2011-02-15 TPC MinutesMEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
City Council Chambers, Puchalski Municipal Building
4:00 p.m. — 6:00 p.m.
Members Present: Maureen Carney, Ned Huntley, William Letendre, Russell Sienkiewicz,
Wayne Feiden, Debin Bruce, Leslie Stein, James Lowenthal
Members Absent: Jesse Adams, Gary Hartwell, Paul Sustick
Others Present: Laura Hanson, Traffic Engineer; David Narkewicz, Councilor at Large; and
Citizens Judith Fine, Pam Hannah, and Steve Susco
Meeting called to order at 4:00 p.m. by Chair, Maureen Carney. Quorum met.
Ordinance: Church Street becomes a one -way street in the easterly direction
(Referred by the Transportation and Parking Commission)
Public Comment (confined to Church Street matter)
a. Judith Fine, of 28 Perkins Avenue, objected to the Street's conversion to two -
way, if by residents only, describing the current state as "exceedingly dangerous."
She explains there is no room for both parking and two -way traffic and,
emphasizing residents with disabilities nearby, requested the Commission revert it
back to a one -way street.
b. Pam Hannah of 11 Church Street concurred, citing safety concerns with people
going to the park.
Discussion
Mr. Feiden presented background since 2006 relating to Mass Highway
Bike Trail King Street signal; changes to Church Street's traffic as being made
in 2008 and again in 2010. He explained with the use of a satellite blow -up
schematic, that Mass DOT wouldn't provide a bike path if Church Street was
closed off physically, effectively converting it to a dead -end. Moreover, the
Fire Station nearby wanted to maintain access to Church Street as a thruway.
He requested measurements of the Street be made and concluded that the ideal
would be to have as few one -way streets as possible.
Ms. Bruce stated Church Street "is effectively a dead -end but not
practically."
• Chair Carney acknowledged full disclosure as a resident of Church Street,
and noted the Planning Department requested that the Commission make
Church Street a dead -end even as the State, through Mass DOT,
recommended the changes and expected the city to provide physical barriers.
She added, however, the municipality does not have the monetary resources.
She concluded that no decision would be made today.
• City Councilman David Narkewicz inquired as to when a decision would
be made as the City does not own the project.
Mr. Huntley said it was the "stupidest" ordinance he'd ever written.
Ms. Stein suggested the Commission needs more data.
MOTION, Mr. Letendre, to continue; seconded, Ms. Bruce, with request for data on
accident statistics and measurements of Church Street; data to be provided by Mass
DOT; motion carried.
2. Approval of Minutes of December 21, 2010
MOTION, Mr. Letendre, to approve; seconded, Ms. Bruce; motion carried.
Jake Brakes:
Ordinance: Amend Chapter 312, Vehicles and Traffic — Engine Compression Brake
Prohibition (Referred by City Council January 20, 2011 to Board of Public Works,
Committee on Public Safety, Transportation & Parking Commission, and Committee
on Elections, Rules, Ordinances, Orders and Claims)
Councilor Narkewicz explained the need for a Jake Brake prohibition, although
questioned whether the city has the means to enforce it. He entered into the
record a letter to Councilor LaBarge from citizen Craig Odgers seeking to ban
Jake Braking.
• Documents entered into the record include "Legal Authority for Prohibiting
Engine Compression Brakes in the City of Northampton, Part I, Title VII, Chapter
40, Section 21; and generic Information on Engine Compression Brakes.
Mr. Susco, of 754 Bridge Road, stated his support for the Ordinance as a benefit
to the people. He presented a petition specific to the Bridge Road corridor and
cited Holyoke, Hatfield and Granby as being ahead of Northampton on the matter,
particularly Holyoke as it is "a hilly town." He suggested that speeding is a factor
and if traffic enforcement addressed the cause, the effect might address itself.
Moreover, he added, the Ordinance doesn't address posting and signage.
Discussion:
Chair Carney said the Ordinance was recommended to the Public Safety
Committee to facilitate a better understanding of the emergency, and added that
signage would be appropriate to let truck drivers know they are entering a "No
Jake Brake" zone, and added enforcement should be left to the police with the
possible facilitation provided by traffic cameras. In response to one suggestion of
language modification specific to crash avoidance, she was dubious as to changes
being made.
• Councilor Narkewicz pointed out that fines and penalties should be spelled out
with cross - referencing in Section 312.75 of the Ordinance.
• Mr. Letendre suggested signage "would help a lot," the responsibility of which
should be left to the municipalities, citing Hatfield as an example.
• Ms. Bruce preferred "Engine Brake" vs. "Jake Brake" in the language.
• Chair Carney concurred, suggesting also a $300.00 fine.
• Mr. Huntley suggested a friendly amendment to Subsection C exempting
"municipal vehicles."
• Chair Carney thought the exemption unnecessary as the emergency language
covered that.
MOTION, Mr. Letendre, to send forward language with small amendment
replacing "public safety vehicles" language to "municipal vehicles "; seconded, Ms.
Bruce, with an exemption for all "emergency, public safety, and municipal"
vehicles.
• Chair Carney recommended changing language from "public safety" to
"municipal."
• Chief Sienkewicz conveyed the Fire Chief s request for the exemption.
• Mr. Lowenthal asked about other channels communicating the changes.
• Ms. Hanson inquired as to enforcement.
MOTION, Mr. Letendre, to approve the ordinance with change in "vehicle"
language; seconded, Ms. Bruce; motion carried 5 -2 (dissenting: Ms. Stein, Mr.
Lowenthal).
4) Middle Street, Florence - Parking
• Mr. Letendre pointed out that there is a medical center in the area and there are,
currently, no parking restrictions; consequently medical employees park there all
day and the residents are objecting. His reply to their concerns is that the parking
is not illegal and did not encroach on private property (driveways).
• Chair Carney indicated an Ordinance had already been passed; referred to the
November Minutes. She added that an immediate solution would be to park at the
school across the street while acknowledging a neighborhood petition to establish
2 -hour parking limits.
• Ms. Bruce acknowledged having "no horse in this race," offered that the likely,
though unintended, consequences of regulating parking would be increased rate of
speed for traffic, and that there is likely "more" to the issue than parking for
Medical Center personnel.
• Mr. Letendre conveyed Councilor Murphy as being "unclear" on the matter.
• Chair Carney suggested that Councilor Murphy be brought in to the meeting at
next opportunity.
MOTION, Mr. Letendre, to table; Ms. Bruce seconded; motion carried.
5) DPW Updates — Presented by Laura Hanson, Traffic Engineer
DPW provided a letter signed by Mr. Huntley to Neil Boudreau, State Traffic
Engineer at MassDOT regarding the new crosswalk standard specific to
Pedestrian Safety Project #606248. MassDOT project will be out to bid in
approximately two weeks. MassDOT has approved six (6) additional crosswalks:
West St near Main St intersection, Gothic St near Main St intersection, and Four
crosswalks at the Main St/Bridge St/Market St/Hawley St intersection.
Ms. Hanson has been in contact with the MassDOT regarding curb extensions in
concert with the crosswalks, including pullouts with bus stops for the Pleasant
Street/Hockanum Road intersection.
She provided email communications, one of which between Lola Reid and Laura
Hanson, et al.; the other one she received from Laurie Scarborough, Planning
Engineer at MassDOT; both regarding the Pleasant & Hockanum Sts Intersection.
• DPW working with MassDOT on the Route 9 Roundabout.
Discussion
Mr. Huntley said DPW would be meeting with MassDOT regarding the
pedestrian safety project as well as the North King/Hatfield intersection project.
• Chair Carney introduced the Department Head Reports.
• Chief Sienkiewicz raised questions about police station, discussing with the
engineer about finances; Gothic Street lot.
MOTION, Mr. Letendre, to adjourn; seconded, Mr. Lowenthal; motion carried.
Meeting adjourned at 5:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Gregory Ammons
Johnson & Hill Staffing