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FREEPORT TRAFFIC & PARKING COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES

December 20, 2006


PRESENT: Jim Gorman Rodney Regier
Gary Profenno Andrew Manning
Gerald Schofield, Chief of Police
Albert Presgraves, Town Engineer

EXCUSED: Steve Brown
Rich DeGrandpre

The meeting was called to order at 7:37 a.m.

ITEM I: ACCEPTANCE OF THE MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 20, 2005
MEETING

Tabled by the Chair, because there were not enough members at this meeting that attended the previous meeting.


ITEM II: FURTHER DISCUSSION OF THE REQUEST FOR PUTTING A 4-WAY STOP SIGN CONTROL AT THE CORNER OF SOUTH STREET AND TORREY HILL RANGE ROAD/ WEST STREET

Mr. Schofield presented accident data for the three years 2003-2005 at the intersection. According to police reports, there were four accidents that were all related to vehicles crossing or turning onto South Street from West Street. None of these accidents were caused by vehicles leaving Torrey Hill Road or by the effects of rainfall run-off or winter icing on Torrey Hill Road. Reported accident causes were:
1. Rear-end collision with stopped vehicle.
2. Driver inattention.
3. Reduced visibility from a winter snowpile.
4. Reduced visibility from overgrowing vegetation.

Mr. Presgraves presented information about the right of way, stating that all three roads had widths of at least 49.5 feet, and that the South Street right of way was widened by 4 feet at the northeast corner of the intersection in 1978.

Mr. Presgraves had investigated the drainage situation, noting that water ran constantly down the north side of Torrey Hill Road during the wetter times of the year, typically Fall to Spring. Near the bottom of the hill, about 15 feet from South Street, a corrugated metal culvert “underdrain” pipe discharged at the edge of the pavement, with water flowing along the radius asphalt curb and into a catch basin in South Street. The location of the upper end of the pipe was not known, but the pipe seemed to be shallow due to the exposed ledge near the edge of the road. In freezing conditions, ice would build up from this flowing water, and possibly go across Torrey Hill Road, but not typically into South Street.

The Committee discussed the information presented. It was requested that Public Works should investigate the location of the upper end of the underdrain pipe, and determine if more water could be diverted into the pipe instead of flowing at the edge of the road.

Overall, there was a general consensus that the accident data did not justify recommending a 4-way stop condition at the intersection. In addition, the drainage conditions did not seem to be so severe as to recommend that the Town Council make a special capital expenditure over the existing Capital Budget Plan. It was noted that some improvements could possibly be made as part of normal maintenance activities by Public Works.


ITEM III: REVIEW PROPOSED BIKE/ PEDESTRIAN PROJECT FUNDING APPLICATIONS TO PACTS

Mr. Presgraves presented a memo to the Committee dated January 20, 2006 that identified potential bicycle/ pedestrian trail projects that could be pursued for funding from PACTS. It included a new project known as the Concord Brook Trail, an off-road project from Pine Street near Route 1 through undeveloped private property for about 6,500 feet to Cottage Road that connects to West Street. This project is in the initial planning stages and may or not be ready to submit to PACTS for funding this Spring.

Motion (Regier/ Schofield) that the Traffic & Parking Committee recommends that the Town Council support the following two projects for priority funding of bicycle/ pedestrian improvements within the PACTS area:
1. Concord Brook off-road trail;
2. Paved shoulders for Lower Mast Landing/ Porter’s Landing Roads.
Approved unanimously.


ITEM IV: ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Motion (Schofield/Gorman) that Gary Profenno be elected Chair of the Committee, and Rich DeGranpre be elected Vice Chair. Approved unanimously.


ITEM V: OTHER BUSINESS

Mr. Presgraves presented an Annual Report of the Committee for 2005. Mr. Regier requested that the Committee’s decision to add a directional sign for the Freeport Performed Arts Center should be added to the Report.

Mr. Presgraves informed the Committee that the Town was soliciting consultants to perform a Parking Study for employees in the Village area and waterfront parking in South Freeport. It was suggested that the affected businesses and interested parties should be contacted as part of the study. Mr. Presgraves noted that the study’s scope did not include a formal public meeting process, but that information would be solicited during the study, and then shared publicly as part of the Committee’s review of the report.


ITEM VII: ADJOURNMENT

Motion (Schofield/Gorman) to adjourn until 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 21, 2006.
Approved unanimously.