2013-04-02CITY OF BEVERLY
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
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Parking and Traffic Commission
April 2, 2013
Conference Room B, Third Floor City Hall
Bill Bent, Vice Chair, Tina Cassidy, Bill Fiore, John
Somes, Richard Hutchinson, and Russ Rollins
Chair Rich Benevento
Eileen Sacco
1. Bent calls the meeting to order at 8: 30 a.m.
2. Follow -Up Discussion on Meeting with the Beverly Public Schools
Bent states that he thought the meeting was a great session on the challenges that
the Beverly Public Schools have with traffic and was very pro- active. He notes that
they have traffic management issues because of site geometric constraints and
getting kids out safely to buses. He asks Cassidy if she has received any feedback
since the meeting.
Cassidy reports that she has not heard anything specific but agrees with Bent that
they are managing as best they can. She too thought it was a great session and
everyone left on a high note. She explains that the School Department let us know
their concerns as well as the efforts that they are making to ease things at drop off
and dismissal times.
Hutchinson says that the proposed development at Kelleher Pond is off the table and
questions if a road could be put in for the Centerville School. Cassidy explains that
there is a lot of ledge and hills as well as wetlands up there. She states that it could
be possible to put a one -way road between Brimbal Avenue and Essex Street but
even that would be costly.
Cassidy also notes that school bussing policies could be looked at. It was noted that
there is one bus for the Hannah School and the North Beverly Elementary School
while others have several buses. She suggests that she would work with Roland
Adams to more details using updated GIS maps, once the School Department sends
its promised list of priority issues /schools.
Bent suggests that once the Commission gets that list it can develop of priorities,
that is things that can be done such as reconfiguring parking lots and internal traffic
patterns and work on that last, noting that it would be a start to addressing some of
the issues.
Final Parking & Traffic Commission minutes April Z 2013 Meeting
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3. Discussion (continued): Police Department recommendation to restrict
parking on Wayland Road (both sides) or to establish fire lane / Sgt. Rollins
Sgt. Rollins reports that Mr. St. Pierre and Ms. Piccarello have indicated their
support of the change to him. He explains that "No Parking Signs" will give the
police something to work with, noting that Wayland Road is not a patrolled street.
He also notes that the city ordinance states that parking is not allowed within 10
feet of a driveway. He adds that the group home on Wayland Road gets a lot of
medical aid calls and a fire truck could have difficulty accessing the site if there are
cars parked on both sides of the street.
Hutchinson suggests that a "No Parking or Standing" sign be installed. Cassidy
questions if no parking on one side of the street would be enough. Rollins suggests
that "No Parking" on one side of the street on the opposite side from the group home
would be sufficient.
Hutchinson: motion to recommend to the Beverly City Council that a "No Parking"
sign be installed on Wayland Road on the opposite side of the street
from the group home. Fiore seconds the motion, all in favor. The
motion carries 6 -0.
Cassidy will send a letter to the City Council on the recommendation with a copy to
the City Clerk for action.
4. Discussion: City policies and Practices for Municipal Off - Street Parking Lots
Cassidy reports that as requested she sent a memo to Eric Barber after the last
meeting requesting that he look at the signage in the parking lots downtown. She
says that Rich Benevento also spoke to Barber about the request from the
Commission. She will follow up with Barber for further information before the next
meeting.
5. New /Other Business
Discussion on Windover Project on Rantoul Street
Cassidy states that Hutchinson had concerns at the last meeting regarding the
Windover project on Rantoul Street. She reports that there is now a static board out
there to notify motorists of the lane closure.
Hutchinson says that his concern was more about the way it was handled and asks if
there are any procedures and /or guidance provided by the City to developers
regarding closures of a street, or do developers just do it on their own? Rollins
replies that the Engineering Department handles most of that and that the City
Final Parking & Traffic Commission minutes April Z 2013 Meeting
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Council approved a lane shift but it never came before the Parking and Traffic
Commission.
6. Update Request to State Regarding Truck Exclusion for Cole Street
Bent asks what the status of the truck exclusion for Cole Street. Cassidy reports that
she has not heard anything from the State. She explains that the Mayor hand -
delivered the request to Ms. Leavenworth, MassDOT District 4 Director recently.
She estimates that the City will hear something in the next month or so.
7. Approval of Minutes: April 7, 2014 Meeting
Bent asks if there are any corrections that need to be made to the draft minutes of
the Commission's last meeting. There are none.
Somes: motion to approve the draft minutes of the Commission's April 7,
2013 meeting, seconded by Hutchinson. Hutchinson, Somes, Rolllins,
Cassidy in favor, no one in opposition, Fiore and Bent in abstention.
Motion carries 4 -0 -2.
8. Next Meeting
The next regular meeting of the Parking and Traffic Commission will be held on
Tuesday, May 14, 2013 at 8:30 a.m.
Bent asks if there is any other business for the Commission to discuss. There is not.
9. Adjournment
Hutchinson: motion to adjourn, seconded by Rollins. All members in favor no one
in opposition. Motion carries 6 -0.
The meeting is adjourned at 9:00 a.m.
Final Parking & Traffic Commission minutes April Z 2013 Meeting
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