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FREEPORT TRAFFIC & PARKING COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
December 18, 2007


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

EXCUSED: Chris Parker


The meeting was called to order by Mr. Profenno at 7:40 a.m.


ITEM I: ACCEPTANCE OF THE MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 20, 2007
MEETING

Motion (Schofield/ DeGrandpre) to accept the minutes of the November 20, 2007 meeting as printed. Approved 4-0. (Mr. Manning and Mr. Gorman abstained.)


ITEM II: CONSIDER CHANGING THE WINTER (NOVEMBER 1 TO APRIL 15) OVERNIGHT PARKING RESTRICTION TO START AT 11:00 PM (INSTEAD OF 11:50 PM)

Mr. Profenno recognized Jim Plummer, Public Works Director, to present the issue. He said that the earlier start time would help his crew work more efficiently and quickly. They currently work with the police to identify the owners of parked cars, and try to get them moved, rather than ticket or tow. He has noticed that many cars that are parked after 11:50 could have been moved by 11:00 p.m. without any inconvenience to the owner.

Mr. DeGrandpre said that he has noticed cars parked after 11:50 pm on Elm Street. Mr. Plummer said that there are cars parked late at night throughout the Town. Mr. Regier noted that there are no businesses that require on-street parking after 11:00 p.m. He also said that since there could be a significant benefit to the Town by permitting snow removal crews to work more efficiently, he would like the Town Council to consider this change quickly.

Motion (Regier/ DeGrandpre) to recommend that the Town Council approve an amendment to Section 48-208 of the Traffic & Parking Ordinance to change the start of the winter overnight parking restriction from 11:50 pm to 11:00 pm.

Approved unanimously.


ITEM III: DISCUSS POSSIBLE CHANGES TO THE PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALK IMPROVEMENTS ON MAIN STREET AT THE NEW FREEPORT STATION RETAIL DEVELOPMENT

Mr. Presgraves introduced this topic by noting that the new Freeport Station project will include a new brick plaza that will be the main pedestrian entrance to the stores. The existing crosswalk on Main Street at this location will be widened, and some granite bollards and chains will be used on the sidewalk along Main Street to direct pedestrians to the crosswalk, hopefully reducing uncontrolled pedestrian crossings on Main Street. As a possible safety improvement, it would be possible to install a system of flashing lights imbedded in the pavement that would be operated by pedestrian-controlled push-buttons.

Mr. DeGrandpre said that he was concerned that a light system of this type would be used constantly, and thereby create traffic back-ups on Main Street. He suggested that it may be more beneficial to install a warning light system at each end of the village retail zone to apply to all crosswalks. There was discussion about the difficulty of controlling pedestrians, whether it made sense to light only one crosswalk out of the many that exist, and the maintenance required on the existing bollards and chains.

Mr. Manning noted that some crosswalks were not well lighted. Mr. Presgraves said that at least two new street lights were installed a few years ago to improve the lighting at some of the crosswalks.

Mr. Regier requested that Mr. Presgraves should develop a plan of all the crosswalks in the village area, showing sidewalks, lighting, bollards, and related information. There was a general consensus that this would help focus the discussion for our next meeting. Mr. Presgraves said that if lights in the pavement were desired, a decision should be made by next spring so that the ongoing construction could accommodate the electrical installation.

Discussion will be continued at our next meeting.


ITEM IV: UPDATE ON THE INSTALLATION OF THE SPEED TABLE AND CROSSWALK IMPROVEMENTS ON BOW STREET

Mr. Presgraves said that the speed table and temporary signs had been installed. The lighted signs to be located at the edges of the pedestrian zone may not be installed until next year, however. Mr. Plummer said that the speed table had not been a problem with plowing snow. Mr. DeGrandpre thought that the speed table did not seem very high, but that traffic exceeding a speed of 25 mph would probably wish they were going slower.


ITEM V: OTHER BUSINESS

Mr. Presgraves mentioned that the new owner of the only house on the short, dead-end extension of Cross Street was planning to convert it into a parking lot. They would like to know if the Town would consider abandoning the road so that the parking lot could have about eight additional parking spaces. He noted that the road was in need of re-surfacing, and that the Town is responsible for plowing snow in the winter. The discussion indicated that if the Committee were to consider recommending this to the Town Council, the topic should be added to the agenda of the next meeting. Mr. Regier asked if a map showing the location could possibly be added as a link to the agenda when it is posted on the Town’s web site. Mr. Presgraves will investigate this. It was also requested that the one remaining residential owner on Cross Street be informed of this item for the next meeting.

Mr. Tom Ring, Main Street in South Freeport, said that he was concerned about a parking situation that occurred last summer. A commercial truck and trailer frequently parked on Main Street near Harraseeket Road, creating a potential hazard. Although it was apparently a legal parking space, he felt that long-term parking of this type of vehicle should not be allowed at that location. Mr. DeGrandpre stated that this is a big issue that is not easy to resolve, noting that there is a special South Freeport Parking Committee that has been meeting for the past year to discuss parking issues in all of South Freeport. Mr. Manning said that Mr. Ring’s concern should be passed on to the special committee, if they are still meeting. Mr. Presgraves will do this.


ITEM VI: ADJOURNMENT

Motion (Schofield/Gorman) to adjourn the meeting until Tuesday, January 22, 2008,
7:30 a.m.

Approved unanimously.