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Minutes of September 30, 2009 – Traffic Committee Meeting
PRESENT:
Sgt. Horte
Harry Sylvester
Leslie Kehoe
Lt. John Haley
Philip Resca
NOT PRESENT:
Paul Healey
Michael Pevarnik
Sgt. Horte called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM.
A motion was made by Sgt. Horte to accept the minutes of the previous meeting.
Leslie Kehoe seconded this with all in favor.
The Committee was updated on the crosswalk issue which was brought up at the July 22nd meeting which is the installation of a new crosswalk at 367 Main Street. This has been approved by the Traffic Committee. A letter requesting this will be drafted and sent to the Selectmen’s office for final approval. Resident Christine Roberts who initiated this request was in attendance and was appreciative of the quick and decisive response of the Traffic Committee.
The crosswalk at Congregational Church will remain at its current location as it is at a safe location and is heavily used.
Christine Roberts also inquired as to the possibility of a crosswalk being installed at the location of the buttonwood tree in Hingham Center. Harry Sylvester replied that it’s not feasible due to the fact that there’s nowhere for pedestrians to safely land. She also asked about the status of a proposed crosswalk near Sandcastles on East Street. Harry Sylvester responded that there is nowhere to safely put it on Town property.
DPW Superintendent Randy Sylvester provided a total for the Traffic Committee
to request the Selectmen’s office and Advisory Committee to be allocated as a budget item for funding of signage/crosswalks and other capital outlays recommended by the Traffic Committee for next fiscal year: $5,500.00. Randy based this amount on 3 new crosswalks, various lines and symbols and 6 new signs per year. The amount was estimated on the line painting contract and signage pricing which may change in the future. Randy also noted that this figure is not for maintaining all of the sidewalks.
A letter regarding the above will be drafted and sent to the Selectmen and the Advisory Committee for consideration for the FY2011 Budget to take some of the burden of these extra costs off of DPW. A motion was made by Leslie Kehoe to approve this motion, Harry Sylvester seconded the motion with all in favor.
Smith Road resident Peg Doyle brought up the issue of pedestrian safety at the crosswalk
at Central Street, Cedar Street and Rte. 228. The home at which the crosswalk is located has tall and dense shrubs which make it difficult to see when crossing. Harry Sylvester stated that the homeowner had been approached regarding trimming the hedges but he refuses since it’s a sound barrier for him from traffic noise, etc. Peg Doyle requests a better sight line for crossing and asked that the Committee visit the site which all agreed to do. Sgt. Horte advised that this issue would be revisited at the next meeting.
A Kilby Street resident requested that a traffic light with a pedestrian signal be installed at Kilby Street and Rte. 3A. Sgt. Horte stated that Mass Highway would be the ones to contact since it’s a State road. Sgt. Horte also stated that Rep. Garrett Bradley has toured the area and has the issue on his agenda. He reiterated that the best bet would be for Garrett Bradley to expediate matters. The resident asked that the Committee also make this recommendation at which point Harry Sylvester made the motion for the Committee to draft a letter to the Selectmen recommending the traffic light with pedestrian signal. Sgt. Horte seconded the motion and all approved.
A letter from Pastor William Turpie of New North Chuch was provided to the Committee for review as the issue of public safety for pedestrians on Lincoln Street in front of the church will likely be on the agenda at the next meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 PM.