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FREEPORT TRAFFIC & PARKING COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
October 16, 2007


PRESENT: Gary Profenno (Chair) Rich DeGrandpre Gerald Schofield, Chief of Police Rodney Regier
Albert Presgraves, Town Engineer Chris Parker (arrived at 7:40)

EXCUSED: Andrew Manning
Jim Gorman


The meeting was called to order by Mr. Profenno at 7:34 a.m. Item II was taken out of order because there were not enough members present (initially) to consider Item I.


ITEM II: REVIEW COMMITTEE’S RECOMMENDATION TO REVISE THE SOLID WASTE ORDINANCE REGARDING TRASH COLLECTION TIME RESTRICTIONS


Mr. Profenno introduced this topic by noting that the Committee’s recommendation had gone to the Town Council, who sent it back to the Committee for reconsideration. Mr. Presgraves added that the issue originally included both delivery times and trash collection times, but that only trash collection times had been identified as a concern by residents. Mr. DeGrandpre added that the issue was sent back to the Committee to include the consideration of the new Village Mixed-use Zoning.

Mr. Regier noted that noise from early trash collection had been expressed as a concern by several residents, some of whom noted that it occurred as early as 3:30 am. This occurred in the area of North Main Street near East Street, and on Holbrook Street near Main Street.

Mr. Charles Fishman, 195 Main Street, spoke about early trash collection causing a disturbance near his house, and he hoped that the Committee would limit trash collection times as currently proposed.

Mr. Alden Grant, Holbrook Street, said that noise from trash collection disturbed guests at his Bed & Breakfast business. The noise included not just the pick-up operation, but also the back-up alarms, and truck engine noise. He would prefer that the collection restriction start at 7 am instead of 6 am.

Mr. Schofield said that he had heard from a number of people about excessive noise from trash collection at early hours.

Mr. Nelson Libby, Troianno Waste, said that if their customers request a time restriction for trash collection, his company will comply, and they currently limit collection times at certain hotels and businesses. He would prefer more flexibility in the proposed Ordinance Amendment, so that they can do early pick-ups where noise is not a problem, and do them later where it is. He is concerned about safety problems if all collection is delayed until later in the day when traffic increases.

Mr. Ron Theriault, Pine Tree Waste, said that safety is their biggest concern, and he hoped that any time restrictions would only be placed in the areas where there was a problem, not all of the Town. If the restriction is throughout the Town, there will be cost increases to his customers.

Mr. Regier agreed that safety from traffic and pedestrian conflicts was a valid concern.

Mr. Profenno asked the haulers if they could estimate the percentage of collection stops that occur in the village area. Mr. Libby said they do not pick up before 6 am in the Village. Mr. Theriault said that he had several.

Mr. DeGrandpre said that he is open to limiting the areas where time limits should apply. There was discussion about how to describe the areas that should have time limits, and a Zoning map was obtained for this discussion.

Motion (Regier/ DeGrandpre) to table this item to the next meeting of the Committee, with the Town Engineer to prepare a proposed Ordinance Amendment that would restrict commercial trash collection to the hours of 6 am to 6 pm in the Village-1 and Village Commercial-1 planning zones.

Approved unanimously. Mr. Presgraves was asked to send notices of the next meeting to the licensed trash haulers, with copies of the proposed Ordinance Amendment and a Zoning map.


ITEM I: ACCEPTANCE OF THE MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 18, 2007
MEETING

Motion (Schofield/ Parker) to accept the minutes of the July 17, 2007 meeting as printed. Approved 4-0. (Mr. DeGrandpre abstained.)


ITEM III: UPDATE ON THE PROPOSAL TO INSTAL SPEED TABLES AND/ OR CROSSWALK IMPROVEMENTS ON BOW STREET

Mr. Presgraves distributed a plan of the proposed improvements, which will include a crosswalk on a speed table at the location of the crosswalk between the school path and the park path, with lighted “Pedestrian Area” signs about 500 feet on either side of the crosswalk. The lighted signs would operate by a programmed timer. The plan still anticipated construction of the improvements this year. Mr. Presgraves said that he had asked that the proposed crosswalk signs be modified to include a reference to the speed table. The Committee was generally pleased with the plan, and did not have any further suggestions.


ITEM IV: DISCUSS STATUS OF CENTERLINE STRIPING ON TOWN ROADS

Mr. Presgraves presented a map of the Town’s roads showing which ones were striped, and which ones could be considered for striping in the future.

The Committee discussed the reasons for possibly striping more Town roads, agreeing that it should be based on identified problem areas that would be safer with a centerline stripe. Using personal knowledge of local sight lines and terrain, Committee members targeted areas where these types of safety improvements would most benefit both local residents and visitors.

Motion (DeGranpre/ Regier) to recommend additional funding of about $1,200 in the Town’s striping budget next year for centerline striping of the following roads and distances:

Pine Street 7,950 feet
Upper Mast Landing Road 5,210 feet
Lower Mast Landing Road, Bartol Is. Rd. to Cove Rd. 1,820 feet
Beech Hill Road, crest of hill area 500 feet
Torrey Hill Range Road, crest of hill area 500 feet
Hunter Road, steep hill area 500 feet
Webster Road, curves in vicinity of Eagles Nest Rd. 2,000 feet

Approved unanimously.


ITEM V: REVIEW NO PARKING RESTRICTIONS ON DESERT ROAD BETWEEN THE RR BRIDGE AND CAMPUS DRIVE

Mr. Schofield introduced this item by noting that the Police Department had been getting complaints since early this summer about people congregating at various locations throughout Town where it had not previously occurred. It was determined that this was being caused by employees smoking cigarettes. Near Campus Drive, there seem to be vehicles parking in various locations along Desert Road while the drivers finish their cigarettes before going to work. Where “no parking” signs are installed on the north side of the road, parking does not occur. If more “no parking” signs are installed, it may just move the problem to wherever the no parking signs stop.

Overall, the Committee is concerned with the safety of traffic on Desert Road. The Committee consensus was that other solutions should be pursued to remedy this potential safety problem before proposing amendments to the Traffic and Parking Ordinance.





ITEM VI: OTHER BUSINESS

Mr. Regier asked for an update on the two issues mentioned at the end of the previous meeting-- the rough RR crossing at Bow Street, and poor visibility of some signs from vegetation growth. Mr. Presgraves indicated that Public Works was planning to repair the RR crossing at Bow Street this year. Trimming of vegetation near signs was scheduled to occur after the leaves had dropped in order to reduce the number of complaints from property owners.


ITEM VII: ADJOURNMENT

Motion (Schofield/ Parker) to adjourn the meeting until Tuesday, November 20, 2007,
7:30 a.m.

Approved unanimously.