BOS to act on York St. safety recommendations

Selectmen said they are amenable to many of the road safety suggestions that were presented to the board Tuesday night by the York Street Neighborhood Association.

About 30 neighbors attended the meeting and applauded the presentation delivered by spokesperson Catherine Walsh of 307 York Street.

The group also praised the work done so far by the police and DPW in the area. Since the group met with police in early May, Lt. Tom Keleher Jr. said police have issued 306 citations and a new round of enforcement will begin when school opens in September.

Walsh said she has lived on York Street for 24 years and has seen many accidents and has even been involved in one herself. But concerns were heightened following a serious car accident in early March that injured six Canton High School students.

Neighbors are also concerned about a 250-unit housing development that is being built on the Canton-Randolph line by Avalon Communities. The group asked selectmen to set aside as much mitigation funding as possible from the project for traffic-calming measures. Selectmen Chairman Bob Burr said the amount of mitigation is the subject of ongoing negotiations between the board and the developer.

Among the suggestions offered by the neighbors included a new traffic study of York and adjoining streets to be done by Norfolk County in the fall. A previous study, completed in 2007, showed an average traffic volume of 4,100 cars per day and 4,800 when school is in session.

Neighbors also recommended a redesign of the entrance to York Street from Randolph Street; placement of a solar-powered radar speed sign; improved signage and drainage; additional pedestrian crosswalks and sidewalks; and continued pruning of shrubs and bushes at road intersections to improve sight lines.

Whether or not a traffic light is needed in the area is still up for debate. Selectman Victor Del Vecchio said he has heard mixed messages from residents on the need for a traffic light and where it should be placed.

Burr said all of the suggestions will be reviewed by the Traffic Advisory Committee, which includes DPW Superintendent Mike Trotta and Police Chief Ken Berkowitz. Both men attended Tuesday night’s meeting, and Berkowitz said police will make presentations to the schools regarding speed enforcement at the beginning of the school year.

Burr said some of the suggestions can be done very quickly and others will need to be studied further. He promised more updates on the matter in the fall.

In other news:

* Selectmen said two vacancies now exist on the Conservation Commission and urged interested residents to serve. Until the vacancies are filled, Burr said future agenda items may be delayed until a full commission is established. ConCom usually meets two Wednesdays per month.

* Selectmen and School Committee members decided to postpone their joint meeting, originally scheduled for Tuesday night, to fill two vacant School Committee seats. The meeting has been tentatively rescheduled for August 7.

* Selectmen approved $15,000 from one of the mitigation accounts to help Pop Warner finish its outside lighting project at the Kennedy School playing fields. The project is subject to approval and conditions set by the School Committee and zoning board.

* Town Administrator Bill Friel reported that the Reservoir Pond dam repairs on Pleasant Street and the Columbia Gas main installation on Washington Street are both going well and appear to be on schedule. Both projects should be completed in late August.

* Selectmen voted to appoint Carolyn Floyd as assistant director of assessing.

* Ron Kendall of Buffalo Lodging has donated a treadmill and exercise bike to the Canton Fire Department.

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Posted by Mike Berger on Jul 25 2012. Filed under News, Town Government. Both comments and pings are currently closed.