Link back to Traffic Committee Meeting Minutes
TO: Board of Selectmen
FROM: Chief Taylor Mills
RE: Minutes of Traffic Committee Meeting – August 27, 2008
DATE: August 28, 2008
PRESENT:
Sgt. David Horte
Lt. John Haley
Harry Sylvester
Paul Healey
Leslie Kehoe
Michael Pevarnik
NOT PRESENT:
Philip Resca
Sgt. Horte called the meeting to order at 7:06 PM. Harry Sylvester made a motion to accept the minutes of the previous meeting. Leslie Kehoe seconded this with all in favor.
The first topic of discussion was a resident’s request for a No Parking sign in front of 120 South Street. The resident was present to explain the issue. Contractors working in the area as well as other vehicles are parking in front of her home in a spot that makes it difficult or impossible for a special needs van to pick up her daughter for school and summer program. There was discussion about the pros and cons of putting up a No Parking sign. Sgt. Horte felt police enforcement was the best way to handle this situation. The resident was asked to call the Police Department when vehicles were parked in this spot or take down registration plate numbers so that the Police Department could contact these individuals. This is an area where vehicles can be ticketed for improper parking. Sgt. Horte made a motion to table this topic that was seconded by Harry Sylvester with all in favor. If enforcement does not alleviate this situation, the Traffic Committee will re-address this situation.
The second topic was a request by a resident of Talbot Road for permission to erect a Neighborhood Watch sign at Talbot and Rice Roads. The Police Department has a new Neighborhood Watch program where residents can purchase signs stating their neighborhood is part of the program. The Committee decided that since many neighborhoods would be requesting permission to post these signs, there should be a process in place without each neighborhood coming before the Traffic Committee. Sgt. Horte made a motion to have the Traffic Committee give a blanket approval for posting of Neighborhood Watch signs based upon Police Department recommendation.. Paul Healy seconded this motion with all in favor.
A resident of Abington Street had requested that a posted speed limit sign be placed on Abington Street. The resident was present and discussed this topic with the Traffic Committee members. Sgt. Horte brought accident statistics and stated there had been two fatal accidents on Abington Street in five years. The members explained to the resident that if a study was done by the State, they could come back and post a higher speed limit than what is in place now. The street is a mix of residential and rural, so the speed limit can vary from 30-40 at present. Harry Sylvester made a motion to have the Police Department perform a speed and traffic study on Abington Street to gather speed statistics and then revisit the topic. Paul Healey seconded this with all in favor. Once the statistics are obtained, the Traffic Committee will revisit the subject and decide if the State should be asked to study this area.
In other business, Committee members undertook a discussion of a topic that had been on the agenda of the June 25, 2008 meeting. A resident had asked that the Committee discuss the encroachment of a cul-de-sac at the end of Hillside Terrace. The street had originally been designed as a cul-de-sac, but when sewer pipes had been installed in the 1960’s, the road was finished so that it was straight all the way to the end. The resident stated that there is difficulty turning around without using other residents’ driveways, and there have been neighborhood problems arising from this happening. There was also discussion about fire apparatus being able to negotiate this area. Lt. Haley said he would bring apparatus to the area and report back to the Traffic Committee on this concern. The Traffic Committee will put this topic on the agenda for a later meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 PM.
cc: Town Clerk