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Council Ends Year on Public Safety NoteBy Jen Thomas - December 27, 2007
NORTH ADAMS - It was a quiet final meeting for Councilor Christopher Tremblay, who relinquished his seat with grace at Wednesday night's City Council meeting.
"I just want to thank everyone who voted for me. It's been a real pleasure being here for two years," said Tremblay, who uttered nothing else but his message of appreciation during the brief council proceedings
During the last regular meeting of the year, it was Councilor Ronald Boucher, the chairman of the public safety committee, who did all the talking. From traffic congestion problems on city roadways to an update on mobile home park regulations, public safety concerns were the main issue of the night.
Following several December meetings, the public safety committee was able to resolve a major safety issue at Rock Manor and Wheel Estates Mobile Home parks, thanks to a collaborative effort by the council, park officials and Public Safety Commissioner E. John Morocco. The council responded to a petition that outlined site dangers, including lack of street names at Rock Manor and poor numbering at both parks, submitted by residents via Councilor Marie Harpin in Semptember.
Improper numbering and a lack of street identification are a public safety problem, said Morocco, because emergency vehicles and police are unable to quickly attend to 911 calls at Rock Manor because of the inability to track down a residence by lot number.
"If you don't have a map with the lot numbers and the layout in front of you, it's a crapshoot," explained Boucher.
Despite early resistance by park owners, the city and the owners were able to come to an agreement on Dec. 10 that will see the streets named at Rock Manor and proper odd and even numbering at both parks. The deadline for final submission of the map reflecting those changes is March 11.
The council also unanimously approved a motion to refer several citizen complaints about parking and traffic issues to the traffic commission for discussion in the new year. Specifically, Boucher asked that the commission consider reviewing the parking regulations on Chesbro Avenue, a portion of Rand Street and the section of road near 90 Hospital Ave.
"The streets are very narrow and residents want to see parking on one side of the street, not both. It's causing a real problem," said Boucher.
The traffic commission will also look at the layout of the parking lot of the Dunkin' Donuts at the intersection of Union and Eagle streets. The small lot sits at the center of heavy five-way traffic and though no major accidents have occurred at the location, the lot's construction leads to several traffic jams each day.
"I've been studying the Dunkin' Donuts problem," said Councilor Michael Bloom. "I don't have the ultimate solution but there's a place to start. Like the McDonald's parking lot, people should only be able to turn right out of that parking lot."
Cars headed north move away from the intersection, lightening the stream of cars attempting to head toward the downtown area.
"Unfortunately, the vast majority of people take a left out of that lot and we may see people do what I have done myself and make dangerous U-turns farther up the road," said Councilor Richard Alcombright.
Because of the dearth of parking spaces, residents have been known to park in the handicapped parking space in front of the building or in the loading zone, where parking is forbidden.
"I've been guilty of it myself," said Alcombright. "I parked in the loading zone and someone came out and said 'Councilor, that's a loading area.' And I said I was loading a bagel into my trunk."
Councilor Robert Moulton Jr. also noted that parking in a handicapped space could result in a hefty fine.
"If you want to pay $300 for a cup of coffee, so be it," he said.
The council will see the issue again at its first meeting in February.
Also at the Meeting
The council voted to postpone granting a secondhand license to a business intending to open on the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Arts' campus after Mayor John Barrett III requested the delay. The Mass MoCA Commission had yet to approve the business and the license will be considered again in two weeks.
According to Council President Gailanne Cariddi, the Council and the mayor will be sworn in on Jan. 7 at a 7 p.m. ceremony in the council chambers at City Hall.
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| I really wish that something would be done about the Dunkin Donuts drive thru. It is the WORST and I can't believe it was even zoned in. I wish people would only go in the drive thru from the union st side and not try to come in the other way and block cars that are parked trying to leave as those cars sit behind them waiting for to move up in the line. They should have it made so you came out on the McDonalds parking lot side and not right out into traffic b/c when the "loading" truck is there you can't see coming out of there and more than once I have almost gotten hit from someone coming out of there. I think this is a SERIOUS problem and needs to be addressed ASAP!!! | | from: LISA | on: 12-27-2007 |
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