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News/Events - Meeting Minutes

TRAFFIC RULES AND REGULATIONS COMMITTEE
OCTOBER 12, 2004

MEMBERS PRESENT: Linda Barich, Chairman; Arthur Wood; John Murphy; Dorothy Cook; Paul Scott. ALSO PRESENT: Ann Burbine, Planning Board Liaison; Paul Reidy, Board of Selectmen Liaison; Kim Peters and Lisa Fenton, Jenkins School Safety Committee; R. Macari, Dads Club of Jenkins School; Marty Grassie, Principal, Jenkins School; Robert Murray, Facilities Manager Scituate Schools.

1. Chairman Linda Barich CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER at approximately 7:05 P.M. in the Selectmen’s Hearing Room of the Town Hall.

2. A MOTION was made by Mr. Murphy to approve the Minutes of the September 7, 2004 Meeting with two amendments; the motion was SECONDED by Mr. Wood. Mr. Scott added a clarification he wished to have included in the Minutes of this Meeting; he said he wants it on record that in no way does he endorse a roundabout in the Greenbush area. He said that the TRRC has expressed concerns regarding the safety of this proposed project, and to date we have not received any documentation that shows where any roundabout constructed in the US is handling the level of traffic experienced at the Route 3A/Route 123 intersection in Scituate. He said that he does not concur with the MBTA’s reasoning regarding signalization versus roundabout. He also questions the level of service and cost concerns. Mr. Scott said that he wondered whether safety is being sacrificed to cost. He said that there has been no response from the MBTA or Mass Highway to our memo to Susan Phippen, MBTA Ombudsman, of September 9. He also said that the TRRC asked that our concerns be passed on to Don Cooke, and he doesn’t know if this has been done.

3. REVIEW OF CORRESPONDENCE. Ms. Barich read a letter copied to the TRRC from Susan Anthony of the Beautification Committee (this letter is attached to the Minutes of this Meeting) that was in response to previous correspondence initiated by the TRRC. Ms. Barich also read a letter from the Rev. Paul MacDonald of St. Frances Cabrini Church regarding projections of additional parishioners and CCD students who will attend St. Mary’s upon the closure of St. Frances at the end of October. (A copy of this letter is attached to the Minutes of this Meeting.) Ms. Barich read a letter from Chief of Police Brian Stewart in response to a citizen request regarding a traffic count at Kent Street inbound into Front Street at the St. Mary’s intersection. (A copy of this letter is attached to the Minutes of this Meeting.) Mr. Scott pointed out that the figures may be misleading as the Stockbridge Road bridge was closed and Country Way was also closed when the traffic count was conducted.

4. NEW PLANS SUBMITTED FOR REVIEW. Dreamwold Estates Definitive Subdivision Plan. The plans call for four new homes to be built off Dreamwold Road. Mr. Scott said that it is a very narrow road and that it is not paved at the end where there are wetlands. Mr. Murphy expressed concerns whether there is enough room for emergency vehicle turnaround. Mr. Scott was concerned about the adequacy of the existing public way. Mr. Scott asked Ms. Burbine if Dreamwold Road could be upgraded, and made wider; she said that she would bring this up at the Planning Board meeting. She pointed out that it is not a heavily traveled road and that there are only three houses along it. Mr. Scott said that we should ensure that the width and type of construction of Dreamwold Road will be adequate to support the new construction. Ms. Barich said that we should ensure that site distance is adequate, and Mr. Murphy added that we should ensure that there is adequate room for emergency vehicle access, egress and turnaround. Mr. Scott said that a width of 24 feet should be clear in the roadway; he said that it appears that it currently is only 16 feet. All agreed that a memo including these points will be sent to the Planning Board in time for their meeting on these plans.

4. Items (A) – (D) have been deferred to the November meeting. Mr. Scott said that (E) should be dealt with at a workshop in the near future. Regarding (F), Mr. Scott said that the Autumn Woods 40B developers have asked for many waivers and one of them is a waiver of the Town Bylaw regarding Common Driveways. Mr. Murphy asked about approaches to the development; Mr. Scott said that access is from the Norwell side of the development. Ms. Burbine read the Town bylaw regarding Common Driveways; the minimum width of a common drive for a development of this size would be 16 feet. Mr. Reidy said that the developers have told the Commission on Disabilities that they do not intend to build an accessible unit despite ADA regulations. All agreed that a memo is to be sent to the ZBA adamantly recommending the ZBA deny the granting of any waivers for Section 780 Common Driveway Bylaw. Our concerns are for the adequate access and egress of emergency vehicles to the twelve units that are to be located within Scituate. The plans presented have absolutely no detail for us to review and make any determination as to the adequacy / mention public safety.

5. NEW BUSINESS. Ms. Barich welcomed Ms. Fenton, Ms. Peters, Mr. Grassie and Mr. Murray to the meeting. Ms. Fenton circulated copies of proposed priority improvements for Jenkins School, from the Jenkins School Safety Sub-Committee and gave an overview of the proposals to the TRRC. (Copies of these documents are attached to the Minutes of this Meeting.) She also presented a drawing showing existing conditions and an illustration of the proposal for an island on First Parish Road. Ms. Barich asked about the length of the proposed islands; Ms. Fenton said that they would be about 10 feet on each end. Mr. Wood said that the total length of the area would be 40 feet. Mr. Grassie said that people routinely ignore the crossing guard who is holding a very large Stop sign, and that something needs to be done right away. Mr. Macari spoke about the work his group has done to help with projects at Jenkins School, and said that the Dads Club would be able to help construct the islands. Ms.Burbine asked how much it will cost to do this; she said that it will be paint and a few stantions. Mr. Scott pointed out that this would be the initial cost. Ms. Barich asked whether a raised area in the middle of the road will affect access of emergency vehicles. Mr. Scott asked Ms. Fenton if she had said that speeding was a problem; Ms. Fenton said that this is the case. He said that the traffic safety officer has to be replaced, and that enforcement is imperative. Mr. Wood said that all the school speed zones are violated, and that it is not possible to station a police officer at each school at opening and closing times. Mr. Scott said that this proposal is actually liable to create a more hazardous condition because it narrows the approaches. Ms. Fenton said that motorists will have to slow down, and that the proposal could be tried out. Ms. Barich asked about snow removal and whether the flags could be removed. Mr. Reidy said that in the past there was a dedicated traffic enforcement officer in the Town, and that it seems that there is still a need for this in Town, and that this matter needs to be brought up, as the Town is continuing to grow and there have been many complaints about speeding. Mr. Wood said that the design being proposed here could be used in conjunction with traffic enforcement. Ms. Burbine said that many drivers are talking on cellphones and blowing through town. She asked if the proposal should go through the Board of Selectmen and it was agreed that this would be appropriate. Mr. Norton said that he agreed with Mr. Wood, and that in the current budget session there would be a discussion about the need for a traffic enforcement officer. A MOTION was made by Mr. Scott to endorse phase one of the proposed safety improvements as specified in the document provided by the Jenkins School Safety Committee; this motion was SECONDED by Mr. Wood; all were in favor. A memo is to be sent to the Board of Selectmen with this endorsement. Ms. Barich voiced a concern about raising the islands; she wanted to be on record that she is ok with painting the islands but not necessarily with phase three of the proposal. Ms. Fenton asked if they could begin the work right away; there was a discussion about how this should be done. Mr. Scott said that any painting on the roadway would have to conform to the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control (MUTCO). Mr. Norton and Mr. Reidy said that the next Board of Selectmen meeting will be on Tuesday the 19th, and that the Jenkins School Safety Committee should wait until after this to begin work. Mr. Reidy asked about the signs; Mr. Scott said that signs would be ordered in accordance with MUTCO. There was a discussion about the signs and Mr. Scott said that he would like to see signs like these used at all crosswalks all over Town.

In other new business, Ms. Barich brought up a request from a Humarock resident for two spaces in the public parking lot in Humarock to be 15 minute parking for the Humarock post office, so that people going in to pick up their mail in the summer don’t get ticketed. Mr. Wood said that this will be an enforcement problem. Ms. Barich proposed asking the Board of Selectmen to take the matter up. Mr. Scott said that the citizen should take it to the Board of Selectmen. Send a letter to Ms. Dobie saying that we will forward her concern to the Board of Selectmen for review.

Ms. Burbine brought plans for Harborside Village on Front Street, which proposes to have parking below the development. She pointed out that there are no elevations, and she will request them. Mr. Murphy said that there have to be standpipes; Ms. Burbine said that the developer said that he is “all set” with the Fire Dept. Ms. Burbine said that plans will be coming to the TRRC.

Mr. Wood brought up parking at Seaside Fun playground, Ms. Cook said that the Vice Principal has been out there, and that students have been asked not to park there, and parents have complained. Mr. Wood said that he has had complaints from people unable to park at the playground. He said he would like to send a memo to the Board of Selectmen requesting signs indicating that parking is for Seaside Fun Playground from 7 A.M. to 3 P.M. Monday through Friday. A MOTION was made by Mr. Scott, and SECONDED by Mr. Murphy, to send this memo. Ms. Cook said that bus drivers ought to be able to park there, Mr. Scott said that those spaces are for the playground. Ms. Cook said that the bus drivers will park at Town Hall.

Mr. Wood then brought up the fact that the southerly side of the drive up to Cushing School must be made into a no parking area. A memo will be sent to the Board of Selectmen making this request.

Mr. Wood asked about the status of the crosswalk at Maria’s on Front Street. Mr. Scott asked if a survey could be taken of how many people cross there. Ms. Barich said that a lot of people would if there were a crosswalk there. A memo is to be sent to the Baord of Selectmen requesting a crosswalk from the cul de sac of Cole Parkway by the town brook across Front Street to the vicinity of Barker Tavern Bakery, a number of years ago this was requested and no action has been taken.

ACCESSORY DWELLING SPECIAL PERMIT/3 DAMON ROAD. Mr. Scott said he would like to see a parking plan showing where the four parking spaces will be. A memo is to be sent to the Planning Board to this effect.

7. ADJOURNMENT. The next TRRC meeting will be held on Tuesday, November A MOTION was made to adjourn the meeting by Mr. Wood; the motion was SECONDED by Mr. Murphy; all were in favor and the meeting was ADJOURNED at 8:55 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Jean Martin