Board of Mayor and Burgesses

MINUTES PUBLIC HEARING BOARD OF MAYOR AND BURGESSES JUNE 25, 2019 1. Mayor N. Warren “Pete” Hess declared the public hearing open at 6:32 p.m. with the following in attendance: BURGESSES: PRESS: L. Taf Jackson D. Hoff E. Gugliotti M. Bronko R. Neth R. Burns, absent R. Vitale RESIDENTS: J. DeOliveira D. Wisniewski Thirty C. Herb DEPARTMENT HEADS: J. Stewart, Public Works Director W. Zirolli, Borough Engineer OTHERS: S. Bronko, Board of Finance S. Bushee, CT DOT K. Svetz, Naugatuck Valley COG R. Martin, Fire Commission D. Sheridan, Board of Finance Chairman L. Slonus, Weston & Sampson E. Rachuba, Zoning Board of Appeals A. Nafis, Weston & Sampson M. Erickson, Zoning Citation Hearing Officer E. Bronko, Zoning Commission R. Clark, Planning Commission T. Kiernan, Zoning Commission 2. Mayor N. Warren “Pete” Hess led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. 3. Mayor Hess announced the Public Hearing is for the consideration and discussion of the proposed construction of a roundabout at Cherry Street, Meadow Street and Rubber Avenue. Legal Notice of this hearing has been published in the Republican American Newspaper on June 16, 2019 and June 20, 2019. Mayor Hess stated there will be a recording of the public hearing and everyone will be given an opportunity to speak after stating their name and address for the record. 4. Borough Engineer Wayne Zirolli welcomed everyone in attendance. He introduced Scott Bushee from the Connecticut Department of Transportation, Lisa Slonus and Alan Nafis from the engineering firm Weston & Sampson and Public Works Director James Stewart. The Rubber Avenue Project is LOTCIP funded and administered through Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG). Lisa Slonus and Scott Bushee will give presentations on the proposed modern roundabout at the intersection of Cherry Street and Meadow Street followed by questions and comments. Lisa Slonus from Weston & Sampson said the Rubber Avenue Project covers two thirds of a mile on Rubber Avenue from Melbourne Street to Elm Street, including a portion of Aetna Street. The project was extended to include drainage on Aetna Street. The project will include sidewalk and pavement improvements plus streetscaping. The town pays for the design through LOTCIP, the State of Connecticut pays for the construction and  -2- Minutes – Board of Mayor and Burgesses Special Meeting – Public Hearing – June 25, 2019 NVCOG administers the project. The idea of a roundabout is being included before the project begins. A modern roundabout will create a safer environment for pedestrians. Pedestrians currently have a lot of surface to cross at the Route 63 intersection on Meadow Street and Cherry Street. The benefits of a roundabout are speeds are lower and it is safer. Left turns are eliminated and crashes are reduced. There is low to no maintenance and an opportunity for gateway and aesthetic treatments. Currently there are thirty-two opportunities for automobile crashes and twenty-four opportunities for pedestrian accidents at the intersection. The roundabout reduces those figures to eight conflict points for automobile crashes and pedestrian accidents. Scott Bushee from Connecticut DOT said a roundabout is a one-way, circular intersection in which traffic flows counterclockwise around a center island. Roundabouts differ from rotaries and traffic circles because they operate at lower speeds making them safer and simpler to use. A modern roundabout has no left turns. There are fewer decisions for drivers to make. Roundabouts cause drivers to slow down, ideally to less than 20 mph, which reduces the risks to both pedestrians and drivers. In other municipalities, businesses opened in the area after the roundabout was completed. 5. Public Comment Liselotte Muentenes– 125 Lincoln Street How will the walking public be protected through the roundabout? She is worried about children, bicycle riders and people in wheelchairs crossing the roadway. Lisa Slonus – Weston & Sampson The crossings are fifteen feet with a waiting area in between. Traffic speeds are lower. Pedestrians will spend less time in the roundabout crosswalk than they currently do. James Stewart – Public Works Director There is a snow shelf where snow will be plowed onto instead of on sidewalks. Barbara Rompre – 4 Salem Road, Prospect She is a Prospect resident but shops at Stop & Shop on Rubber Avenue. Roundabouts are safer and more efficient. James SanAngelo – 148 Linda Court The roundabout is a good thing. He has found the traffic flow to be better. Asked if there will still be crossing guards for schoolchildren. Edward Rachuba – 636 Andrew Mountain Road Questioned whether there will be a problem when several high school events get out at the same time. Shirley Newland – 591 Rubber Avenue She asked what costs the town would incur. How long will the intersection be impacted while under construction?  -3- Minutes – Board of Mayor and Burgesses Special Meeting – Public Hearing – June 25, 2019 James Stewart – Public Works Director The town will have to negotiate the fee for the design of the project. It is a five million, five hundred thousand ($5,500,000) dollar grant. Scott Bushee – Connecticut DOT It will be a one-season project, for example, April to November. Possibly three months during construction will be difficult. George Bacon – 34 Glendale Court He is a retired State of Connecticut employee. He said roundabouts have caused broken snowplows. People ride over signs and drive on the center of the roundabout. He believes they do not work. R. O’Donnell – 195 Lewis Street Asked what the average diameter of the roundabout would be. Scott Bushee – Connecticut DOT Every site is different. The diameter of the roundabout could possibly be 108 feet by 135 feet or 120 feet by 135 feet. Paul Miller – 75 Hickory Lane He sees a problem with the people that live in town not the roundabout. Mark Dandenneau – 70 Galpin Street Asked if there was anything preventing people from crossing the island. Will people be able to turn into businesses near the roundabout? Will it be difficult for emergency vehicles to navigate the roundabout? Lisa Slonus – Weston & Sampson She said this is a modern roundabout not a rotary with higher speeds. Rick Martin – 76 Bluebird Drive Asked what would cause an accident if roundabouts are safer. Scott Bushee – Connecticut DOT Driver confusion could be a cause. There is a lower number of accidents due to slower speeds through the intersection. Accidents are usually bumps not inoperable vehicles. Six roundabouts have been constructed in the state and not one municipality has complained. J. Cousins – 40 Inwood Drive Asked how long the roundabout is designed to last. Lisa Slonus – Weston & Sampson Future growth was taken into consideration when designing the roundabout.  -4- Minutes – Board of Mayor and Burgesses Special Meeting – Public Hearing – June 25, 2019 Herbert Wright – 7 Ida Street Asked why lights couldn’t be coordinated instead of installing a roundabout. He sits in Dunkin Donuts daily between 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. and hasn’t seen one accident in two and a half years. Paul Miller – 35 Simsberry Street He is a motorcyclist. He said wide paint strips are slippery when wet. Eileen Bronko – 34 Fairfield Court Will property abutting businesses be taken by imminent domain? R. Moon – 26 Long View Terrace What are the benefits of a roundabout to the Rubber Avenue Project? Mark Dandenneau – 70 Galpin Street Asked if a light could be put on or near Scott Street/Cherry Street with a left hand turn signal on the light. Brian Farrell – 411 Mulberry Street He has been through roundabouts in other countries and Cape Cod. They were low traffic areas. In Naugatuck, backups were high when both bridges were under construction. He was against the roundabout project because of pedestrians crossing. After tonight’s presentation, he is not against it as much as he was before. T. Stabler – 65 Cold Spring Circle He drives a pickup with an attached camper. He asked how it would fit through the roundabout. Lisa Slonus – Weston & Sampson It has been designed for a city bus to go through the roundabout. Herbert Wright – 7 Ida Street The person to the right has the right of way? Mayor “Pete” Hess The borough has had great success with the LOTCIP Program. North Main Street, the Greenway, Rubber Avenue, Cross Street and Spring Street. It is a great program for Naugatuck. Rubber Avenue is a mess. We want a gateway to Rubber Avenue. We want to sell properties on Rubber Avenue. There will be a preliminary design and then the final design. 6. Burgess Comments Burgess Rocky Vitale There is a high volume of traffic during festivals and high school events. Will there be a need to have a police officer at the roundabout during those times? On the Dunkin Donuts  -5- Minutes – Board of Mayor and Burgesses Special Meeting – Public Hearing – June 25, 2019 side, will people yield for walkers in the crosswalk? When there is heavy pedestrian traffic, what handles that amount of backup? What is the material used for the truck apron? He is concerned with backups into the circle. Lisa Slonus – Weston & Sampson The truck apron is made of concrete and the curbing is granite. Statistics show backups are generally during construction. Scott Bushee – Connecticut DOT Before granite was installed, it was chipped by snowplows and truck traffic. Burgess Dorothy Hoff Thank you for the presentation. It’s great having a discussion now and taking comments from our residents when there is fluidity in the design. Burgess Robert Neth He was very skeptical when the idea of a roundabout was first brought up. He has been through the one in Monroe. He thought we did not have enough space for a roundabout. He is now leaning toward accepting the idea. Burgess Jack DeOliveira Asked the difference in maintenance costs between the traffic signal and the roundabout. Scott Bushee – Connecticut DOT The traffic signal is a significant expense to replace. The pavement in the roundabout is designed to last twelve years. Burgess Jack DeOliveira What are the costs to reconfigure the water or gas lines? James Stewart – Public Works Director The town does not pay toward any reconfiguration. Scott Bushee – Connecticut DOT The state passes the expense of landscaping the center of the roundabout to the municipality. Burgess Robert Neth How do winter chemicals effect the apron? Scott Bushee – Connecticut DOT The apron has a sealer on it. He recommends integral color so when it does chip, it will still be the same color.  -6- Minutes – Board of Mayor and Burgesses Special Meeting – Public Hearing – June 25, 2019 Burgess Carl Herb If the roundabout is not accepted, will it affect the rest of the Rubber Avenue Project? Lisa Slonus – Weston & Sampson No, it will not change the Rubber Avenue Project. James Stewart – Public Works Director There will be cameras at the intersection. Burgess Carl Herb He thinks it should be put as a question on the November ballot. Mayor “Pete” Hess It will not go on the November ballot. The borough board will decide on the roundabout. 7. Mayor Hess declared the public hearing closed at 8:39 p.m. A digital recording of this meeting is available in the office of the Borough Clerk for further review. Attest: Nancy K. DiMeo Borough Clerk