessible entrance to a facility directing users to an accessible entrance or to information about other accessible facilities.

The settlement agreement will remain in effect for 3 years from August 4, 2009.

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