Transportation Safety Advisory Committee (TSAC)

Meeting Minutes TSAC September 22, 2021 DATE: September 16, 2023 SUBJECT: Transportation Safety Advisory Committee Minutes from September 22, 2021 This meeting was held via the Zoom online platform. Meeting called to order by Michael Diluiso at 8:17 AM Members Present: • Michael Diluiso, Parking Department • Deputy Chief John Goodwin, Police Department • Captain W. Scott Wiley, Fire Department • Ben Schad, Resident Representative Members Absent: • Director Steven Calla, Department of Public Works • John Eade, Resident Representative • One vacancy on the committee for a Resident Representative Mr. Diluiso reminded everyone present that TSAC is an advisory committee and not a policy making body. He further explained that any recommendations by the committee are passed on to the Town Manager who decides whether or not to pass them on to the Town Council for further action. New Business: Agenda Item: Correspondence Mr. Diluiso advised there was no correspondence for the committee since the last meeting. Old Business: Agenda Item: Proposal to restrict parking on Terrace Ave between Cottage Ave and the Dead End Mr. Diluiso reminded the committee that we had a public hearing on this item at the last meeting. Mr. Diluiso reiterated Director Calla’s initial thought at the last meeting about granting the requested restriction but also said he himself was still on the fence about making the decision without him being present. He opened the matter to public comment but there was none. The discussion was brought back to the committee. Page 1 of 4 MOTION: By Deputy Chief Goodwin to postpone this issue to the committee’s next meeting SECONDED: Mr. Schad DISCUSSION OF THE MOTION: None VOTE IN FAVOR OF MOTION: Unanimous Agenda Item: Proposal to make Cottage Ave a one-way between Terrace Ave and Hillside Ave Mr. Diluiso reminded the committee that we had a public hearing on this item at the last meeting. He opened the matter to public comment but there was none. The discussion was brought back to the committee. Deputy Chief Goodwin stated he would prefer to discuss the matter with a full board. Mr. Diluiso stated he would also prefer to wait since he had asked Director Calla for some information on the slopes of the hills to make an informed decision. MOTION: By Deputy Chief Goodwin to postpone this issue to the committee’s next meeting SECONDED: Captain Wiley DISCUSSION OF THE MOTION: None VOTE IN FAVOR OF MOTION: Unanimous Agenda Item: Resident request for “No Parking Here to Driveway” near 381 Revere St Mr. Diluiso reminded the committee that we were going to combine this with the review of revised speed data for Revere St. Deputy Chief Goodwin stated they did get the data but did not have the report in front of him. MOTION: By Captain Wiley to postpone this issue to the committee’s next meeting SECONDED: Deputy Chief Goodwin DISCUSSION OF THE MOTION: None VOTE IN FAVOR OF MOTION: Unanimous Agenda Item: Proposal to eliminate currently posted on-street time limits along Shirley St from Irwin St to the vicinity of Beacon St and allow businesses to request a limited number of time restricted spots adjacent to their storefronts Mr. Diluiso reminded those in attendance that the committee held a hearing on a proposal to eliminate the on-street time limits on Shirley St from Veterans Rd to the vicinity of Beacon St and implement a petition process where they could request a number of time restricted spaces adjacent to their business based on the frontage of their business. He opened the floor up for public comment. Betsy Shane from the Chamber of Commerce asked what the process would be. Mr. Diluiso stated that has not been decided at this time and that the process is the part of the discussion that still needed to be had by the committee. Betsy asked about the area which would be affected by this proposal. Mr. Diluiso stated it Page 2 of 4 would cover all of Shirley St from Veterans Rd to Beacon St on both sides. Betsy asked about the case of a building that has multiple businesses. Mr. Diluiso stated that is something that still needs to be worked out by the committee. There was no further public comment on this issue and discussion was brought back to the committee. Mr. Diluiso stated that since this was Director Calla’s proposal, it would be difficult to have the discussion without him present. MOTION: By Deputy Chief Goodwin to postpone this issue to the committee’s next meeting SECONDED: Mr. Schad DISCUSSION OF THE MOTION: None VOTE IN FAVOR OF MOTION: Unanimous Agenda Item: General committee discussion of parking, traffic. transportation, and committee issues for possible inclusion on future agendas or other action as the committee sees fit Mr. Diluiso reminded the committee of items that came up in discussion at last month’s meeting. Members of the public mentioned concerns about Crystal Cove Ave between Shirley St and Hillside Ave as well as one-way on Terrace Ave between Park Ave and Cottage Ave. Members of the committee wanted to discuss an ordinance setting a minimum distance to park from a driveway opening. Mr. Diluiso sent these items to the Town Manager but had not heard back about adding them to an agenda. He will follow-up for a future agenda once some of the current items are resolved. Mr. Diluiso thanked the members of the public who attended and apologized for postponing the agenda items, but explained it is sometimes unavoidable when an emergency takes the DPW director or other public safety heads away for a last-minute issue. He also welcomed Captain Wiley to the committee on a permanent basis and thanked Chief Flanagan for his years of service to the committee and to the town and wished him the best in his retirement. Karin Chavis was in attendance and asked to address the committee. Mr. Diluiso gave her a chance to speak. She expressed concern that agenda items had to be postponed due to Director Calla’s absence and wondered if it would be possible to obtain opinions from him before the meeting so these items can move forward. She also mentioned an email she had sent to TSAC and to the Planning Board regarding having someone come in and review traffic and parking town-wide to see what we can do to resolve some of the problems with narrow streets. She asked if the committee could put it in for discussion. Deputy Chief Goodwin stated that the committee and Director Calla have asked for this with the Town Manager’s office, especially with one-way streets and it has not been addressed at this time. He added that we share her frustration and are trying to push things in that direction. Mr. Diluiso added that at the May 2021 meeting, the committee adopted a policy for how they will handle issues of street width and parking and traffic direction and made a commitment on how the committee will make those recommendations moving forward. He added that the committee has asked that the town either bring someone in to handle this or direct the committee to start looking at the town as a whole. Karin recommended that the committee bring up the outstanding issues to the Town Manager again and Mr. Diluiso agreed to do so. MOTION TO ADJOURN: Deputy Chief Goodwin SECONDED: Captain Wiley Page 3 of 4 VOTE IN FAVOR: Unanimous Meeting adjourned at 8:44 AM Date Minutes Approved: September 20, 2023 Page 4 of 4