RECEIVED MAY 21, 2009 @ 12:53 P.M.
Michele R. Grande, Redding Town Clerk
3 pages
REDDING BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MEETING
May 18, 2009
Present: Ketcham, Miller, Takacs
Also present: about 25 members of the public and a representative of the Redding Pilot
Mrs. Ketcham called the May 18, 2009 meeting to order at 7:37 pm
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion: move that the minutes of the April 13, 2009 meeting be approved as submitted. Takacs, Miller. Approved. Unanimous.
Motion: move that the minutes of the April 20, 2009 meeting be approved as corrected. Miller, Takacs. Approved. Unanimous.
Correction: page 1, Mrs. Ketcham called the April 20, 2009 meeting to order.
ACTION ON PLANNING COMMISSION MEMO REGARDING THE DOT INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC LIGHTS AT RTE 107/53
Mrs. Ketcham recapped the recent history of the interest in putting traffic signals at the intersection of Route 53 & Route 107. About three years ago, the traffic backups were a cause of numerous calls to Town Hall and concern about the safety of the intersection. Currently, the DOT has the intersection on a list of projects to be funded from the American Recovery Act (Stimulus Fund), but will not force the project on the Town if it is not desired.
The Planning Commission reviewed the proposed project and recommended that the project be permanently discontinued. Mr. Takacs recommended that before any project goes forward, a complete town-wide traffic study be done to determine if there are other areas with safety concerns. Mrs. Miller noted that there have been no complaints and no congestion problem in the last three years and the Planning Commission advised against the traffic lights so there was no reason to go forward with the lights. .
Members of the public were invited to address the issue.
Emily d’Aulaire, Sunset Hill Road: commented that even when there are backups, people are willing to wait.
Jim Miller: concern about the potential for accidents and reaction to a serious accident.
Larry Ford: suggested the project would not move forward very fast given the current economic conditions.
Ray D’Angelo: the Redding Preservation Society reviewed the issue and believes that adding traffic signals to the intersection would compromise the rural nature of the town. He reviewed his conversation with representatives of the DOT regarding the issue. DOT completed a traffic study and forwarded the results to the Police Chief. Mr. D’Angelo’s summary of the recommendation of the study included:
- Traffic lights will not worsen the situation
- The traffic number is not high enough to warrant traffic lights
- Traffic lights would not prevent a backup around the curve on Rte 107.
- Traffic lights would slow traffic through the intersection during off-peak hours
- The “all-way-stop” is adequate for traffic management
- No geographic changes to the intersection were recommended.
When DOT re-studied the intersection recently, the results were unchanged. The DOT position is that traffic lights could be installed at the intersection if the Town wanted them. Further, the DOT project was developed prior to the “stimulus money” being available and could go forward with or without the “stimulus money.”
The Redding Preservation Society recommended the project be abandoned.
Jo-Ann Brooks: agreed with the recommendation of the Redding Preservation Society and suggested that the “stimulus money” should be used for projects that will create jobs, such as the Georgetown Redevelopment Project.
Motion: move that the Redding Board of Selectmen through its designee First Selectman Natalie Ketcham instruct the Redding Police Chief, as the Legal Traffic Authority, to inform the Connecticut DOT that the Town of Redding does not with to proceed with the installation of traffic lights at the intersection of Routes 107 & 53 and the project should be removed from the list of projects to be funded. Miller, Takacs. Approved. Unanimous.
OPTIONS FOR STATION ROAD BRIDGE
Station Road is closed due to the poor condition of the bridge. The Town’s engineer estimates the cost to repair the bridge, based on current information, is $459,577.50. Mrs. Ketcham reported the repair of the bridge did not qualify for FEMA financing. Mrs. Ketcham applied to the Local Bridge Program through the State under an emergency declaration, and the project qualified for a 26.5% reimbursement rate or $123,856. In addition, the project would qualify for funding through the HVCEO stimulus funding package and $158,749 would be available for the bridge construction.
Mrs. Ketcham received a letters from resident Tom Derderian and West Redding Fire Chief Joe Miceli requesting that the bridge be repaired.
Members of the audience addressed the issue
Tim Rogers, Station Road: commented that the impact of added traffic on Sidecut Road seems to have subsided.
Maggie Rogers, Station Road: commented that the closure of the road has created a sense of community, and allows residents of the road and other areas of town a safe environment for bike riding and walking.
Charley Couch: recommended that the bridge be repair be done in keeping with the scenic and historic nature of the roadway.
Larry Ford: recommended a narrow bridge, 1 ½ lanes, similar to the bridge on Poverty Hollow Road.
Tom Derderian: commented that the traffic on Sidecut road has not subsided.
Tim Rogers: asked that the design of the bridge be such that it would slow or calm traffic.
The Board of Selectmen will present the project to the Board of Finance at their meeting on May 27, 2009.
AGENDA CHANGE
Motion: move that the agenda be changed to allow the Executive Session to be the next item. Miller, Takacs. Approved. Unanimous.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Motion: move that the Redding Board of Selectmen recess to executive session to discuss matters pertaining to personnel with the Park and Recreation Commission and Director. Miller, Takacs, Approved. Unanimous.
Members of the Park and Recreation Commission and Director Rob Blick were invited to be present.
The meeting recessed at 8:50 pm
RECONVENE
Mrs. Ketcham reconvened the meeting in public session at 9:30 pm
EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK UPDATE
The edits and comments of Mr. Takacs and Mrs. Miller will be added to the master document. A final review and approval will be scheduled for the June meeting.
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
1. Change June meeting date: the June 15, 2009 meeting was changed to Tuesday, June 16, 2009.
2. America the Beautiful Grant to rid cigarette litter: the grant will provide receptacles for cigarette litter.
3. Georgetown Day, June 14, 2009.
ADJOURNMENT
The Chair adjourned the meeting at 10:00 pm
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Maday
Recording Secretary
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