Town of Natick
Safety Committee Minutes
April 25, 2006
The meeting was called to order by Chief Mannix, Chairman, at 10:05 a.m.
Members in attendance: Chief Mannix Chief Sabourin
Sgt. Lauzon Ron Ordway
Charles Sisitsky MaryEllen Dunn
Robert Ward John Slamin
Joan Craig
Also in attendance: Tom Hladick, DPW
Jack Quilty, DPW
Domenico Manago, Petitioner
Mel Albert, Natick Bicycle & Pedestrian
Betty Stetson, Petitioner
Approval of the February 2006 Safety Committee Minutes: The committee VOTED to approve the February minutes after a small change was made to reflect DPW Director, Charles Sisitsky’s presence at the meeting.
OLD BUSINESS:
Adams Street: Although not on the agenda, the committee recognized the need to revisit this issue in order to determine to move this issue forward. It was agreed that Sgt. Lauzon, the Traffic Safety Coordinator will contact Mark Coviello, the Town Engineer and Mr. Johnson, the owner of the HVAC Company on Adams Street and invite both parties to attend the next Safety Committee meeting in order to determine the town owned property line.
Rte. 30 from Saddle Brook Road to Mainstone Road: The committee discussed the need for a sidewalk in this area. DPW Director Sisitsky advised that this request would need to go through the betterment process. Chief Mannix will contact the petitioner, Kathy Cappellano to explain how the betterment process works.
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NEW BUSINESS:
Boden and Millbrook Intersection: The committee reviewed a request from a petitioner regarding the speed of motor vehicles in this area. He was requesting the installation of stop signs at the intersection of Boden and Millbrook and to have the crosswalks repainted and highlighted. The committee was made aware of this issue in January of 2006 in the form of a neighborhood petition which was sent to the Board of Selectmen. At that time, the committee declined to recommend installation of the requested stop sign since the warrant requirements were not met by the traffic flow on Boden Lane. At that time, the committee agreed that speed enforcement would continue to be directed by the police department. It was agreed that this issue is unchanged. Sgt. Lauzon, the Traffic Safety
Officer will conduct a speed survey as well as speed enforcement and education in this area.
Intersection of Charles and Grove Streets: A request was made by a petitioner to paint stop lines, install an advance warning sign “stop ahead” as well as a mid-block speed hump midway between Main Street and Charles Street on Grove Street. The committee VOTED to recommend to the Board of Selectmen the replacement of stop signs where necessary, the need to repaint stop bars, and the installation of an advance “stop ahead” sign on Grove Street westbound just east of Charles Street. Additionally, the Traffic Safety Officer will contact Bright Lights to repair the street lights at the intersection of Grove and Charles, as well as in front of address#5 Charles Street. The police department will also perform traffic enforcement in this area during the afternoon heavy
commuter hours.
Indian Rock and Country Club Lane Overgrown Brush Hazards: A petitioner asked that this issue be revisited after originally being addressed in September of 2005. The brush on both sides of Rte 30 in this area are overgrown and littered with refuse and dead wood. Mr. Hladick, the Highway Superintendent agreed to take care of trimming back the brush on both sides of Rte 30 along with the clearing of any refuse and dead wood.
TRAFFIC SAFETY OFFICER UPDATES:
Cottage Street: Mr. Quilty, the DPW Sign Painter, advised the committee that he will have the 30 MPH advisory signs ready in a few days and will contact Sgt. Lauzon to determine placement locations.
Municipal Lot Enter/Exit Signage: Mr. Hladick, the Highway Superintendent, advised that they will be painting surface markings at this location in the near future.
Pond Street No Parking Signs: Mr. Quilty, DPW Sign Painter, advised that “no parking” signs in this area will be replaced in the near future.
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East Evergreen Road, in front of the Ben Hem School: Sgt. Lauzon requested the committee consider posting no parking signs in front of the school. The committee VOTED to make a recommendation to the Board of Selectmen that the north side of the road, directly in front of the school, be posted “No Parking timeHour7Minute07:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Monday through Friday”.
The Intersection of Maple Street and Rte 135: Mr. Manago, a petitioner representing the neighbors in this area, polled his neighbors to determine their wishes regarding how best to address the number of cars using their street as a cut-through. He reported back to the committee that their first preference was to make Maple Street a soft dead end. The second and third choice (equally voted) was to either make a no left turn onto Maple Street from Rte 135 westbound and/or a speed hump mid-block on Maple Street. The committee VOTED to recommend to the Board of Selectmen that this area be made a “No Left Turn” option with advance signage especially on Washington Avenue.
Winter Street and Oak Street: The committee was asked to reconsider a petitioner’s request for an island in this area. Mr. Sisitsky, the DPW Director, and Mr. Coviello, the Town Engineer advised that in order to construct an island on Winter Street it would require the re-engineering of a private property driveway located on the northeast corner.
Mr. Sisitsky advised that Mr. Coviello was working on what options were available regarding the repositioning of this driveway.
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