Traffic Commission Agendas and Minutes

Page 1 of 3 June 26, 2023 MINUTES OF THE COHOES TRAFFIC COMMISSION MEETING HELD ON MONDAY JUNE 26, 2023 IN THE COMMON COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF COHOES CITY HALL AT 3:03 PM MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Paul Johnston Fire Chief Joseph Fahd Lieutenant John Shanahan City Planner Joseph Seman-Graves MEMBERS ABSENT: Commissioner Stephen Hennessey ALSO PRESENT: Theresa Flatley, Recording Secretary CONSIDER THE MINUTES OF THE MAY 22, 2023 MEETING Chairman Johnston asked if there were any comments, questions or concerns regarding the minutes as published. As there were no questions, concerns or comments, Chief Fahd made a motion to approve the minutes. Lieutenant Shanahan seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed unanimously. CONSIDER THE INSTALLATION OF A RESIDENTIAL HANDICAP PARKING SIGN AT 80 MELVILLE AVENUE This request was submitted by Henry Milewicz. Chairman Johnston stated that the application and the recommendation from the Center for Independence were both in order with the City’s MIRA policy. The Chairman’s recommendation was to approve the request in accordance with Attachment “A” to the agenda. Lieutenant Shanahan made a motion to approve the request for a Residential Handicap Parking sign at 80 Melville Avenue in accordance with Attachment “A” to the agenda. Chief Fahd seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed unanimously. CONSIDER THE INSTALLATION OF A RESIDENTIAL HANDICAP PARKING SIGN AT 34 CHESTNUT STREET This request was submitted by Sheila Bennett. Chairman Johnston stated that the application and the recommendation from the Center for Independence were both in order with the City’s MIRA policy. The Chairman’s recommendation was to approve the request in accordance with Attachment “B” to the agenda.  Page 2 of 3 June 26, 2023 Chief Fahd made a motion to approve the request for a Residential Handicap Parking sign at 34 Chestnut Street in accordance with Attachment “B” to the agenda. Lieutenant Shanahan seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed unanimously. CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF THE ANNUAL RE-APPLICATIONS FOR EXISTING RESIDENTIAL HANDICAP PARKING SIGNS This request was submitted by Chairman Johnston. Chairman Johnston stated that the City’s MIRA policy requires the annual re-application of the applicants. The re- applications have been reviewed and are in order and on file. The Chairman’s recommendation was to approve the re-applications that are detailed on Attachment “C” to the agenda. Chief Fahd made a motion to approve the request for the annual approval of the handicap re-applications in accordance with Attachment “C” to the agenda. Joseph Seman-Graves seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed. CONSIDER THE REMOVAL OF HANDICAP PARKING SIGNS AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS This request was submitted by Chairman Johnston. Chairman Johnston stated that these signs were originally approved for the individuals detailed on Attachment “D” to the agenda. The City’s MIRA policy requires the annual re-application of the applicant. During this year’s re-application process, the listed individuals failed to respond to our re-application requests or state that the sign is no longer required. Accordingly, for those not responding, it is assumed that the signs are no longer needed. The Chairman’s recommendation was to remove the handicap parking signs in accordance with Attachment “D” to the agenda. Joseph Seman-Graves made a motion to approve the request to remove the Residential Handicap Parking signs detailed on Attachment “D” to the agenda. Chief Fahd seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed. CONSIDER THE INSTALLATION OF A NO PARKING HERE TO CORNER SIGN ON THE WEST SIDE OF SIMMONS AVENUE AT THE ELM STREET INTERSECTION This request was made by Jerry Oliver. The Chairman stated that numerous recent inspections of Simmons Avenue reveal that vehicles are parking on the west side of Simmons Avenue up to the edge of the crosswalk at Elm Street. This is contrary to the NYS MV & T Law and also impedes satisfactory sight distance of northbound vehicles  Page 3 of 3 June 26, 2023 and precludes vehicles from satisfactorily turning south, from Elm Street to Simmons Avenue. This failure, most importantly, is a safety issue. The Chairman’s recommendation was to install a No Parking Here To Corner sign on the west side of Simmons Avenue in accordance with Attachment “E” to the agenda. Lieutenant Shanahan made a motion to approve the installation of a No Parking Here To Corner sign on Simmons Avenue in accordance with Attachment “E” to the agenda. Chief Fahd seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed. Since there was no further business on the agenda, Chairman Johnston stated that the next meeting of the Traffic Commission would be on July 24, 2023 at 3 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 3:09 PM.