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2011-12-6CITY OF BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES BOARD OR COMMISSION SUBCOMMITTEE: DATE: LOCATION: MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT: OTHERS PRESENT: RECORDER: Parking and Traffic Commission December 6, 2011 City Hall Conference Room B, Third Floor Chair Rich Benevento (at 8:40 a.m.), Tina Cassidy, Bill Fiore, Russ Rollins, Rich Hutchinson (until 9:04 a.m.) Bill Bent Mark Pecukonis (for John Somes), Councilor - at -large Paul Guanci, Councilor -Elect Scott Houseman Tina Cassidy Cassidy calls the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. in the Chair's absence. 1. Approval of Minutes The first item of business is approval of draft minutes for the November 1, 2011 Commission meeting. Cassidy asks if anyone has any changes to suggest. There are none. Hutchinson: motion to approve the draft minutes of the November 1, 2011 meeting as drafted, seconded by Rollins. All members in favor, no one in opposition. The motion carries 4 -0. 2. Discussion: City Council Order #195: Erection of stop sign at the intersection of Driscoll Lane and Kennel Hill Drive Cassidy explains that Councilor at Large Paul Guanci submitted this Order at the request of a constituent. Rollins says that he conducted a site visit and while he believes a stop sign wouldn't be necessary if "rules of the road" were followed, he is not opposed to a stop sign be erected at this location. Cassidy asks if any other members have any comments. There are none. Rollins: motion to recommend the installation of a stop sign on Driscoll Lane, at the intersection of Driscoll Lane and Kennel Hill Drive. Motion seconded by Hutchinson, all in favor. Motion carries 4 — 0. Final Parking & Traffic Commission minutes December 6, 2011 meeting Page 1 of 6 3. Discussion: City Council Order #194: Erection of stop sign at the intersection of Birch Woods Drive and Spruce Run Cassidy explains that Councilor at Large Paul Guanci submitted this Order at the request of a constituent as well. Rollins says that he conducted a site visit to this location earlier this week and feels the same about this Order as the previous: a stop sign would not be necessary if motorists used common "rules of the road ", but he is not opposed to a stop sign being erected at this location. Cassidy states that the constituent is expected to be at the meeting shortly. Guanci is present and asks that she be allowed to address the committee when she arrives. General discussion takes place on the issue. Hutchinson: motion to recommend that the installation of a stop sign on Spruce Run, at the intersection of Spruce Run and Birch Woods Drive. Benevento joins the meeting and members update them on discussion of the current agenda item. Benevento suggests that the Commission recommends approval of this Order it should also recommend: • installation of a corresponding stop line • use of a 30" wide sign to ensure conformance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) • Choice of exact location to be determined by the Department of Public Services and • Adding this location to the City ordinances relative to parking and traffic Members agree that these sound reasonable. Cassidy asks if anyone members have any additional comments. There are none. She asks if there is a second to the motion. Fiore seconds the motion, all members in favor. The motion carries 5 -0. Resident Deirdre Patch from 7 Birch Woods Drive joins the meeting and explains that residents are concerned about current traffic patterns in the adjacent subdivision which is now under construction. Though designed as one -way roadways, new residents are apparently not observing that rule. Cassidy states that she may be able to address that point through the Planning Board, since the one -way travel pattern was part of the Board's deliberations on the subdivision Final Parking & Traffic Commission minutes December 6, 2011 meeting Page 2 of 6 project. She will address the issue with the Board in the hope that the developer can be compelled to install the street signs now. She will update Ms. Patch directly. 4. Discussion with Assistant City Solicitor Bob Munroe relative to legality of citations issued if sign postings not properly authorized in local ordinance/by -law Assistant City Solicitor Bob Munroe addresses the Commission, having been invited to address the above - referenced situation. Munroe explains to the members that unless street signs have been authorized — either by local action or under the aegis of state laws and regulations — there may well be an issue with enforcement or, more specifically, an inability to enforce any rule(s) which has not been appropriately adopted. Benevento explains his company's work in other communities in inventorying street signs and analyzing their compliance with both the MUTCD and local ordinances/by -laws. Although Beverly has recently completed a sign inventory, it did not likely include a comparison to either MUTCD or to local ordinance. Benevento asks if improperly- adopted street signs would expose a municipality to any liability. Munroe states that it would have very limited if any impact at all, given other State laws and case law that minimizes municipal liability exposure. Hutchinson leaves the meeting at 9:04 a.m. Benevento thanks Munroe for addressing the commission this morning. 5. Discussion: Citizen request to add stop signs on Parramatta Road (by relocating existing stop signs that are now on the intersecting side streets Cassidy explains that Ward 4 Councilor Kevin Hobin was contacted by an area resident about the speed (and safety) of traffic on Parramatta Road who suggested the possibility of relocating stop signs onto Parramatta Road, presumably to address the issue of vehicle speed on the roadway. Rollins states that he conducted a site visit and reviewed the provisions of the MUTCD. He has concluded that the stop signs should not be relocated onto Final Parking & Traffic Commission minutes December 6, 2011 meeting Page 3 of 6 Parramatta because (a) stop signs are not an appropriate measure to use to calm /slow traffic and (b) Parramatta is the dominant through street where adding stop signs could actually result in a more dangerous situation (rear end collisions). Benevento adds that even four way stop signs are considered to be only a "temporary" measure, temporary until permanent solutions are made. Members discuss the matter generally and suggest that the Police Department install equipment to obtain actual vehicle speeds and to table the matter until the January 2012 commission meeting for further discussion. Speed data will be obtained in the meantime, and at least several members will visit the site between now and the next meeting. 5. Discussion: Potential truck exclusion on Cole Street / Sgt. Rollins Cassidy updates the Board and hands out a packet of minutes and letter from the Commission's files for 2008. Among other issues, the subject of a potential truck exclusion for Cole Street was discussed but not advanced. Rollins explains that he was recently contacted by a resident about the possibility of excluding trucks from Cole Street. He saw first -hand dangerous situations involving trucks and is convinced that trucks should be prohibited from this street. The road is narrow and winding and has no sidewalks. At certain points sight distances are poor, and all these things contribute to a less- than -safe situation when trucks are involved. Houseman asks if the issue is confined to Cole Street, or whether Boyles Street is also affected. Rollins states that the same concerns hold true for Boyles Street. Benevento reminds members that when this issue was discussed previously, the fact that State oversight of the intersection of Boyles and Hale Streets may play a role in the process. Route 127 is a State numbered route along Hale Street, to about the Boyles Street intersection. At that point the road becomes a State highway, and the rules /process for creating a truck exclusion will vary depending on whether the intersection is a State highway or merely a State numbered route. If a State highway, Benevento's understanding is that an alternative truck route must be specified. If it is only a State numbered route at that point, it appears no alternative designation would be required. Benevento suggests that determining where the State highway technically begins is the first step in evaluating the possibility of a truck exclusion route, and if the Final Parking & Traffic Commission minutes December 6, 2011 meeting Page 4 of 6 City pursues the idea of a truck exclusion it would be advisable for the City to meet with representatives of MassDOT's district offices to discuss the issue and get input. Rollins asks whether "No Truck Outlet" signs could be posted on Cole and Boyles Streets in lieu of a truck exclusion process. Mr. and Mrs. Overberg from Cole Street are present and encourage the Board to not only post a truck exclusion but to designate an alternate street such as Corning Street as a truck route. Cassidy states that she intends to focus on the matter of eliminating trucks from Cole Street, and will never support a motion to specify an alternative roadway through someone else's neighborhood. Members decide to table this matter until the January meeting to enable the City to determine the actual limits of the State highway designation. Fiore leaves the meeting at 10:10 a.m. 7. Discussion: City Council Order from Wes Slate re: conduct of traffic and parking study in the vicinity of the proposed commuter rail parking age Cassidy provides brief background on this Order, telling members that Councilor Slate submitted the Order. Cassidy provides a copy of the Environmental Notification Form (ENF) that was submitted for the garage project. Benevento expresses concern about the traffic portion of the ENF, noting several conclusions that appear erroneous on their face without further, more detailed review. Members discuss the issue generally including the City's recent actions in the area and issues such as the impending necessity for resident sticker parking. It is agreed that Cassidy will communicate with both the Mayor and the META asking that representatives from the Commission and the City's Public Services Department be included in future traffic - related meetings that will be held by the T. The Chair and Vice -Chair will also be invited to future meetings held between City personnel held on the subjects of parking and traffic near the new garage. Finally, Benevento asks that the Parking and Traffic Commission be added to the formal notification list for future garage - related documents as they relate to traffic. Final Parking & Traffic Commission minutes December 6, 2011 meeting Page 5 of 6 The matter was then tabled to the next Board meeting. 8. New or Other Business Members discuss the date of the next meeting, which would normally be held on January 2nd (the first Tuesday of the month). Given that date's proximity to New Year's, members elect to hold the next meeting on Tuesday, January 10th Benevento asks if there is any additional business to conduct this month. There is not. There is not a quorum present to adjourn the meeting by voice vote, so Benevento declares the meeting adjourned at 10:30 a.m. Final Parking & Traffic Commission minutes December 6, 2011 meeting Pagc6of6