“The judges didn’t pass any opinion on it whatsoever,”

“The judges didn’t pass any opinion on it whatsoever,” Mr. Gilkey corrected. “That was the decision of this board.” The cost of the alterations to provide handicapped access amounted to “more than we had to spend,” he said.

Election official Chris Byrd told the board that many of those who vote at the courthouse “are unable to even reach the front steps,” making it necessary to carry the ballots out to them. He called on the supervisors to provide handicapped people with access to all functions — both official and non-official — which occur in the courtroom.

With a break in the speakers, Joyce Abell asked the board members for their reaction.

“It would be nice if we could make this building accessible,” said Chairman Hubert Gilkey. “But we have to look at the cost.” He added that if renovation isn’t economically feasible, “we might have to look at alternative sites (for government functions). ”

Supervisor Nelson Lane wasn’t as conciliatory. “I think your approach today is malicious!” he charged, maintaining that the board had been accused of purposeful discrimination against the handicapped. “And that’s not so,” he insisted.

He recalled that he’d volunteered to give Mr. Abell “a lift up for the favor of waiting for good news coverage." He complained that the Abells, residents of his district, had not even telephoned him. “I didn’t know there was a problem,” Mr. Lane contended, apparently forgetting that the Castleton resident had written the board earlier this spring, threatening to bring suit if regulations on handicapped access continued to be ignored.

Mr. Lane also castigated federal and state governments, authors of standards on handicapped access, for issuing “so many damn mandates when they hold all the revenue sources in their hands.” Rappahannock has a limited tax base, he said,