Public Safety Committee

Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes May 20, 2026 6:00 PM Council Chambers Members Present Members Absent Councilor Timothy Fontneau, Chair Councilor Chuck Creteau Vice Chair (excused) Councilor Christine Gianotti Councilor Les Horne (excused) Councilor John Larochelle Others Present Deputy Chief Andrew Swanberry, PD Jarrod Norris, P.E. Assistant City Engineer Gina Golden-Silvestro, GIS/AM Technician Councilor Susan Rice, Ten Rod Road Councilor Fontneau brought the meeting to order at 6:00 PM. 1. Roll Call Ms. Boisvert took the call attendance. Councilor Fontneau, Councilor Gianotti, and Councilor Larochelle were present for roll call. Councilor Creteau and Councilor Horne were not present. 2. Approve Minutes from April 15, 2026, Public Safety Meeting Councilor Larochelle MOVED to approve the minutes from April 15, 2026. Councilor Gianotti seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED by unanimous voice vote. 3. Public Input Councilor Rice, a resident of Ten Rod Road, was present and asked if the agenda posted online could include the backup as well. Councilor Fontneau said that he believes just the agenda is posted and the entire packet is sent to the committee members. Councilor Larochelle said he would like the committee to recommend to the city manager that the entire packet be posted. Councilor Fontneau said the packet often contains email addresses from residents. Councilor Larochelle MOVED to recommend to full council that the entire agenda packet be posted online. Councilor Gianotti seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED by unanimous voice vote 4. Union St., Bridge St., & No. Main St -Roundabout Traffic Timing (kept in committee) Councilor Fontneau summarized the issue. Mr. Norris said he contacted the signal consultant and is in the process of procuring technical services to review the phase timing of the intersection. Mr. Norris said he would have additional information at next month’s meeting. Mr. Norris said if there are Page 1 of 3 Public Safety Committee Meeting May 20, 2026  additional traffic observations along Main Street, please provide those to Public Works. Councilor Fontneau said the Friday following the last PSC meeting at about 4PM he came through town and drove smoothly right through. He said today at about 2:30PM he came through the roundabout and was stopped just before Jackson Street. He said he could see in his rearview mirror that there were vehicles stopped in the roundabout. He said he is unsure if there was another instance causing the backup other than the traffic light. He said when he got to Citizens Bank there was a vehicle waiting to turn left into the parking lot and where it is painted on the street do not block there was a vehicle in that area so the vehicle could not turn into the parking lot. When he did get through the light, he looked up Union Street, and it was backed up all the way to Ben Franklin’s parking lot. Councilor Larochelle asked about the camera at that location. Mr. Norris said the signal may be recalibrated, allowing one movement to go for a half a second longer. Councilor Rice said she frequently travels that area and has noticed it backing up more. She said last night she was stuck in the roundabout. Councilor Larochelle asked if the timing was set for a set time pattern. He asked if the camera could use AI to see the traffic and adjust as needed. Mr. Norris said there is a minimum and maximum based on the data the camera is picking up. 5. Salmon Falls Street / Portland Street- Light Requested at Intersection Councilor Fontneau read an email from a resident requesting a traffic signal at the intersection with all the new developments in the area. Mr. Norris said there was a traffic study done for the Evelyn Drive development that is behind Jeremiah Lane. He said the intersection of Portland Street and Salmon Falls Street was not in their study area because they determined it would not be a significant impact from the development on that intersection. There is also a 2010 study along Salmon Falls Road that includes this intersection, it stated that between 2000 and 2009 there were 19 reported crashes at this intersection with three injuries. The relatively low injury crash rate is indicative of an always stop condition where speeds are generally low and numerous fender bender crashes occur. Using the 2010 peak traffic volumes none of the warrants for a signal were met. A warrant is defined as the kind of minimum condition under which installing a traffic control signal may be justified. He said there are no budgeted studies or improvements for this intersection at this time. Deputy Chief Swanberry said he has reviewed this intersection since he has been on the committee and there was no significant injury with the crashes and believes all of the crashes were due to the second car in line either distracted and hit the car in front of them or trying to cheat and be a second car to get through. He said the design doesn’t appear to be wrong it was driver behavior a user issue. Councilor Larochelle said what he hears is we have objective criteria that is used to put in the appropriate traffic controls. Mr. Norris said the manual for uniform traffic control devices does state that a traffic control signal should not be installed unless an engineering study indicates installing a traffic control signal will improve the overall safety and/or operation of the intersection. Page 2 of 3 Public Safety Committee Meeting May 20, 2026  Councilor Fontneau said we will remove it from the agenda if there are changes that warrant it coming back, we will bring it back for discussion. . 6. 10 Little Falls Bridge Road- Do Not Block Intersection Sign Councilor Fontneau summarized the issue. The area was displayed on the screen showing the location of the driveway. Mr. Norris mentioned the do not block driveway sign downtown at Citizens Bank. Mr. Norris said they have reviewed this internally and have some criteria they suggest to the committee for considering do not block driveway signs. The driveway should be used often and for commercial development, the driveway should be near an intersection where traffic could extend into an intersection. Such a sign should be placed for maintaining public travel and not for serving private interests. He said a property owner can place a sign on their property. Councilor Fontneau said in general a private driveway would not qualify. Mr. Norris said that Citizen’s bank driveway downtown is private but it’s commercial and used often near an intersection. Deputy Chief Swanberry said he has sat in traffic that is backed up there. He said that at the bank it is stripped on the road and would be a recognized sign that if the City elected to put up so it is enforceable. If somebody were to add a sign to their property it would be a polite request and the police would not be able to take any action. Councilor Fontneau said without any further action to remove from committee at this time. 7. Other Mr. Norris said that Public Works received a request from a Sewell Road resident requesting a speed limit sign for the Northeast-bound traffic turning from Cross Road onto Sewell Road. The resident is concerned with speeding. Deputy Chief Swanberry said no major issues exist, but if there is traffic from Cross Road towards Milton there should be a sign. Councilor Larochelle MOVED to recommend to full council that a speed limit sign be added to Sewell Road heading in the Northeast direction from Cross Road. As Public Works deems as appropriate location on that street. Councilor Gianotti seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED by unanimous voice vote. Deputy Chief Swanberry said that he spoke to the DPW Highway supervisor about the signs that go in the crosswalks. They do get hit a lot so more has to be ordered. He said other communities have stopped using them because of that. He said the one in front of Revolution gets hit a lot and may not be replaced because it might be causing more of a problem than its keeping people safe. Councilor Fontneau asked if the crosswalks are being painted this spring. Mr. Norris said that it is budgeted. Mr. Norris said the sidewalk was placed and open along Union Street. However, the crosswalk still needs to be relocated and will happen soon. Councilor Fontneau ADJOURNED the meeting at 6:33 PM. The minutes were respectfully submitted by Ronda Boisvert, Business Coordinator Page 3 of 3 Public Safety Committee Meeting May 20, 2026