12/29 -

FREEPORT TRAFFIC & PARKING COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES - to be approved at the January 2006 meeting

December 20, 2005


PRESENT: Jim Gorman Rodney Regier
Gary Profenno Rich DeGrandpre
Steve Brown
Albert Presgraves, Town Engineer

EXCUSED: Edgar Leighton
Gerald Schofield, Chief of Police

The meeting was called to order at 7:39 a.m.

ITEM I: ACCEPTANCE OF THE MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 18, 2005
MEETING

Motion (Gorman/Regier) to accept the minutes of the October 18, 2005 meeting as printed. Approved unanimously.


ITEM II: PRESENTATION BY LIZA MOORE OF THE FREEPORT SKATE PROJECT ABOUT A SKATE BOARD PARK

Ms. Moore presented a summary of the Skate Project’s activities and plans, as shown on the attached report. A skateboard site has not yet been identified, and in discussions to date the School Department staff does not want to have one on school property. The Committee generally felt that either municipal or private parking lots in the village would be difficult to use because of the tight parking requirements and demand. It was suggested that the specific issues of the School Department be identified and addressed.

Motion (Regier/ DeGrandpre) that whereas concern has been expressed to the Traffic and Parking Committee about skateboarding on public sidewalks and private commercial properties in Freeport Village, the Traffic & Parking Committee supports the concept of developing a skateboard park in Freeport. Approved unanimously.


ITEM III: CONSIDER A REQUEST FOR A SIGN ON MAIN STREET (AT HOLBROOK STREET) FOR THE FREEPORT PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

Mr. Steve Putnam, Manager of the Freeport Performing Arts Center, stated that they have identified a need for a sign to direct patrons who do not know the location of the facility. He was open to suggestions for the type and size of sign that would be appropriate.

Mr. Profenno noted that there had previously been a fairly large sign for the High School, and which may have been removed due to disrepair. Locating a similar sign may not be easy because of changes to fences and landscaping in the area. There is currently a “Freeport High School” sign (with standard white lettering on green background) on the top of the “Holbrook Street” street sign. Mr. Presgraves noted that the Library road has a red “street-sign” style of sign that seems to be effective; he believed that the sign was installed by Public Works as a directional sign to a public facility.

There was a general consensus that a red “street-sign” style of sign would be appropriate for the top of the existing Holbrook Street sign for the Freeport Performing Arts Center, since it also would be a directional sign to a public facility. Mr. Presgraves will request this from Public Works.


ITEM IV: CONSIDER A RESIDENT’S REQUEST FOR PUTTING A 4-WAY STOP SIGN CONTROL AT THE CORNER OF SOUTH STREET AND TORREY HILL RANGE ROAD/ WEST STREET

Ms. Kim Wing was the resident who made this request, and she presented some of the factors that she believed supported it. She stated that because Torrey Hill Range Road was very steep, poor driving conditions such as rain or freezing temperatures could allow vehicles to unintentionally slide into the South Street intersection, and that furthermore, the visibility from both Torrey Hill Road and South Street was limited due to both landscaping materials and the geometry of the intersection.

Mr. Presgraves stated that South Street is classified as a Urban/Major Collector Road and that the DOT Region Engineer said the DOT has the final say in whether a 4-way stop control can be implemented at the intersection; they would need some detailed supporting information in order to allow the change. Mr. DeGrandpre said that there may be some design or maintenance issues that should be investigated. Mr. Profenno mentioned that visibility issues at other locations in Town have been addressed by trimming of vegetation by Public Works. Mr. Regier noted that the problems cited at the intersection may be primarily a function of the road grade and existing drainage conditions that could be difficult to change. Mr. Brown noted that the DOT looks at things in a different way, and may not want to make the change.

There was a general consensus that Mr. Presgraves should: 1) investigate the drainage conditions in the vicinity of the intersection to determine if the icing problem could be reduced, and 2) investigate the right-of-way limits in respect to possible options for improving visibility at the intersection.


ITEM VI: OTHER BUSINESS

No other business was discussed.

ITEM VII: ADJOURNMENT

The Committee adjourned at 8:57 a.m. until 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 17, 2005.