Traffic Commission Agendas and Minutes

Page 1 of 3 December 21, 2020 MINUTES OF THE COHOES TRAFFIC COMMISSION MEETING HELD ON MONDAY DECEMBER 21, 2020 VIA THE ZOOM APPLICATION AT 4:00 PM MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Paul Johnston City Planner Joseph Seman-Graves Fire Chief Joseph Fahd MEMBERS ABSENT: Lieutenant John Shanahan Commissioner Stephen Hennessey ALSO PRESENT: Theresa Flatley, Recording Secretary CONSIDER THE MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 16, 2020 MEETING Chairman Johnston asked if there were any comments, questions or concerns regarding the minutes as presented. As there were no questions, concerns or comments, Chief Fahd made a motion to approve the minutes. Joseph Seman-Graves seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed unanimously. DISCUSSION REGARDING THE PREVIOUS DECISION TO MAKE ORCHARD STREET ONE-WAY NORTH BETWEEN ERIE AND CHURCH STREETS Chairman Johnston stated that after the decision was made by the Traffic Commission at the November meeting to make Orchard Street one-way northbound, the Mayor received complaint(s) from residents of the area that they were not aware of the proposed agenda item and accordingly were not able to have any input into the ultimate decision. This original request was jointly submitted by Mayor Keeler and S. Forkel. The request was submitted because Orchard Street is only 22 feet which promotes residents to park their vehicles on the sidewalk so that they can safely park. Parking on the sidewalk is contrary to Subsection 1202 of the NYS Motor Vehicle and Traffic Law and Subsection 285-83.b of the City Code. Recent Police Department enforcement of this law has led to this request. The change to one-way north and prohibiting parking on the west side of the street will make this area safer for motorists and would provide more legal parking for residents of the area. Mayor Keeler and Chief Waldin are in agreement with the proposed change. Chairman Johnston opened the floor to public comment at 4:02 PM. Joseph Seman-Graves read an e-mail that had been received from Sue Lecuyer who objected to the decision, a copy of the e-mail containing her reasoning is attached to these minutes.  Page 2 of 3 December 21, 2020 Additionally, Ron Yerry of 9 Maiden Lane stated his concerns regarding adding traffic on Devlin Street near a playground and possible delayed response times for emergency vehicles. Additionally, Mr Yerry previously submitted an email. A copy of the email is attached to the minutes Since there were no further public comments, the chairman closed the floor to public comments at 4:05 PM. Chairman Johnston stated that the comments would be reviewed and if the need to rescind the previous Regulation to make Orchard Street one-way north is required, it will be placed on a future agenda. No action will be taken on making Orchard Street one- way until all the comments have been reviewed. CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF A PARKING SPACE AT #13 BROADWAY The request was submitted by Karen and Raymond DeCenzo for the approval of a parking space in the utility strip between the sidewalk and the westerly curb of #13 Broadway. Chairman Johnston stated that currently the west side of Broadway is signed as a fire lane. He also stated that Subsection 285-83.b of the City Code states that the parking of motor vehicles is prohibited on sidewalks, on areas between the sidewalk and curb and on median strips separating travel lanes as defined in the New York State Motor Vehicle and Traffic Law. The Chairman’s recommendation was to deny the request. Chief Fahd made a motion to deny the request for a parking space in the utility strip between the sidewalk and the westerly curb of #13 Broadway. Joseph Seman-Graves seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion to deny passed CONSIDER THE PROPOSED SCHEDULE FOR 2021 TRAFFIC COMMISSION MEETING DATES Chairman Johnston stated that the proposed dates that are attached to the agenda are all for the third Monday of the month except for January and February which will be the fourth Monday because of holiday conflicts. No member had any objections to the proposed dates. Since there was no further business on the agenda, Chairman Johnston stated that because of the Martin Luther King holiday, the next meeting of the Traffic Commission would be on January 25, 2021 at 4:00 PM. Chairman Johnston made a motion to adjourn. Chief Fahd seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed. The meeting adjourned at 4:08 PM.  Page 3 of 3 December 21, 2020 e-mail submitted to meeting: From: Sue Lecuyer [mailto:susielecuyer@hotmail.com] Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2020 2:20 PM To: Seman-Graves, Joseph <jseman-graves@ci.cohoes.ny.us> Subject: Orchard st one way I am writing in regard to the decision by the Cohoes Traffic Commission, to make Orchard St. a one-way street. I am opposed to this decision. I live at 14 Orchard St., and feel that it would be more of an inconvenience than an improvement. There is so little traffic on this street, and in the rare instance that two cars are going in opposite direction, it is rare that one vehicle has to pull over to make room for the other, perhaps in the case of an extra large vehicle. Orchard St. is not a thoroughfare type route, or a short cut to anywhere, people who use the street are, for the most part either residents or delivery, or occasionally trade workers. I feel it would be inconvenient for drivers coming in from the south, also for folks who live on Maiden Lane- they would either have to go all the way up Devlin St., and come down Orchard, (creating unnecessary traffic on both those streets) or go up Church and use that little cut through, which is really not in the best shape. I would rather see tax dollars used to re-pave Orchard and Devin, this has not been done in many years, they just keep patching. We used to be able to use part of the sidewalk on Orchard St. for parking. I do realize that parking on a sidewalk is ilegal, it seemed to have been "grandfathered in", my grandparents parked on the spot in front of my house for over 50 years, and I parked there for the last 20, suddenly it is not allowed. That being said, I want to point out two hazards for anyone walking on the sidewalk, a piece of the previous street sign is sticking up from when they changed the signs, and one year some guy was plowing in a haphazard manor and sheared off what I think was a water sign, little round metal piece that said water, and an inch high piece of metal is sticking up. If someone trips on either of these things I don't want to be held responsible for what I feel are things that are not my doing. Thank you for considering my thoughts on these matters. Sincerely, Sue Lecuyer 14 Orchard St., Cohoes NY 12047