2011-08-31 (2)CITY OF BEVERLY
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
BOARD OR COMMISSION
SUBCOMMITTEE:
DATE:
LOCATION:
MEMBERS PRESENT:
MEMBERS ABSENT:
OTHERS PRESENT:
RECORDER:
Parking and Traffic Commission
August 31, 2011
City Hall Conference Room B, Third Floor
Vice -Chair Bill Bent, Tina Cassidy, Richard
Hutchinson, Rich Benevento, Russ Rollins
Bill Fiore
Tina Cassidy
Benevento calls the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Approval of Minutes
The first item of business is approval of draft minutes for the May 4th and June 7th
Commission meetings. Benevento asks if anyone has any changes to suggest.
There are none.
Bent: motion to approve the draft minutes of the May 4th and June 7th meetings
as drafted, seconded by Hutchinson. All members in favor, no one in
opposition. The motion carries 5 -0.
2. Review /recommendation regarding Site Plan Review application #103-
11: construction of commercial building (Cicoria Tree Service and
contractors' shops) at corner of Sam Fonzo Drive and Henderson Road
Cassidy briefly explains the proposed project and access, which will be via a
driveway leading from Henderson Road through the lot that houses the Airport
Manager's office.
Members review the plan and proposed driveway construction. Benevento
expresses concern that trucks exiting the site might have difficulty taking right
hand turns onto Henderson Road, and wants to avoid a situation where trucks
might need to cross over the yellow line into the opposing lane of traffic in order
to head west down Henderson Road.
Final Parking & Traffic Commission meeting minutes August 31, 2011
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Cassidy: Motion to recommend to the Planning Board that the site plan
approval be granted subject to the Board confirming the following
are addressed:
That line of sight distances for vehicles exiting the site are
adequate;
That the turning radius at the driveway entrance /exit is
sufficient to ensure that vehicles exiting the site do not cross
the roadway centerline into opposing traffic; and
That the driveway is a minimum of 18' in width and
constructed with materials and methods acceptable to the
Fire Department, in order to allow emergency vehicle access
in the event of oncoming vehicular traffic or a disabled
vehicle along the driveway.
Motion seconded by Bent, all members in favor. Motion carries 5 -0.
3. Discussion: Citv Ordinance relative to taxi cabs and livery licenses
Members continue discussing potential revisions to the existing city ordinance
regarding taxi cabs and liveries. There are twenty (20) taxi cab licenses granted
in the City of Beverly; Tri -City holds four (4) of the twenty (20), and other
companies control (but do not use) the remaining sixteen (16).
Members agree that liveries should be subject to the same type and frequency of
inspections as are taxi cabs. Rollins informs members that the City's Sealer of
Weights and Measures inspects the meters but the Police Department is
responsible, by ordinance, for inspecting cabs on a weekly basis.
Members discuss whether the City should require licensure of cabs from other
communities that pick up Beverly fares but are not based in the City.
Members agree that the fine for violations of the ordinance should be increased.
Rollins notes the likely need to change the frequency of required taxi cab
inspections (current ordinance requires weekly inspections, which is not realistic
given personnel levels). Benevento asks if applicants are required to provide
proof of insurance.
Rollins agrees to review the form currently in use for inspections and to suggest
revisions if needed. Members think licensees should also be required to report
Final Parking & Traffic Commission meeting minutes August 31, 2011
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accidents and any convictions /arrests of drivers /owners that may occur after one
is licensed by the City.
Members concur that there should be a separate fee for inspections, if State law
in fact caps the fee for licenses at $10.00. That figure does not begin to cover the
cost of staff time needed to process the license applications, let alone subsequent,
scheduled inspections throughout the year. They also agree that if possible
inspectors should be free to do inspections "on demand ", without advance
notice.
Finally, members note that the current ordinance does not make clear who
actually issues the taxi cab and livery licenses.
Cassidy will draft a letter on the Commission's behalf and distribute it to
members for review. Members agree to provide any comments on the draft by
September 15 so the letter can be finalized and submitted to the Council
quickly.
4. New or Other Business
The next Commission meeting will be held on October 4th. The Chairman will
plan to address the Council about the Commission's activities in January or
February of 2012.
Benevento asks if there is any other business for the Board to conduct. There is
not.
5. Adjournment
Cassidy: motion to adjourn, seconded by Bent. All members in favor,
motion carries 5 -0.
The meeting is adjourned at 7:25 p.m.
Final Parking & Traffic Commission meeting minutes August 31, 2011
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