Public Safety Committee

Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes February 18, 2026 6:00 PM Council Chambers Members Present Members Absent Councilor Timothy Fontneau, Chair Councilor Chuck Creteau, Vice Chair Councilor Christine Gianotti Others Present Councilor Les Horne Deputy Chief Andrew Swanberry, PD Councilor John Larochelle Jarrod Norris, P.E. Assistant City Engineer Gina Golden-Silvestro, GIS/AM Technician Mayor Chuck Grassie Councilor Fontneau brought the meeting to order at 6:00 PM. 1. Roll Call Ms. Boisvert took the call attendance. Councilor Fontneau, Councilor Creteau, Councilor Gianotti, Councilor Horne, and Councilor Larochelle were present for roll call. 2. Approve Minutes from December 17, 2025, Public Safety Meeting Councilor Creteau MOVED to approve the minutes from December 17, 2025. Councilor Gianotti seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED by unanimous voice vote. 3. Public Input No members of the public were present for public input. 4. Washington Street- Speeding Councilor Fontneau said that this item was brought to the committee by Mayor Grassie. Mayor Grassie said in the past few years while he was campaigning on Washington Street, he had several people ask about stop signs and speeding limitations. He said he received a call about large vehicles and he talked to Coast Bus and they will be sending out a memo for them to slow down in that area. He said that he did not see any speed limit signs posted on Washington street and people are asking for the signs to be posted. He said a sign around Foch Street and Duquette Street for heading towards town and a sign around Madison Ave for heading out of the roundabout. He said this would notify people that it is 30mph. He said if there could be additional patrols on Washington Street in the short term may help. He said maybe a solar speed sign that shows what your speed he finds very effective, that is another option they might want to take a look at. Councilor Fontneau asked Mr. Norris if there are any speed limit signs on this section of Page 1 of 3 Public Safety Committee Meeting February 18, 2026  road. Mr. Norris said there are no regulatory speed limit signs for the area from Brock Street to the roundabout. Deputy Chief Swanberry asked to clarify if the issue is specifically between Brock Street and the roundabout. Mayor Grassie confirmed that is correct. Deputy Chief Swanberry said that they can deploy some patrols in that area. Councilor Creteau MOVED to recommend full council approve two speed limit signs to be placed on Washington Street one coming out of the roundabout approximately at Madison Ave. and one approximately at Foch St and Duquette St. heading towards Main Street. Councilor Larochelle seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED by unanimous voice vote. 5. Downtown- Bike Lanes Councilor Fontneau said this issue was brought to the committee by Councilor Horne. Councilor Horne said he is looking for some conversation about the issue and would like everyone to look at the situation and come back to discuss it. He said on Main Street the bicycle lanes are seldomly used and are presenting a danger to the citizens. When parked on Main Street you do not have enough room to get out of your door with the traffic going by. He would like to do away with the bicycle lanes. He said these were put in with grants in some cities across the United States and now many cities have done away with them because of these issues. He said he and his wife have been almost hit by cars when opening their doors to get out to go to the restaurants in town. Councilor Horne said that down by the China Palace there are two lanes heading south and the cars are speeding to beat the other cars when merging. He said this is a opportunity for people to look at this and see what he is talking about and come back to discuss. Councilor Fontneau said he has experienced it and it is made to merge but a lot of people think it is made to race. 6. Other Councilor Fontneau asked if anyone has any items to bring up. Mr. Norris said he has some updates for the committee. He said before the new year it was brought to DPW attention that there was a 30mph speed limit sign that remained in the 25mph Salmon Falls Road in the school zone. This sign has been removed. He said additional improvements are scheduled for this spring such as speed feedback signs. In addition the regulatory speed signs have been added to the school zone signs. Page 2 of 3 Public Safety Committee Meeting February 18, 2026  Mr. Norris said with the new committee he would like to let them know about some technical presentations that were provided to the committee last year. If the new members of the committee want to review the presentations. 1. November 20, 2024 - Traffic Control Devices & Speed Management 2. February 19, 2025 - Roundabouts, Roadway Departures, and Pedestrians Crossings. 3. April 16, 2025 - Rectangular Flashing Beacons (RFB) & Speed Feedback Signs Council Fontneau asked if the presentations were available in another format. Mr. Norris said that the presentation slides are attached to the minutes if they would like to review those instead of watching the videos. Councilor Fontneau said that there are still school speed signs on Portland Street and some of the side street where the Nancy Loud School used to be. He said it may be appropriate to remove the signs that reference that school. Mr. Norris said he can look into that and respond. Councilor Fontneau ADJOURNED the meeting at 6:20 PM. The minutes were respectfully submitted by Ronda Boisvert, Business Coordinator Page 3 of 3 Public Safety Committee Meeting February 18, 2026