Selectmen authorize traffic fine increases

The Board of Selectmen Tuesday night voted 5-0 to raise the fines for more than a dozen traffic violations while instituting a handful of new fines.

Police Chief Ken Berkowitz, who recommended the increases, said the fine amounts had not been updated in the last 20 years, and selectmen agreed that the increases were reasonable and would serve to better deter potential violators.

Most of the fines saw an increase of $5 or $10, including those for overtime parking ($15 to $25), double parking ($15 to $25), and littering ($20 to $25). A few fines were more than doubled, such as those for parking within 10 feet of a fire hydrant ($20 to $50) and impeding or interfering with snow removal ($20 to $50).

Selectmen also approved new fines for all-night parking with a commercial vehicle ($50 to $100 depending on size) and blocking a handicapped ramp ($100).

The new fine amounts take effect December 1 and will be available for viewing on the town and Police Department websites.

In other news:

* Selectmen voted to give James Marathas, owner of the now-defunct Centerfield’s restaurant at 643 Washington Street, until their next meeting on November 5 to resolve the status of his liquor license.

Marathas had requested an extension of the license after claiming that his business was unduly harmed by an illegal parking arrangement between the Forge Pond Condominium Association and the U.S. Postal Service.

“This issue is significantly impacting my ability to operate my restaurant,” he said.

Marathas said the arrangement represented a clear violation of the Canton zoning bylaws and the conditions of the special permit that was granted to Forge Pond. He once again implored the selectmen to help him resolve the matter; however, Town Counsel Paul DeRensis, who appeared before the board Tuesday night, said the issue was out of their hands.

“You have absolutely no jurisdiction to hear anything that this gentleman has said,” explained DeRensis. “The issue is, is he using the license or not?”

After a lengthy and at times heated discussion, Marathas informed selectmen that he had found a willing buyer in Canton and that he intended to “move forward with the transfer of the license.” Selectmen, in turn, said they would wait until November 5, at which point they would either approve the transfer or vote to revoke it.

* Selectmen expressed their widespread opposition to a proposal by Chief Berkowitz that would have permitted bow hunting on a very limited basis on town-owned land. Berkowitz said he had crafted the proposal in response to public inquiries and did not have a strong opinion one way or the other. Selectmen thanked Berkowitz for his efforts but unanimously agreed to preserve the current ban in the interests of public safety. Currently, only hunting on private property — and only with a bow in season — is permitted in the town of Canton.

* Selectmen appointed Sandy Denehy to the Reservoir Pond Preservation Association, and Selectman Sal Salvatori indicated that all appointments have now been filled. The board also voted to temporarily close motor vehicle access to the Earl Newhouse waterfront from November 1 to May 1, citing environmental and public safety concerns.

* Selectmen approved the appointment of Officer Eli Anderson as a patrolman for the Police Department. Chief Berkowitz said Anderson is a former Sharon police officer and an Army veteran and will fit in nicely with the department.

* The board approved the timeline for the 2014 annual town meeting, which begins Monday, May 12, at 7 p.m. The warrant for both zoning and non-zoning articles will be opened on December 26, and all articles must be submitted by January 10 — 120 days prior to the start of town meeting.

* Connolly reminded the audience that the dedication of the Ada Goodrich flag pole will take place this Sunday, October 20, at 12:30 p.m. at the Armando Recreation Center on Pleasant Street.

* Town Administrator Bill Friel reported that the Canton Senior Center was due to reopen to the public on Wednesday, October 16, following a flooding incident that occurred last week. Salvatori said a broken toilet on an upper floor resulted in extensive flooding in the basement, where the senior center is located. A new senior center, located at the former Knights of Columbus building on Pleasant Street, is slated to open in August 2014.

* Selectmen approved the Blue Hills Brewery Annual Halloween Fun Run, scheduled for Saturday, November 2.

Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=22678

Posted by Jay Turner on Oct 17 2013. Filed under News, Town Government. Both comments and pings are currently closed.