Monongahela to host 30th Americans with Disabilities Act celebration

By ERIC SEIVERLING
eseiverling@yourmvi.com

The City of Monongahela is preparing for a celebration this summer.
The question will be when it will occur.
At its Wednesday meeting, council approved a motion to move forward with hosting the 30th ADA Americans with Disabilities Act Celebration.
While a date is yet to be determined, event organizers would like the celebration to be held at Chess Park.
The event was brought to council’s attention by Potter’s House Director Norene Price.
Based in Monongahela, Potter’s House addresses the needs and concerns of persons with disabilities living in Monongahela and surrounding Washington County communities by holding events and social functions.
“In 1990, it was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush,” Price told council. “The walls of exclusion have come crumbling down. We as persons with disabilities share the same rights as anyone else non-disabled to go into hotels and restaurants. We wanted to celebrate the 30th year of making great progress but there’s still a lot of progress that needs to be made.”
Price said the event is already organized, and the original plan was to hold the celebration July 22, just mere days from the original date Bush signed the act on July 26, 1990.
But according to city Solicitor Todd Pappasergi, the event will have to wait until new restrictions concerning the coronavirus pandemic become better known in the coming days and weeks.
“This type of event would be like any other city-sponsored event,” Pappasergi said. “We would need clearance from our (insurance) carrier. As far as COVID is concerned, if the rumors about what is going to happen in Washington County are true, not just bars and restaurants are going to be shut down for inside dining, but capacity requirements are going to be lessened from 250 back to 25 again. That would essentially shut down this type of event.

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