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2010-04-06 CITY OF BEVERLY PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES BOARD OR COMMISSION: SUBCOMMITTEE: LOCATION: DATE: MEMBERS PRESENT: Parking and Traffic Commission MEMBERS ABSENT: OTHERS PRESENT: RECORDERS: City Hall Conference Room B Tuesday, April 6, 2010 Chairman Richard Benevento, Bill Bent, Richard Hutchinson, Tina Cassidy, Sgt. Joe Shairs, Sheila Field Bill Fiore Councilor Judith Cronin, Sue Cahill Eileen Sacco The meeting is called to order at 8:30 a.m. 1. Approval of Minutes: March 3, 2010 Meeting Benevento asks if there are any corrections that need to be made to the 3-3-10 meeting minutes. There are no corrections. Bent: motion to approve the minutes of the Commission's February 2, 2010 meeting as amended, seconded by Fields. All members in favor, motion carries 6-0. 2. Discussion: Potential Relocation of Crosswalk at Centerville School Westward from Current Location to One Closer to Grover/Essex Street Intersection and Closure of Existing Fence Opening Benevento explains that a site visit was held and he and Sgt. Shairs and Bill Fiore walked the site, identified areas of concern and considered the potential relocation of the crosswalk at Centerville School Westward from its current location to one closer to Grover/Essex Street intersection. The possibility of closing the existing fence opening was also considered. Councilor Cronin recalled the location of the no parking zone and notes that a suggestion was made to relocate the crosswalk. Sue Cahill addresses the Commission and states that she is concerned about Final Parking & Traffic Commission Meeting Minutes Page 1 of5 April 6, 2010 Meeting driveway access. Benevento explains that if the crosswalk is relocated handicapped ramps will have to be installed and they will have to be concrete. He also explains that the Commission can make a recommendation but other issues such as funding need to be considered as well. Cronin explains that the school asks that the students walk to the front of the school and cross at the crosswalk. Shairs notes that if the crosswalk IS moved to the corner it will require construction of an additional sidewalk. He adds that the original request was to eliminate parking and move the crosswalk to increase parking in another area. He notes that parents park along the fence and people are walking in the street to get to the school. Cronin states that she wants to be sure that the crosswalk is in the right place. Benevento suggests the Commission conduct a site visit to the area and suggests the date of April 27, 2010 at 8:15 a.m. Bent: motion that the Parking and Traffic Commission table discussion of this matter until the next meeting and conduct a site visit on the 27th at 8:15 a.m. Shairs seconds the motion, all members in favor. The motion carries 6-0. 3. Discussion: Recommendation Installation of Signage to Replace the "School Zone" Sign that has been taken down in favor of a radar board at the Centerville School - Sgt. Shairs Shairs addressed the Commission and explains that Bill Ambrefe is in charge of the installation of the radar boards and he is not sure why the School Zone sign was taken down at this location. He explains that the speed limit in the area is 20 miles per hour when children are present and recommends that a sign be posted that states" speed limit 20 miles per hour when children are present." Final Parking & Traffic Commission Meeting Minutes Page 2 of5 April 6, 2010 Meeting Discussion ensues regarding possible language for the sign. Benevento states that he will check to see what Wakefield has on their signs near school zones. He also suggests that he would take a look at this during the site visit on April 27, 2010. Benevento suggests that a panel be added to the radar board that states "speed limit 20 miles per hour when children are present". Karen Tassinari addresses the Commission and asks what the regular speed limit is for the area. Shairs explains that the speed limit is 30 miles per hour if it is not posted and the radar board flashes at 35 miles per hour. Bent: motion to table the matter to the next meeting of the Commission, pending the site visit on April 27, 2010. Shairs seconds the motion, all members in favor. The motion carries 6-0. 4. New or Other Business a. Update on installation of "No Turn on Red" sign southbound on Essex Street at the intersection of Essex and Dane Streets - Sgt. Shairs Benevento recalls that the Commission made a recommendation to the Council that a "No Turn on Red" sign be installed southbound on Essex Street and it has not been installed. Shairs states that there is a list of work to be done and he has been in touch with Mike Collins and suggested that they meet and drive around to the areas that need to be addressed. Benevento states that he would like to participate in that to review what the Commission has recommended, what has been completed and what recommendations remain to be done. Cassidy suggests that perhaps a meeting with Mayor Scanlon should be scheduled to talk about the completion of suggestions made by the Parking and Traffic Commission. Bent notes that there could be funding issues involved In the delay of implementing the suggestions of the Commission. Final Parking & Traffic Commission Meeting Minutes Page 3 of5 April 6, 2010 Meeting Benevento agrees but notes that there should be funding available for improvements such as line striping and traffic signs etc. Cassidy will set up an appointment with Mayor Scanlon. Shairs suggests that perhaps a representative of the Public Works department should sit as a member of the Commission. Benevento notes that risk management becomes an issue if the Commission makes a recommendation and is not followed through on. b. 45 West Street Cassidy reports that the City Council approved the recommendations of the Commission regarding the issue of on-street parking at the Rantoul Street CVS, Haskell Street parking and parking in front of the old Registry of Motor Vehicles building. She explains that with respect to the renaming of 45 West Street, Assistant City Solicitor Bob Munroe registered concerns that the City had no legal authority to condition the neighbor's request as suggested by the Commisison and Fire Department. Because of that the City Council approved the request without any conditions. She suggests that if the Commission is concerned about that it should invite Munroe to a future meeting to discuss the Issue. Field suggests that the Commission should follow up with a letter to the residents on the street and outline that a recommendation was made by the Commission which was in the best interests of public safety. Benevento asks Cassidy to invite Munroe to the next meeting. c. Parking and Traffic Commission discussion with City Council Benevento reports that he made a presentation to the Beverly City Council last evening. He notes that the meeting went well and the presentation was well received. He adds that Councilor Slate praised the work of the Commission. Benevento says that Councilors Hobin and Cronin requested that the Commission hold occasional night meetings. He suggests that the Commission review the calendar and agendas to choose a date for a night meeting when there are items on the agenda where a night meeting would be convenient for residents and Councillors to attend. Cassidy will take a look at that and report back to the Commission. Final Parking & Traffic Commission Meeting Minutes Page 4 of5 April 6, 2010 Meeting d. Adjournment Benevento asks if there is any other business for the Commission to conduct. There is none. Bent: motion to adjourn, seconded by Field. All members in favor, the motion carries 6-0. The meeting is adjourned at 10:00 a.m. Final Parking & Traffic Commission Meeting Minutes Page 5 of5 April 6, 2010 Meeting